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Comic Book Geniuses and their specialties

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RedneckRocker First Loyalty: Yourself from None Of Your Business Since: Jan, 2001
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#1: Dec 15th 2012 at 5:55:33 PM

Let's face it: Most geniuses in comics could be considered all-around super-scientists. But usually, there's one or two fields that they're considered to be in the category "Best On Planet". For instance:

Granted, I'm aware that these are mostly Marvel. Any other geniuses?

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gregyo Since: Jan, 2001
#2: Dec 15th 2012 at 8:04:12 PM

Hank Pym! - Pym Particles and anything Crazy Awesome in general!

KingZeal Since: Oct, 2009
#3: Dec 15th 2012 at 10:03:43 PM

Officially, Reed Richards and Doctor Doom have no "specialties". They're polymaths that are good at all subjects, but not as good in specialties.

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#4: Dec 16th 2012 at 4:19:09 AM

Reed knows more about Pym particles than Hank.

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#5: Dec 16th 2012 at 5:47:53 AM

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RedneckRocker First Loyalty: Yourself from None Of Your Business Since: Jan, 2001
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#6: Dec 16th 2012 at 6:58:22 AM

Officially, Reed Richards and Doctor Doom have no "specialties".

I mainly suggested spacecraft as a specialty for Reed due to his team's origin story.

Embroiled in slave rebellion, I escaped crucifixion simply by declaring 'I am Vito', everyone else apparently being called 'Spartacus'.
KingZeal Since: Oct, 2009
#7: Dec 16th 2012 at 8:48:58 AM

That doesn't make it a specialty, though. Tony has probably done more in space than Reed.

Robbery Since: Jul, 2012
#8: Dec 16th 2012 at 11:31:25 AM

I never got the impression that Barbara Gordon was the greatest computer scientist on Earth. As Oracle she was clearly very adept with information systems and communications, but the title "greatest computer scientist in the world" would seem to encompass a WHOLE lot beyond that, like building your own computer systems, programming, etc. I admit I haven't read a lot of Oracle stories, but I don't remember her ever creating or innovating, only manipulating.

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#9: Dec 16th 2012 at 12:04:59 PM

I mainly suggested spacecraft as a specialty for Reed due to his team's origin story.

Also, they stole that spaceship from NASA.

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Robbery Since: Jul, 2012
#10: Dec 16th 2012 at 12:33:47 PM

And Hank Pym did create Ultron...which, despite how it all turned out, IS pretty impressive.

Let's see...DC has Will Magnus, creator of the Metal Men, and T.O.Morrow, who created the Silver Age Red Tornado...and Dr.Ivo who created Amazo (wow...lots of folks doing the AI thing at DC).

TeChameleon Since: Jan, 2001
#11: Dec 16th 2012 at 8:02:01 PM

Hmm... I think it could be argued that Babs (at least preboot) was the world's greatest... information technologist, I guess? I mean, her first outing as Oracle had her bringing down a guy who's freaking superpower was hacking. And for that matter... I'm not sure how much innovation she's done, but I have vague and possibly wildly inaccurate memories of her bringing together and interfacing something like half a dozen alien races' advanced computer tech (New Genesis/Apokoliptian, Kryptonian, Thanagarian, Oan(?), etc.) as the League's go-to girl for any and all things computer. If that's not some kind of genius, I'm not sure what is.

DC also has Ray Palmer, the Atom- Exotic Matter Physicist as a specialty, maybe?

Ted Kord was... hmmm. Inventor/Mechanical Engineer would be the best descriptor, I think. Guy invented some pretty wild stuff, like his 'BB Gun' compressed air pistol thing, or 'the bug' antigravity airship-spaceship-submarine... thing...

And of course don't forget Brainiac 5, he of the 12th-level intellect tongue

C0mraid from Here and there Since: Aug, 2010
#12: Dec 17th 2012 at 1:23:04 AM

I thought Doom was meant to specialise in robotics, even if he can turn his hand to anything.

Doc Samson for psychology and gamma radiation

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#13: Dec 17th 2012 at 5:08:26 PM

Dr Sivana is an expert at...well, everything?

Theres sex and death and human grime in monochrome for one thin dime and at least the trains all run on time but they dont go anywhere.
RedneckRocker First Loyalty: Yourself from None Of Your Business Since: Jan, 2001
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#14: Dec 17th 2012 at 5:28:09 PM

Actually, Sivana's an expert at portraying mad scientist stereotypes.

Embroiled in slave rebellion, I escaped crucifixion simply by declaring 'I am Vito', everyone else apparently being called 'Spartacus'.
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#15: Dec 17th 2012 at 7:18:05 PM

Doc Ock is also genius when it comes to radiation (though not quite Bruce Banner level).

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#16: Dec 20th 2012 at 11:00:14 PM

Spider-Man always focused on biochemistry. Hank Pym would be a mix of the shrinking thing and the robotics. I always thought Reed was more of a quantum physics/alternate dimensions guy, what with the Negative Zone and the council of Reeds.

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KingZeal Since: Oct, 2009
#17: Dec 21st 2012 at 1:38:36 PM

Reed can be more summed up as an explorer/scientist. He's basically the equivalent of the old Archeologist Adventurer and genius explorer archetype. He goes to the Center of the Earth and finds molepeople, goes into space and finds giant purple dudes, goes into alternate universes and finds green bug-people.

RedneckRocker First Loyalty: Yourself from None Of Your Business Since: Jan, 2001
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#18: Mar 23rd 2013 at 1:54:20 PM

If I had to venture a guess, I'd say Ray Palmer was a world-class physics (including subatomic and theoretical) expert.

  • Hank Pym: In the original story, he was a chemist. I'd also suggest physics and entymology (primarily ants) and robotics (though since that whole Ultron business, well . . . )

Embroiled in slave rebellion, I escaped crucifixion simply by declaring 'I am Vito', everyone else apparently being called 'Spartacus'.
Robbery Since: Jul, 2012
#19: Mar 23rd 2013 at 4:34:56 PM

[up] For Hank Pym's part, Ultron was an unqualified success. Ultron just decided to do unpleasant things with his free will and self-determination.

RedneckRocker First Loyalty: Yourself from None Of Your Business Since: Jan, 2001
First Loyalty: Yourself
#20: Mar 23rd 2013 at 5:17:43 PM

I didn't mean that Hank lost the knowledge; I simply meant that since Ultron, his interest in robotics has probably waned.

Embroiled in slave rebellion, I escaped crucifixion simply by declaring 'I am Vito', everyone else apparently being called 'Spartacus'.
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