Polite Dissent

As a last look back at the past year, I present the 2004 Polite Dissent Awards for the Best and Worst in Comic Book Medicine

Worst Depiction of Medicine:
There were way too many comic books to choose from in this category. A (Dis)honorable Mention goes to The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Wolverine 2004 for the single image of Wolverine that contains 6 blatant medical errors.
A second (Dis)honorable Mention goes to Strange #1 for its inadvertent revelation that Stephen Strange never attended enough medical school or residency to actually earn a medical license, let alone be certified as a surgeon of any kind.
The Worst Depiction of Medicine in 2004, without a doubt, was the interminable autopsy of Sue Dibny that spanned three comics (Identity Crisis #2, JSA #67 and Identity Crisis #6). From incorrect anatomy to bad science to gaping logic holes, this one wins hands down.

Worst Doctor:
Worst doctor not in terms of evilness, but in terms of apparent medical ability. This year’s winner is Dr. Mid-Nite. When he wasn’t bungling an autopsy, he was mistreating a heart attack (JSA #62), leaving stitches in a dirty wound (JSA #65) or handing out controlled substances like candy.
Dr. Mann from Y: the Last Man comes in a distant second with her botched diagnosis of botulism.

Worst Single Medical or Scientific Concept:
The façade virus, which can be transmitted by light, in Cable/Deadpool.

Worst Imaginary Medication or Treatment:
AVX, the is-it-a-narcotic-or-is-it-a-steroid patch from Captain America and the Falcon receives a (Dis)honorable Mention, but the award goes to Rick Tyler (Hourman II) for his revelation in JSA: All Stars #5 that the once addictive Miraclo is now a safe “homeopathic” patch.
While we’re on the subject of Rick Tyler, he has the single most logic-defying moment of the year, also in JSA: All Stars #5, for the 45 minutes it took him to run up the stairs of a building — while using his allegedly effective super drug.

Best Depiction of Medicine
While War Games: Act One had a lot going for it (and the medicine was well handled), the surprise winner in this category is Strange #2 for its excellent job of explaining Stephen Strange’s injuries.

Best Doctor:
Ironically, just as the Worst Doctor is a hero, the Best Doctor is a villain: Hush wins for his treatment of Prometheus’s injuries in Batman: Gotham Knights #53.

Best Single Medical or Scientific Concept:
The water breathing people (and dogs, but not pandas) in Sub-Diego from recent issues of Aquaman (even if it was handled a bit bluntly at times).

Best Imaginary Medication or Treatment:
From Sgt. Frog, Sergeant Keroro wins for his lifesaving CPR-performing Super Suction Space Octopus (Volume One). Corporal Giroro comes in second for obtaining a liver from a space keropes to treat Natsumi’s fever (Volume Three).

Special Mentions:
The following artists wins my heartfelt apprectiation for taking the time to draw the nasal cannula correctly:
Pete Woods (Detective Comics #797), Pia Guerra (Y:the Last Man #29) and Michael Choi (Witchblade #80)