The Physics of Superheroes: More Heroes! More Villains! More Science! Spectacular Second Edition

James Kakalios

Penguin Publishing Group, Nov 3, 2009 - Humor - 424 pages

A complete update to the hit book on the real physics at work in comic books, featuring more heroes, more villains, and more science 

Since 2001, James Kakalios has taught "Everything I Needed to Know About Physics I Learned from Reading Comic Books," a hugely popular university course that generated coast-to-coast media attention for its unique method of explaining complex physics concepts through comics. With The Physics of Superheroes, named one of the best science books of 2005 by Discover, he introduced his colorful approach to an even wider audience. Now Kakalios presents a totally updated, expanded edition that features even more superheroes and findings from the cutting edge of science. With three new chapters and completely revised throughout with a splashy, redesigned package, the book that explains why Spider-Man's webbing failed his girlfriend, the probable cause of Krypton's explosion, and the Newtonian physics at work in Gotham City is electrifying from cover to cover.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - BruceCoulson - LibraryThing

A fun read by an educator who clearly loves and appreciates comics. Although the science is rather basic for anyone who majored in the field, the exploration of how super-powers might actually work ...

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - Meggo - LibraryThing

This book is what happens when you cross a comic book geek with a science nerd, but in a good way. Full of actual formulae, this is rather a more intellectual look at how Superman leaps tall buildings ...

Contents

• Atomic physics: 245
• NoT A DREAM MOT A HOAx NOT AN IMAGINARY TALE: 259
• THROUGH A WALL LIGHTLY: 279
• THE costumes ARE supeR Too: 310
• section 4WHAT HAVE We LeARNet2: 339
• AFTERWORD7: 357
• Notes: 375
• ACKNOWLED7GMEMTs: 405

About the author

James Kakalios is a professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota, where he has taught since 1988, and where his class "Everything I Needed to Know About Physics I Learned from Reading Comic Books" is a popular freshman seminar. He received his Ph.D. in 1985 from the University of Chicago, and has been reading comic books for much longer.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Physics of Superheroes: More Heroes! More Villains! More Science! Spectacular Second Edition
• Author: James Kakalios
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group, 2009
• ISBN: 1592405088, 9781592405084
• Length: 424 pages
• Subjects: Humor / Form / Essays; Literary Criticism / Comics & Graphic Novels; Science / Physics / General; Social Science / Popular Culture