5 Common Comic Book Questions With Obvious Answers

Comics are arguably the most versatile medium to date. There have been classic characters and infamous stories that deal with a variety of issues, ranging from the complex and socially relevant to the otherworldly and surreal.

As a result, this tends to spark dialogue among comics' diehard fans. Many have deepened their understanding of real world issues through the lens of comic panels, with the use of allegory and metaphor an intrinsic element of the superhero genre.

Dating back decades and even still today, fans still concern themselves with the Joker/Batman dynamic, the X-Men's symbolism, and arguments for and against superhero registration. Some questions we consider can never truly be answered with absolute certainty.

Others should be blatantly obvious. Maybe we've asked ourselves these things for so long we forgot they have objective answers. On the surface these questions could seem like tricky brainteasers and some are even presented as downright philosophical, but with a little extra consideration you realize the solutions are fairly simple. Some questions commonly posed by fans have definitive right or wrong answers and can be proven either through the citation of widely-known canon or simple scientific fact.

Let's start off with perhaps the most whimsical and peculiar question. The Hulk is a rage monster born from scientist Bruce Banner's exposure to gamma radiation. When Banner transforms into the Hulk, he gains superhuman strength, endurance and durability.

Banner also increases in size, going from a man of average height and build to a monster surpassing any natural human dimensions. With this change, fans quickly noticed that, despite the dramatic growth, his pants managed to stay on.

Marvel has attempted to offer an explanation to what seems to be a lapse in logic, stating the pants are made of a highly adjustable fabric that adapts to the needs of its' wearer. Still, that doesn't explain how his pants managed to stay on the first time he transformed, since there was no need for said pants to exists.

In truth, the Hulk's pants probably should be ripped to shreds, leaving the green goliath completely bare. Although more accurate, this would be incredibly distracting and force attention away from the character and his beloved tales.

Comic fans are pleasantly obsessive and everyone loves a good nitpick, but for the sake of narrative we should probably extend our suspension of disbelief to the Hulk's trousers.