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It* came from outer space! *Superhero Technology, that is |
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Superhero technology all comes from outer space! And here is the proof! Well it's common sense isn't it? I mean have you seen what superhero technology can do?? Web shooters, iron man costumes, power rings, how long do you think it would take for a human to develop that stuff? Did you really think they invented that stuff themselves? You often see superheroes tinkering in their lab. They want you to think that they can invent the impossible in just a few days. It adds to their reputation and keeps the rest of us in awe. But get real! Look closer! The comics themselves tell a different story, if we pay attention. I'll use the example of Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four, since he is the world's greatest scientist, and has more supertechnology patents than anyone else (he uses them to pay for the FF). Let's start with the story of Gormuu, which took place before the FF gained their powers (as recalled in FF 271) |
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Reed explores Gormuu's alien space ship, and begins to learn how it works. He then defeats the alien, who of course leaves his ship behind. Soon after, Reed completes his own experimental star ship (in Fantastic Four issue one). Coincidence? I don't think so. In the second issue of the Fantastic Four, the team defeat and impersonate a group of Skrulls, then leaves them hypnotized as cows. Those skrulls had advanced technology, including a disguised space ship. Did Reed just leave it lying around without examining it? What do you think? |
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In issue five we meet Dr Doom, who has an impressive collection of advanced technology. Where did he get it from? Well, he has a time machine, so where do you think he got it from? Later (in issue 271) we discover that Reed's father had the time machine first. But Reed's father is known for having secrets and not always telling the whole truth, so where did he get it from? Whatever the answer, he had access to all the advanced technology he could ever need, and never needed to invent a thing. Do we know for sure that Reed copies the advanced technology he finds? Well look what happened to Dr Doom's time machine when Doom disappears - Reed takes it to the Baxter Building to study it (in issue 23). He later makes a copy, as for legal reasons he has to give the original back to Doom. Again and again we see that Reed Richards gets hot new technology from aliens, or from the future. Then he later "invents" something with suspiciously similar properties. Read the comics for yourself, it's all there in glorious color. (Or in black and white if you're reading the reprints.) Here are just a few more examples: Issue seven of the Fantastic Four: the team visits Planet X. This story is especially interesting for three reasons. First, we see that aliens recognize Reed's special talent: he can see totally new alien technology, and within minutes he has a pretty good idea how to use it. Their planet only has 48 hours to survive, and they figure the best way to use the first 24 hours is to fetch Reed Richards and then show him all their technology. That is Reed's real skill, in using other people's technology in new and inventive ways. He is an explorer, not a researcher. he explores what is already there and finds new paths through it. He can stretch his mind far further than his body. Second, we see that Reed obtains a flying saucer from planet X, and we later see it as a trophy in the Baxter Building. So there is absolutely no doubt that he stores alien technology. Seriously, I ask you, why would a scientist ever do slow and tedious primary research when he has fully developed advanced technology waiting to be explored in his lab? The third reason why issue seven is important is the ending: Reed lies to an entire world, for their greater good. In issue 271, referred to earlier, he also reveals that he lied to Ben Grimm about Ben's ability to change state. So we see that Reed is quite happy to tell lies if he thinks it is for the greater good. You still think he does primary research himself? That he reinvents the wheel? He lets people think he does, but the evidence says otherwise. |
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Above: FF 7. Right: FF 11. |
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I'm not suggesting that Reed does no research at all. But to what extent does he perform his own research, and to what extent does he simply build on alien tech? Issue nine may hold the answers. FF 9 begins when Reed tries primary research into curing the Thing ... and fails. This is a good example of real world science. Real world science needs many failed attempts for every tentative success. Time and again Reed tried to cure The Thing by his own efforts. (The alien tech is generally physics based, and Ben's problem is biological). And look where it gets him: disappointment and failure every time. meanwhile, while he's busy spending long hours in the lab, the other areas of his life are neglected. The Fantastic Four end up going bankrupt! We see Reed's own inventions being sold (note that he does not sell the flying saucer). This really tears him up inside. Reed tortures himself for his failure. |
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No doubt he vows that he will do whatever it takes to ensure they are never again in this humiliating financial position. And sure enough, in later years when the team had financial problems Red was never to worried and seemed able to produce new patents whenever he needed extra cash. An ordinary scientist, even a super genius, could not do this. But someone with a collection of alien technology could do it easily. Incidentally, Reed is not the only one who borrows alien tech. In issue ten, Dr Doom reveals that many of the marvels he possesses come from an alien race. Faced with enemies who use alien technology, it is not laziness for Reed to also use alien tech. It is a matter of survival for the Fantastic Four... and the human race! Later in that story, Dr Doom uses one of his new devices: a shrinking ray. At the time he is disguised as Reed Richards, and of course leaves the ray in the Baxter Building when he is accidentally shrunk. It is no coincidence that in a later issue Reed has a shrinking ray at his disposal (for entering the microverse). And so it goes on. They see the technology in action, and later they "invent" something similar. |
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| One final example: In FF issue 37 we see Reed Richards using a power amplifier, which draws power from "an unknown source from somewhere beyond the confines of the solar system" - even Reed does not know how it works! Clearly he is developing alien tech. later in that issue he uses the same power amplifying technology in a prototype starship. When they return, at the start of issue 38, we learn that Reed's ship took automated photos at extremely high resolution, and Reed studies them to learn more about alien technology. |
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How can Reed Richards patent stuff he "stole?" Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four live from the income derived by patents. How can they do that if the inventions were just borrowed from somewhere else? Simple. Earth patents only apply on earth. Besides, it takes considerable intelligence to make alien technology work. How do you reverse engineer a flying saucer? Most people couldn't do it, but Reed can, so he deserves his money. Whenever you see Reed tinkering in his lab he's just thinking of new ways of applying the stuff he developed from the flying saucer, the time machine, and so on. And Reed did not steal the technology. Some was given to him (e.g. the flying saucer from planet X) and other stuff was left here by invading enemies, or obtained legitimately (e.g. it was nothing special when he picked it up in the future). Reed is no thief. How does this technology work? All this technology may seem diverse and complicated, but it's all a variation on the same thing: smart atoms, as discussed elsewhere on this web site. Super power, super speed, super intelligence, it's all the same basic principle, whether you have it in human body, a mechanical suit, or a space ship. This also explains how such advanced technology can exist in a world that otherwise resembles our own, and how superhero scientists can combine amazingly advanced technology with very mundane stuff, and how superhero scientists can invent things so quickly. They simply don't know how these things work, just as most people don't know how a computer or a car works, but we find new and interesting uses for them. How do other superheroes get alien tech? In these examples I've followed Reed Richards, but similar observations could be made regarding Iron Man, or The Leader, or any other character who uses extremely advanced technology. They meet aliens, and a few issues later their own technology has a radical upgrade. Where do they get the technology? It's not rocket science. It's alien science. What about heroes who never meet aliens? Superheroes are constantly teaming up, or bumping into each other. And most of them have come into contact with aliens at some time or other. It's perfectly natural for the alien technology to diffuse far and wide. Take Spiderman for example. Where did he get his amazing webbing? In the comics it looked like he just dreamed it up in five minutes. But he met an alien in a very early issue, and he was always friends with top scientists at the university. It's like the Kevin Bacon game, how many steps between any superhero and alien technology? Usually only one or two at most. I bet the webbing was sitting around in a lab for years, looking for a good use. What use is a super strong web that dissolves in a few minutes? What use is a webbing that shoots across the street as soon as you release the pressure? Nobody had a use for it, so it sat on a shelf at the university (this was back in 1962 remember) until the day when Peter Parker got his powers and he remembered that test tube... |
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Why don't ordinary people get alien tech? Why don't ordinary people get hold of it? Eventually they do, but governments try to keep a tight hold on it: it's dangerous stuff. Push the wrong button and BOOM, you blow up the city. This also explains why superheroes have it and governments don't (unless they have sucret superhero-style agencies to handle it). Alien tech is highly dangerous, and very difficult to hide. To keep control of your secrets you need to be personally superpowered, experienced in using it, and on constant alert. In other words, to handle this tech you have to become a superhero! If anyone else got alien tech they would soon lose it to some more powerful thief. And probably be killed in the process. Hence, suprheroes (and similar folks) have alien tech, and us normal folk can only watch in awe. Why don't regular scientists get alien tech? Why don't other scientists try to steal the technology and reverse engineer it themselves? I'm sure they try, but they can't beat Reed. First, Reed is an explorer, he has been to these alien worlds himself, so he knows how this stuff is supposed to work. Second, Reed is constantly finding new stuff. He has a bigger collection of parts than anyone else on this planet, so he can find better ways to use it. Third, alien technology is essentially dangerous, and difficult to hide, as noted above. So the government won't let ordinary people mess with it. The government itself tries to use it (e.g. in Project Pegasus) but even here they need superheroes to help them out for the reasons outlined above. Fourth, alien technology attracts aliens. What do you do when an alien turns up with a blaster? Superheroes can cope with this. Regular scientists can't. Finally, Reed is no fool. His patent fees are reasonable. Why should anyone take the risk of developing this stuff themselves when they can license a better version from Reed at a good price? |
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Conclusion In ciomic after comic, we see that the greatest discoveries come from alien sources, or are borrowed from others who got it from elsewhere. This is finally admitted in the Illuminati mini series. Thanks to Doc Shallot for pointing this out: "The Illuminati mini-series suggests that Reed and Stark have been making a fortune using Skrull technology. Shortly after the first Kree-Skrull war the group escapes from the Skrulls using a stolen ship. By the time of the third issue(set between the first and second Secret War mini's), it is discovered that they are still in possession of it. When Namor accuses Reed and Stark of profiting from it Reed doesn't deny it." How much clearer can it be? Reed Richards, and other superheroes, get their best ideas from alien tech. They would be crazy not to. |
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