Intangibility is the ability to alter the molecular structure of a person or object thereby lowering its mass and density to the point that it's molecules can slip between and through the molecules of another person or object. If the molecular dispersal is great enough, even light and gases may pass in between molecules. In speculative fiction, this is often demonstrated as a super-power common to ghosts, mutants and some species of aliens.
In the Star Wars mythos, when a Jedi dies, they may develop the ability to live on beyond their physical body as a force spirit. These beings exist in a permanent state of intangibility and can no longer maintain cohesive corporeal form. Obi-Wan Kenobi demonstrated this ability when he strode through the dense underbrush of Dagobah to speak with Luke Skywalker. For some reason however, he still felt the need to sit his wrinkly ass down on a fallen log. Go figure.
The Vision turns intangible.
In Marvel Comics, the mutant superhero known as Shadowcat has the ability to render herself intangibile. She refers to this as "phasing". Shadowcat's intangibility is unique from other forms in that she can disrupt the electrical signals of technological equipment merely by phasing through it. This is a very advantageous ability to have, particularly when one faces up against robotic Sentinels.
Another hero who can call upon this power in her ever-growing bag of tricks is Andrea Thomas, better known to 1970s high school students as Isis. Isis has the ability to render other people or objects momentarily intangible. She once demonstrated this by making a speeding car pass harmlessly through a broken down tractor trailer that was in the middle of the road. Presumably, she can apply this power to herself as well.
Characters[]
| Character | Source |
|---|---|
| Barbas | Charmed |
| Bode Locke | Locke & Key |
| D.L. Hawkins | Heroes |
| Glynis Zarkov | Marvel Universe |
| Jack-Jack Parr | Incredibles |
| Richard Occult | DC Universe |
| Vision | Marvel Universe |
Appearances[]
Films[]
- Human Vapor, The - Mizuno becomes a human vapor man.
Television[]
- Avengers: Avengers Assemble (Part 1) - The Vision's phasing power.
- Charmed: Ex Libris - Charleen in ghost form is intangible as a library assistant passes through her.
- Isis: The Hitchhikers - Isis causes a speeding car to phase through a wrecked vehicle on a highway.
- Isis: ...And Now You Don't - Isis phases through the roof of a building.
- Super Friends: The Bride of Darkseid (Part 2) - Firestorm floats through a wall.
Comics[]
- Adventure Comics 373 - Phantom Girl phases her hands through a robot to disable it. Dawn Allen phases through a rock.
- Avengers Vol 8 28 - Silver Surfer's new intangibility power allows him to phase through Ghost Rider's chains.
- Doom Patrol Vol 2 25 - A grey whale phantasm phases through the walls at the Secret Sanctuary. It happens.
- She-Hulk Vol 2 1 - Vision II phases during fracas with Ox and Boomerang.
- Strange Tales 99 - A man mis-gauges his time travel venture and becomes intangible.