It is about to be 107 degrees in Arlington for the 15th consecutive day. This raises a critical question: which superheroes could actually survive a DFW summer?
S Tier — Built for this:
-
Superman. Solar-powered. The hotter it gets, the stronger he becomes. He would literally be charging up on a July afternoon in Frisco. Plus he is from Kansas, so he understands flat, hot, and miserable.
-
Human Torch (Johnny Storm). Fire-based powers. 107 degrees is his comfort zone. He would be at the pool party in Southlake acting like it is room temperature.
-
Swamp Thing. Made of plant matter. Would thrive in the Trinity River wetlands. Although the August drought might be a problem. Someone get him to White Rock Lake.
A Tier — Would manage:
-
Spider-Man. The suit breathes poorly and he would be sweating through the mask, but New York humidity prepared him. He would complain constantly but survive. Would definitely web-swing to the nearest Bahama Bucks.
-
Captain America. Super soldier serum regulates body temperature. Plus he is used to suffering. He would treat the heat like a training exercise and run laps around White Rock Lake at noon like a psychopath.
-
Wolverine. Healing factor handles heat exhaustion. The adamantium skeleton conducting heat into his bones sounds miserable though. He would be the guy at the bar in Deep Ellum drinking Lone Star at 2 PM refusing to acknowledge the temperature.
F Tier — Would perish:
-
Storm (Ororo Munroe). She would fix the weather within 30 seconds. That is not surviving the summer, that is cheating. Disqualified for literally controlling the climate.
-
Mr. Freeze. Dead in 45 minutes. His suit would malfunction on 635 in traffic with no AC.
-
Iceman. Bobby Drake generates his own cold but the energy expenditure of maintaining ice form in 107 degrees would drain him. He would melt on the sidewalk in front of the Perot Museum.
-
Thor. Asgard is cold. He is wearing a cape and full armor. He has never experienced humidity. He would be in the Urgent Care on Greenville Ave within an hour.
Sources: Marvel and DC character power profiles, the lived experience of surviving 15 consecutive days above 105 degrees in DFW