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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2020 23:52:20 GMT -5
As far as I know, there wasn't any justification in the silver age for Superman's flight other than "yellow sun" hand-waving. Who was the first Marvel character to fly who had such a flimsy non-explanation? I posit that even Namor's ankle wings are better than "yellow sun powers", and I don't know much about either the GA or SA Torch power set, but isn't it at least implied that their flight is directly related to their flamy-ness? Thor flies by throwing his hammer and not letting go, right? Who is the first Marvel character you can point to and say "(S)he flies like Superman?" - as a discrete superpower without any obvious mechanism.
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Post by berkley on Jul 7, 2020 1:12:27 GMT -5
What about Marvel's Captain Marvel? I don't actually recall, but I imagine that when he was a Kree military officer his powers of flight were probably due to some Kree technology. But after his re-invention with the power cosmic, etc, I assume he was able to fly on his won.
The other possibility that comes to mind is one of the new X-Men - Storm, for example, I think was able to fly - or was she meant to be riding some weather-system she created with her storm-related powers, in which case you could argue it wasn't essentially different from Ice-Man riding his ice-bridge?
I'm sure there must have someone before any of these, though ...
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2020 1:38:04 GMT -5
As far as I know, there wasn't any justification in the silver age for Superman's flight other than "yellow sun" hand-waving. Who was the first Marvel character to fly who had such a flimsy non-explanation? I posit that even Namor's ankle wings are better than "yellow sun powers", and I don't know much about either the GA or SA Torch power set, but isn't it at least implied that their flight is directly related to their flamy-ness? Thor flies by throwing his hammer and not letting go, right? Who is the first Marvel character you can point to and say "(S)he flies like Superman?" - as a discrete superpower without any obvious mechanism. Except for all the times he throws the hammer at someone while in the air and somehow manages to remain aloft and not come crashing down to the ground. It's what they say he is doing, but in practice, they often contradicted that premise. -M |
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Post by foxley on Jul 7, 2020 2:19:13 GMT -5
I'd have to say Miss America. Being struck by lightning while tinkering with an unspecified piece of electronic equipment somehow gave her the ability to fly. I'd say that sounds pretty arbitrary.
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Post by Icctrombone on Jul 7, 2020 6:20:29 GMT -5
As far as I know, there wasn't any justification in the silver age for Superman's flight other than "yellow sun" hand-waving. Who was the first Marvel character to fly who had such a flimsy non-explanation? I posit that even Namor's ankle wings are better than "yellow sun powers", and I don't know much about either the GA or SA Torch power set, but isn't it at least implied that their flight is directly related to their flamy-ness? Thor flies by throwing his hammer and not letting go, right? Who is the first Marvel character you can point to and say "(S)he flies like Superman?" - as a discrete superpower without any obvious mechanism. This is such an original question, I never thought of it before. What about Nova ? |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jul 7, 2020 7:22:25 GMT -5
The original Vision flew, didn't he?
Otherdimensional aliens fly as a matter of fact, everyone knows that! Although he may have done it with smoke and mirrors...
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Post by Icctrombone on Jul 7, 2020 9:06:46 GMT -5
The current Vision flies.
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Post by rberman on Jul 7, 2020 12:09:30 GMT -5
What about Marvel's Captain Marvel? I don't actually recall, but I imagine that when he was a Kree military officer his powers of flight were probably due to some Kree technology. But after his re-invention with the power cosmic, etc, I assume he was able to fly on his won. The other possibility that comes to mind is one of the new X-Men - Storm, for example, I think was able to fly - or was she meant to be riding some weather-system she created with her storm-related powers, in which case you could argue it wasn't essentially different from Ice-Man riding his ice-bridge? Storm uses her weather powers to create wind that lofts her. That's why she wears a huge cloak attached to her wrists. Do I believe this would work with any degree of stability and precision? Nope! I suspect many Marvel heroes who "just fly" mention telekinesis at some point. |
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Post by berkley on Jul 7, 2020 13:33:52 GMT -5
What about Marvel's Captain Marvel? I don't actually recall, but I imagine that when he was a Kree military officer his powers of flight were probably due to some Kree technology. But after his re-invention with the power cosmic, etc, I assume he was able to fly on his won. The other possibility that comes to mind is one of the new X-Men - Storm, for example, I think was able to fly - or was she meant to be riding some weather-system she created with her storm-related powers, in which case you could argue it wasn't essentially different from Ice-Man riding his ice-bridge? Storm uses her weather powers to create wind that lofts her. That's why she wears a huge cloak attached to her wrists. Do I believe this would work with any degree of stability and precision? Nope! I suspect many Marvel heroes who "just fly" mention telekinesis at some point. I seem to remember that being the case with Moondragon, once that character was given the ability to fly (which she didn't originally possess).
Would Marv Wolman's Nova count? Or was that some alien technology from the helmet?
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Post by Prince Hal on Jul 7, 2020 13:38:38 GMT -5
Was there an explanation for the Golden Age Human Torch? Or for Johnny Storm's power, for that matter?
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Post by Prince Hal on Jul 7, 2020 13:47:24 GMT -5
FWIW, just found this -- www.cbr.com/the-human-torch-body-info/ -- but I think it's all retro-fitting.I have no idea which Earths or universes they'tr talking about. Now back to yelling at those kids on my lawn. "Johnny gets around by taking to the skies after shouting "Flame on!" But what exactly is enabling Johnny Storm to fly around 50 miles per hour? In the Ultimates Universe, Johnny Storm was able to fly because when he flamed on he became lighter than air. For the Earth-616 version, Johnny was able to fly due to combustion. However, the current version of Torch, when at extreme temperatures, converts his entire body into superheated plasma, no longer becoming solid." |
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Post by MWGallaher on Jul 7, 2020 14:02:39 GMT -5
I nominate Black Bolt.
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Post by Cei-U! on Jul 7, 2020 17:29:32 GMT -5
I'd have to say Miss America. Being struck by lightning while tinkering with an unspecified piece of electronic equipment somehow gave her the ability to fly. I'd say that sounds pretty arbitrary. This is the correct answer. All previous Timely heroes had at least a nominal justification (Torch and Toro's flame powers, Namor's ankle wings, Red Raven's mechanical ones, etc) for flight.
Cei-U! I summon a gold star for foxley!
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Post by earl on Jul 7, 2020 19:24:21 GMT -5
I'd think a favorite scene I remember when Marvel super heroes were stranded and had to "walk on out" was that 80s Avengers tale when they crashed and they were walking out with Hercules carrying the Quinjet.
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Post by earl on Jul 7, 2020 19:26:15 GMT -5
Don't know when Vision's flight was ever explained, but I would figure the explanation could be that his phase powers basically makes him lighter than air (probably not unlike Kitty Pryde).
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