web slinging
super speed
flight/jumping
vehical transport
teleportation
In terms of appearance, the problem with flight is that it's usually done in the Standard Horizontal Position. This is not a naturally comfortable position for a human being. If you try it, you'll find right away it puts a strain on the neck. That's one of the nice things about the Surfer: he flies standing up; quite unique in a genre of horizontal-position flyers, especially since it's a position anyone can relate to if they've ever tried surfing, snowboarding or most likely, skateboarding. It feels cool.
As for jumping: it can look cool depending on how the jumper manages their balance and positioning in the air. For example: in the Hulk movie, it looked like a few times the Hulk had to stabilize his body. It was realistic, yes, but not cool-looking. Other times, it looked much better.
Web-slinging looks cool and it's also something humans can relate to, if somewhat distantly, because 1) most of us have played on monkey bars when we were kids; and 2) we evolved from brachiators.
Vehicle transport: depends on the vehicle, but personally, I don't find it superheroish enough.
Teleportation: looks cool for short-range, ie, a hero flicking in and out of existence in avoiding attack. But in terms of long-range, pure transport: not too much to be cool about because there ain't much to see. Similar problem with superspeed (ie, running). On the one hand, it's usually shown in such a way that you can't see anything. And yet, if you showed someone moving their arms and legs really fast, it would look almost silly, if not actually painful (like you're gonna tear a ligament any second). That's one of the reaons the old Six Million Dollar Man show was done with slow-motion bionic effects. Before it became cliche, it looked quite impressive.
Overall, Surfer's flying style aside, I think web-slinging looks the coolest. I still get chills watching those parts of the Spider-Man movies.
Originally posted by Mindship
web slinging
super speed
flight/jumping
vehical transport
teleportationIn terms of appearance, the problem with flight is that it's usually done in the Standard Horizontal Position. This is not a naturally comfortable position for a human being. If you try it, you'll find right away it puts a strain on the neck. That's one of the nice things about the Surfer: he flies standing up; quite unique in a genre of horizontal-position flyers, especially since it's a position anyone can relate to if they've ever tried surfing, snowboarding or most likely, skateboarding. It feels cool.
As for jumping: it can look cool depending on how the jumper manages their balance and positioning in the air. For example: in the Hulk movie, it looked like a few times the Hulk had to stabilize his body. It was realistic, yes, but not cool-looking. Other times, it looked much better.
Web-slinging looks cool and it's also something humans can relate to, if somewhat distantly, because 1) most of us have played on monkey bars when we were kids; and 2) we evolved from brachiators.
Vehicle transport: depends on the vehicle, but personally, I don't find it superheroish enough.
Teleportation: looks cool for short-range, ie, a hero flicking in and out of existence in avoiding attack. But in terms of long-range, pure transport: no too much to be cool about because there ain't much to see. Similar problem with superspeed (ie, running). On the one hand, it's usually shown in such a way that you can't see anything. And yet, if you showed someone moving their arms and legs really fast, it would look almost silly, if not actually painful (like you're gonna tear a ligament any second). That's one of the reaons the old Six Million Dollar Man show was done with slow-motion bionic effects. Before it became cliche, it looked quite impressive.
Overall, Surfer's flying style aside, I think web-slinging looks the coolest. I still get chills watching those parts of the Spider-Man movies.
You put a lot of thought into that didn't you?