17 replies to this topic

[.Big Game James.]

recently i've gotten really interested in manhattan and i was wondering if people could explain his capabilities and what feats he has established...personally, i think he seems to be near omnipotent. is this true?

[sirmethos]

This give a pretty good idea of his capabilities. http://www.comicvine...attan/29-40527/
Just scroll down to the bottom, where his "powers and abilities" are described.

[.Big Game James.]

thanks sirmethos this helps alot. look forward to my next match. it will contain manhattan.

[Ruinus]

As that article states, however powerful he is, he'd only be able to stop 60% of missiles in a hypothetical nuclear war between the US and the USSR.

[.Big Game James.]

it's mentioned in the movie 99% of nuclear missiles. but it's only said IF he'd take care of 99% that still leaves the 1% that could destroy the world. so who knows??? lol

[Ruinus]

Oh really? Didn't catch that when I saw the movie. Either way, it shows that he doesn't care that much and hence wans't really trying, or even if he wanted to he couldn't be everywhere at once.

[force_echo]

It's 60 percent in the graphic novel.

[sirmethos]

It's 60 percent in the comicbook.

Fixed.

[.Big Game James.]

yeah that's pry what % he ACTUALLY would take care of.

[.Big Game James.]

how many clones can he manage at once? i've seen proof of 3 but i've heard as many as he wants, and i'm not sure what the comic or novel portrays... never read either

[MarvelFan15]

The comics don't really give an indication of the upper limits of his power, but it doesn't seem all that impressive when compared to the upper-tiers of most comics companies. Off the top of my head, he's only ever had low- to mid-level matter manipulation feats. All else is just speculation.

Also, being theorized that he can stop 60% of the Russian nuclear missiles is a slightly dubious calculation, as neither the government nor Doc Manhattan knew what the actual result would be. Could be more, could be less. Also, I believe that that calculation accounted for the USSR missiles only, but my memory may be off.

As for clones...I'm inclined to say as many as he sees himself making, as he's kinda lost free-will by this point. I'm also of the opinion that they don't take too long to form. When Doc was vaporized by Veidt, he took about a 25 - 45 seconds to fully reform his body, so I imagine a clone would take just as long.

[sirmethos]

He didn't actually "lose free-will", he just realized that it never existed, that free-will was just an illusion. A fine, but distinct difference.

[MarvelFan15]

Then claimed that the relationship between Laurie's mother and father, the original Silk Spectre and Comedian, was, in and of itself, a miracle. Then, after losing the ability to see his future due to tachyon interference, he became excited, being able to "act" on his own for the first time. Part of the reason Jon became interested in humanity again was because of their free will, IIRC.

So, yeah, free will either actually exists, or Jon's disillusionment vanishes completely once under the influence of ignorance.

EDIT: Just realized that methos' comment wasn't directed towards me.

Whose comment was it directed at, methos?

[sirmethos]

Yes, it was directed at your comment about him losing free-will.

He didn't lose free-will, he just realized that he never had any, that free-will is an illusion.

[MarvelFan15]

Oh, well in that case my points still stand: He regained free will once his prescience was blocked by the tachyon streams. It's also another reason why he's so interested in humanity in general, IIRC.

[Ruinus]

I think it's more that he liked the feeling of not knowing what exactly his future was. He still knew that his future was pre-determined and set, but he didn't know what it was.

[sirmethos]

Aye, and the "not knowing", gives the illusion of free-will.

[MarvelFan15]

Makes sense, but I don't think free will was ruled out absolutely.

Eh, I'd have to read the series again to be sure. Been meaning to buy it, but haven't gotten around to it yet.