Mathematics and the Design of Superheroes
Whether you are a 10-year-old boy or a fifty-year-old woman, you probably have a favorite superhero. I think it takes a lot of work to design a successful superhero, and mathematics is definitely related to superhero design. When looking at different superheroes, I noted that superhero design is very much geometric. Here are some examples:
Spiderman is a great representation of geometry. His costume is made up of a series of shapes: triangles, rectangles, and trapezoids, all mathematically arranged to make the appearance of a spider web.
Batman is a revenge-seeking, angry hero. Mathematics is used in the design of his costume through angles. Right angles are used in his face and mask to give him defined features that make him appear angry.
Superman’s geometry is made up of ellipses. Ellipses give his figure a strong and invincible appearance; yet still make him look approachable and kind to the public eye.
This portion of text doesn’t relate to mathematics, but I thought it would be appropriate to mention that my personal favorite superhero is Wolverine, from X-men. (Especially when he is portrayed by Hugh Jackman)
