What characters do you think are NOT written up to their power level?

[myownlittleusername]

Hopefully some editor with clout will see this thread and apply some much needed nerfs.

[JudicatorPrime]

It's a safe bet that it happens to all of them, and it will continue to happen so long as a writer's grand design trumps characterization and attributes.

[Force de Phenix]

Crystal. She can purify the air and lifted Attilan from the ground.

[theoneandonly]

there is also a tendency to just remember strong showings and not the times when those characters were less powerful. why I had to point out that out to a fanboy of spawn who was getting indignant I was comparing him with scorpion forgetting that before his power creep he was just a hellspawn of the garden variety.

[JudicatorPrime]

Yep, peak exertions are always misconstrued as "normal operating capacity," instead of the rare feats that they are. It's why the term "optimal" was used so often in the old Marvel handbooks. It simply means that when conditions and circumstance favor a certain feat, this character can achieve it. But as we know all too well, conditions don't always favor it. Quite the contrary. As such, said character would more often than not prove incapable of matching that optimal feat. But comic writers don't pen stories that way.

All of this, of course, gets more confusing when we consider the magic of comic book storytelling. A normal human, any normal human, getting punched by even a "calm" enraged Hulk would be severely injured, if not dead, unless said person had a healing factor. Just having the Hulk's 1,000+ lbs sit on you for any duration would eventually crush bones and flatten organs of even the most athletically fit human. But we rarely see that.

You just have to accept that there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to the science behind the story...until someone like Batman uses all of these scientifically based countermeasures to defeat you. Then and only then is it perfectly ok.

[theoneandonly]

Yep, peak exertions are always misconstrued as "normal operating capacity," instead of the rare feats that they are. It's why the term "optimal" was used so often in the old Marvel handbooks. It simply means that when conditions and circumstance favor a certain feat, this character can achieve it. But as we know all too well, conditions don't always favor it. Quite the contrary. As such, said character would more often than not prove incapable of matching that optimal feat. But comic writers don't pen stories that way.

All of this, of course, gets more confusing when we consider the magic of comic book storytelling. A normal human, any normal human, getting punched by even a "calm" enraged Hulk would be severely injured, if not dead, unless said person had a healing factor. Just having the Hulk's 1,000+ lbs sit on you for any duration would eventually crush bones and flatten organs of even the most athletically fit human. But we rarely see that.

You just have to accept that there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to the science behind the story...until someone like Batman uses all of these scientifically based countermeasures to defeat you. Then and only then is it perfectly ok.

lol so much truth in this post.

[Cap808]

Ben Grimm, hands down

Then...
Nova Prime - Richard Rider
Quasar - Wendell Vaughn
Monica Rambeau

[K7P5V]

Definitely Phoenix (A.K.A. Rachel Summers-Grey). For the most part, her potential was fulfilled while under the supervision of Alan Davis. Nowadays, however, she is completely underutilized.

[danielsan52]

Skein - Most writers just have her tk affect fabric even though she can manipulate skin, hair, veins, organs, as well as elevate herself or others.

[Username taken]

Thor virtually everytime he fights the Hulk.
Silver Surfer all the time.
Iron Man in recent years.

[Agent Z]

Ben Grimm the Thing has been treated more like a 50 tonner over the years.

Was he ever stronger than that?

[PCN24454]

Was he ever stronger than that?

The fact that you have to say that proves that it’s true.

[SuperiorIronman]

I always find Thing feats a little weird because he's not so much a heavy lifter/hitter as much as anybody else in his range. His strength came largely from his durability so he can keep coming.

[danielsan52]

Spider-Woman (Drew) - She can easily take down Wolverine. Has had Hydra and Shield training. Immune to poison and radiation. Pheromone control to elicit fear, pleasure, or hate in others. Venom blast which can be fatal. Spider's Bite which causes extreme pain.

[danielsan52]

El Aguila - can use metal (any metal) as a conduit for his stored bio-electricity. General public led to believe he had a special sword whereas he was actually a mutant.