Externalities: Strange Edition

Demons like to make deals for souls. But by doing so they impose certain costs on people not directly involved. These are demon externalities.

Strange #3 by Mark Waid and Emma Rios

Here's a quick, but important lesson in contract law. Keep your contracts. Otherwise, there may be some unintended costs for everyone around you. This is especially the case in Demon Law.

What we have here is a simple transaction between a demon, Virilian, and a mother of a preteen participating in Bibb Country, Georgia Annual Miss Buttermilk Pageant. The terms of the pact are simple: Virilian promises victory to the daughter in exchange for the mother's soul. The catch (as demons always have one) is that Virilian actually made the same bargain with every contestant's mother. Obviously since not every girl can win, Virilian plan seems to be to breach contract with n-1 mothers, yet steal their souls anyway. He figures the worst that would happen is that he would incur a small fine.

I'm not expert in the legal system, but it seems that normally when there's a breach of contract, the victim takes the offender to court. It's a matter between two parties (or any other third parties that might have been direct beneficiaries or or payees in the contract). What Virilian did not anticipate, however, was that demon contract bylaws stipulate that any breach results in the opening of a wormhole and mass destruction on Earth. Or as Casey put it, "Magic's having a stroke."

He is a demon, but Virilian certainly did not intend for his thievery to bring out world destruction. Innocent people bearing the costs of one demon's negligence and several mothers' insecurities? That's externalities: demon-style.

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Doctor Strange's Health Care Promo

A few weeks ago, we asked readers their thoughts on who would be the best superhero spokesperson for health insurance. Congratulations to our winner, Will, who came up with a clever promo/commercial for our favorite hero physician (next to Dr. McNinja), Dr. Strange! Here is the answer:

Dr. Strange brings the unique perspective of a man who was a doctor (leading neurosurgeon), a patient with a pre-existing condition that affects his employment options, and, currently, lost his job as Master of the Mystic Arts. I have no idea what health plan the Master of the Mystic Arts has, but he had access to a great deal of resources now not available. Here is how I see his ad going: "Hi, my name is Stephen Strange. To many, I am known as Dr. Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts. Unfortunately, like so many Americans I have recently lost my job as Master of the Mystic Arts and, in the process, I have lost my health insurance. With my numerous enemies, injuries, possessions, and other hazards, my premiums are far too high for me to afford and I am left uninsured. As a former neurosurgeon, I know the cost to the hospitals and the medical system of uninsured like me and that cost is also felt by you. Please join me in trying to end this broken system and, by the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth, we can have an affordable public option that insures all Americans."

This is a wonderful and hilarious response. The great thing about Dr. Strange as a spokesperson for health care reform is not only that he has seen the perils of our health insurance system from within, but that he would also be a terrific proponent of reforming areas of health that have not received enough media attention, namely health care delivery and public health. Furthermore, Dr. Strange has gained so much prominence (despite not having his own ongoing title and not being a registered superhero) that I would consider him among the A-listers in the superhero business. Finally, the commercial that was Will envisions appeals to the public's sympathies by telling a story that many people can relate to (well, inasmuch as they can relate to someone with powers of the dark arts). The combination of all these factors is likely to garner considerable support for the campaign.

Again, thank you all for your wonderful comments. Will, please email us at ecocomics dot blog at gmail dot com with your top five comic choices and address.

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