Book and Movie Reports by Ed

Book Report: The Physics of Superheroes, by James Kakalios How could it have taken me so long to read this book? Considering my heavy background in physics, and the fact that I practically marinate in the lore of superheroes and super powers, you’d think this would be on my bedside table. Well, better late than never. This book uses examples of situations from superhero comics to illustrate many of the basic concepts of physics. For example, given that the original Superman (pre-flying) could jump an eighth of a mile, could he really jump over a skyscraper? The book covers motion and energy, light and heat, electricity and magnetism, and even a little quantum mechanics, all presented with such lively and interesting examples. Plenty of pictures from real DC and Marvel comics illustrate his points. Is this, then, a spoil-sport book, exposing how super powers are impossible and fictitious nonsense? Not at all. In fact, early on the author makes it clear that very often, if you gran