The Law of Superheroes

by James Daily, Ryan Davidson

An intriguing and entertaining look at how America’s legal system would work using the world of comic books.

The dynamic duo behind the popular website LawAndTheMultiverse.com breaks down even the most advanced legal concepts for every self-proclaimed nerd.

James Daily and Ryan Davidson—attorneys by day and comic enthusiasts all of the time—have clearly found their vocation, exploring the hypothetical legal ramifications of comic book tropes, characters, and powers down to the most deliciously trivial detail.

The Law of Superheroes asks and answers crucial speculative questions about everything from constitutional law and criminal procedure to taxation, intellectual property, and torts, Engaging, accessible, and teaching readers about the law through fun hypotheticals, The Law of Superheroes is a must-have for legal experts, comic nerds, and anyone who will ever be called upon to practice law in the comic multiverse.

Genres: Nonfiction, Law, Comics, Superheroes, Reference, Legal, Graphic Novels

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2012

Reviews

[Sean Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for Kirkus: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two lawyers looking at the comic book world and the law.

Obviously mostly based on our universe's laws, sometimes speculating on changes that superheroes would make. (Sometimes not. It observes that the FAA governs those who fly by means of contrivances, not those with innate flight powers, without noticing that rule would change, like, fifteen seconds after we had our first innately powered flight.)

Covers everything from constitutional rights, to intellectual property and whether you can sue for invasion of privacy if your secret identity is revealed or if a psychic reads your thoughts. The problems immorality causes in the Rule Against Perpetuities. What would resurrection do to laws against murder and to estates. What sort of corporate structure would best suit most superteams? What sort of rights would Atlantis, underwater, have to territorial waters?

Interesting stuff.

[Tiamatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely an interesting read. It's an introduction to the law, using superheroes of examples to make it more fun, and as a result, easier to understand. I'm an idiot, so I still didn't understand everything, and retained very little, but that's just me. People who aren't as stupid as I am should be fine. There is some humour in the book, though I would've liked a few more jokes here and there. Still, it was an entertaining and interesting read.

[Andrew Galbreath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you stumble across a book that you feel was written with you specifically in mind. This was mine. I learned a lot from reading this book; it covers the world of superheroes and the legal system very well. Since the authors are both practicing lawyers and comic book geeks, this text is more than a law primer that uses superheroes as examples - it organically tackles challenging legal questions when dealing with super-powered individuals, civil and property rights, business law, and more. The writing style is very easygoing and generally accessible, even to those of us who don't know a great deal about law. The only thing holding it back from greatness is that each chapter reads like an individual essay rather than part of a whole, and the first half of the book (with chapters like constitution and criminal law, procedure) is decidedly more compelling than the latter half (with chapters like tort law and intellectual property), which seemed almost intentional.

This is an absolute must-read for any world-builder or writer of science fiction. If you've ever wondered if the Superhuman Registration Act from the Marvel Universe would hold up in court, if superheroes could be considered state actors, whether a psychic's mind-reading abilities would be admissible in court, whether the use of Superman's x-ray vision would violate privacy laws, if Wolverine's claws are protected by the Second Amendment, if heroes would be constitutionally allowed to testify in costume, how insurance companies or cities would handle the destruction caused by epic battles between heroes and villains, what civil rights Mutants would have, or how Black Panther would handle immigration and international law, look no further! This is your book.

[MasterSal]

DNF at page 31

This was a lot more technical that I was expecting and a little too fragmented. We went through topics to topics that I was a little lost.

I skimmed ahead and I don’t think this book is for me. I am going to DNF it and see maybe if the interest strikes again at a later date.

[Mouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent weeks sewing a costume and got it all ready along with my underwear on the outside. I got me a cool mask in the discount bin at the Lotions and Lace store nearby. I found an old bath towel in a park near a deceased homeless person that I glued a big "S" onto to use as a cape. I was all ready to start my new life as a superhero and I came across this book at my local library and decided to give it a read.

Big mistake! Biiiiig mistake! Turns out if I did any of the things that I'd been fantasizing about as my new alter-ego 'Superduficus Man' chances are I'd get thrown in jail....or at the very least I'd get sued by someone. The authors of this book are a bunch of jerks for ruining my fantasy and the fantasy of other wannabe costume heroes....unless you're like the Punisher and just don't give an "F"!

This book is about 2 lawyers looking at the comic book world and the real world and discussing the law. Now, I gotta give these 2 guys props cause they have some real Geek cred here. They cover lots of different events in both Marvel and DC like the Superhero Registration act, Civil War, No Man's Land, and Cataclysm, but also other events like the Keane Act (from Watchmen)and immortality via Hob Gadling from Sandman.

There's lots of fluff in the book and some really cool mentions but also there's tons of crunch as these guys really break it down. Quite honestly they take a lot of the fun out of it but there's some parts of this book that will make your head spin. Like for example Chapter 10 'Travel and Immigration'. Did you know that if the Fantastic Four in their Fantasticar, or Batman in his Batmobile (or Batplane), or even Iron Man were flying from place to place around the world fighting bad guys that they would actually get into a lot of trouble! Turns out even superheroes can't just show up in another country without going through customs! Iron Man would probably start a war by flying into other countries airspace since he's pretty much a machine of war similar to sending in fighter jets.

Can Batman beat up badguys and just take them in to the Gotham PD and leave them? Can Spidey web up the badguys and leave a note on them for the police? What about Martian Manhunter or Professor X and their telepathy, is that considered a breach of privacy? What about how the Fantastic Four got their powers, is that considered a workplace accident? What about superheroes over the age of 67 like Wolverine, can they collect old-age benefits? These are all questions that we as comic book Geeks haven't really thought about and it's fascinating to see how they cover it in this book! Kudos to them!

Normally, I wouldn't be caught dead reading a law book as I prefer my books to be an escape from reality but this was an interesting book and I enjoyed it over the course of a few days. The one thing that I would've loved to have seen covered (or at least mentioned) is Judge Dredd since he is judge, jury and executioner!

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

The neat thing about reading a book like this - basically a collection of legal thought experiments for comic book fans - is that you actually end up learning a lot about how the law actually works (and, hey, in a time when every armchair pundit with a Twitter account imagines himself an expert on Constitutional Law, this might not be a bad thing).

The issues involved get complicated early on. It makes a great deal of difference, for example, whether the superhero saving the day is a private individual such as Spider-Man or Captain America, who frequently works in an official capacity for the government agency SHIELD. In Cap's case, he may well be defined as a state actor, which changes the rules considerably.

While discussions of Criminal Law and Evidence are obvious in a book such as this, other questions, such as what kind of liability Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne might face for bankrolling superhero activity, are fascinating to explore as well. When superheroes team up, is one hero liable for the actions of the partner? Answer: it depends. While Batman, as the clear 'boss' of the partnership, is almost certainly liable for Robin's actions, Green Lantern and Green Arrow working side-by-side as equal partners presents a very different issue. What about groups such as the Fantastic Four, Justice League, or Avengers? At what point does it make sense to incorporate to protect the private assets of the individuals involved?

When it comes to questions of immortality and non-human intelligence, the issues become thornier as our system of law is based on precedent and, for obvious reasons, no precedent has been established for these questions. The authors do burst one fantasy-fan fantasy in the discussion, however: the idea that an extraordinarily long-lived character could simply deposit a fat chunk of cash in the bank and let compound interest create a fortune for himself or herself in the distant future. As fun as it is to imagine, the fantasy overlooks one depressing fact: inflation. Real estate is a safer long-term investment for immortals, so long as one can manage the occasional "disappear for a few decades / reappear as your own heir" (increasingly difficult in the age of bureaucracy).

The book ends rather abruptly after a discussion of the legal implications of Artificial Intelligence, however. A page or two of discussion tying the whole book together would have been nice, but all we get is a sentence about how A.I. issues are the most likely of the issues discussed in the book to come up in the real world's near future.

Even so, The Law of Superheroes is a fun diversion - you still want to consult an actual attorney for your own legal woes, superheroic or otherwise - that is both entertaining and educational.

It gets you thinking, which is never a bad thing.

[MIKE Watkins Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite a lot of the comments in the comment section... you don’t have to enjoy comics to enjoy this book. If you’ve seen superhero movies or shows you will enjoy this just as much since most of the characters used are characters even the Casual fan know of (Spider-Man). Additionally, if you enjoy reading about and learning about the law you can enjoy this book a lot as well.

Pros:

1. The comic book examples used to explain how each law could realistically apply in this book is so entertaining.

1a. Each example is an applicable example... I was worried that the authors would have to stretch a particular comic example to make it connect with the particular law or rule being explained. However, the authors mostly select comic book events that involve the law or elements of the law in some way. For example, one comic book example that is used in this book involves Bucky (Winter soldier) being tried in a courtroom.

2. The book includes pages from actual comic books so you can read various comic scenes throughout the book. The comic book sections provide a "break" for the non-legal person out there. The authors also go back and forth between comic book stories and legal explanations to ensure that the reader doesn't get bored.

Cons:

1. The last 3 chapters of the book and some chapters in the middle of the book are boring compared to other ones. The middle chapters focus on the areas of law that are even boring/ not that popular among those in the legal field or those that read/write about the legal field so it's hard to be interested/apply what's mentioned there.

And the author's in the last 3 chapters of the book chose to look into the legal ramifications of powers like immortality/dual personalities ...which ended up being not interesting as the legal implications of Superman turning coal into diamonds or Spiderman testifying in a superhero costume.

2. There was a proper balance between legal jargon and comic book storytelling until halfway in the book or so....the legal jargon would seriously outweigh the comic book portions in certain sections of the book...making it kinda boring at times.

Summary: Overall an enjoyable experience....you learn about the Law and how it would realistically apply to Superheros.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband and I have a mixed marriage -- I was raised on Marvel, he was raised on DC. The authors treat both religions equally and I was amazed at how much the book is about the law and not just about comics. I also learned about how much my husband and I have missed by dropping out of the comic world. A lot has happened in our absence. The book made me want to run to the Marvel site and get all the back issues.

I guess the law is solid. I don't know much law, although I know more than I did before. I have one quibble. It seems to me, based on my experience, that public schools would be forced to educate mutant children by the IDEA -- the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. My own son, who is something of a mutant, has a specialized educational program called an IEP that accommodates his unique skills and deficits. He is even allowed to use technology in ways the other children aren't. So I think even little Iron Boy Junior would be able to demand what he needed and the schools are by law required to supply. Also the mutant special school run by Professor X would not, as the authors suggest, run afoul of laws regarding equal access for non mutants. Galludet, the School for the Deaf, is an example of how that would work. And the mutant children might benefit from having to learn alongside of normals. There are more of us than them. And it would mitigate anti mutant sentiment if everyone knew some.

These are the kinds of discussions that the book encourages -- a sort of how would the world REALLY work if there was a continuous threat of massive property damage because someone escaped from jail or if the criminal justice system had to figure out how to prosecute the criminals that spiderman leaves in webbed traps all over town. Not just for lawyers, although you can envision the CLE class.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. The authors consider the actions and behavior of both superheroes and supervillains in relation to the laws of 'the real world' and the applicability of the law(s) of the land(s) today. Overall, I thought the authors did a nice job discussing various legal aspects in regards to superheroes and their behavior, how superheroes might be breaking more laws than they realize in their zeal to uphold those same laws. It does get dry, in some parts, but even then the authors do a nice job of keeping everything "understandable" instead of falling back on "legalese" while trying to explain the applicability of the law(s) to a given situation. There were some parts of the book I thought were very interesting, some pretty boring but still educational. The "weakest" aspect of the book is how abruptly it ends. It felt like the last chapter could have gone on a bit further, and it really needed a "final" chapter to wrap it all up. Instead, we get a "final paragraph" in the last chapter to end the book, and it definitely feels like something [else/more] is missing.

It focused mostly on DC and Marvel [which kind-of makes sense, considering how long these two companies have been in existence and pumping out comics], with an occasional dalliance with smaller companies [Dark Horse is mentioned a couple of times]. Of course, as the focus is "super heroes" and "super villains" that could explain why smaller, indie companies are not considered or utilized in the various chapter discussions.

I did find the discussion(s) about Superman's issues with the I.R.S. and owing back-taxes to be interesting and amusing. He does have quite a bit of wealth that he has never paid taxes on; it would be interesting to see how he would "justify" not paying the taxes(especially as he claims to be an American citizen). It was interesting that, technically, he could not be taxed for turning coal into diamonds, but he could be heavily taxed if he gave the diamonds away as gifts. However, if he gave a person a lump of coal, first, and then turned that lump of coal into a diamond, both he and the recipient of the lump of coal could avoid having to pay any kind of taxes on the coal. I found it fascinating.

The authors did focus quite a bit on Marvel's Civil War event. Their take on it was very interesting, to say the least. I had the impression that the authors did not believe Congress had the foundation to be able to pass the Super Hero Registration Act, that it would have been found unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court. There has to be some kind of legal foundation for Congress to be able to write such a law, and the authors seemed to feel like the reasons given by the editors and writers at Marvel were pretty weak. It got me to thinking that what probably needed to take place was a new amendment needing to be added to the Constitution. Once the new amendment had been accepted and ratified by the requisite number of states, this would have allowed Congress to be able to pass any subsequent legislation needed to enforce the registration of super heroes. I think, though, that the public would have demanded some kind of legal action being taken long before "the Stamford Incident" and death of hundreds of school children. Super villains have caused enough damage to the nation, to the national infrastructure, and to municipalities for decades with the common person having to shoulder the burden of the damages caused by the action(s) of the super villains and the heroes opposing them. I thought the SHRA was a long time coming, but Marvel went about it "the wrong way" in their stories and how it was presented.

In addition, the authors talk about embassies in other countries. Either during or toward the end of the Civil War event the Wakandan embassy is destroyed. The authors talked at length about how astounding this was, and even more astounding the (lack of) reaction of/from the United States government (or even the Wakandan government). A foreign embassy was destroyed by the warring super hero factions. This essentially creates an international incident and potential foundation for a declaration of war between the two countries. T'Challa does not seem too concerned with the repercussions of the destruction of his embassy to the United States. There were other issues, as well, that were raised in regard to Wakanda, Storm, T'Challa and the Civil War event that showed that Marvel did not thoroughly think everything out before printing the story. For example, the "fact" that Wakanda sides with the insurrectionists like it does should also have created some kind of international incident that could have led to war between the United States and the African nation. There were numerous issues that were not addressed in the Civil War event (that were, no doubt, unexpected by-products of the primary narrative and its focus).

I also thought it was interesting that every time a superhero landed in a foreign country without going through customs or at the invitation of the country's government, the superhero was violating numerous local and international laws. That is something I had never considered while reading the comics. Iron Man's flying into a foreign country without permission could be seen as an invasion, an act of war, because of the military capabilities of his suit(s) of armor.

In addition, heroes who have to use some kind of contrivance or vehicle in order to be able to fly are also violating numerous federal, regional, and local rules/laws when they enter a municipality's airspace. Air space is heavily patrolled and people cannot just fly into a controlled airspace with impunity without having filed some kind of prior flight plan. Severe penalties can be incurred by not following proper procedures, but somehow superheroes are exempt (of course!). So one can only deduce that somehow superheroes are given "free passes" whenever they violate controlled airspace without first filing a flight plan?

It was a fun book to read. I did not know what to expect; I hoped it would be entertaining, which it was. Even the parts where it dragged were "interesting" because I felt like I had learned something I did not know before [which was actually quite a bit]. I am not sure how much of this book I will retain, as it covered quite a bit of ground/material, but it was still a fun read. I am glad that I read it.

[Blake J, J.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has studied the law, I will say this is a fun and creative way to think about the law. This is like comics meets the law for dummies. It helps break down very general areas of law and uses hypotheticals and fact patters based on the superhero universe. This was a great way to review for me and was a refreshing look on the law. If we can apply the law to superheroes (especially marvel because those stories and comics take place in our world), then anything can analyzed. I really enjoyed this book and it was an easy read. So if you are a comic nerd (I use this term positively because I too am a nerd) and have a little interest in the law or want to learn more about the law in a different way, this is the book for you

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this take on "What if" and the law. Not only did it have a lot of entertaining scenarios, but it served as a good introduction to how American legal society actually works. My one complaint is that the authors did not spend enough time on A.I. and the law, but I definitely think they did a great job of showing how a legal world with superheroes and the immortal would actually function! Definitely worth the read!

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty interesting.. at least, it was once I learned to skimmed the parts I didn't care about, and really just read the ones I did. I learned a lot about law, so if that is one of your interests, definitely pick this one up.

[Erika RS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super heroes are not above the law, but they do bring up a lot of questions about the law and it's application. In this book, Daily and Davidson explore how different areas of law might impact super heroes. The results is an entertaining introduction to constitutional law, criminal law, evidence, criminal procedure, tort law, contracts, business law, administrative law, intellectual property, travel and immigration, international law, questions of identity, and questions of what it means to be human.

Anyone who has opinions about the application of law and is at all interested in comics or super heroes would get value from reading this book. One of the things it helps emphasize is that law is very much about precise interpretation, and it doesn't matter what you think the "right" conclusion for a particular case is if it can't be expressed as a legal argument. That doesn't mean laws are unambiguous -- far from it -- but that ambiguity comes from that same slicing and dicing of meaning. Or to put it another way, the details of laws matter. It's not enough to feel like you know the gist of a law when making a conclusion. You need to be able to make a precise case.

[Marco Gallardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quizás un libro sobre leyes aplicadas a los superhéroes puede sonar aburrido. Y... pues lo es. Un poco.

Las preguntas que propone son muy interesantes (¿qué pasa con el testamento de Ra's Al Ghul cuando éste revive?), y en los casos que realmente responde, las respuestas son aún más interesantes (por ejemplo, aunque las películas de Nolan nos hacen creer que Batman no tiene un área limitada de jurisdicción, en realidad Batman está comprobablemente trabajando para la policía, porque hay una señal para llamarlo instalada en la azotea, entonces si recolecta evidencia o captura criminales por medios ilegales, nada es válido en la corte), pero también hay muchas que deja muy abiertas (¿la vista de rayos X de Superman cuenta como invasión a la privacidad? depende del estado, de la intención, de la zona que vea, de lo que piense la víctima, etc).

Por la cantidad de citas y referencias a casos reales, alguien más interesado en leyes lo disfrutaría mucho más que yo. Como cultura general, está bien, aunque hay que tener en cuenta que las leyes que se mencionan en el libro son, principalmente, de Estados Unidos.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first impression was that this book was much more technical than I expected.

I was expecting a pretty light hearted look at the topic, perhaps similar to Lawrence Krauss' "The Physics of Star Trek" but these chapters read almost like law review articles.

Another thing to note is that this book is necessarily very US-centric. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is worth noting, since the resolution of many issues sometimes critically depends on the exact details of US law.

But on the other hand, that exact American bias makes it a good way to learn about how US law works.

A few of the things which stood out to me:

(1) Superman may owe a lot of taxes for the time he crushed a piece of coal into a diamond and gave it to Lana Lang.

(2) The US imposes an "expatriation tax" which is based on ALL assets (basically a wealth tax) for anyone who gives up their US citizenship.

(3) The US government may be able to use The Endangered Species Act to protect aliens. That's just funny.

Overall, it's enjoyable and well written, but probably more suited for law students than the typical casual superhero fan.

[Billy Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative look at the superhero genre by two comic book fans who are also practicing attorneys. The scope of the book goes beyond just criminal law to encompass the entire legal system. The authors do a great job of translating the complexities of legal matters on a level that laymen like me can understand. The book was an easy read, very informative and most of all fun. I would recommend adding this book to your comic book reference library.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read a book about the law, so I picked The Law of Superheroes in the hopes that it would be an easy introduction. It took me a long time to read. I became more comfortable with the style of reading over the course of the book. I think it's fun medium to talk about aspects of the law. The book was creative and unique to anything I've read before. I learned a lot, and I think I'm now better prepared for more challenging reads.

[mad mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death & Taxes

(Full disclosure: I received a free advanced review copy of this book through Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program.)

Could Superman really run for president of the United States? Might the makers of the genetically modified spider that bit Peter Parker sue him for patent violations? Is the Superhuman Registration Act constitutional?

In The Law of Superheroes, lawyers, co-bloggers (www.lawandthemultiverse.com), and self-proclaimed comic book nerds James Daily and Ryan Davidson attempt to answer these questions – and many more. Wherever the law and comic book stories intersect (and the points are both numerous and varied!), Daily and Davidson are there, armed with a library’s worth of case law, a comprehensive knowledge of comic book lore, and an easy, engaging sense of humor. The result is an accessible, enjoyable look at US law as explained using examples culled from comic books.

The book is split into thirteen chapters, each of which covers a different area of US law:

1 – Constitutional Law: e.g., Does the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment grant mutants civil rights? Could the state ever force a superhuman to relinquish his or her superpowers?

2 – Criminal Law: If you murder a superhero who’s later resurrected, is it still murder? Is the Joker legally insane?

3 – Evidence: Could the court ever allow testimony given by a masked superhero? Can the services of psychics be used to verify a witness’s testimony?

4 – Criminal Procedure: Would evidence gathered by Batman be admissible in criminal court? Could a superhero be held liable for false arrest?

5 – Tort Law and Insurance: Does the nonconsensual use of telepathy constitute a violation of privacy? Who’s legally responsible for the massive property damages sustained in the comic book universes?

6 - Contracts: Could Batman really contract the services of thugs to rescue civilians, as he does in No Man’s Land? Are contracts with the Devil enforceable?

7 – Business Law: Which business designation would best fit a superhero team, e.g., for tax and liability purposes? Does the Americans with Disabilities Act afford mutants any protection?

8 – Administrative Law: Would Superman owe taxes on pieces of coal that he crushed into diamonds? How would flying superheroes deal with the FAA?

9 – Intellectual Property: Does Peter Parker own the copyright to photos he takes for the Daily Bugle? Do the surviving members of The Beatles have a copyright claim on music created by their counterparts in an alternate universe?

10 – Travel and Immigration: Could Superman really renounce his US citizenship? Would international restriction on travel apply to superhumans who travel by teleportation devices (i.e., since they aren’t technically crossing borders)?

11 – International Law: What are the territorial markers of Atlantis? Do US courts have any jurisdiction over crimes committed on other planets?

12 – Immortality, Alter Egos, and Resurrection: Would the compound interest on their investments provide a living wage to immortals? Can immortal beings collect Social Security in perpetuity?

13 – Non-Human Intelligences: As a non-human, would Superman have any rights at all? Can the Endangered Species Act be used to protect intelligent super-nonhumans?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, I found the early,“sexier” chapters on Constitutional and criminal law more entertaining than those on business and administrative law. That said, the authors still manage to make the tax code seem somewhat interesting.

My chief complaint is that the most fascinating chapter – and that with the greatest potential for real-world implications – is the also the shortest: “Non-Human Intelligences.” The discussion begins with an all-too-brief look at animal rights law (without condescending to animal rights advocates – yay!) and how this might be applied to “intelligent” fictional nonhumans, including but not limited to the very humanoid Superman and his fellow Kryptonians; the apes of Gorilla City and the aliens Shi’ar and Skrull also get a mention. (“Intelligent” in scare quotes because, as per usual, intelligence is defined strictly in human terms.)

Artificial Intelligences - such as Brainiac, Awesome Andy, Ultron, and the Vision – receive just a page and a half of attention! The only legal issue discussed in any depth is who might lay claim to intellectual property created by AIs. The authors note several other (and much more interesting) concerns (e.g., “if an AI is a legal person, then is deleting it tantamount to murder?”), but fail to follow up on any of them.

Additionally, Daily and Davidson focus disproportionately on the DC and Marvel Universes; Dark Horse gets precious few mentions. Finally, while they include a number of reprinted panels, the quality isn’t always that great. (Granted, this problem might be specific to the advanced review copies.)

All in all, The Law of Superheroes is a fun, quirky book with great crossover potential. The authors approach both topics from an introductory perspective, so that the reader need not have much preexisting knowledge of either to follow along. A must for anyone who enjoys pop culture analysis, Smart Pop style.

http://www.easyvegan.info/2012/08/31/...

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. I was sort of hoping for a little more humor and a little more quip rather than some law basics but there were some very amusing points.

[-- · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun exploration of the kinds of implications the real world would have for the fictional worlds so many of us enjoy.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is fantastic. Engaging writing applying real world law to superhero comic book scenarios, characters and typical situations. So much fun. Yes, the law can be fun!!

[J Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takes the subject matter seriously enough to be interesting, and light-heartedly enough to be fun.

[Rachael Dawson-Baglien · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a little dry and read more like a textbook, but it brought up some interesting points (how WOULD immortals get social security numbers for all their identities over the millennia?!)

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great marriage of two of my passions, and he law and comics. Sources are well researched and cited. They brought up some interesting issues I had not thought of before.

[Pietro Condello · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've watched the show The Boys on Prime, this is right up your alley. Two lawyers got together to explore the hypothetical legal ramifications if super heroes & villains existed as they do in their various fictional universes, of course all tongue-in-cheek, while still citing real-world case law.

Daily and Davidson examine criminal, civil, real estate, corporate, tort, constitutional, human rights, labor, class action, estate, tax, intellectual property (patents copyrights & trademarks), immigration & citizenship, ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations), international, universal jurisdiction, diplomatic, extradition, probate areas of law, to name a few.

Some food for thought:

• Can Spiderman testify in court without revealing his identity?

• Could a court compel a superhero to testify in court by imposing immunity against self-incrimination?

• Could the government use professor X's psychic powers to extract evidence from a witness who pleads the fifth?
• Would reading a suspect's mind constitute illegal search and seizure?
• Would using a mind reader to verify a witness's testimony in court be considered hearsay?

• Would the government directly targeting specific individuals for military conscription (rather than through draft lottery) constitute involuntary servitude, if the government needs the assistance of a uniquely capable citizen?

• Does killing someone who can rise from the dead still meet the actus reus of murder?
• Does the subsequent resurrection of the murder victim affect the validity of the original conviction?

• Does shooting at Wolverine, *not knowing* it won't kill him count as attempted murder?
• Would knowing he's invincible in advance make a difference?

• Could the IRS hound Superman for capital gains tax every time he squeezes a piece of coal into a diamond?

• Does psychic manipulation of thoughts and memories constitute an assault?

• Would Superman need a warrant before legally using his x-ray vision?

• Does Batman's true identity of Bruce Wayne as a billionaire industrialist involved in politics through donations and fundraising create a conflict of interest?

• Do superheroes own the trademarks of their logos?

• Would a "Superhero Registration Act" be unconstitutional?

• If a scientist gains a superpower as a result of an accident in the lab, does that count as a workplace injury?

• Would Batman and Robin be considered a partnership with equal legal liability or an employee-employer relationship?

• Could superhero teams register as nonprofit organizations?

• Would Bruce Wayne's or Tony Stark's expenditures on superhero gadgets or facilities be considered donations to non-profits, and thus tax exempt?

• Would Superman himself or any superhero aircraft need to register each flight plan with the FAA?

• If Bruce banner developed a cure for himself, would he need to register it with the FDA? How would the approval process work, since clinical trials aren't possible?

• Does Batman's public use of experimental gadgets affect Wayne Enterprises' ability to patent them?

• Can an immortal own real estate in perpetuity?

• Can an immortal collect social security benefits in perpetuity?

[Tanner Sanderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Law of Superheroes takes the fantasic stories, worlds and characters of comic books and analyzes them through the lens of the law. The result is a compelling read, one that answered dozens of questions I've pondered about while reading comics over the years. The authors explain how heroes, villians, teams, secret organizations, etc. would function legally in the real world, primarily under the American legal system (although there is a section on international law). The authors discuss both the universes of Marvel and D.C. equally, and devote time to all aspects of law, which is appreciated. Constitutional law and criminal law and procedure are explained first, as these are the types of legal problems most of us think of, and are exposed to, in regards to superheroes. The book then moves on to adress more daily, but equally interesting, issues we face in the legal system. Things such as tax law, immigration, artificial intelligence, buisness law, immortality and so on are all discussed in the context of comics. The authors pull from all of comic book publication history, but apply the majority of their analyses to the most modern versions of comic characters, to be most relevant. Legal precedents and real-life cases are used throughout the book to help explain concepts, and are cited in footnotes if you wish to look up specific cases referenced. The "main chapter with subsections" format and structure works perfectly, making it easy to navigate and great if you only have a few minutes to read. My only complaint was that some of the chapters/sections towards the end of the book felt a bit lacking; they touched on problems and scenarios I wanted discussed further (A.I., international law, specifically). However, I understand the scope of the book had to be limited in some way, and some of these issues were too broad to cover adequately in just this single book.Hopefully the authors will do a follow-up some time in the future!

If you're a serious fan of comics, this is a must-read! This book would also serve well in a high school or college law/civics classroom.

5/5

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested this via ARC due to an interest in both comic books and the law (my interest in comic books became an addiction that I forced myself to give up). I was very pleasantly surprised to see that the subject matter was all advanced in an approachable and amusing way. The book does not presuppose any knowledge of comic books, their characters, or the law on the part of the reader. The reader's view of the work would likely be substantially altered if they possess any prior knowledge, but it is not a necessity. [return]The arguments and theories are presented in a purely logical way. All laws and precedents are stated within the book (where appropriate) and summarized in layman's terms if appropriate. [return]The book does not focus on any specific area of the law, instead going in-depth into criminal and civil law, real estate law, tax codes, international law, common law, etc. I was very pleasantly surprised to see that many things you'd think would only be an issue in a "super-world" (telepathy, resurrection, etc) actually have legal precedent in the United States.[return]Some small suggestions: [return]1) The book focuses too much on Marvel and DC comics. More from Dark Horse and other not-quite-as-mainstream companies would have been interesting. [return]2) Don't spend so much time on Marvel's Civil War; yes, it was a huge event with many legal implications, but it is by no means the only. [return]3) Some kind of summation to round the book off would have been lovely instead of simply "Ta-da, the end!" (No, it didn't really end that way, but pretty close - It was kind of like coming to the end of a street and dropping off a cliff; it just ended).

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are all familiar with comic book superheroes to some degree, as many of the most popular of these characters have become pop culture icons. We enjoy the stories, but have we really thought about the legal implications of what these superheroes do or represent? I must admit that, for the most part, I hadn’t really given such issues much thought, except where they became part of the storyline (such as in the movie “Hancock”, where the superhero’s irresponsible behavior leads to a prison sentence).

But when you find two attorneys who also happen to be fans of superhero comics, you end up with this book as a product of their combined interests. But you don’t have to be a lawyer to appreciate their efforts. The beauty of this book is that is serves as a rather concise law primer for the layperson while exploring a wide variety of legal implications raised by the idea of superheroes. In the application of basic legal principles to the scenarios described in the comic books, the authors have managed to make legal analysis both entertaining and accessible!

Fan of superhero comics will almost certainly enjoy this, but even if you only have the most passing familiarity with the contents of the comic book genre, this book is still likely to be fun to read and educational. Anyone who would like a better grasp of how laws are applied and the implications of the legal system to different situations will find this to be a far more attractive source of that information than most traditional books, which either rely on abstract hypothetical examples or else on actual court decisions, neither of which is nearly as entertaining as the material presented here.

[Dkettmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you LOVE law and have even a passing interest in superhero/comic fiction this is a 5/5. It is steeped in legal cases as one would expect and is very interesting in doing so.

If you LOVE comics and have a passing interest in law I think you will be entertained but it is more a 3 of 5 affair. It is just so much legal information and grabs DC/Marvel stories off the shelf to serve the case law that it wants to present but really only for that purpose.

That all being said I was really entertained and liked the interesting legal errata that the book presented. I think a 4/5 rating splits the difference and accurately reflects my experience. There isnt a damn thing wrong with the book, nothing that the author failed to do or overdid. I just think the audience that would go 5/5 nuts over it is pretty niche and would have to be a special kind of law geek that also has a deep fondness of comics. My fondness for comics outweighs legal, and even comics are a "yea they're pretty cool, and I've always liked them but I can wait for the Marvel/DC movie to hit DVD" for me. Still I want to hammer home, I did really like the book.

(Audiobook version suffers from the narration of the legal citations of which there are MANY, no points docked for that but it gets VERY tedious to have the brain switch attention off and then back on when the book continues seconds later).