Which comic book character would smell the worst? Exploring the science of smell in comic book characters.

Have you ever wondered what your favorite comic book characters smell like? Given the wide range of superhuman abilities, does anyone have a super stench? Today, we’re using STEM to investigate the science of smell and which superhero would be the smelliest. 

The Science of Smell

Bacteria on the skin cause body odor. For some comic book characters, their environment creates most of this bacteria. Unsanitary conditions make bacteria grow and linger on the skin, producing unpleasant odors. Bacteria naturally grow on skin, which is why people should consistently shower, unless you’re like Wolverine and can constantly regenerate your skin to prevent bacterial growth. So what does this mean for comic book characters? From sewage systems to body odor, let’s explore the science behind some comic book characters you’ll want to avoid because of their smell.

Ratcatcher and Sewer Science

As the name suggests, Ratcatcher’s abilities are closely connected to rats. He is a DC supervillain who communicates with rats and uses them as a weapon. In Gotham, a large population of rats lives in the sewer system. As you can probably imagine, the environment is far from sanitary, and the smell would be unpleasant. Through his frequent interactions with rats, Ratcatcher would likely carry the smell of the sewers everywhere he goes.

Sewer systems smell for many reasons. Large cities rely on underground systems to safely manage human waste and reduce exposure to harmful bacteria and infectious diseases. Before sewer systems, many cities experienced deadly outbreaks caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation. Sewer systems help protect public health while also preventing unpleasant odors.

Constantly interacting with rats and their sewage-filled environment would certainly make you want to avoid Ratcatcher, but is he truly the worst of the worst?

Wolverine and Human Biology

Wolverine is one of the most famous superheroes from the X-Men comic books. His powers include rapid self-healing and retractable claws. As a burly superhero with lots of body hair, it’s a fair assumption that Wolverine has some serious body odor after a fight. Sweat is the main factor behind body odor. When our skin gets too hot, our body releases liquid to cool down. Although it’s hard to believe, sweat itself doesn’t have a smell. Instead, what makes you stinky after a hard workout is actually the bacteria on your skin breaking down from the moisture.

Wearing a tight suit all day while fighting crime certainly would make Wolverine sweat, but his self-healing abilities would allow his skin to regenerate and fight off body odor. His healing factor might prevent long-term bacterial buildup. Therefore, if Wolverine is constantly shedding off dead skin with all the odor-causing bacteria, would he actually smell bad? Or would he have a persistent “new car” smell?

Killer Croc and Swamp Ecology

Just like Ratcatcher, Killer Croc’s smell is due to his environment. Killer Croc is a supervillain from DC Comics with crocodile-like abilities who lives in the swamp. If you’ve ever visited a swamp or wetlands, you’ve probably smelled that rotten-egg stench. Swamp habitats are often smelly because mud and stagnant water can slow the decomposition of plant matter, leading to lingering odors. The rotten-egg smell , in particular, is caused by carbon accumulating in the environment, leading to more sulfur, which smells like rotten eggs to our noses.

While Killer Croc lives in a smelly environment, crocodiles in the wild have adapted to this environment. Their thick, scaly skin doesn’t have any sweat glands, and instead, they regulate their body temperature by panting with their mouth open like a dog. Killer Croc likely suffers from horrible breath rather than body odor. On the other hand, if he’s been swimming in some particularly stinky swamps, he could carry some of that stench with him.

While we’ll never know who exactly is the smelliest comic book character, there are a few strong contenders. Ratcatcher and Killer Croc have the advantage of living in smelly environments, but all superheroes are likely to smell because their suits trap sweat.