The Law of Superheroes

by James Daily, Ryan Davidson

Overview

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, including:

• Could Superman sue if someone exposed his true identity as Clark Kent?
• Are members of the Legion of Doom vulnerable to prosecution under RICO?
• Do the heirs of a superhero who comes back from the dead get to keep their inherited property after their loved one is resurrected?
• Does it constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” to sentence an immortal like Apocalypse to life in prison without the possibility of parole?

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101600412
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/11/2012
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	617,236
File size:	10 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

James Daily is an attorney with the Stanford University Hoover Institution Project on Commercializing Innovation. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Ryan Davidson is an attorney living in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He obtained his law degree from Notre Dame Law School in 2009.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Absolutely charming…intricate, hilarious analysis of the legalities of superheroes and supervillains”
—Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing

“Insightful and entertaining look at how comic book heroes would be affected by real-life laws…Fortunately, Daily and Davidson are neither smart alecks nor ironic, and they take their work as seriously as Batman taking on his arch-villain Bane (although they can be as witty and sly as Catwoman at her best)”
—Publishers Weekly

“…attorneys James Daily and Ryan Davidson have pulled it off so flawlessly in the educational and fun The Law of Superheroes…they did it just right. The Law of Superheroes is both entertaining and informative. People who aren't lawyers or law-geeks will learn something about the law, and lawyers and law-geeks will be thoroughly entertained at the application of familiar principles to comic extravaganzas.”
—Popehat
 
"The Law of Superheroes fits two bills nicely; it's both a highly readable survey of basic legal theory and an entertaining exploration of the comic book canon.”
—The Wall Street Journal
 
“One of the most subversive and nefarious books of the year. I came away from it feeling like I’d actually learned something about the history of American jurisprudence and how our laws actually work… The Law of Superheroes asks and answers crucial speculative questions about everything”
—Daily Motion(video)
 
 “creatively conceived issues illuminate the answers to questions few have dared to ask, providing cogent analysis in a way that should be largely understandable to general readers”
—Kirkus Reviews
 
“A pair of lawyers from the Midwest have decided to ask these questions in this engaging book. Legal tomes are not known for being readable and accessible, but this one manages to be.”
—Book Guys
 
“Superpowered geekery of epically entertaining proportions…A must-read for a dose of good geeky fun”
—Shelf Awareness
 
“The book that we've all been waiting for is finally out…Great work by Daily and Davidson! I am already looking for Volume II.”
—Patently O
 
“I cannot recommend this book highly enough.”
—Marion Harmon
 

Editorial Reviews

In this insightful and entertaining look at how comic book heroes would be affected by real-life laws, Daily and Davidson—attorneys by day and authors of the popular blog “lawandthemultiverse.com”—aren’t afraid to ask the tough questions about superhero behavior. If asked to testify in court, “Could Spider-Man wear his mask? And could he somehow dodge questions about his identity?” The Joker may be mentally ill, “but is he legally insane?” And if Nitro burns Wolverine “knowing that he’ll survive, is it still attempted murder?” Fortunately, Daily and Davidson are neither smart alecks nor ironic, and they take their work as seriously as Batman taking on his arch-villain Bane (although they can be as witty and sly as Catwoman at her best). Their intelligent exploration of ideas in constitutional law, criminal law, evidence, criminal procedure, business law, and even intellectual property always makes for fascinating reading. And a discussion about whether or not the evil Mephisto had a valid claim on Ghost Rider’s soul offers hope for current law school students: “if you like the idea of twisting altruism into a legal defense for the Devil, then you may have a bright future as a defense lawyer.” (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

a highly readable survey of basic legal theory and an entertaining exploration of the comic book canon.” — Wall Street Journal

“insightful and entertaining look at how comic book heroes would be affected by real-life laws”

“Fortunately, Daily and Davidson are neither smart alecks nor ironic, and they take their work as seriously as Batman taking on his arch-villain Bane (although they can be as witty and sly as Catwoman at her best)” — Publisher's Weekly

“…attorneys James Daily and Ryan Davidson have pulled it off so flawlessly in the educational and fun ‘The Law of Superheroes.’”
“…they did it just right. "The Law of Superheroes" is both entertaining and informative. People who aren't lawyers or law-geeks will learn something about the law, and lawyers and law-geeks will be thoroughly entertained at the application of familiar principles to comic extravaganzas.” — Popehat

“creatively conceived issues illuminate the answers to questions few have dared to ask, providing cogent analysis in a way that should be largely understandable to general readers” — Kirkus Reviews

“A pair of lawyers from the Midwest have decided to ask these questions in this engaging book. Legal tomes are not known for being readable and accessible, but this one manages to be.” — Book Guys

“Their website has spawned a book, THE LAW OF SUPERHEROES, which is one of the most subversive and nefarious books of the year. I came away from it feeling like I’d actually learned something about the history of American jurisprudence and how our laws actually work.”

“The Law of Superheroes asks and answers crucial speculative questions about everything”
— Dail Motion (video)

“The book that we've all been waiting for is finally out”

“Great work by Daily and Davidson! I am already looking for Volume II.” — Patently O

“I cannot recommend this book highly enough.” — Marion Harmon

“superpowered geekery of epically entertaining proportions”

“A must-read for a dose of good geeky fun” — Shelf-Awareness

“Absolutely charming…intricate, hilarious analysis of the legalities of superheroes and supervillains”
—Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing

“Insightful and entertaining look at how comic book heroes would be affected by real-life laws…Fortunately, Daily and Davidson are neither smart alecks nor ironic, and they take their work as seriously as Batman taking on his arch-villain Bane (although they can be as witty and sly as Catwoman at her best)”
—Publishers Weekly

“…attorneys James Daily and Ryan Davidson have pulled it off so flawlessly in the educational and fun The Law of Superheroes…they did it just right. The Law of Superheroes is both entertaining and informative. People who aren't lawyers or law-geeks will learn something about the law, and lawyers and law-geeks will be thoroughly entertained at the application of familiar principles to comic extravaganzas.”
—Popehat
 
"The Law of Superheroes fits two bills nicely; it's both a highly readable survey of basic legal theory and an entertaining exploration of the comic book canon.”
—The Wall Street Journal
 
“One of the most subversive and nefarious books of the year. I came away from it feeling like I’d actually learned something about the history of American jurisprudence and how our laws actually work… The Law of Superheroes asks and answers crucial speculative questions about everything”
—Daily Motion(video)
 
 “creatively conceived issues illuminate the answers to questions few have dared to ask, providing cogent analysis in a way that should be largely understandable to general readers”
—Kirkus Reviews
 
“A pair of lawyers from the Midwest have decided to ask these questions in this engaging book. Legal tomes are not known for being readable and accessible, but this one manages to be.”
—Book Guys
 
“Superpowered geekery of epically entertaining proportions…A must-read for a dose of good geeky fun”
—Shelf Awareness
 
“The book that we've all been waiting for is finally out…Great work by Daily and Davidson! I am already looking for Volume II.”
—Patently O
 
“I cannot recommend this book highly enough.”
—Marion Harmon
 

From the Publisher

The creators of the popular website lawandthemultiverse.com expand the concept into a book-length exploration of tricky legal issues faced by comic-book heroes and villains. Lawyers by trade, Daily and Davidson here analyze the types of issues only hard-core comic-book geeks can appreciate, ranging from the question of mutant civil rights to Superman's citizenship status. The authors wholeheartedly acknowledge and embrace the ridiculousness of their endeavor, a factor that helps mitigate the frequently dry discussions. They know their audience: comic obsessives who view funny books not as a means of entertainment, but as a way of life, readers who spend hours debating whether Batman could beat Captain America in a fight or speculating on the sex lives--and sexual preferences--of their costume-clad heroes. Chapters on criminal law (can the Joker use insanity as a valid defense?), constitutional law (can the death penalty be applied to someone who's invulnerable?), criminal procedure (can Spider-Man, as a private citizen unaffiliated with the police, legally arrest and detain someone?) and other creatively conceived issues illuminate the answers to questions few have dared to ask, providing cogent analysis in a way that should be largely understandable to general readers. Unfortunately, the concept is far more engaging than the actual analysis; the book reads like a standard, law-class primer, only all of the examples involve superheroes. It's funny to think about the IRS hounding Superman every time he squeezes a piece of coal into a diamond, but it's not all that exciting to delve into a thorough examination of the statutes under which he could actually be prosecuted. Witty on the Web, ponderous on the page.

Kirkus Reviews