Superman's power level

[Dr.]

^^It seems that we're the polar opposites in terms of how we want the heat-vision to look; which is cool - I mean, if we all the same tastes, there'd be no individualism and everything would be boring.

Part of this might be about audience expectations towards modern sfx. Thin “laser beams” (SII style) might be comic book accurate. But nowadays, they look a tad cheap and unimpressive. With modest Photoshop skills, anyone can add a pair of pink translucent lines to an image. We want something that’s (as the kids say) awesome.

 

[BH/HHH]

I liked the heat vision in Superman Returns the best

 

[BigThor]

Nah, you're not the only one; rest assured.

I've always prefered the clarifty, the definition, of the laser vision. There's a certain acuteness to it that provides a sense of satisfaction as you know it's hit it's intended target. It's just so straight and true; Tbh, I've never got that sense from the blurry heat depiction.

I'd have the above any day over the Smallville/SR approach, although I did like the 'blanket' laser/heat vision used by Supes in SR to stop the debris/glass from falling on the pedestrians below.

I'm glad to see that someone finally agrees with me, I whole heartedly agree that the laser visions provides a much better sense of satisfaction when it hits it's target.

It would be cool if the laser beams create a "heat wave" effect to the air around them though, that would be a cool way of mixing the two.

 

[spider_rob]

I don't mind focused laser beams if they feel powerful.

 

[Boy Scout]

I don't know if it was due to budget or for artistic choices, but Smallville at first just made it look like heat waves. Then started adding color to it. I'd go with that only, it could depend on the intensity. So, like warming up coffee would be less intense and visible compared to him wanting to burn through a wall or something.

They don't really look all that cartoon-y to me, especially in the picture of Supes using it in the DC Universe trailer.

To each his own. Lasers just don't look particularly impressive to me. But I do respect your opinion.

I'd prefer if it were just the purpils that glowed...

Agreed.

It would be cool if the laser beams create a "heat wave" effect to the air around them though, that would be a cool way of mixing the two.

Hmm...that might work.

 

[elgaz]

In terms of “explanations,” x-ray vision can’t actually be the result of x-ray emission. In the first place, they’re dangerous to bystanders. In the second place, they don’t reflect (i.e. they can’t bounce back to Supes’ eyes to supply the visual information). Bottom line: Supes can somehow see through stuff. And by quaint tradition, we call this “x-ray” vision. 'Nuff said.

By the same token, “heat vision” might actually be a laser-like energy beam rather than heat generation. I don’t think it much matters. It just needs to look impressive and impressively powerful. The old school sfx from SII isn't up to the job.

I agree. Maybe some sfx wiz can come up with something that's novel and spectacular. But from the current crop of examples, SV and SR are the best so far.

I'm no physicist t:

 

[Godzilla2014]

Go tell that to the countless artist and animators who've been depicting him with laser vision for the past 74 years.

That's because it's hard to draw actual heat waves.

 

[BigThor]

That's because it's hard to draw actual heat waves.

Not really, just make ripples into the air around the heat vision.

 

[GreenKToo]

I wanna see big craters formed when either Zod or Supes are knocked down to the ground.

I wanna see heat vision at full blast. Have one of them duck the blast, and it goes on and hits a building or something, and the entire thing explodes.

I wanna see windows shatter for blocks from the concussion of the impacts Zod and supes are giving each other.

I'm not asking for much

 

[Frank]

I'm glad to see that someone finally agrees with me, I whole heartedly agree that the laser visions provides a much better sense of satisfaction when it hits it's target.

It would be cool if the laser beams create a "heat wave" effect to the air around them though, that would be a cool way of mixing the two.

lol I think the look of Superman's heat vision was the only thing portrayed correctly the entire time the show was on.

I liked that it actually looked like heat.

I still cringe when I hear someone refer to his heat vision as "laser vision"

 

[Lead Cenobite]

Speaking of Superman's power level, I really really hope they don't make as weak as he was in the Byrne incarnation or S:TAS. They don't have to show him having silver age power levels but please don't make him struggle with tanks or school buses or other small, ´´not that heavy`` objects. It makes him look like an X-Men member or something, not really the last son of Krypton.

Agreed. In this day and age, the standards for "super" have changed. Does a powered down Superman look super next to the likes of the Hulk or Thor?

I do want to see them take in account gravity though, meaning Superman can't lift a car by the bumper because the bumper will break off. Or if Superman lands full speed on the pavement, it shouldn't look like nothing, it should have a hole (but I think I saw this on one of the set pics). I also prefer to see Superman dealing with smaller-medium sized objects. Lifting a big plane for example doesn't look so impressive because Superman looks tiny in the frame and I can't really relate to it. I want him to grab a tank and smash Zod with it.

You were just saying he shouldn't struggle with tanks or buses, now you're saying that's all he should lift? I don't know about you, but I actually enjoy Superman lifting huge things, I don't care that it isn't "relatable". It isn't supposed to be.

But one thing I never want to see in a Superman movie is any silliness, like playing Basketball with the moon or pulling planets with a big chain. That belongs to the old comic book pages. Also, Superman pushing a planet, I don't want to see it. How does that work anyway? It means Superman has to have some electromagnetic powers that allow him to manipulate the magnetic field to push a planet without touching it. Because there is no other way. He can't physically push it because the force required to do so would make him go straight through the core of a planet. I just can't see it with his set of powers. I know he had some electromagnetic and energy power abilities in the silver/bronze age but I don't want to see those. Too many abilities is not good imo. It turns him into a god, literally. At the same time, no space suits or breathing masks or any of that nonsense please!

That can be said for a lot of things Superman lifts. Factoring in physics to that degree is just a bad idea. He can be as powerful as he was in the silver age and it wouldn't make a bit of difference because he'll never be able to make use of his strength because he'll just break through anything bigger than a car or a bus. Just say that it's part of his power to be able to do that, but don't try explaining it, and move on.

Also, the electromagnetic power you mentioned is most likely the bio-electric aura, which is not one of the random silver age powers he had. It's from the post crisis era, and it wasn't used to explain how he could move planets, but why his suit doesn't rip or burn. So it was essentially the superpower of invulnerable spandex. Tactile telekinesis, on the other hand, is the power to use telekinesis on anything you're touching, giving the illusion of super strength, which is the post crisis Superboy's power. It was hinted that post crisis Superman had the power as well most likely tied into his aura, but never confirmed.

 

[Brian Braddock]

lol I think the look of Superman's heat vision was the only thing portrayed correctly the entire time the show was on.

I liked that it actually looked like heat.

I still cringe when I hear someone refer to his heat vision as "laser vision"

Well then, I can only hope that you have a high cringe tolerance as while we’re talking about basic styles and approach to heat vision depictment, I’ll still be using that phrase as that's how they appear to look. Tbh [and I wouldn’t have thought I’d actually have to elaborate on this] the only reason the term ‘laser vision’ is being coined is so as to differentiate between that particular depiction and the ‘blurry heat’ approach; it’s still ‘heat vision’.
No one actually thinks Supes has lasers coming out of his eyes. Not unless they’re either a) a moron or b) haven’t a clue about his abilities. But hey, if you can think of a better choice of words to describe how it looks, I'd be all ears.

 

[Dr.]

That can be said for a lot of things Superman lifts. Factoring in physics to that degree is just a bad idea. He can be as powerful as he was in the silver age and it wouldn't make a bit of difference because he'll never be able to make use of his strength because he'll just break through anything bigger than a car or a bus. Just say that it's part of his power to be able to do that, but don't try explaining it, and move on.

The “science” in a Superman story/movie doesn’t have to pass Nasa standards. But it should be accurate enough so that it doesn’t clash with common knowledge. The idea is to keep the audience in the “moment” – not distract them with conspicuous impossibilities.

For example: Supes freezes a lake. (Well, ok. He’s got freeze breath, after all.) But if he then picks up this giant block of ice by one end and flies it over to a nearby forest fire, it should occur to anyone (even a moron) that this structure would instantly collapse (this is simple – not advanced – physics). So instead of being impressed by a super feat, we wink and chuckle at the silliness. Not a good way to represent Superman.

 

[DrCosmic]

I think it starting out as heat waves, and then he develops it into a concentrated beam would be coolest. It shows progression as opposed to insta-mastery, and I like that very much.

 

[Lencho01]

Here are some screencaps of how Smallville did heat vision at times...

Spoiler

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Spoiler

And some video showing the different levels of intensity...

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[YT]Dv8UbtZrTi0[/YT]

[YT]dc1ihYYqKyI[/YT]

[YT]VzIih4I0bTA[/YT]

[YT]-OtwSVeU2w8[/YT]

[YT]1VkHwcUL7m0[/YT]

[YT]Hj1-paS7vGE[/YT]

[YT]i6zuM9yJYmo[/YT]

 

[Lead Cenobite]

The “science” in a Superman story/movie doesn’t have to pass Nasa standards. But it should be accurate enough so that it doesn’t clash with common knowledge. The idea is to keep the audience in the “moment” – not distract them with conspicuous impossibilities.

For example: Supes freezes a lake. (Well, ok. He’s got freeze breath, after all.) But if he then picks up this giant block of ice by one end and flies it over to a nearby forest fire, it should occur to anyone (even a moron) that this structure would instantly collapse (this is simple – not advanced – physics). So instead of being impressed by a super feat, we wink and chuckle at the silliness. Not a good way to represent Superman.

The same thing would apply to objects made of steel if they're big and heavy enough. I don't know what Superman can realistically lift when limited in this way, but I can't imagine it being much. Maybe a car, I'm not even sure. And I want Superman to be able to do more than lift cars.

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

You can't apply to much science to Superman because the source of his powers is "the yellow sun". The sun isn't yellow, it's white with a pinky peachish tint. The sky is what makes it appear yellow, and that is usually in the early afternoon and late morning.

 

[Dr.]

The same thing would apply to objects made of steel if they're big and heavy enough. I don't know what Superman can realistically lift when limited in this way, but I can't imagine it being much. Maybe a car, I'm not even sure. And I want Superman to be able to do more than lift cars.

I’m not sure having Supes lift bigger and heavier objects necessarily translates to greater thrills for the audience. As Geralt mentioned (above), the bigger the object, the smaller and more insignificant Supes will look. Just in terms of visual impact, a filmmaker would probably avoid that kind of stunt (try to think of something more impressive).

Also – if Supes really needs to hoist an aircraft carrier… why not have him wrap the thing in heavy steel cables for support? A) there’s your feat of strength. B) our hero gets to display his ingenuity. C) the kids learn a little physics.

 

[Dr.]

You can't apply to much science to Superman because the source of his powers is "the yellow sun". The sun isn't yellow, it's white with a pinky peachish tint. The sky is what makes it appear yellow, and that is usually in the early afternoon and late morning.

Yeah. But "yellow sun" is easier to say than "white sun with a pinky peach-ish tint."

 

[SuperMike335!!]

Like when Superboy pulled a bunch of planets through space with a chain.

How the heck did the chain hold up?

 

[SuperMike335!!]

Yeah. But "yellow sun" is easier to say than "white sun with a pinky peach-ish tint."

Does not sound as good either.

I can just see Jor El saying, "we shall send him to the Earth, a planet around a white sun with a pinky peach tint."

 

[Lead Cenobite]

I’m not sure having Supes lift bigger and heavier objects necessarily translates to greater thrills for the audience. As Geralt mentioned (above), the bigger the object, the smaller and more insignificant Supes will look. Just in terms of visual impact, a filmmaker would probably avoid that kind of stunt (try to think of something more impressive).

For you and Geralt, maybe. I've seen this exact same argument in the past, wonder if it was you or him. I'd like to think this isn't a widely held opinion. I just can't wrap my brain around the logic behind "Superman looks insignificant, and thus it makes the feat less thrilling".

 

[BigThor]

For you and Geralt, maybe. I've seen this exact same argument in the past, wonder if it was you or him. I'd like to think this isn't a widely held opinion. I just can't wrap my brain around the logic behind "Superman looks insignificant, and thus it makes the feat less thrilling".

If anything Superman being significantly smaller than whatever he's lifting makes the feat even more thrilling, that being said I don't want Supes lifting anything too huge in the film.

Try to save something for the sequel, Superman Returns went overboard with the back to back strength feats.

 

[Lily Adler]

Which reminds me how should Clark showcase his super-strength for the first time?

 

[Kal-El.9859]

Hasn't this conversation been had before about how he should reveal his power?