posted
If I know my Superman lore correctly, didn't he originally only have super strength, which gave him the ability to leap great distances, and limited invulnerability (nothing short of a bullet could pierce his skin)? Does anyone know when the creators or which creators started giving him (and Supergirl) Super this, that and the other to the point of being ludicrous?
Here's a list of powers I can remember him displaying over the years:
Super strength Super speed Invulnerability Flight Microscopic vision X-ray vision Infrared vision Telescopic vision Super hearing Super breath Super scent Super taste Super intelligence Super memory Time Travel Super voice Super ventriloquism
Now Supergirl has displayed Super subsonic whistling. Did I leave anything out? Where will the madness end?
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From: Champaign, IL | Registered: Jul 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
Add in super-hypnotism and heat vision (if you count that as separate from x-ray vision, of which it was originally just an application).
My understanding is that Supes kind of gradually acquired more powers beginning in the late 40s and culminating in the Weisinger era Superman's near omnipotence. A lot of the original powering up of Superman was in response to the more popular Captain Marvel.
It would be interesting, however, to see a breakdown of exactly when he acquired each ability.
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
didnt he have telepathy or some crap like that at some point aswell?
Oh and super-lame-arse occasional super energy being power, coupled with super lame arse split into two ability. FEH!
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From: Australia | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
I don't remember him ever having telepathy. I wasn't counting all the temporary powers he's had due to red kryptonite or whatever.
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From: Champaign, IL | Registered: Jul 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
I'm fairly certain he was never telepathic, but weren't Kryptonians telekinetic or something in the Superman movies? I don't think that was ever established in the comics, however.
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
maybe it was just the hypnotism then. boy do I feel silly. haha. (I dont really)
-------------------- Remember : It's not technically a suckerpunch if you yell ''DEFEND YOURSELF SPROCKER!'' two seconds before you let him have it.
From: Australia | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Morrison gave him the power to extend his bio-electric field into some sort of force field in All-Star Superman 1.
From: Canada | Registered: Apr 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: I'm fairly certain he was never telepathic, but weren't Kryptonians telekinetic or something in the Superman movies? I don't think that was ever established in the comics, however.
General Zod at least had some sort of telekinetic power in Superman II, as demonstrated when he points at a man an the man goes up in the air ("These humans are beginning to bore me!").
In Superman IV, Superman himself is able to move a group of people by staring at them and rebuild the Great Wall of China with a glance (a reviewer at the time wrote "Since when does Superman have Masonry Vision?").
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From: The Pyngwyn Colonies of Planet Hyustyn | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
doesnt movie Superman have the power of Super-Sex?which no mortal woman can withstand?
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From: Australia | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Didn't Superman have the power of Super Muscular Control which allowed him to change the way his face looked.
From: Canada | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
I don't know if he still has this, but in the early John Byrne issues he seemed to have the power of Super Speed Beard Growth. I seem to recall quite a lot of instances of him having to shave. Whether this was to distance him from the pre-crisis "clutzy Clark" and show him as an all new "Virile manly Clark"; or because John Byrne has a beard and it was a case of "beards-are-cool-so-there", I guess we'll never know.
posted
It should be noted that in addition to a red sun and magic, Superman has had one other major weakness: lacking a certain amount of tact on occassion!
Examples:
Superboy (to Bouncing Boy about his new gal Iresa): "She's...er, really great!" Talk about not being able to hide his disgust!
Superman of Earth-2 to Red Tornado: "Red Tornado, I like you but I'm sorry to say you have a tendency to really bungle things!" Even E2 Supes had it!
And there's no doubt that Supes of E1 had the most examples of all!
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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