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Marvel Universe Is Almost Like *Real Life* Society

Posted by Hemos on from the scary-as-heck dept.

TheMatt writes "Scientists at the University of the Balearic Isles have analyzed the Marvel Universe and found that it is almost like real society. The team studied the statistical properties of each character, the books they were in, and who else appeared in them (through resources like the MCP). While there were some similarities to real society, a close look revealed the artificiality. For example, the MU isn't very clustered, only 1.5x that of a random network; real life is about 10x more clustered. Of course, the realities of comics (the business) are why this occurs. Also, they found the most networked of all Marvel heroes was Steve Rogers, Captain America himself."

6 of 218 comments (clear)

  1. OMFG by aardwolf64 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    While there were some similarities to real society, a close look revealed the artificiality

    I'm wondering just how much exactly they spent on this study just to find out that comic books are in fact based on real society? I think the only reason this would even be important to the slashdot community is to see how foolishly Universities spend their money. I could have told them that comic books contain artificial societies for only $100 probably saving them thousands...

    Any Universities needing useless information about comic books should make thier checks payable to aardWolf64, care of...

    1. Re:OMFG by FortKnox · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I could have told them that comic books contain artificial societies for only $100 probably saving them thousands...

      I got you beat, in honor of Open Source, I woulda done it for FREE!

      You're right, though. How about putting that money into real research. Organizations like NASA get budget cuts while projects studying the Marvel Universe go on?
      Think about it!

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      Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
  2. Captain America by PowerTroll+5000 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Also, they found the most networked of all Marvel heroes was Steve Rogers, Captain America himself

    Why not? He was the first major character (March 1941) that put Marvel, then known as Timely Comics on the map. He's simply had more time to network.

    Only Human Torch (October 1939) and Sub-Mariner are older.

    More info here (Google cache only)

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    I'm not afraid of falling, it's the sudden stop at the end that frightens me.

  3. I can see some usefulness from this by mblase · · Score: 3, Interesting

    - Marvel writers (and writers of other comics, book and television universes) begin clustering their characters more, instead of letting them encounter each other more or less randomly, to increase the subconscious sense of realism.

    - Software developers creating "artificial universes" apply the study to increase the clustering, and hence the underlying realism, of their creations -- for instance, Non-Player Characters in EverQuest or The Sims.

    - Practical implementation for Marvel: LAY OFF THE CROSSOVERS and let characters who know each other already keep in touch each other instead.

  4. What I want to know is by jdavidb · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Did they include issue #3 of Transformers?

    --
    Secession is the right of all sentient beings.
  5. Re:Kevin Bacon not that connected by ajs · · Score: 2, Interesting
    The Tipping Point was published in 2000. From a random site I found on Google:
    Enshrined in a popular play, movie and a game involving actor Kevin Bacon, the notion that disparate people are connected by a short chain of mutual friends caught on after 1967 research by Yale psychologist Stanley Milgram.


    As you can see, Malcolm Gladwel(author of The Tipping Point) did not introduce this concept.