Polite Dissent

Marvel Knights Spider-Man #4 “Down Among the Dead Men, part four”
Mark Millar, writer
Terry Dodson, penciler

In Marvel Knights Spider-Man #4, Peter Parker is lying bruised and beaten in his hospital bed as an enraged Vulture stalks toward him. Peter starts hallucinating and his subconscious, in the form of Aunt May, tells him “This is just the Midazolam the doctors prescribed inducing mild hallucinations.”

Midazolam (also known as Versed) is an injectable sedative in the same family as Valium. It certainly can cause hallucinations, though the narcotic painkillers that Peter is on would be a much more likely cause of his hallucinations (or they could be due to the head injury he suffered). However, he should not be on Versed in the first place. It is a strong drug that is only indicated for sedation during surgical procedures and in patients being carefully monitored in the ICU. It requires continuous oxygen monitoring, frequent vital sign checks, and an IV drip. Peter is not in the ICU and is not undergoing a procedure. The only IV in the room is running blood. Though there was a nurse in the room, there is no indication that Peter’s vitals and oxygen levels are being checked. If sedation is required, there are much better choices in his situation than midazolam.

As a nitpick, I would point out that hallucinating a person who isn’t there talking to you is not a mild hallucination; it’s a pretty significant one.

Later in the same issue, the Owl and his “associate” Dr. Winkler have captured Electro. The Owl informs Electro that the doctor has injected him with haloperidol in order to neutralize his shocks. He also informs Electro that the drug has neutralized all his motor functions but that his brain can still register pain.

Haloperidol (also known as Haldol) is an antipsychotic drug in the phenothiazine family; it is also a major tranquilizer. I have no idea how it would affect superpowers, but it seems reasonable that a drug acting on the brain would could suppress them. In the correct dosage, haloperidol can certainly slow down – if not entirely arrest – voluntary motor function. Note that this is voluntary muscle movement, as opposed to all muscle movement; the patient will still have involuntary muscle motions, such as breathing and a beating heart. The Owl is correct that patients on haloperidol can still feel pain. But if Electro has been injected with haloperidol, then why is he able to not only turn his head but also speak? Talking is an entirely voluntary motion utilizing several muscles. Doctor Winkler better re-check his dose.

I also take issue with Dr. Winkler shining a light in Electro’s eyes and saying “His eyes are reacting to the light, Mister Owl. I think he’s waking up.” First it’s way too obsequious. Second, it’s just plain wrong. A person who is asleep or unconscious will still have normal pupil responses unless they’ve suffered neurological damage. Pupils reacting to light have nothing to do with “waking up.” The Owl definitely needs a new doctor.

A previous medical review of Marvel Knights Spider-Man issues #2 and #3 can be found here.

The panels featuring the Owl and the fawining (and apparently incompetent) Dr. Winkler can be found below: