Do comic book heroes use science FACT or science FICTION? Comic Book Science! CLICK HERE to continue! By Jeff Knobloch

Pretest - True or False? Put your name on a piece of notebook paper and answer these questions with a TRUE or FALSE answer. CLICK ON THE SUPERMAN LOGO WHEN YOU ARE READY TO CONTINUE!

Pretest - True or False? 1. A hero like Batman is not really possible today.

Pretest - True or False? 2. Too much gamma radiation would make any human extra-strong, huge and green.

Pretest - True or False? 3. If there was someone like The Flash in real life, they would be able to live perfectly well, as long as their secret identity was never revealed.

Pretest - True or False? 4. If you came from a planet with higher gravity and everything there was heavier by 1000 times, you would naturally be super- strong on a planet with lower gravity and be 1000 times stronger than the people from the planet with the lower gravity.

Pretest - True or False? 5. A normal adult needs about 375,000 calories per day to survive.

No one says that science has to be 100% correct in comic books. Except for me, the author of this talking book. Have you ever wondered if you favorite comic book heroes are using science fact or science fiction to get their powers? Here is some facts behind the masks. Go FORWARDGo BACKWARDBACKWARD

Superman In Action Comics #1 (June 1938), Superman started life as a baby named Kal-El on the planet Krypton. Shortly before Krypton is destroyed by natural disasters, his father places young Kal-El in a rocket and sends him to Earth. Go FORWARD Go BACKWARD

Superman The differences in gravity, sun type and density between Earth and Krypton give Kal-El super strength, the ability to jump huge distances, super speed, the ability to fly and X- ray vision. Go FORWARD Go BACKWARD

Go FORWARDFORWARDGo BACKWARD Could it happen? No. To account for Superman’s amazing strength (which was 1,000 times more than a regular human) the gravity on Krypton would have to be 1,000 times stronger than Earths. To produce that kind of gravity, Krypton would have to have been more than 3,000 times more massive than our sun. According to the laws of physics, a planet that massive is impossible. Superman

It has never been explained how Superman flies. Some people think he is not really flying, but taking a huge, slowed-down leap into the air. Others think that he somehow blows air out his skin pores, and that pushes him forward. Slowing down time for long-distance leaps and forcing high pressure air out of your skin is simply impossible according to science. Go FORWARDGo BACKWARD

Superman Superman’s eyes somehow emit x-rays, which he uses to see with? That’s not how real x-rays work. They require a source that aims the x-rays towards some kind of receiver, whether it be a computer or photographic film. In fact, x- rays just show us shadows of what is too thick to penetrate with regular light. The idea that he can switch it off and on is also impossible, since x-rays are never produced by something that is also alive. Go FORWARDFORWARDGo BACKWARDBACKWARD

The Incredible Hulk In the Incredible Hulk #1 (May 1962), Dr. Bruce Banner invents a “gamma bomb”. It accidently goes off. To save his friend, Rick Jones, Bruce Banner leaps in front of Rick Jones and takes the full, dangerous dose of gamma rays. He pays a terrible price for that action. Whenever he gets angry, he unleashes the huge, angry monster inside him, The Hulk. Go FORWARDFORWARD Go BACKWARD BACKWARD

The Incredible Hulk Could it happen? Nope. Gamma radiation is a EXTREMELY powerful form of electromagnetic radiation. Given the super high dose that he supposedly received, Bruce Banner would have no choice but to turn into the Incredible Not-Alive Guy. He would have suffered a very painful death with 2 days of his accidental exposure to gamma radiation. Go FORWARDGo BACKWARD

In Detective Comics #27 (May 1939), young Bruce Wayne witnesses the murder of his rich parents by a cheap street thug. This sparks within the young Bruce Wayne a quest for vengeance that leads him into a life of fighting crime. Go FORWARDGo BACKWARD

Batman Go FORWARDGo BACKWARD

Could it happen? Yes! In a world before mini computer chips and microcircuits, most of his gadgets would have been very futuristic, but each one is actually possible. The Batcave full of computers, the Batmobile and the Batplane are all possible as well. In fact, the military has all of the things Batman had right now. Go FORWARD Go BACKWARD

The Flash In Showcase #4 (September 1956), a bolt of lightning strikes the laboratory of police scientist Barry Allen, drenching him with a wild mixture of electrified chemicals and somehow giving him the power of super-fast speed. He uses this speed to fight crime and keep people safe. Go BACKWARD Go FORWARD

The Flash Could it happen? Nope. The Flash travels amazing distances in record time. He can supposedly run around the Earth without stopping for lunch. A normal, 170 pound man needs about 3,000 calories of energy a day to stay alive. Go FORWARDGo BACKWARD

The Flash Take the QUIZ! If the Flash were to run 3,000 miles (from Los Angeles to New York) it might take him a couple of minutes, but he would burn about 375,000 calories of energy to do it. Unless he stopped to eat a full meal every second, he would starve himself to death after taking just a few hyper- speed steps. Go BACKWARD

Comic Book Science Quiz! 1. What is Batman’s real name? Brad Bruce Bruce Bradley Bruce Wayne Wayne Bradley

Comic Book Science Quiz! 2. Why does Superman have superpowers? Because the air on Earth is more powerful than the air on his home planet. Because the air on Earth is more powerful than the air on his home planet. Because the gravity, density and sun type on Earth is different than on his home planet. Because the gravity, density and sun type on Earth is different than on his home planet. Because his home planet is smaller and has more water than Earth. Because his home planet blew up and forced powers into Superman. Because Superman was bit by a radioactive spider and then terrorized by thugs when he was young. Because Superman was bit by a radioactive spider and then terrorized by thugs when he was young.

Comic Book Science Quiz! 3. How many calories of energy would it take to run from California to New York? 375,000 calories 3,000 calories 4.3 million calories 50 million calories

Comic Book Science Quiz! 4. Gamma radiation made The Flash so speedy. TRUE FALSE

Comic Book Science Quiz! 5. Why is the Batman actually possible? Batman is based on a true story that actually happened. Batman is NOT actually possible. Batman has no superpowers and uses intelligence and gadgets to help him fight crime. Batman has no superpowers and uses intelligence and gadgets to help him fight crime. Batman was an old legend from the 1850’s and was updated to be more believable. Batman was an old legend from the 1850’s and was updated to be more believable.

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess!

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess!

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess!

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN SPIDERMAN

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN SPIDERMAN

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN SPIDERMAN

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Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN SPIDERMAN THE JOKER

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN SPIDERMAN THE JOKER

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Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN SPIDERMAN THE JOKER SPIDERMAN BATMAN SUPERMAN

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN SPIDERMAN THE JOKER SPIDERMAN BATMAN SUPERMAN

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN SPIDERMAN THE JOKER SPIDERMAN BATMAN SUPERMAN

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN SPIDERMAN THE JOKER SPIDERMAN BATMAN SUPERMAN IRONMAN

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN SPIDERMAN THE JOKER SPIDERMAN BATMAN SUPERMAN IRONMAN

Which superhero is this? You will have 2 seconds to guess! WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN SPIDERMAN THE JOKER SPIDERMAN BATMAN SUPERMAN IRONMAN

Which superhero is this? WONDERWOMAN CATWOMAN SPIDERMAN THE JOKER SPIDERMAN BATMAN SUPERMAN IRONMAN CAPTAINAMERICA CLICK HERE CLICK HERE TO FINISH! TO FINISH!

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