Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Trying To Claim Lost Planetary Property

This is related to yesterday's post, in the sense that I'm still discussing that Superman/Batman story. While I was making yesterday's post, a different thought occurred to me. Superman is running around, taking all this Kryptonite of various colors wherever he finds it. Along the way he's been meeting resistance from people who claim the various hued K belongs to them.

Do you think it would have been possible for Superman to go to court, and legally claim the Kryptonite, rather than taking it by force? Sure, force can be more entertaining, but I thought for Superman violence would be a last resort. To be fair, he usually tried to ask nicely for the Kryptonite, but if anyone gave him any static then he and Bats started busting heads (in a somewhat restrained manner when possible, but still).

I was looking around on the Internet, and I found a web sites that said (in the U.S., at least) that if a meteorite (say a chunk of green K) falls on your property, it's yours. If it falls on federal land, it belongs to the Department of the Interior. But in Denmark, for example, any meteorite found must be turned over to the government. However, nothing I looked at described what happens if an alien shows up and claims that meteorite is from their home planet and belongs to them. Still, with as many aliens as run around DC-Earth, there could potentially be legal precedents established in a few countries. Superman and Supergirl could file the lawsuit together. I guess they would have to prove it is a piece of their home planet, and there would be a question of whether, with no other Kryptonians remaining, do those two get to claim all remaining Kryptonian land*.

I suppose they'd probably have to purchase it, which would be tedious and time-consuming, and the less-scrupulous parties would probably try and withhold some Kryptonite, or hurry up and use it before it could be purchased or repossessed, but it would be a somewhat reasonable response, as compared to "I'm Superman. Give me that Kryptonite or I'll take it, and smack you if you try and stop me!"

* That aren't in the Phantom Zone or from another universe, and excluding Chris Kent if he was still out and about, since they were trying to keep his being Kryptonian a secret.

4 comments:

Jason said...

I suppose Superman could claim ownership over the kryptonite, I mean, it is pieces of his planet after all.

Seangreyson said...

There are all sorts of core comic stories in both universes where it would be infinitely better if some of the characters just sued the offender (usually the government) rather than sneak in to bust heads.

Seriously Captain America, file an injunction against the government on SHRA as a civil rights violation. What judge is going to rule against Captain Freakin America.

Penguin, file criminal charges against Batman or at least a restraining order. Once he breaks it, then he's the criminal.

There's probably a lot of these, but I'm blanking.

SallyP said...

I don't know if Superman could legally claim ownership. Some of that kryptonite has been lying around for years after all, and possession IS nine tenths of the law.

Maybe those farmers just LIKE that chunk of glowing rock!

CalvinPitt said...

jason: Ah, but would the courts demand he provide proof that he (or his family) owned that piece of Krypton prior to its explosion? That could be dicey, though i suppose Batman or the Green lanterns could probably gimmick up something for that.

seangreyson: I'd really enjoy seeing the Penguin file a restraining order against Batman, just to see how the Bat would react. Would he show up in court to contest it?

sallyp: Of course the farmers like it. It makes their crops grow bigger. Of course, the corn grow teeth and leave the ground to prey on chickens, but that just adds some extra flavor.