Polite Dissent

11 Responses to “ More Anatomical Follies ”

1. Scott
   October 12th, 2005 at 3:52 pm
   

   Well, it was established back in the days of the old OHOTMU (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe) that in addition to Peter’s agility, his joints and tendons are more flexible than normal. This should make the rather awkward position, which some contortionists could probably duplicate, no big deal for him.

   As for why he would be in such a position, I’m not sure. One thought is that when web-swinging, in order to gain any altitude or speed he must do a good deal of ‘pumping’ with his legs like kids do on a swing. Of coruse, one would then think he’d want to have both legs extended behind him for a good forward swing, but maybe he’s perfected some funky exaggerated side-to-side running in air technique.

   Or maybe he just wants to show the ladies *just* how flexible he really is. Of course, by the same token that his Spider-jewels are exposed to attack, they’re also pretty exposed to *view*. Spidey as semi-flasher? Who knew?

2. John
   October 12th, 2005 at 10:19 pm
   

   In one of the Ambush Bug mini-series, Giffen drew AB in a pose very much like that. I don’t have the comic handy, but as I recall, the dialogue was something along thse lines: “Hey, look what I can do with my leg! Is that advantageous or what?” A joke that went totally over my head at the time, because I didn’t read McFarlane’s Spider-Man, but in retrospect it’s pretty funny.

3. CH Wilson
   October 13th, 2005 at 2:57 am
   

   Heh. You have a doll.

4. Carl
   October 13th, 2005 at 5:52 am
   

   There’s a really long tradition of exaggeration in cartoon art, you know.

5. John Nowak
   October 13th, 2005 at 8:23 am
   

   All I can think of is “Twister Championship.”

6. Scott
   October 13th, 2005 at 8:51 am
   Official Comment

   CH,
   It’s a collectible, NOT a doll.

   Carl,
   I agree that exaggeration is an important part of comics. But at some point, it just becomes too exaggerated. I’m drawing a line in the sand and saying that this Spider-Man (and that painful back leg) is too much. Of course, your mileage (and physical maleability) may vary.

7. David Oakes
   October 13th, 2005 at 12:53 pm
   

   I think this is less about the ankles, and more about the Spider-Jewels.

   Stand on your right leg. Bend your left knee, and then raise it as high as you can. This puts your legs in about the same position as the picture. Now if you could bend your torso/rotate your hips sufficiently to place your head under your left foot, you could be Spider-Man.

   And people wonder how Peter Parker could attract all those hot women…

8. Sarah
   January 25th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
   

   Can I be long-winded in the interest of science?

   I am what’s called “double jointed” (an inaccurate if not idiotic term, but I digress)and I can easily copy the position Spider-Man has in this panel. In fact, I can take it farther, and wrap my foot around to put it on my collarbone. For me, it’s easier than walking.

   Which gives me a no-prize explanation for Spider-Man: if he’s really all that flexible, than– like a lot of other hypermobile people I’ve met– he probably has MORE difficulty staying within the usual range of mobility. This is especially likely if a hypermobile person has very strong muscles with lax or overstretched tendons. The best explanation I’ve ever heard for it is that the muscles generate more force than the ligaments and tendons can generate stopping power, leading to.. well, that pose.

   I can attest to this from personal experience: When I was still trying to do normal things,like run in PE, I sometimes came home with my own footprints on my own back, having literally kicked my own ass. I couldn’t control the movement in my legs once it got started. This sort of thing can be controlled with great self awareness and working with slow movements, two things Spider Man doesn’t often practice.

   Side note: If Peter really is that flexible, than he’s using his healing factor more than even he probably realizes. Painful or not, those contortions do wreak havoc on soft tissues.

9. Liz
   April 5th, 2006 at 3:29 pm
   

   Looks to me like whoever drew this wasn’t sure of what sort of composition would best fit the frame. There is evidence of to references, one of the legs and one of the body, being put together. Badly, I might add.

10. Art
    June 9th, 2006 at 8:38 am
    

    I think that Sarah’s boyfriend is a lucky guy. No offense intended ;)

11. Ionhelen
    July 1st, 2006 at 11:09 am
    

    Well…it’s possible, in a way. But he’d have to have insane support muscle strength and crazy flexibility training. I mean, I know people who can grap their foot and put it into a position like that while in a split, so really it’s just a question of how much strength Spidey has in his leg, and how much momentum he used to fling it up there (cuz, remember, this is a snapshot of a pose that probably lasted all of 3 seconds)

    Just to see an example that poses that look impossible aren’t always, check out Chloe Bruce and her scorpion kick.

    Weeeeeeeell there’s my two cents.

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