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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."

3 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...

  2. 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.

  3. 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.