
Marv is a fictional character created by comic book legend Frank Miller for the 'Sin City' graphic novel series. Actor Mickey Rourke portrayed Marv in the 2005 movie adaptation. In the movie, Marv survives the electric chair, defiantly asking his executioners, Is that the best you can do, you pansies? before the switch is pulled again to finish him off. This scene has sparked discussions about the physics behind his survival, as well as the creation of a controversial Death Row Marv toy depicting the character in an electric chair. Marv's survival of the electric chair creates a narrative problem for the story, as he possesses knowledge that would be damaging to the corrupt powers in the city.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Survived the electric chair | Yes |
| Survived the first jolt | Yes |
| Defiant | Yes |
| Executioners pulled the switch again | Yes |
| Survived due to body resistance | Maybe |
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What You'll Learn

Resistance to electricity
In the context of electricity, resistance refers to the opposition to the flow of electric current. This is influenced by factors such as the material through which the current is passing and the temperature of the material. Different materials have different resistivities, which determine how much they resist the flow of current. For example, materials like metals have low resistivity and offer little resistance, allowing current to flow easily. On the other hand, materials like rubber have high resistivity and are insulators, resisting the flow of current.
In the human body, the resistance to electricity is determined by various factors, including body composition, skin moisture, and contact area. The human body typically has a high resistance to electricity, which means it can resist a certain amount of electric current before it becomes harmful. This is why we can safely interact with low-voltage electrical devices in our daily lives without experiencing electric shocks.
In the case of Marv, his body's resistance to electricity comes into play during his execution in the electric chair. When subjected to the first jolt of electricity, Marv surprisingly survives, defiantly asking his executioners, "Is that the best you can do, you pansies?". This suggests that his body was able to resist the initial electric current, preventing the electricity from causing immediate death.
However, it is important to note that the amount of electricity required to cause death can vary depending on factors such as the voltage, the duration of the current, and the path it takes through the body. While Marv's body may have had a high enough resistance to withstand the initial jolt, a stronger or prolonged electric current could still be fatal. In the story, his executioners administer a second jolt to finish him off, indicating that the initial resistance was overcome with a stronger or prolonged electric current.
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A second jolt was required to finish him off
Marv, the fictional character created by comic book legend Frank Miller for the Sin City graphic novel series, survives the electric chair in a scene from The Hard Goodbye. In the scene, Marv is sentenced to death by electric chair and survives the first jolt, defiantly asking his executioners, "Is that the best you can do, you pansies?" A second jolt is required to finish him off.
Marv's survival of the electric chair can be attributed to a combination of factors, including his physical resilience, tactical intelligence, and the unpredictable nature of Hollywood storytelling. Marv is known for his well-developed skill and appetite for torture, adhering to a personal code of honor that includes chivalry towards women and the repayment of debts. His survival of the electric chair can be seen as a testament to his resilience and determination to uphold his code.
Additionally, Marv has displayed a surprising amount of intelligence, particularly in deducing complex events and formulating tactical strategies during conflicts. This intelligence may have contributed to his ability to withstand the electric chair, either through mental fortitude or by manipulating the circumstances of his execution.
Furthermore, it is important to consider the narrative context of Marv's survival. In Hollywood and comic book adaptations, characters often defy the laws of physics and biology to survive seemingly insurmountable odds. Marv's survival of the electric chair can be viewed as a dramatic device to heighten the tension and showcase his resilience, furthering the plot of the story.
The scene of Marv's execution and subsequent survival in Sin City is a memorable moment that highlights the character's tenacity and unconventional nature. His ability to withstand the electric chair adds to his reputation as a ""noir superman"" and reinforces his status as a beloved antihero in the Sin City universe.
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His body's ability to resist a certain amount of current
Marv's body's ability to resist a certain amount of current is a crucial factor in his survival of the electric chair. The human body has a natural resistance to electric current, and the amount of current that can pass through it depends on this resistance. The higher the resistance, the lower the current that can flow, and vice versa.
Marv's body likely had a higher resistance to electric current, allowing him to withstand the initial jolt of electricity. This resistance could be due to several factors, such as his physical characteristics, the condition of his skin, or even the moisture level of his skin at the time. These factors could have created a higher threshold for the electric current to overcome before causing fatal damage.
Additionally, the voltage and duration of the electric current applied to Marv played a role in his survival. The voltage may not have been high enough, or the duration of the current may not have been long enough, to cause fatal damage, given his body's ability to resist a certain amount of current.
It is important to note that while Marv's body may have had a higher resistance, it is highly unlikely that anyone could survive an electric chair in real life. The electric chair is designed to deliver a fatal electric shock, and the amount of electricity used is typically far beyond what the human body can withstand. However, in the context of the story, Marv's resistance allows him to defy the odds and survive, creating a dramatic and memorable scene.
Marv's survival of the electric chair showcases his extraordinary resilience and adds to his larger-than-life persona as a "noir superman" and "anti-hero" in the Sin City universe. It is a testament to his unwavering determination and will to live, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
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He wakes up and escapes
Marv, the fictional character from the "
Marv wakes up and escapes, creating a problem for the Roark family and the corrupt police force as he possesses knowledge that could bring down the city. Before his execution, he agrees to confess to the murders committed by Roark and Kevin in exchange for the police sparing his mother's life. His last meal is a steak and a beer.
Marv's survival can be attributed to his high resistance, which allowed him to withstand a certain amount of electric current. His intellect, combat skills, and ability to escape while tied to a chair by Gail, as mentioned earlier, further contribute to his escape and survival.
Marv's personal code of honor, which includes chivalry towards women and the repayment of debts, guides his actions. He is described as a "noir superman" and an antihero driven by a moral code of protecting women and children, despite his intense homicidal urges. Marv's actions are not fueled by selfish desires but by a fixation on eradicating perceived evil forces.
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His personal code of honour
Marv is a fictional character created by comic book legend Frank Miller for the Sin City graphic novel series. Actor Mickey Rourke portrayed Marv in the 2005 movie adaptation. In the movie, Marv survives the electric chair, defiantly asking his executioners, "Is that the best you can do, you pansies?" before they have to pull the switch again to finish him off.
Marv is a typical antihero, described as a "noir superman". He is governed by a personal code of honour, which includes chivalry towards women, stating, "it really gets my goat when guys rough up dames". He refuses to lay a finger on Gail, who tortures him for information, because he believes she has wrongly accused him of killing several prostitutes. He also highly values kindness, often going out of his way to repay it. As a devout Catholic, Marv condones the violence and bloodshed he inflicts as justice against evil in the world.
Marv's code of honour also dictates the repayment of debts. He will defend anyone he considers a friend or who has shown him kindness until he is no longer capable or feels the debt has been repaid. Marv is highly intelligent, able to deduce confusing and complex events accurately, sometimes based on scarce or conflicting information. His skills in combat also imply a degree of intelligence from a tactical viewpoint.
Marv's personal code of honour, therefore, drives his actions and shapes his character as a dark, dangerous, but sentimental hero in the Sin City series.
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Frequently asked questions
Marv's body has a given resistance that allows it to resist a certain amount of current.
Marv defiantly asks his executioners: "Is that the best you can do, you pansies?"
The executioners pull the switch again to finish him off. However, in a later scene, Marv is shown to have survived and escaped back into Sin City.











































