“Super
stretching”, also known as “stretchy powers”, is the superpower that allows the
body to be extremely elastic, flexible, and malleable. Those who have this power possess the ability
to extend, stretch, expand, contract, flatten, deform, and contort the body into
extreme forms and shapes as if it’s made of rubber. They can also be hard to wound since their
physical composition can be so dense because of its rubbery, malleable
properties.
10.) NECRO
Necro is one of the lesser known Street Fighter characters but is among
those characters with interesting backstories (play the game, or look it up). Necro has the ability to generate electricity
(like Blanka) and stretch his limbs into extraordinary lengths (like the number
9 in this list). He makes use of his flexible
and eclectic rubbery limbs to grapple his opponents, which he would then shock. He also has a cybernetic computer in his
brain which gives him superhuman fighting abilities.
9.) DHALSIM
Dhalsim is one Street Fighter’s most popular characters. He is an Indian yogi who possesses powers that
fit the typecast. He has the ability to
breathe out fire, levitate, and teleport.
But he is more well-known with his ability to elongate and deform his
limbs into forms that is physically impossible for a normal human being.
8.) PROFESSOR RICHARD IMPOSSIBLE
8.) PROFESSOR RICHARD IMPOSSIBLE
Just like everything about the Venture Bros. series, Professor Impossible serves as a fantastic
parody of a pop culture property, and in this character’s case, the source
material is Mr. Fantastic. Just like Mr.
Fantastic, Richard Impossible is a super genius that possesses “super stretching”
powers after a freak accident involving his family (which also mirrors the
Fantastic Four). Through the series’
run, Prof. Impossible started out as a respected scientist, became a depressed
and pitiable drunk, and eventually become a super villain. It is also worth noting that in early
seasons, the character is voiced by the awesome Stephen Colbert.
7.) FLATMAN
As a member of the so-called “Great Lake Avengers”,
a team of silly but enjoyable D-list superheroes, Flatman seems to serve as a
parody of Mr. Fantastic as well. Like
Mr. Fantastic, he also is somewhat a scientific genius, which is possibly a
mere act in his part, since there were several times that the “scientific
genius” identity he projects was made questionable. As a mutant, he possess the ability to
stretch himself into great lengths, just like Mr. Fantastic; the only
difference being is that his body’s default form is being flat, hence, the
name.
6.) JAKE THE DOG
Jake is the main character Finn’s constant companion
in Adventure Time. Jake is a magical dog that can talk and has “stretchy
powers”, which allows him to transform the mass, form, and dimensions of every
part of his body as he wills. Not only
can Jake deform and stretch himself into extreme and specific shapes, but he can
also re-arrange his internal organs.
Examples of the extent of his powers are moving his blood and internal
organs into his left thumb (“Evicted!” episode), enlarging his liver 51 times a
dog his size (“Jake vs. Me-Mow” episode), and his stomach involuntarily forming
a fist and punching him to wake him up to eat (“Power Animal” episode). There are several other delightfully strange
instances Jake’s power proved to be invaluable in his adventures with Finn (you
got to watch the awesome show or read the awesome comics).
5.) ELASTIGIRL
Helen Parr a.k.a. Elastigirl is the wife of the super strong Mr.
Incredible and the mother of the Parr/Incredible household. I think she’s the only female character I’ve encountered
that has “super stretching” powers. This
super power seems inappropriate for a lady, but Elastigirl managed to showcase
the awesome application of this power (the notable forms she took was that of a
boat and a parachute) in a dignified manner.
She is also an expert in hand-to-hand combat, which when combined with
her elastic powers, makes her an unpredictable and dangerous fighter.
4.) ELONGATED MAN
As hinted by his superhero name, the Elongated Man can
elongate his limbs and body to extraordinary lengths. He can also change the form of his body and
body parts into different shapes and sizes.
Besides his “super stretching” abilities, he is also a professional
detective and is considered second only to Batman in terms of deductive prowess. An interesting para byproduct of his powers,
tied in with his detective background, is a rubbery “nose twitch” – his nose twitches
when he “smells” a clue to a mystery or if something is “not right.”
3.) PLASTIC MAN
Among all characters with “super stretching” abilities,
Plastic Man is arguably the most durable and most powerful of all. It might not seem so and people tend to underestimate
him since he continually makes use of his power to clown around. His stretching powers are the most extensive
among all characters with such powers (possibly only rivaled by Jake). He is also nigh invulnerable and implied to
be immortal. As a former thief, Plastic
Man has the skill set of the trade, which comes invaluable in his crime
fighting. Moreover, because of his past
as a criminal, he knows how to think like a criminal, thus by replicating their
mindset he is able to think steps ahead of them and be an efficient sleuth. Plastic Man is actually pretty smart, but
again, due to his slapstick nature, others tend to underestimate him.
2.) MISTER FANTASTIC
The leader and founder of the Fantastic Four, Reed
Richards a.k.a. Mister Fantastic, is one of the most popular, if not the most
popular, characters that possess “super stretching” powers. He has all the abilities you would expect
from someone with such power. And, for many,
he is even considered the definite example of the archetype.
However, Mister Fantastic’s “super stretching”
powers are actually just secondary to what makes him a fascinating character
and a very important member of Marvel’s superhero community. His primary asset or “power” is being a super
genius. Indeed, he once claimed that
his stretching powers are expendable compared to his intellect. He has great mastery in probably every field
of science and is an extremely brilliant scientist, inventor, and engineer. He is considered by many as the smartest man
in the world (or, at least, in the Marvel Universe). He is, understandably, cold due to his
scientific and methodical nature. But,
unlike other genius archetypes, he is capable of relating to his peers, family,
and friends, and developing healthy relationships with them.
1.) MONKEY D. LUFFY
“Straw Hat” Luffy is the main
protagonist of the awesome One Piece series. He is the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, a delightful ensemble of
fascinating characters, whose travels are anchored on Luffy’s dream of becoming
the Pirate King. As a captain – despite
his occasional display of naivety – his positive traits like tenacity, dedication,
sincerity, and loyalty easily earned him the respect and devotion of his crew.
Luffy gained rubber physiology after
eating the Gum-Gum Fruit. Hence, Luffy
is able to stretch his body at will as if it’s rubber. He utilizes the elasticity of his body by
accelerating his punches, kicks, head butts, palm strikes, and other physical
attacks as if they were shot from a sling shot.
He can also enlarge parts of his body, e.g. his fist or his foot, to
magnify the damage he can deliver.
Moreover, because of his rubber physiology, Luffy is invulnerable to electric-type
attacks. Over the course of the series,
Luffy would continually develop more techniques to maximize the use of his
rubber powers. If you are following One Piece, then you will surely agree
with me that there has been no application of the “super stretching” power in
fiction that has been as badass as Luffy’s.
2 comments:
Cool :O
*coughs* Spinel *coughs*
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