Review:
In this short book, Sebastian Alvardo highlights moments in a wide variety of the many films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From these moments, he dives into the current scientific thinking and research. It is a noble endeavour, one that seeks to ground in reality some of the scientific techno-pseudo-babble explanations of these fantastic sci-fi stories.
Occasionally drawing from his own field and research career in molecular ecology and behavioural neuroscience, he tackles more than forty topics, from gadgets like exosuits and aero-rigs to Thor's lightning and Spiderman's Spidey-sense.
Brains and Neuroscience get careful coverage, looking at, for one example, what about Hawkeye's body could work together to give him perfect aim?
So, too, do exotic creatures, from Ant Man's giant ants to Groot and Rocket Racoon themselves.
Physics phenomena like wormholes and phasing get their own section, too.
And for technology, Alvardo delves into things like web shooters and Iron Man's power reactor, giving careful analysis of the comics-based claims versus the best explanations of the greatest scientific minds.
I admire Alvardo's goals in this project, seeking to map comic book and movie motifs onto our reality. And he does his readers great service by linking the topics to specific films, scenes and characters, rounding out the picture with back-story details when needed. And he gives due consideration to any explanations offered in the films themselves, before usually bursting their bubbles with the cold water of reality.
Unfortunately, it is just not a very interesting read. Whether Alvardo is slipping into dense techno-babble of his own, or just walking us through explanations, it all feels very prosaic. Rather than connecting with his readers by putting science concepts into layman's terms, the text leaves us feeling like we are in a dull high school science class.
He does wisely include a dual glossary, one of Marvel terms and one of the Science terms he uses.
Description:
Science meets fantasy in this behind-the-scenes look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe—now you can experience the magic of the movies, and learn how to replicate it in real-life.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is filled with extraordinary humans and abilities. There are teenaged geniuses swinging through the streets of New York, billionaires creating impenetrable armor in hidden caves, and aliens flying through wormholes to Earth. All of these characters seem to lie firmly in the realm of fantasy—but the technology behind them might not be as farfetched as you think…
The Science of Marvel pulls back the curtain and reveals the secrets behind Marvel movie magic, and shows us how to recreate these comic book wonders in our everyday life. Using quantum physics, a little bit of mechanical engineering, and some out-of-the-box thinking, you’ll be amazed to discover that it’s possible to create a real-life Captain America, Incredible Hulk, or Black Panther. The perfect gift or collectible for Marvel fans everywhere, The Science of Marvel brings beloved movies and characters to life like never before.
Collects: NA
Authors: Sebastian Alvarado
Artists: NA
Published By: Adams Media
Published When: April 9, 2019
Parental Rating: General
ISBN: 978-1507209981
Pages: 240 pages
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