40 Science Facts Behind Comic Book Characters

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By Joe Burgett - November 29, 2019

On their own, comic books are built up as science fiction. The amount of amazing stuff that can happen in them is seemingly endless, with surprises around every corner. At the end of the day, however, most see this as fiction and nothing more. There aren’t any real science facts behind comic book characters, right? Actually, there is a surprising amount of real science used in comic books. Stan Lee, the creator of some of the greatest characters in Marvel Comics, claimed he wanted to differ from DC Comics when it came to science. He wanted some science in the play to explain characters or ideology.

This is why most of the characters used in Marvel have some science to back up why they are able to do things. However, just because Stan wanted the science to be in place…that does not mean the science he used is accurate. For example, gamma rays will not make someone become a Jekyll & Hyde-like monster. Even if a Hulk monster was created, slipping in and out would just be scientifically impossible. Due to Gammas basically being radiation, large exposure to it would likely give someone cancer or completely fry them to a crisp.

It’s cool that science is used to explain stuff, but sadly the science was not accurate. Yet that does not mean other Marvel characters cannot be explained using real science. The same can be said for characters from DC Comics among others. The real science behind comic book characters can even make the characters that much cooler. It could be objects they use or powers they may have, science can explain a huge amount of them. Therefore, we wanted to explain 40 different examples of this and tell you where real science and science fiction come into play.

40 Science Facts Behind Comic Book Characters — *Mister Fantastic stretching to help [Image via Marvel Comics]*

40. Mr. Fantastic’s Stretching Ability

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science Base: Synthetic Fibers
Possible To Recreate: No

Reed Richards, professionally known as Mister Fantastic, is one of the top scientists in Marvel Comics. He, along with the rest of the Fantastic Four, developed their abilities via an encounter with cosmic radiation while in space. Richards can stretch great lengths and do so in a controlled way. Thus, also allowing him to go to any length and then return to his original form. Some products can stretch great lengths and return to their original shape on the market today.

They all use a form of synthetic fiber, so something similar is needed here. Richards can also be squished down without inner organs being affected. While the stretching is sort of possible if the cosmic radiation allowed him to elongate, he likely would only stretch out but be incapable of returning to his original form. Forms of stretching bodies were used as torture centuries ago, proving you could stretch someone out. Making an entire body synthetic would be impossible, however.

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39. How Groot Could Actually Exist

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Botany
Possible To Recreate: Maybe

Groot is a sentient tree that is capable of moving around and speaking, though his vocabulary is quite limited. He also has super strength and can grow back entirely upon destruction. He simply has to be reborn rather than go back to the same size he was upon his passing. Is Groot possible, however? Funny enough, it’s actually possible to do a lot of the things connected to Groot. Plants on Earth can move and even attack.

Venus Fly Traps, as well as other plants similar to them, can attack passers-by. Plants also move, most of the time due to an attempt to get closer to the sun. The problem is that none can move freely like Groot. However, Groot is from an alien species known as “Flora Colossus.” There is proof that plants on other planets likely will not operate exactly like those from Earth. Therefore, a Groot figure might very well be possible on another planet.

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38. Danny Rand’s Iron Fist

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Kinetics
Possible To Recreate: Yes

Danny Rand is considered to be one of the best martial artists in the Marvel Comics Universe. Martial Arts has a very long history throughout numerous centuries. In most of these, they can do things that some find to be nearly impossible. In fact, there are some Martial Arts Masters that can break through numerous cement blocks like they’re made of cardboard.

This is could be possible through Kinetic Science. One must know not only how to hit these blocks but where to do so. The same can be true when it comes to hitting other objects or the human body. While Rand uses his fist to break through walls and knock people through windows, a person can also do this through long-standing practice in kinetics. Knowing how to distribute and concentrate your body’s kinetic energy will allow you to do similar stuff too. This can take over a decade to master, however.

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37. Real Blocking Of Superman’s X-Ray Vision

Company: DC Comics
Real Science: Chemistry
Possible To Recreate: Yes (Well, Find And Use)

Superman is well-known for his numerous superpowers. However, one of the most used in his arsenal is clearly x-ray vision. It was often utilized when Superman needed to see into buildings to know what possible criminals were up to. Knowing this, Lex Luthor often used lead to remain undetected by Superman in the comics.

This was smart as it is completely accurate that x-rays are unable to see through lead-lined objects or materials. Lead has a high density and high atomic number, of which certain types of radiation cannot bleed through or into. X-Rays are low forms of radiation, of course. We even use lead shielding on pregnant women who get x-rays in order to protect the unborn child.

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36. Super Metabolism And The Effects Of Drinking & Sedatives

Company: Most Comic Books
Real Science: Pharmacology & Chemistry
Possible To Recreate: Sorta

Metabolisms are always fun to talk about. For those unaware, this is often what is pointed to when people talk about both weight gain and weight loss. However, the Mayo Clinic found that thinner people have slower metabolisms compared to faster ones among bigger people. Size ultimately dictates how fast it is due to how much energy it takes to move around.

When someone is actively using up a lot of energy, their metabolism also has moved so quickly that they need to consistently have food or some energy source tolerable to operate. This is why The Flash often eats a lot. However, both he and Captain America have such high metabolisms, they cannot get drunk nor can normal sedatives work on them. Both have made this known in their comics too.

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35. Science Behind Fantastic Four’s The Thing

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Rare Genetics
Possible To Recreate: Unlikely

Ben Grimm was the one most affected by the Fantastic Four cosmic incident. His entire body became, basically, rock. There are a few rare conditions possibly at play here. One is the SOST gene, which affects the sclerostin. This is what regulates human bone growth. SOST prevents sclerostin from stopping development, causing a human to consistently develop bone mass for their entire life.

This makes their bones larger and harder as a result. Just 2 African men are the only known subjects who had this rare mutation. This can explain how Grimm is capable of not only sustaining the rock on his body but also why he is capable of using this as a form of super strength. A heightened Stiff Skin Syndrome could be how Grimm’s skin turned rocky. This can make a person’s skin as hard as stone and it often turns the skin reddish-orange, similar to The Thing’s main coloring.

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34. Wonder Woman’s Age & Themyscira’s Invisibility

Company: DC Comics
Real Science: Physics
Possible To Recreate: Maybe

Wonder Woman is the daughter of Zeus. Her mother is an Amazon, a human, thus making Diana a Demi-God. This is why she seems to never age throughout hundreds of years. However, the Amazons overall do not seem to age here. How is this? They live on the mystical all-female island of Themyscira. The Gods helped to hide it from man as a way to help protect the Amazons. This was mostly seen as a smoke and mirrors situation, but it’s so much more.

Of course, hiding on an island does not give someone the ability to avoid aging. It appears the rule of pocket dimensions and space-time explains this. We have now proven pocket dimensions are possible, we just don’t know how to access them. Diana and the like possibly do know how to do so. Since time rules are different on other planets alone, another dimension would also apply to this.

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33. The X-Gene

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Biology-Genetics
Possible To Recreate: Somewhat

The real facts behind comic book characters can be hard to find. However, the infamous X-Gene is pretty easy to explain. In Marvel Comics, Mutants are born with the X-Gene and typically show signs of their powers by their teenage years. They explain that this X-Gene is part of their genetic makeup, as a key to their DNA overall. Their powers then arise from them.

We did not know how to recreate something like this in a lab until science found out about Gene Alteration. We can and already have been able to rewrite the genetic code among animals and humans alike. It was originally done as a way to remove possible sicknesses that run in someone’s family from the child’s genetics. However, they have also been used to give a child special skills too. Some speculate that an X-Men type of concept will come about in this world eventually.

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32. Thor’s Ability To Fly

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Aerodynamics
Possible To Recreate: Yes

Stan Lee spoke about how Superman seemed to fly but the science behind how was never really explained. He felt that, despite the God-like stature of Thor and the massive unbelievable magic that goes on in his comics, there still needs to be a way to understand his flying ability. This is why Thor does not just fly off, he uses the hammer known as Mjölnir to help.

He swings the hammer around as fast as possible and directs the hammer to go to a certain area, then will fly off. The hammer itself creates an airplane or helicopter-like propeller, especially due to how fast Thor swings the thing. This does hold up in the rule of aerodynamics. If Mjölnir is as strong and powerful as we are told, it could hold Thor’s body weight and fly him off.

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31. Science Behind How The Flash Got His Powers

Company: DC Comics
Real Science: Biology, Genetics, Chemistry
Possible To Recreate: No

It is said that Barry Allen was conducting an experiment in his laboratory at the CCPD on the night a particle accelerator exploded. At the same time the accelerator sent its explosive wave out, the lab was also struck by lightning. All of this sounds too sciency to not be real, right? Well, the facts behind comic book characters like The Flash are not exactly as cut and dry. To be fair, it took an amended accelerator to even do this.

It also could not actually send out such a wave. Although there is never really any knowledge of the contents of his lab, just proposed ideas. Could this give someone powers? It is kind of possible to assume that the lab contents mixed with a close particle accelerator could do something. These accelerators have given us some interesting stuff to us in the past. There is still so much we believe they can do too. Therefore, this is all theoretically possible.

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30. Magneto’s Powers

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Magnetics
Possible To Recreate: Kinda

Magneto, a top villain in the X-Men comic books, can control metal of any kind. He can even control the contents of this within the Earth. Thus this means that he could also theoretically control Earth’s Magnetic Field. While it is not possible to be born with an eventual ability to control metal, you can create technology that could do similar things.

Strong magnets are capable of pulling metal objects to the magnet itself. Bigger metal contents typically need bigger magnets to be affected. However, there are some smaller magnets with impressive pull strength too. The really difficult part is being able to control it. This can likely be done partially by using two different magnets where one can pull and one can push, which could act as a control of some kind. Although, it would not be as impressive as Magneto.

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29. How Invisibility Is Handled

Company: Numerous
Real Science: Physics
Possible To Recreate: Somewhat

Invisibility is often handled pretty well in comic books. Both Marvel & DC have characters that can turn invisible. They also are smart about this and have them typically turn invisible while their clothing does not. This means that to be completely invisible, a person has to stand around in the buff. However, invisibility is not exactly as great as some might think. When someone becomes invisible, they’d also have to be blind too.

Once something becomes cloaked, it has to trick light. The light popping off an object cannot reflect back, allowing a person to see the object. However, this also means the object cannot absorb any light either. The light must be able to pass directly through. Our own eyes need light rays to turn to light impulses, allowing us to see. If you’re invisible and unable to absorb light, this also means you cannot see.

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28. The Sue Storm Work-Around

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Physics
Possible To Recreate: Yes

Sue Storm, also known as the Invisible Woman, must apply the same scientific laws as others. However, this is actually a good thing. Marvel gave her a way to work around the problems of invisibility by giving her incredible force wielding powers. The facts behind comic book characters like Sue Storm and her force wielding abilities are truly amazing.

Marvel claims Sue uses her force powers to bend all wavelengths of light in such a way that she indeed cannot be seen. This means she can let light in for her own eyesight, as she is bending it herself. Both she and her clothing can be invisible due to this too, and she is even able to do this with other people and objects. In total, Sue can cover around 40 cubic feet of volume. In reality, if someone could have force power as strong as this, they could do exactly as Marvel proposes.

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27. Batman’s Bat-Gadgets

Company: Detective Comics/DC Comics
Real Science: Engineering, Mechanical Science
Possible to Recreate: Yes

Batman is likely one of the more realistic characters in DC Comics. Although it is unlikely one man could ever fight as long as Batman has, the overall concept of the character makes sense. All of his gadgets, pretty much, are possible to create. One of the biggest is his Batarang. This is similar to the Australian boomerang, for which is named after.

They might be fun toys now but these were once used as weapons by natives there, meaning Batman’s Batarang would make sense to use. He also adds some sharp edges to it in an upgrade. His utility belt, trick grenades, smoke pellets, grappling gun, and even the batmobile itself can all be made in real life. Although, it would cost a fortune. Good thing Bruce Wayne is rich, eh?

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26. Spider-Man’s Gadgets And Abilities

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Engineering, Mechanical Science, Chemistry
Possible to Recreate: Partially

Peter Park is bitten by a radioactive spider that somehow gave him spider-like abilities. This is technically both possible and impossible. Possible only because the radioactive nature of the spider automatically means it may be able to surpass parts of Parker’s blood. Thus, possibly have poisons take over and remove portions that block spider abilities. However, it is unlikely he would get all of these abilities. Rather, he’d just get sick.

Yet a bulk of the gadgets that Spider-Man uses are possible. While SOME movies like to make his webbing part of his body, other films, as well as the original comics, never did this. The fact behind comic book characters like Spider-Man is that he never really needed his powers at times. You could actually do part of what he does just by knowing how to make the web-shooters. The shooters are also very possible to make too. The tensile strength may take time to develop though.

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25. The Tesseract/Space Stone And Those Who Use It

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Physics, Astrophysics
Possible to Recreate: Yes & No

The Space Stone, originally used in the Tesseract, is a cosmic stone that has tremendous power. In real life, we could not know if this did or did not exist. From a science perspective, this comes down to unexplainable. However, what the stone does can be analyzed. When people like Loki and Thanos use it, they are capable of doing things that make actual science sense.

When you involve space and momentum, we have some real science. Physicist Emmy Noether found a connection between space and momentum. Essentially, if you control space then you could control the momentum of something. Thus, if Thanos uses the stone, he can stop people in place and render them unable to move. Theoretically, he could also teleport with it too.

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24. Scarlet Witch’s Reality Warping Ability

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: String Theory, Quantum Physics
Possible to Recreate: Theoretically

On our list, this explanation may be the most theoretical. Scarlet Witch can bend reality to her will in both the movies and comics. Read the House of M story-arc to get a grasp on how powerful she is. The question is, can someone actually warp reality? The facts behind comic book characters like Scarlet Witch are pretty amazing. We can use some physics to explain her power, but it would come down to a lot of factors.

First and foremost, String Theory will be implemented. If Wanda was able to manipulate reality strings, a lot could happen. Technically, she could switch perceived reality to what she wanted. Through this, she can change the appearance of something but underneath, it is still as it was. The only thing that changed was their perception of it. She’d need some deep knowledge of Quantum Physics just to get to the string part, but if she could, reality-bending is theoretically possible.

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23. Captain America’s Super-Soldier Serum

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, Pharmacology
Possible to Recreate: Yes & No

Steve Rogers is a small man that goes into a machine one time to emerge as a much bigger & muscle-bound man eventually called Captain America. Is this possible at all? Actually, it kind of is. While we cannot speak to the numerous powers Rogers takes on like super strength, speed, agility, etc. We CAN tell you that part of what happened with Rogers is possible.

There are some treatments people can get people to where they automatically are capable of getting better muscle mass. However, a lot of this has to do with hormones and metabolism. Things like HGH can help people grow over long periods of time naturally if they begin treatments while they’re younger. There is also a genome or genetic possibility for unborn children, as well as some genetic tampering with people after birth. The supposed “super-soldier serum” is not yet completely possible.

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22. How Cyclops’ Powers Could Partially Exist

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Physics
Possible to Recreate: Somewhat

Cyclops is a popular mutant from the X-Men comics who is known mostly for his superpower of laser beams coming from his eyes. He cannot control them once he opens his eyes, which is why he wears special glasses to assist with this. The question is, can we ever see someone like him in real life? Actually, we kind of can. The facts behind comic book characters like Cyclops, however, is that some points of his powers are possible while others are not.

Two physicists from Massachusetts were able to alter human cells, making them capable of lighting up on their own. While studying human kidney cells, they used the protein that makes jellyfish glow in the tests, making them glow. The team claimed that in the future, treatments similar may result in light or glow coming from eyes, like that of Scott Summers. Although, he would not have laser beams. Besides, Marvel used the excuse that his eyes were windows into another universe.

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21. How Ghost Can Drift Between Objects

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Quantum Physics
Possible to Recreate: Theoretically

Ghost happens to be an amazing villain we were finally introduced to in the MCU within Ant-Man & The Wasp. However, the character had been an Iron Man villain in the comics for years. Like Iron Man, a lot of Ghost’s main functions work with some backed up scientific fact. The character is capable of blending into environments via cloaking and drifting between objects seemingly turning into smoke while doing so.

However, the facts behind comic book characters like Ghost are backed up by some real science. Cloaking is possible through knowledge of mirrors alone. The drifting, however, can be explained through something called Quantum Entanglement. If Ghost had control of this, they will break down to a quantum state where each particle cannot be described as independent from the others (they remain together). This allows them to become smoke in one place and appear in body form elsewhere.

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20. Going Back And Forth In Time

Company: Numerous
Real Science: Theoretical Physics
Possible to Recreate: Unlikely

The most common way people tend to time travel in the comics is by either running at incredibly fast speeds or shrinking down to a point where they can surpass normal time laws and then navigate through it. There are also machines used in some. Yet all of these things have one commonality. They each escape the normal laws of physics to create an opportunity to time travel.

For The Flash, it has already been mentioned that space and momentum have connections. If you were to run at the speed Barry Allen can, it is possible you could escape certain physics laws and open up pockets that allow you to navigate time. But these pockets are also often hidden. Shrinking down incredibly small not only allows you to see some of the pockets easier but you could avoid normal physics laws. Being microscopic or smaller allows you to surpass a lot of normal science laws.

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19. How Cyborg Actually Works

Company: DC Comics
Real Science: Engineering, Biology, Chemistry
Possible to Recreate: Yes

Victor Stone sadly had an accident in a laboratory explosion that left the one great athlete almost dead. His father, a genius scientist, saved him by using some alien technology. Cyborg then came to be where he uses cybernetic body parts and even can hack into various pieces of tech around the world. Combined with his already smart side, his cybernetic brain additions were great too.

However, the facts behind comic book characters like Cyborg may surprise you. Most of what is used for him is actually possible. We have had cybernetic body parts for years now. They have been often used for those who lose a body part in the Armed Forces, using nerves to connect the person’s brain to the function of the limb. We have also used cybernetic helmets that allow a person to think something, and a machine then responds to do it. We’re really close to a real Cyborg, honestly.

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18. Aquaman/Namor Powers Actually Possible

Company: Marvel & DC Comics
Real Science: Engineering, Chemistry
Possible to Recreate: Yes

While Namor came along before Aquaman did, the two are forever linked due to their seemingly endless similarities. Both have some form of super strength, speed, agility, etc. However, Aquaman can telepathically communicate with fish while Namor telepathically controls them. Both are also able to breathe on land and in the water. The facts behind comic book characters like Namor and Aquaman are fascinating for sure, but some of what they can do is possible.

Researchers have been able to communicate with certain aquatic creatures using vibration and whistling. On top of this, the early development of an underwater breather is underway using cobalt crystals. This absorbs oxygen and releases tiny amounts repeatedly when it’s heated. A bucket full of this could absorb an entire room’s worth of oxygen. Since the “O” in H2O stands for oxygen, the crystals could endlessly absorb this, allowing people to remain in the water as long as they want.

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17. Black Panther’s Suit

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Engineering, Mechanical Science, Chemistry, Biology
Possible to Recreate: Probably Not

Black Panther has an amazing suit that is capable of helping King T’Challa when he is in fights with tons of bad guys. The suit is made out of a substance known as Vibranium, which is a made-up metal used in Marvel. It happens to be capable of molding to use in multiple ways. Vibranium absorbs vibrations and then uses this as a source of kinetic energy. So hitting him with your hands or feet, even with weaponry, can be used back against someone.

Overall, the suit is impossible to have just due to Vibranium not existing. We use metal for various things, so a suit is possible. The strongest metal we have on Earth is Tungsten, but we rarely make armor with it due to it being quite heavy. We tend to make stuff using Titanium or Chromium, as they are easier to mold and they’re lighter. A Titanium Panther suit is possible but the vibration stoppage and kinetic energy side of things would not exist.

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16. Speedsters And Intelligence

Company: Numerous
Real Science: Biology
Possible to Recreate: Somewhat

One very common thought among those who write comics is that they seem to be under the belief that, if you are a speedster then you’re naturally going to be smarter. This is likely due to a higher perception of things around you and your speed to process information as well as shift through what you know easier and faster than others. Most speedsters like The Flash and even his enemy, Eobard Thawn, are both highly intelligent. Even Quicksilver has shown sparks of brilliance too!

When going over the facts behind comic book characters like this, can we say their intelligence is that much better than a normal human? It’s possible. Due to their speed, they will be able to process information and remember it as well as recall it better than we can. ADHD people, who often have speed in their minds, are often seen as smart. Sadly, due to ADHD affecting recall, they cannot always show this.

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15. Super-Healing (Wolverine/Deadpool)

Company: Marvel Comics/DC Comics
Real Science: Biology
Possible to Recreate: Partially

Several characters in comic book history were known to be super-human healers. Wolverine usually can recover from just about anything, so he is often used as an example of this. However, his abilities are different than that of Deadpool in that Wade Wilson can regenerate his entire body even if he was burnt to a crisp with only one smidge of skin left behind.

This is all somewhat possible as we have already seen animals that can regenerate parts of their bodies. Snakes alone can regenerate tails, as can some lizards. Also, a scientist came across a gene that can help to stimulate stem cell growth. In lab mice, the scientist cut off their ears, toes, and other parts only to see them grow back when this gene was used. This led them to believe if it could work in humans, it could basically help people do similar to the comics.

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14. Taskmaster’s Mimic Ability

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Biology, Engineering
Possible to Recreate: Yes

Taskmaster is a well-known villain used in Marvel Comics. He tends to be a gun for hire, but he also has his own agenda at times. He is considered one of the most gifted hand to hand fighters in Marvel due to his ability to mimic a person’s fighting style and how they react in fights.

If he fights Captain America, for example, he will know how Cap will fight and how he will react to everything. Is any of this actually possible though? The facts behind comic book characters like Taskmaster are pretty interesting. Overall, he is using a form of photographic memory to fight you. However, he can be thrown off by people switching up styles. Photographic memory is similar in that you cannot know what you didn’t see.

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13. Telekinesis Powers

Company: Numerous
Real Science: Biology, Engineering
Possible to Recreate: Somewhat

Telekinesis is often used in comics with Telepaths, which are too numerous to mention from all the major comic book companies. Usually, telekinesis is the ability to control things with your mind. Such as the ability to force someone to do something or the ability to make something move just by thinking about it. Funny enough, the fact behind comic book characters like this is that their power is not as science fiction as it used to be.

Due to the rise of technology, people can use cybernetic helmets to think something and that can send a message to someone else also wearing a cap. This also worked with machines. On top of this, the ability to move things similar to them can be done with anti-gravity machinery. If we can make them smaller and connect them to a helmet, a person could literally think of something moving and it actually will. Sure, this takes machines rather than mutant powers. However, this is cool either way!

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12. Kick-Ass’ Inability To Feel Pain

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Biology, Chemistry
Possible to Recreate: Yes

While Kick-Ass is very popular from the two movies he was part of, the character was actually first invented and published as a comic book series by Marvel Comics. The story revolves around Dave Lizewski, who was just an ordinary teenager when one day, he was beaten until near death. When he awoke, somehow he did not feel any pain and that led him to feel he could be a real-life superhero.

The cool facts behind comic book characters like Kick-Ass are that his “superpower” is based on proven science, and it is possible to recreate it. Some people are actually born without any ability to feel pain. They have a condition known as “Congenital Insensitivity to Pain.” Many who have CIP often die young because they do not know when to get help or when they go too far. It is believed increased levels of endorphins causes the condition, so we can somewhat recreate it.

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11. Captain Marvel’s Unaging Power

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Biology, Physics
Possible to Recreate: Yes

A lot of people rightfully had questions when Carol Danvers had a movie set in the 1990s yet somehow was part of Avengers: End Game, never having shown an age change between the two. Yet somehow, 5 years into the movie in real-time, she did show a small age difference. What happened here and how does it make sense? The science behind this revolves around space-time. Time, when it comes to age, is only possible to judge based on how people adapt to it.

The Twin Theory is the most popular example here. One twin went into space and the other remained on Earth. When the twin returned, his brother had aged 3 to 4 years while he only did about 6 months. Thus proving a point of time dilation. If Carol was all over space, she could have physically only been gone 6 months due to how she adapted to the times she was in. But this would have felt like 20 years Earth time.

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10. Superman And The Power Of The Sun

Company: DC Comics
Real Science: Biology
Possible to Recreate: Yes & No

Superman is from Krypton, an alien planet that sadly blew up. Kal-El was sent to Earth before this occurred and eventually grew up on Earth. He began to develop powers no other Earth child had. Essentially, this was all caused by Earth’s sun as it is more powerful than the weaker Kryptonian sun. It is technically possible for this to occur as we do not know how an alien species will adapt to the changes on another planet.

In fact, our planet’s conditions may kill certain aliens. However, mankind needs the sun to live and it gives all living creatures a lot of we use daily. Since Superman’s body was built for a Kryptonian sun, much weaker than our own, he was already genetically able to take in more from that sun. Now that he’s on a planet with a more powerful sun, he could theoretically soak up more from our sun due to this.

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9. Nightcrawler’s Teleportation

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Quantum Physics
Possible to Recreate: Somewhat

Nightcrawler is a popular mutant from the X-Men comics who is known for his ability to teleport. Conditional to his teleportation abilities is that he cannot teleport anywhere he cannot see. This means he cannot just teleport to another country overseas. Marvel also explained that when Nightcrawler disappears, he goes into another universe that has him run through what is basically a portal where he will show up.

This creates a poof of smoke each time he disappears and then reappears somewhere else. The facts behind comic book characters like Nightcrawler are fascinating. We can sort of explain his powers through Quantum Tunneling. This is a known quantum mechanical phenomenon. In it, subatomic particles pass through what is believed to be a potential barrier without restrictions from classic mechanics or normal scientific law. Nightcrawler could be accessing this in some way to teleport.

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8. Iron Man Suit

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Engineering, Mechanical Science
Possible to Recreate: Somewhat

The Iron Man suit invented by Tony Stark in the comics has been theoretically possible for years. The only real drawback is the mini-ark reactor he has in the suit. Essentially, that little reactor is enough to power 3 nuclear power plants on its own. Therefore, having that much power in one suit is hard to replicate without something similar.

As for the overall suit itself. We likely would never make it out of Iron as it would be pretty flimsy if we did. Titanium is much better for this. This was partially done through the U.S. Armed Forces with the HULC Exoskeleton. Although in June of 2019, Mythbusters star Adam Savage built his own Iron Man suit and worked with a man that managed to fly it around.

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7. Ant-Man Tech

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Engineering, Biology, Anatomy, Physics
Possible to Recreate: Slightly

Ant-Man is a character from Marvel famous for shrinking and even growing to incredible sizes. While the movies and comic books follow the characters a bit differently, the same facts hold true. Using Pim Particles, they are able to shrink and grow without an issue. Is this actually possible to do today? The quick answer is no.

However, that may not be the case for very long. We believe that as Quantum Physics knowledge continues to grow, we will know how to make this technology. However, the Micro-Verse is thought to be possible or fact by many. The idea is that there must be a universe at both incredibly large and incredibly small scales. Shrinking to such a small size most certainly would allow for a new universe. Perhaps, not exactly like the movies sadly.

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6. Captain America’s Shield

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Physics
Possible to Recreate: Yes & No

Captain America’s shield is made from a special metal known as Vibranium which is considered rare to everyone around the world except those from Wakanda. The shield’s metal does not exist in real life but the way they often use it on Marvel holds up pretty well scientifically. Due to its light yet strong nature, it would be possible to operate similarly to that of a boomerang or Frisbie.

On top of this, the metal itself is made to absorb vibration and use it as a way to bounce the energy back. Such as the case of Thor hitting the shield with his hammer. This bright flash would happen when the force of the hammer mixed with lightning hit a shield that was meant to absorb and send back energy. Therefore, from a strictly scientific basis on just the shield and the scientific laws, it needs to abide by, everything is on the up and up here.

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5. Wolverine’s Adamantium

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Engineering, Human Biology
Possible to Recreate: No

Like Vibranium, the metal known as Adamantium was also invented for the Marvel Comics Universe. Therefore, it too is not real. The way they describe it, the metal molds like steel while being as strong as Tungsten. In the comics, Wolverine joined a project called Weapon X that imbedded Adamantium into a person’s skeleton. He was the only one, at that time, that survived the operation, which was due to his impressive mutant healing power.

Weapon X made him nearly indestructible. However, no one before Logan survived the operation because they either could not deal with the pain of it or the metal poisoned them. The latter is what affects Wolverine in his later years. As his healing powers begin to slow down, the metal slowly poisons him as he ages. Eventually, it is this that becomes Logan’s downfall. All of this holds up scientifically.

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4. Batman’s Suit

Company: DC Comics
Real Science: Engineering, Mechanical Science
Possible to Recreate: Yes

Just about every bit of Batman’s suit can be recreated. There is still some comic book magic involved, however. The facts behind comic book characters like Batman are all pretty well-known by now. He can withstand great amounts of pain and can hold his own in a fight with anyone. His suit has to manage all of this and be possible for continued use though.

Armored suits that are easy to move in are already present today. Some are used in the Armed Forces while others can be seen in other fields. The really interesting part of his entire suit is the cape. He can glide using it and manage it with multiple weight changes. This is possible to do based on how the cape is formed but only for gliding off of taller structures. He can do this while maintaining control but could not fly with it, as flying and gliding are quite different.

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3. How Purple Man’s Powers Work

Company: Marvel Comics
Real Science: Neurology, Suggestive Sciences
Possible to Recreate: Yes

Purple Man is a fun villain within Marvel Comics who has the power to control people. It is said that he does this due to the pheromones he releases when he’s around someone. The way he manages to make people do things is actually possible with hypnosis and suggestion. Although his powers run via pheromones, they have to reach the brain. Meaning the brain is the big thing to trick. Colin Cloud and Derron Brown have proven hypnosis and suggestion CAN influence decisions.

Colin used it to make AGT judges pick what he wanted them to pick after he randomly showed up in their lives disguised, asking them to say things or having them hear stuff. Derron used hypnosis and suggestion to actually have a man shoot a famous comedian while in a hypnotic state (fake kill, of course). Hypnosis cannot make a person do something they do not want to do, but implanting suggested ideology can. Thus proving Purple Man’s abilities can and have been replicated.

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2. Why Supergirl Is More Powerful Than Superman

Company: DC Comics
Real Science: Biology
Possible to Recreate: Somewhat

When Kal-El was sent to Earth from Krypton, his cousin Kara Zor-El was sent to help take care of him. At least, that was the plan. The teenage Kara’s ship was sadly knocked off course. This meant that she arrived on Earth later on. A physical teenager when she landed on Earth, Superman was already over 30 years old. The facts about comic book characters like the Kryptonians henge on their exposure to Krypton itself. Kara spent time on Krypton into her teen years.

Thus, she took in far more of the planet than Kal-El. Crucial development within that world did not transfer to Kal because he was already on Earth. This means our sun naturally would affect Kara more. On top of this, it might also even affect how her brain worked within it. This could explain why she has a temper that goes beyond that of a normal teen early on. It also explains why she is technically more powerful than Superman. Scientifically speaking, this is completely plausible.

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1. The Multiverse Theory

Company: Numerous
Real Science: Physics
Possible to Recreate: Theoretically

The most popular Multi-Verse concepts are laid out by DC Comics, although most comic brands have one. The way they all lay it out is that there are numerous universes with similar or exact copies of our Earth, people, etc. While the people we are might be different from place to place, the fact at the end of the day is that another one of us is or was present in all of them. You can access the multi-verse through portals or through things like the Speed Force, which The Flash uses a lot.

Due to similar people being present, copies of heroes or villains may be there. The facts about comic book characters on these Earths often differ but there are similarities too. For example, Kryptonite hurts Superman & Supergirl, but Kryptonite from another universe won’t affect them. This also works with the fact that villains may be heroes and heroes may be villains between differing universes. Based on our known and theoretical science, the multi-verse theories presented are possible.

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