How would one defeat an Intangible Foe?

Question

Every hero/villain has a weak spot, a vulnerability that can be used against them.
But what about an ethereal enemy, someone who can make themselves intangible to solid objects like the Martian Manhunter or those blonde deadlocked twins in
Matrix reloaded?

Answer 1

The problem is no consistancy in fictional physics. It goes whatever way the hack writing it thinks sounds coolest.

Shadowcat, for example, is supposed to phase through objects by aligning her molecules to slide thru the molecules of whatever shes phasing through, on the basis of all atoms being mostly empty space. However, this simple supposition should not transgress the laws of thermodynamics, and hence, phased or not, agitate the molecule enough & it oughta burn. Also, shock ought to still be effective, because it is the electrons moving from a point of high charge to low charge, regardless of the position of the nuclei.

If the foe is entirely noncorporeal, like astral forms, then only spiritual fortitude or technological voodoo or further fabrications of metaphysical laws are proof. Call ghostbusters.

In the case of a foe like the Vanisher or Unus, not actually intangible but impossible to get ahold of, passive attacks like gas are a viable option.

Answer 2

Become intangilble yourself. It mostly works this way. Intangible things/characters are intangible to everything except other intangible objects/character.

An alternative would be to use energy. Intangibility is usually only to matter, not energy.

Answer 3

Energy and matter are different types of the same thing. A (fictional) force field that could convert energy to matter has several possibilities for a writer.

1) Convert enemy to matter - and they die (in a pile of ash)

2) Convert enemy to matter - and fight whatever creature the energy turns into

3) Convert matter (our hero) to energy - and fight the enemy "energy to energy"

Answer 4

I would summon the Super Friends.

Answer 5

with an unstartable force

Answer 6

Convince him to commit suicide.