If I was Invisible Woman

Background

Susan Storm Richards is a founding member of the Fantastic Four. She like the other founding members acquired her powers by flying into outer space with her later husband Reed Richards. Their ship was insufficiently shielded and the quartet was bombarded by cosmic rays. Upon crashing back on Earth their powers manifested immediately.

The Invisible Woman's career has involved space travel, dimensional travel even time travel. She is one of if not the most experienced human female super heroes (She was even a super villain for a short time). She has been not only a member of the Fantastic Four but a member of the Avengers as well. She has gone from being essentially a damsel in distress with the power to turn invisible to being leader of the Fantastic Four who could not only turn invisible but thanks to her force field powers, could engage in combat with beings as powerful as the Hulk (depending who's writing and who's comic book it is she is in).

I could write paragraph upon paragraph of her history but I won't. That's not what this blog is about.

Description

Susan Storm is a beautiful woman with blue eyes and blond hair. She often wears some variation of the typical blue and white costume with the Fantastic Four logo on it. Her hairstyles frequently vary.

Powers

The Invisible Woman can render herself or parts of herself invisible (invisible to ultraviolet and infrared as well) at will. She can also render other people or objects invisible up to a forty thousand cubic feet volume (a little under half the volume of an Olympic size pool). She does this by mentally bending light around herself and/or wants to make invisible. There are a number of explanations for how she and others see while she makes them invisible. One explanation is that she directs enough undistorted light to their eyes to retain her full range of vision while at least in one issue of Fantastic Four Reed notices that when she renders herself and others invisible they see by using cosmic rays in place of visible light.

A variation of this ability is her power to render artificially made invisible targets visible again provided the target wasn't rendered invisible by magical or psionic means. This power also permitted her to render invisible energies visible as when she rendered the energy field Terrax the Tamer used to levitate Manhattan into outer space visible so as not to panic the inhabitants. It should be noted that she's only done this once so it may not be something she can routinely do. Also it should be noted that this seems to demonstrate that her power to render things visible surpasses her power to render things invisible. This could also be the means by which she makes it possible to see cosmic rays while they are invisible.

She can also mentally create psionic fields of invisible force. These are drawn from hyperspace (as suggested by Marvel Universe Wiki). She manipulates these fields for a variety of effects. Usually she generates incredibly durable (can absorb repeated attacks from super beings like the Hulk, Gladiator and Blastaar) invisible force fields around herself or other targets. She can vary the texture and strength of the fields from hard and unyielding to as soft and yielding as foam rubber. She uses “softer” fields to cushion impacts which has the benefit of reducing the psionic backlash she experiences from powerful attacks on the psionic fields which can cause her mental or physical pain. She can shape the force fields into invisible constructs like simple geometric shapes like cones, spheres, cubes or variations of them like barriers, columns, domes, ramps and pointed projectiles. She can create constructs as small as a marble to as large as 100 feet in diameter. Her hollow constructs such as domes can extend up to several miles in area.

She can generate and manipulate multiple psionic force fields simultaneously.

She can weaponize the force fields by generating force behind them and shaping them into weapons like battering rams, cannon balls or darts or even as shock waves. By creating a force field within an object and expanding it she can cause her target to explode. In combat with the proper use of her force fields she is a match for most super strong characters of “class 100” strength.

She can also use her force fields as a method of travel. She can create animated constructs such as ramps, stairs, slides and columns enabling her to simulate levitation and flight. She has used an invisible force column to get to the top of the Baxter Building when the power was out and she couldn't access the teams private elevator.

Although she often gesticulates while using her powers, she can use them while holding perfectly still.

If I was Invisible Woman

If I was the Invisible Woman I would do a number of things before even deciding how I would use her power set. I would develop a fighting style similar to that of “earth bending” from Avatar the Last Air Bender/Legend Of Korra (of course substituting the force fields for actual “earth”). That would include figuring out how to use the psionic feed back feature of the force fields as a sensory capacity. I would also learn some basic engineering to be able to reinforce the force field constructs beyond their natural capacity. I would also get in the habit of rendering visible ambient infrared and/or ultraviolet light in case I find myself without light. One of the biggest things I would learn to do is to shape a force field into an invisible glider so I can have an alternative method of travel.

Now with this power set I would become a “Super Laborer/Jack of All Trades”. I would hire myself out to anyone/s who could make use of my powers. As much as possible I would avoid combat jobs. I would concentrate on the prevention of destruction and the building of things.

The power to render things invisible becomes easily a method of finding broken pipes, mold and electrical faults without having to rip walls and floors open. It also provides a non-invasive way of diagnosing illnesses and breaks in a body, human or otherwise without unnecessary X-rays or CT-scans. I would even go so far as help the police when they are on a raid. Finding where things are hidden or people are waiting to ambush them. It would also be good for archaeology.

I won't lie. I would spend a lot of time in various states of invisibility. For the first few months of having the power my most common use of it would be to pretend I teleported away when I leave a room or building. Once out of a building I would make an invisible bridge to walk up so there would be no trace of me walking away. Of course as often as not I'd only pretend to leave or at least only when there was information to be learned. But still mostly I would walk around appearing to be missing parts. One day headless, another day no limbs and another only a floating head.

The invisible psionic force field power would be the power I would use the most. I would use it for protection purposes of course. Providing cover for those in physical jeopardy and creating pathways for them to evacuate from. For myself personally I would most often use it for “air bridges” making it look like I can walk on air or even on water. “Work wise” I would more often use it to put out fires and to reinforce buildings before they collapse in a fire or a landslide or cave in. In instances where I couldn't prevent a cave in or if people where trapped underwater I would make a snorkel with it making sure the trapped people would be getting fresh air.

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If I Was A Composite Super Being.

I got my inspiration for this particular posting because of characters like the Composite Superman who had the combined powers of the Legion of Superheroes and the plethora of Super Skrulls that showed up during the "Secret Invasion" story arc in Marvel Comics.

I distinguish composite super beings from "power mimics" like the Super Adaptoid or Amazo who gain their powers from being exposed to other super beings because they only have the specific power sets of a specific group of super beings and cannot just acquire more like the two androids mentioned can.

For me the appeal of a composite super beings is similar to the appeal of power mimics. When you have the combined powers of a super team you can use it in ways that individual team members can't no matter how cooperative they are. Like the Super Skrull combining Mr. Fantastic's stretching with the Thing's superhuman strength to use the super strength in places where it's difficult to reach. Something the two can't do as individuals. Mr. Fantastic can reach but he lacks the super strength. The Thing has the strength but lacks the reach.

For my group to draw super powers from I choose the U-Foes from Marvel Comics. Since K'lrt the original Super Skrull possesses the combined powers of the Fantastic Four, I thought I'd go with the super villain equivalent of the Fantastic Four, the U-Foes.

Background

Simon Utrecht was a wealthy and unscrupulous business man with a hunger for power. In pursuit of power he convinced Mike Steel an engineer, scientist and pilot to pilot the privately owned spaceship he had built and take them plus Ann Darnell a life support specialist and her brother James a fuel propulsion expert into outer space in an attempt to reproduce the event that gave the Fantastic Four their powers. The mission was somewhat of a success. Bruce Banner the incredible Hulk's scientist alter ego managed to return them to Earth before the mission was scheduled to end when he discovered what they were trying to do. This left them with unstable powers . It was only after James was further exposed to "cosmic rays" that his powers were stabilized then he could use his power over radiation to stabilize the powers of the others. From then on they were the U-Foes.

Descriptions

Vector

After being mutated by cosmic rays Simon Utrecht now has white eyes and no hair. His skin is now a variety of shades of yellow and orange arranged in strange patterns.

Ironclad

After being mutated by cosmic rays Mike Steel is now over six and a half feet tall, weighing over 600 lbs. with white eyes and metallic skin. Another noticeable feature of his is that the top of his head is a relatively flat surface instead of being round like a normal skull.

Vapor

After being mutated by cosmic rays Ann Darnell still has essentially her normal look when she is in human form which is that of a five and a half foot tall, average build woman with long brown hair and green eyes. In her gaseous forms her appearance varies by the gas she becomes but when her eyes are visible they are white.

X-Ray

After being mutated by cosmic rays James Darnell is a human shaped, purple colored radiation field with no hair and with what appears to be white eyes.

Powers

As a composite super being you can mix and match the powers of the composing super beings or use only individual's power sets at a time or none at all.

The following is the individual powers of the members of the U-Foes:

Vector

He has the power to telekinetically repel matter and energy directing it away from himself. He can use it to do things like: repelling objects to send them flying as deadly missiles; releasing concentrated blast of energy as an attack; and even using his telekinesis on the ground to propel himself away from it allowing him to fly.

He's powerful enough to flay most of the Incredible Hulk's skin and muscle tissue from his body. He also used it to repel the structure of reality within the 'Crossroads' nexus which he claims makes him capable of hurling worlds. However the Hulk has managed twice with incredible effort to move through Vector's repulsions to physically attack him. He was at least once able to block and repel the attempts of various super humans and allies of the Incredible Hulk to locate him while they were kidnapping and torturing him. That includes magical attempts by Doctor Strange and Tony Stark's and Reed Richard's tracking technology.

Ironclad

He has a metallic form or possibly metallic skin after the fashion of the Thing's rocky hide with tremendous durability and resistance to harm. He can go toe to toe with the Incredible Hulk for prolonged periods of time. He can also conduct heat through his skin hot enough to burn objects and people he touches. He also has superhuman strength permitting him to lift from the ground over his head at arms length somewhere between 85 and 90 tons. If he has super human stamina it's probably like the Thing's who can exert himself for up to 24 hours before getting tired.

He can also increase or decrease his own weight/mass, to hover in the air or to "crush like a mountain".

Vapor

She can transform her body into any form of gas from pure elements forms to complex compounds (mixtures of elements). She can resume her solid form for a brief periods of time. In her gas forms she's essentially immune to most forms of harm but she is vulnerable to chemical reactions that would affect the chemical-form she is in. The Hulk once beat her by spraying her with oxygen while she was hydrogen. She became water. She can also be harmed by different types of energy, such as lightning and her brother's radiation as well as being affected by strong atmospheric phenomena like intense winds or sonic booms.

X-Ray

His physical form is permanently transformed into a living energy field of "quasi-solid radiation". This form can fly and hover as well as emit various wavelengths of radiation including a form of concussive force blasts capable of hurting the incredible Hulk. He can also produce "negative gamma rays" that can transform the Incredible Hulk back into Bruce Banner but it only lasts so long. He had to keep bombarding regularly to maintain the effect. He also has the ability to turn invisible. He is mostly intangible and consequently invulnerable to most physical harm. However he can still be harmed by attacks that disrupt his energy fields such as items made of lead or vibranium (a fictional metal found in the Marvel Universe). He can also be defeated if he's drained of his radiation.

Both X-Ray and Vapor can still speak and retain their mental attributes and personalities despite being in non-human forms. Even most of their sensory capacities like vision, hearing and touch.

If I Was A Composite Super Being

For this particular combination of super beings I'd get investors together and create a pilot project of a city "powered" by me.

With X-Ray's Powers

In the morning if nothing else was going on that needed my attention I'd spend my time charging batteries with my radiation powers. Possibly having an array of solar panels converting the radiation I'm emitting into electricity. Alternatively I could just heat up some water causing it to turn turbines.

I'd also be the primary decontaminator using my radiation powers to destroy harmful organisms introduced into the city. Of course I could use my powers to generate microwaves and become a massive cooking center as well.

With Vapor's Powers

I'd use my gas shifting form to fight fires and to troubleshoot construction problems. With a little bit of medical training I could probably learn to use my gas form to mimic gasses that might help heal people or at least to disinfect or to sedate people. Vapor has proven capable of soothing Ironclad after she accidentally began corroding him as an acidic gas. Hell maybe I'd learn to do minor cosmetic treatments like chemical peals.

With Vector's Powers

I'd use my telekinetic repulsion power for landscaping which would not only include digging up the ground but aerial surveying as well. Depending on where the city is built, I may use it to repel bad weather or for plowing snow. Whatever it would take to make construction go smoothly. I could transport a lot of material just simply pushing them or by keeping them in balance over my head while I "carry" them to their destination. Also I'd be great at demolition.

On the less serious side I'd spend sometime on beaches helping kids who can't get their kite's to fly either because they can't or there's just not enough wind. By the same token I could push a lot of kids on the swings at once. Geeze can you tell I'm an uncle and babysit way too often.

With Ironclad's powers

I think in terms of what I can do to build a city as a super strong guy with armored hide I'm thinking it would go along the lines it would the way I described it under Mr. Incredible except with the lack of super speed it would take longer. For another difference Ironclad's weight/mass control power would allow me to walk on structures that would normally be too weak for me to walk out on. I've gone through roofs and off of them. It's not good.

In Combination

Here's where as composite super being shines. The first example to come to mind is the combination of Vapor's and X-Ray's powers. Transform into gas, enter a person's system and use radioactive blasts to treat cancer at the actual site of the disease instead of damaging the rest of the system along the way.

I could combine Vector and Ironclad to create a living cannonball of myself. I could more readily carry a heavy load with Ironclad's powers and use Vectors' to get myself into position to place the load where it needs to go.

I could use Vapor's powers to infiltrate a building undetected or without damaging it so I can retrieve a kidnapped person. Then from there I could use the rest of the U-Foes powers to fight my way back out with the kidnap victim in tow. Using Ironclad's powers as my base to make sure if someone sneaks up on me I'm at least with some protection and then I could use Vector's and X-Ray's powers to fend off the kidnappers and their "associates".

Since neither Vapor nor X-Ray can really handle solid objects in their gas and radiation forms I could use Vector's power to over come that limit in those forms in the least to push solid objects around.

Mixing Vapor's and Ironclad's powers makes for one hell of a wrestler. If you can't break out of a hold with brute force you can just turn into a gas to escape.

The point is the combined powers of a super group is awesome.

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