Defining Superman's Powers In A Reboot

[SuperDaniel]

yes, and he simply has powers, without explanation in actual movie, other than the yellow sun makes him badass.

hey dan, on a side note, totally off topic. I've been watching a lot of 2001 and 2010 lately. What would you (everybody) think of a Superman origin, but wrapped up deeply in the human search for life beyond our little planet. It's something that I rarely see played upon in Superman media. I mean his arrival on the public scene is not only a revelation of Superman, but that there are aliens out there in the cosmos zooming around. Both would be profound revelations, the second being more so, given other potential DC superheroes that may enter the 'DC movie universe'. I think that might be an interesting take on a Superman origin. Superman Origin crossed over with that silly Jodie Foster movie, Contact. Whacha think?

I think it should be dealt with especially if Braniac is the villain. The trust on aliens and what good can they give to manking is great theme.

 

[The Guard]

I don't have any radical ideas for the explanation of Superman's powers and costume.

I rather like the idea of his powers at least unconsciously being some form of telekinesis, at least in terms of flight and matter manipulation (heat vision). If Superman is us in the future, and we only use part of our brains...

The costume could easily be partially the materials from the spaceship (adult ceremonial garments that were included, perhaps?) and partially Ma Kent's doing.

 

[Crook]

If Superman is us in the future, and we only use part of our brains...

False myth. I'm surprised you didn't know this one.

 

[The Guard]

Part of our brain potential? We are talking about a man who can fly, here.

 

[Crook]

I'm not talking about Supes. I'm talking grounding fantasy based on false facts.

 

[thorstone]

there is no scientific explanation, nor proof of telekinesis... and you can't be post human, if you are from another planet. You are alien, plain and simple. And there is no such thing as post human, unless we start messing around with Timetravel, which is not superman. Post humans can only come from earth of the future. Krypton is not earth of the future, because it exists/existed in our present.

remember that back at the core of the mythos, is the idea that Superman is an immigrant to a new place, trying to bring the gifts of his old home, to help the people of his new home. Making superman 'from earth of the future' totally throws one of the most central original concepts of superman into the wind.

I believe revealing Krypton to be Earth in the far far future is more interesting than him being from another world.

I like the idea of showing the death of Earth in the beginning. It also simplifies how humans got to Krypton.

Posthuman and omega point theories apply directly to Superman-- there is no symbol from 20th century American culture more representative of what defines posthuman than Superman.

 

[thorstone]

there is no scientific explanation, nor proof of telekinesis... and you can't be post human, if you are from another planet. You are alien, plain and simple. And there is no such thing as post human, unless we start messing around with Timetravel, which is not superman. Post humans can only come from earth of the future. Krypton is not earth of the future, because it exists/existed in our present.

remember that back at the core of the mythos, is the idea that Superman is an immigrant to a new place, trying to bring the gifts of his old home, to help the people of his new home. Making superman 'from earth of the future' totally throws one of the most central original concepts of superman into the wind.

I believe revealing Krypton to be Earth in the far far future is more interesting than him being from another world.

I like the idea of showing the death of Earth in the beginning. It also simplifies how humans got to Krypton.

Posthuman and omega point theories apply directly to the analysis of Superman-- there is no symbol from 20th century American culture more representative of what defines posthuman than Superman.

 

[not_a_victim]

True indeed, but there was also kryptonite sticking out all over the island as he was picking it up, but he was still able to function

ANd that is my point.
Again, he was able to find the strength within himself to save the people he loved, and technically, it did kill him...kinda..
He was simply able to get it done before he was totally dead. It's not that he was able to overcome the effects of the kryptonite, it's that he was simply to last a bit longer that the K.

 

[ReTrO JuNkIe 42]

Didn't he actually have a piece of kryptonite in his body when he was getting his rear handed to him? Then Lois removed when they were in the plane, then he flew down to pick up NK...
Right?

upon further review its clear to me he got his rear handed to him b 4 he was stabbed with the k, so he was weak cause he was in the presence of the k, the same as when he lifted new K, so it is hack writing and inconsistency

 

[The Guard]

I believe revealing Krypton to be Earth in the far far future is more interesting than him being from another world.

As in, Krypton represents what Earth may become? Or as in, Krypton actually IS Earth in the future, and Superman time travels to get from Earth in the future to Earth in the past?

Because that creates some...weird, weird issues.

 

[bunk]

If a civilization possessed time travel, you'd think they'd use it to prevent the planet from exploding.

 

[The Guard]

You would think.

 

[bunk]

Or at least Jor El could. Either way, Jor El needs to be in a position of utter helplessness.

 

[Crook]

If a civilization possessed time travel, you'd think they'd use it to prevent the planet from exploding.

I always assumed that the particular concept involved Jor-EL not knowing Kal-El was being sent to the past. Instead, he believed it was actually another planet and something went "wrong" when the spaceship was sent out.

 

[BATZARRO WWD]

Dah! Earth being Krypton in future, that's...weird. I mean...then why the whole "sent" part?

 

[The Guard]

Ok...but here's the thing.

Jor-El sends Kal-El to Earth.

Kal-El lands on Earth, becomes Superman.

Earth becomes Krypton. Jor-El is born thousands of years later, and Earth changes it name to "Krypton" for...some reason.

Jor-El sends Superman away.

I mean, it's cool and all, but how does that work, exactly?

 

[The Sage]

Don't know if anyone's seen this or not, but Wikia's DC Database has a good breakdown of the abilities: http://en.dcdatabaseproject.com/Kal-El_(New_Earth)#Powers_and_Abilities

Kryptonian Physiology: Superman's cellular structure is more dense, resilient and biologically more effective than human tissue. Under natural Kryptonian conditions, does not seem to possess superhuman strength levels despite his enhanced cellular ability without constant exposure to yellow solar energy. Without such charging, his strength seems on par for a human of his height and weight who engages in regular physical activity. As an alien he possess several organs whose functions are not yet disclosed or understood but are believed to be part of and perhaps even the source of his biomatrix force field and reclamation aura. Superman's body also stores energy actively within his bio-cellular matrix as an energy pattern that is linked to his body's electromagnetic field. This energy powers most of Superman's electromagnetic capabilities such as flight and heat vision. It also supplements his physical strength by a factor of 12,000 times or so.

* Solar Energy Absorption: Technically, this is the main source of Superman's powers. Because Superman's powers are greatly due to exposure to Earth's yellow sun, his powers have been affected by extreme absorptions of solar power, whether voluntary or involuntary. However, Superman has used this to his advantage in battle in many instances, and to his detriment at certain times.

* Superhuman Strength: While the exact magnitude of Superman's strength is unknown, it is generally accepted that Superman is sufficiently strong to lift 100,000 tons or more. The exact specfic range is unknown as Superman's strength, like his other powers, has fluctuated over time. Superman's strength is more an act of conscious will on energy fields than actual physical strength. It is through his act of conscious will manipulation that allows Superman to engage in physical feats that are beyond merely applying applicable force such as moving a mountain without said rock crumbling under its own mass while Superman moves it. At his theoretical maximum, fully immersed and over charged by yellow solar radiation, the New Earth Superman has been noted to be able to concentrate his will into physical force enough to allow him to move Earth-moon sized planetary bodies out of their orbit [9] where after emerging from the Sun over-energized, Superman physically pushed "WarWorld" (The Dwarf Planet Pluto) across the solar system and into a boom tube. However being at that level has been directly shown to be adverse to him, and his body is unable to contain that level of energy directly for any true length of time without harmful effects. And again, this level of control and power access is not normal for him to achieve and even in this particular instance. Superman's normal strength levels are obviously in the multi-megaton range. Currently he only maintains enough strength to do battle without killing, move mountains, but not enough to move planet sized objects on his own.

* Invulnerability: Superman's body is nigh-invulnerable to extreme energy forces (He has survived low yield nuclear explosions where he was in direct contact with a fourty megaton detonation bomb but was knocked unconscious as a result). This ability's levels have changed over time, at times allowing him to fly into a sun and emerge unharmed, as evident most recently through Krypton's red sun [10] and survive and directly entering directly into the Sun. .[11] Superman has even been shown withstanding Darkseid's Omega Effect while they were fighting near the surface of a yellow sun [12], a feat that was previously considered impossible. In addition, his immune system protects him from toxins and diseases. The most common explanations for his invulnerability are Superman having a super-dense molecular structure and/or a supercharged bioelectric "aura" which acts as an invisible "force field" around his body to within a few millimeters from his skin, and presumably within his body as well. The proximity of this field to his skin means that loose clothes, for example, may be burned off of him, while cloth that is close to his body is protected by the "aura;" This phenomenon is sometimes cited as Superman's reason for wearing a skin-tight bodysuit. It is also the understanding that he may unconsciously extend part of this field into objects in contact with him which is assumed for him being able to carry and move objects that would collaspe under their own mass, overcoming gravity or inertia tearing them apart around his human-sized hands.

* Superhuman Stamina: Superman has the ability to maintain continuous strenuous physical action for an undefined period. Theoretically, most incarnations of the character has practically unlimited stamina as his enhanced nourishment is produced from the solar energy his cells process; however his base physical structure still does need to process food stuffs as well as has the psychological need to eat and drink just as Earth humans do, despite the fact that his superhuman powers receives the majority of that energy from a yellow sun. He does require sleep on occasion so he can dream. He can also hold his breath for an undefined duration.

* Flight: Superman is presumably able to manipulate psionically, graviton particles, in an unknown and apparently unconscious manner, to defy the forces of gravity. Under one Earth gravity, Superman is capable of speeds of multi Mach speeds in Earth's atmosphere. His control of his flight is very precise and he can perform aerobatic feats such as hovering, flying backwards and even lifting great weights while flying. Superman has repeatedly demonstrated he has the ability to achieve orbital speeds, fly in outer space and land safely down to a planet's surface from outer space.

* Superhuman Speed: Superman is capable of enhanced reflex action and the ability to move at incredible speeds by sheer force of will. He is not as fast as the Flash, but he can achieve faster than light speed under his own power in space [13]. Superman can match most other speedsters in their ability to perform super-fast movements, reactions, and processes. He can use this power to disarm opponents who do not have heightened reflexes, catch bullets or shrapnel or cross vast distances in seconds.

* Super-Breath: The ability to create hurricane force winds by blowing, and to chill his breath in order to freeze a target (this latter ability has also been called "freeze breath" and "arctic breath"). Superman can also breathe in large amounts of air, an ability used when dealing with and disposing things like clouds of poison gas.

* Superhuman Hearing: The ability to hear any sound at any volume or pitch. The only Earth creature who can detect sounds at the frequency he can is a blue whale (0.01-200,000 Hz). He has shown enough control to block out ambient sounds to focus on a specific source/frequency. He can identify a person by their heartbeat, or pick out a single voice in an entire city.

* Heat Vision: The ability to fire beams of intense heat at a target by looking at it with the conscious act of activating this power. Visually, the power is typically depicted as two beams of red light firing from his eyes. These beams can be made invisible, allowing Superman to work undetected. The maximum temperature of his heat vision is said to be around that of a nuclear detonation. The area of effect can be consciously determined by Superman, down to the microscopic level. Recent stories imply the precision is so exact it can bypass a target's outer shell (not causing damage to a person's skull for surgical purposes) or even defenses (such as invulnerability or intangibility).

* Superman Vision: Under only the rays of a Blue sun, Superman found out that he develops a new vision power that allows non-Kryptonians Superman-like powers. The lasting effects seem to only work under a blue sun, once Superman and that person leaves the planet of the sun, the person will lose his powers.

* Superhuman Vision: He also possess a superior sensory arrangement of microscopic, telescopic, infrared and ultraviolet visual capabilities. He is able to see the entire spectrum. Microscopic, chemical, x-ray, auditory, ultrasonic, magnetic, photonic, etc. Star Laboratories has not been able to complete define how Superman has been able to utilize his powerful senses, part of the mechanism is physical, part of it is believed to be psionic in nature. Abilities include:

* Electro-magnetic Spectrum Vision: can see well into most of the EM Spectrum. He can see and identify radio/television and any and all broadcast/transmitted frequencies, allowing him to avoid detection through radar or satellite monitoring methods. Superman can see the paranormal aura that every living thing generates. This ability is apparently one of the main reasons that Superman is a vegetarian, as he can see the passing of the "soul" at death.

* Telescopic Vision: The ability to "zoom in" his distance to see something at a great distance, without violating the laws of physics. The total telescopic ability is unclassified, but presumed limited to some extent.

* X-Ray Vision: The ability to see through anything except lead. He can see things behind a wall as if the wall were not there, or can "peel back" layer after layer of matter in his mind. Opponents sometimes used lead-lined constructs in an attempt to hide things from Superman. Kal-El is able to focus his vision past layers of matter, literally seeing "through" them -- possibly perceiving x-rays, cosmic rays or other forms of energy invisible to normal human vision which pass through Earth's atmosphere (and solid objects) after emission from stars. Since it is passive, this ability would not generate harmful radiation in the same manner as a focused projection of hard X-rays.

* Microscopic Vision: The ability to see extremely small objects and images down to the atomic level (normal optical microscopes can only see objects down to the size of chromosomes).

* Infrared Vision: Allows him to see better in total darkness. He can detect the heat signatures of living beings or devices in operation.

* Ultraviolet

* Chemical

* Ultrasonic

* Magnetic

* Auditory

* Photonic

 

[NeoRanger]

You know, with all his vision powers (x-ray, infrared, etc.) I always preferred the idea that he could manipulate his eyes to see in diferent spectrums, instead of them actually emitting the rays. In the comic books, it's been established that this isn't how it works, of course, but just saying.

 

[thorstone]

"thousands of years later"

it would be millions (if the sun were to suddenly go red really fast and for unseen reasons).

 

[nocomics]

I hope at least in the next 'reboot' they actually give him a brain..It just seems he fixer's everything with just brawn to get him by. They need to give him a mental problem to solve rather than just his physical attributes..
I don't know if they need to explain away his powers,but again I wouldn't be opposed to if they did...I could see some of his powers becoming gradual as he gets older...I just don't want them to try and explain each powers individually and make it sound ridiculous than it is..

 

[SuperDaniel]

That's why pre-crisis metropolis Clark doesn't work as well as post-crisis. In post he is a investigative reporter, no just a bumbling fool.

 

[NeoRanger]

That's why pre-crisis metropolis Clark doesn't work as well as post-crisis. In post he is a investigative reporter, no just a bumbling fool.

I'm myself more fond of post-Crisis concepts, but generalizing that pre-Crisis Clark was a bumbling full is a bit incorrect. Silver Age Clark was somewhat invisible, because the idea at the time was that he was a full disguise (though it depended largely on who wrote him). It was movie Clark that kicked the "bumbling fool" portrayal into overdrive. Also "Pre-Crisis" is somewhat of a generalization, as Golden Age Clark was a very dynamic investigative reporter, who just chickened out of fights and immediate danger. But he was otherwise very regular.

 

[afan]

I'm myself more fond of post-Crisis concepts, but generalizing that pre-Crisis Clark was a bumbling full is a bit incorrect. Silver Age Clark was somewhat invisible, because the idea at the time was that he was a full disguise (though it depended largely on who wrote him). It was movie Clark that kicked the "bumbling fool" portrayal into overdrive. Also "Pre-Crisis" is somewhat of a generalization, as Golden Age Clark was a very dynamic investigative reporter, who just chickened out of fights and immediate danger. But he was otherwise very regular.

For my money, "The Adventures of Superman" the George Reeves' TV series should be the template to go forward with a reboot. The characters, particularly Clark, the powers, etc.

 

[SuperDaniel]

I was just responding to nocomics. The side of investigative reporter is a part of post-crisis Superman that i think never existed in pre-crisis. Read Lex Luthor: the autobiography. It's an amazing story that shows this.

Post-crisis Superman has much more depth, IMO, and this is one of the reasons.

 

[thorstone]

That's why pre-crisis metropolis Clark doesn't work as well as post-crisis. In post he is a investigative reporter, no just a bumbling fool.

Bumbling fool is Superman's analysis of what he thinks of everyday people.
If you take away the character's flaws, then he becomes boring. The same with if you take away Superman's arrogance, the way he lets people get too close which puts them in danger, the way he addresses every issue with raw power rather than strategy-- you won't have Superman anymore.