Polite Dissent

19 Responses to “ Picture Quiz: New X-Men #40 ”

1. McKenzie
   August 2nd, 2007 at 11:50 pm
   

   Hmm… besides your comments about not defibrillating a stopped heart the only thing I see is the curious lack of medical equipment. If Amanda Sefton is not hooked up to any monitors how do they know she’s flatlined in the first place?

2. Steven
   August 3rd, 2007 at 12:01 am
   

   Also, the patient’s shirt is still on.

3. nachtfae
   August 3rd, 2007 at 12:13 am
   

   Should Amanda be screaming like that?
   Also, does the first panel being totally dark mean the lights are out? If so, the light is coming from Surge’s electrical discharge to Amanda’s chest, which is about stomach high to Surge. So why is a shadow of her head on the ground? (That may just be me mis-interpreting what exactly is going on).
   And speaking of the electrical discharge, that seems to be quite a bit of it going on in that panel. It looks more like an electrocution than a defibrillation.

   From what is shown here, though, I don’t think we can say that Amanda is flatlining, depending on who is doing the English commentary. The German doctors are just saying we are losing her. Judging by the use of “they’re” in the 4th word balloon, it is one of the non-doctors saying flatlining. That’s how I see it, and I can’t say who is speaking, so maybe they do have medical knowledge. But it could be someone taught medicine by bad TV. Of course, is “We’re losing her” the right time to defib?

4. Dan
   August 3rd, 2007 at 12:19 am
   

   Here are my guesses-

   1 - Surge is telling people the specific voltage she’s charging to? Also, is that the royal “we” she’s using? It’s not like there’s a team of doctors working here.

   2 - Based on her arm position, she seems to be shocking Amanda’s stomach (and with one hand on top of the other, not spread out to create a path of voltage.

   3 - She’s also shocking through clothing, apparently.

   4 - They’re shocking someone who’s flatlining, which isn’t a great idea.

   5 - I’m not completely clear about heart attacks, but should she be screaming if she’s flatlining?

   6 - Where the hell is Nightcrawler standing that his head is making such a tiny shadow? Also, is that a puppy next to him?

   7 - If Surge’s head is directly above the light source (presumably her hands), why is her shadow directly on the ground behind her?

5. nachtfae
   August 3rd, 2007 at 12:24 am
   

   Just noticed, why is everyone standing around, so calm looking? You’d think “We’re losing her” would cause a bit more activity. Note the nurse (my guess) with her arms to the side and it looks like a clip board or folder. The doctor with the tie just seems to be staring in amazement. And maybe its the mutants with superpowers being a bit terrifying, but shouldn’t the room be cleared of non-medical personnel, so they don’t go doing something rash in the heat of the moment without proper training?

6. nachtfae
   August 3rd, 2007 at 12:28 am
   

   Dan:

   1. That’s the German doctor’s talking (speech surrounded by to denote translated).

   6. Still tiny head issue, but I’m guessing it is a silhouette of his head, not the shadow (they are in front of the light source). Bad perspective on the artist’s part, whom doesn’t seem to know what perspective is in this panel.

7. Kitsu
   August 3rd, 2007 at 1:05 am
   

   I find it funny that they say they’re charging, but there are no paddles or any sort of defibrillator machine (or any machines at all) around.

8. Christian
   August 3rd, 2007 at 5:33 am
   

   Why is she not restrained?

9. Eric Henry
   August 3rd, 2007 at 6:45 am
   

   To what has already been mentioned, I’d have to add:

   Why were they attempting to defibrillate something in total darkness?

10. jonessoda
    August 3rd, 2007 at 8:13 am
    

    Not looking at the other comments…

    1. You can’t defibrillate a “flatlined” pt. Although supposedly some paramedic protocols these days call for trying once to defibrillate what looks like asystole on the grounds that it could just be very fine v-fib.

    2. If your defibrillator is arcing, something is majorly, majorly wrong and your pt isn’t going to get a good shock.

11. Chris Anthony
    August 3rd, 2007 at 9:15 am
    

    It’s possible, however unlikely, that Surge’s shadow on the ground is cast by reflected light from the ceiling.

    I agree, though, that it’s probably just the artist not thinking the light source through.

12. Jared
    August 3rd, 2007 at 10:10 am
    

    Where is their EKG machine that they are diagnosing asystole (flatline) from? If the power is out, how are they powering it–and also if they have an EKG, why no defib?

    Also, for asystole, I would prefer CPR. I’m not sure what the 2005 guidelines are, but I believe the 2000 guidelines recommended CPR and epinephrine instead of defibrillation. Now, if it isn’t asystole, then there are different protocols–but the point still stands that you need an EKG to tell (or supervision, I suppose).

    Also, shocking in the wrong position is bad, shocking with clothes on is bad, and why not shock bi-phasic if you have the ability?

13. Kit
    August 3rd, 2007 at 10:29 am
    

    I’m a big proponent of no medicine in the dark (whether there’s call for it or not), but you do have to wonder if the new models of superheroine these days can do biphasic shock lightning, or if it’s just DC like they did in the old days. “Earn your entrance” into the X-men by flash frying a member’s love interest. And bonus points for setting the clothes on fire.

14. David Oakes
    August 3rd, 2007 at 12:26 pm
    

    “[T]he new models of superheroine these days can do biphasic shock lightning”.

    Questionable medicine aside - and no, I never want any X-man to be my Doctor, even the ones with a degree - that phrase alone is worth the price of admission.

15. mike.
    August 3rd, 2007 at 4:15 pm
    

    Arcing electricity sounds NOTHING like “zzzxxxxx”!

16. Dan
    August 3rd, 2007 at 7:26 pm
    

    I didn’t notice the helpful translation brackets - although finding out that it was the doctor speaking makes even less sense, seeing as he doesn’t seem to be involved in the procedure at all…

17. Keith
    August 6th, 2007 at 7:31 am
    

    The patient is screaming because she’s getting a severe electrical burn! This might be a case of the cure being worse than the disease…

18. Phil
    August 7th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
    

    Also, they’re saying “charge to 350″. If I know my ACLS protocol, I believe the starting energy is 200J, then 300, then 360. Defibrillators usually just give a quick jolt, but Surge seems to be delivering a sustained charge.

19. Mipp
    August 27th, 2007 at 12:03 am
    

    Black Adam also used his magical lightning powers to defibrillate his friend Atom-Smasher during their JSA days.

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