Superman's power level

[Lead Cenobite]

Seeing as you don't run into asteroids everyday, I wouldn't mind it if they make a point of showing that Clark doesn't really know how much he can lift -- it could serve as a dramatic moment.

That's what happened on Lois and Clark. Superman was taken aback when he was asked to stop an asteroid, almost like a normal man being asked to stop an upcoming hurricane.

 

[SatEL]

why put a cap on Supes, I say don’t actually set a level as it isn’t really needed. Do what Smallville does and just have him do feats without actually capping him.

 

[Zack Snyder]

That's what happened on Lois and Clark. Superman was taken aback when he was asked to stop an asteroid, almost like a normal man being asked to stop an upcoming hurricane.

Oooh ya that was a fantastic episode actually

 

[Zionite]

why put a cap on Supes, I say don’t actually set a level as it isn’t really needed. Do what Smallville does and just have him do feats without actually capping him.

Actually Clark does have Limits.Bizarro was clearly stronger than him.Titan was just as Strong.Zod owned his ass.Doomsday gave him a good fight.
If you don give him a limit you will further enhance the notion that he is overpowered.
Oh and I have watched Thor-cool movie.To those who are worried that movie Thor could be more more powerful than Movie Superman you have nothing to fear.

 

[BigThor]

Actually Clark does have Limits.Bizarro was clearly stronger than him.Titan was just as Strong.Zod owned his ass.Doomsday gave him a good fight.
If you don give him a limit you will further enhance the notion that he is overpowered.
Oh and I have watched Thor-cool movie.To those who are worried that movie Thor could be more more powerful than Movie Superman you have nothing to fear.

*sigh*

 

[badboy00z]

He should be as powerful as he needs to be to over come the threat at hand. As powerful as his will to protect the ones he cares for. If an asteroid is smashing into Earth, he should be able to stop it and redirect it but with great effort.

 

[sf2]

he should be able to fight 3 evil kryptonians at one time.

 

[Eggyman]

I'm not sure you'd be able to ever really see the level of his power. He's strong enough to tunnel through the earth, which is exactly what would happen if he tried to 'push' a planet. He's strong enough to snap/break metal, and that is what would happen if he tried to lift a battleship. You can't focus such power on a man-sized area of large objects such as these and have them be lifted how we'd imagine them to be. Similar to the wings of the plane coming off in Returns. Physics.

Physics should be the limit. Not his power.

 

[Mace Bloodstone]

I'm not sure you'd be able to ever really see the level of his power. He's strong enough to tunnel through the earth, which is exactly what would happen if he tried to 'push' a planet. He's strong enough to snap/break metal, and that is what would happen if he tried to lift a battleship. You can't focus such power on a man-sized area of large objects such as these and have them be lifted how we'd imagine them to be. Similar to the wings of the plane coming off in Returns. Physics.

Physics should be the limit. Not his power.

interesting

 

[Lead Cenobite]

I'm not sure you'd be able to ever really see the level of his power. He's strong enough to tunnel through the earth, which is exactly what would happen if he tried to 'push' a planet. He's strong enough to snap/break metal, and that is what would happen if he tried to lift a battleship. You can't focus such power on a man-sized area of large objects such as these and have them be lifted how we'd imagine them to be. Similar to the wings of the plane coming off in Returns. Physics.

Physics should be the limit. Not his power.

That pretty much limits Superman to 1938 feats, like lifting cars and steel beams, because everything else is so big it'd break. I don't care if it's unrealistic that he doesn't bore a hole in an ocean liner or a jumbo jet when he tries to lift it, Superman's not supposed to be realistic. He's supposed to make you say "how the hell did he do that?".

 

[BigThor]

I'm not sure you'd be able to ever really see the level of his power. He's strong enough to tunnel through the earth, which is exactly what would happen if he tried to 'push' a planet. He's strong enough to snap/break metal, and that is what would happen if he tried to lift a battleship. You can't focus such power on a man-sized area of large objects such as these and have them be lifted how we'd imagine them to be. Similar to the wings of the plane coming off in Returns. Physics.

Physics should be the limit. Not his power.

True

That pretty much limits Superman to 1938 feats, like lifting cars and steel beams, because everything else is so big it'd break. I don't care if it's unrealistic that he doesn't bore a hole in an ocean liner or a jumbo jet when he tries to lift it, Superman's not supposed to be realistic. He's supposed to make you say "how the hell did he do that?".

I agree with this as well

 

[Eggyman]

That pretty much limits Superman to 1938 feats, like lifting cars and steel beams, because everything else is so big it'd break. I don't care if it's unrealistic that he doesn't bore a hole in an ocean liner or a jumbo jet when he tries to lift it, Superman's not supposed to be realistic. He's supposed to make you say "how the hell did he do that?".

So if he lifted a building by its flagpole you'd be okay with it? Just like how you'd be okay with him punching Lex hard enough to send him through a brick wall and still being alive enough to be taken to prison? If you don't take physics into account it may as well be happening somewhere else, on another planet.

Superman isn't realistic. Right. He's a super-powered alien that's come to our planet. That's the whole point. Our planet. With the physics of our planet. Verisimilitude. Grounded reality in a work of fiction and then you add a fantastic element: Superman. Now I'm not saying absolute faithfulness to our physics, but you can't hold a building horizontal from a mid point and not have it crumble to the ground below. It should be taken into account. It adds a problem for a somewhat invulnerable hero. It's a nice touch and should create drama, as it did with the best set piece of Superman Returns.

 

[BigThor]

So if he lifted a building by its flagpole you'd be okay with it? Just like how you'd be okay with him punching Lex hard enough to send him through a brick wall and still being alive enough to be taken to prison? If you don't take physics into account it may as well be happening somewhere else, on another planet.

Superman isn't realistic. Right. He's a super-powered alien that's come to our planet. That's the whole point. Our planet. With the physics of our planet. Verisimilitude. Grounded reality in a work of fiction and then you add a fantastic element: Superman. Now I'm not saying absolute faithfulness to our physics, but you can't hold a building horizontal from a mid point and not have it crumble to the ground below. It should be taken into account. It adds a problem for a somewhat invulnerable hero. It's a nice touch and should create drama, as it did with the best set piece of Superman Returns.

You hit the nail right on the head.

 

[Lead Cenobite]

So if he lifted a building by its flagpole you'd be okay with it? Just like how you'd be okay with him punching Lex hard enough to send him through a brick wall and still being alive enough to be taken to prison? If you don't take physics into account it may as well be happening somewhere else, on another planet.

Superman isn't realistic. Right. He's a super-powered alien that's come to our planet. That's the whole point. Our planet. With the physics of our planet. Verisimilitude. Grounded reality in a work of fiction and then you add a fantastic element: Superman. Now I'm not saying absolute faithfulness to our physics, but you can't hold a building horizontal from a mid point and not have it crumble to the ground below. It should be taken into account. It adds a problem for a somewhat invulnerable hero. It's a nice touch and should create drama, as it did with the best set piece of Superman Returns.

I just don't want him being so limited that you might aswell give him 1938 strength levels. The comics did take into account that larger objects would be trickier to lift, and so they gave him the ability of tactile telekinesis, which allows him to lift large objects like ocean liners, jumbo jets, and push celestial objects without breaking through them.

 

[Eggyman]

I just don't want him being so limited that you might aswell give him 1938 strength levels. The comics did take into account that larger objects would be trickier to lift, and so they gave him the ability of tactile telekinesis, which allows him to lift large objects like ocean liners, jumbo jets, and push celestial objects without breaking through them.

Never heard of him having that power. If that's the case then fine. My point is that Superman is fantastic and should be shown as so in contrast to the world's physical laws we are familiar with. If you completely ignore them, he may as well be somewhere else. maybe a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

 

[Lead Cenobite]

Never heard of him having that power. If that's the case then fine. My point is that Superman is fantastic and should be shown as so in contrast to the world's physical laws we are familiar with. If you completely ignore them, he may as well be somewhere else. maybe a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

I don't believe it was ever outright stated, but it was implied by John Byrne that Superman's powers are partially psionic, such as Superman noting that when he's flying, heavy objects seem lighter.

 

[Eggyman]

Okay. Anyway, I'm a reasonable guy, and I hope you're not mistaking me for someone who screams realism at every turn. That isn't the case. But I do feel that the fantastical elements should come from Superman and his powers. As long as that is the case, I'm a happy camper.

 

[GreenKToo]

I don't know. For me it would much easier if you just had his limit be somewhere around 100,000 tons. I don't really care for any planet moving or continent hurling, at least not in the first film anyway. I mean does it really matter to a villain if he can only lift an aircraft carrier? Its not like Darkseid is gonna show up n the first film and start moving the moon or something.

Besides, they could always have Supes stronger in a sequel if the need called for it.

 

[DarthAlani]

Actually Clark does have Limits.Bizarro was clearly stronger than him.Titan was just as Strong.Zod owned his ass.Doomsday gave him a good fight.
If you don give him a limit you will further enhance the notion that he is overpowered.
Oh and I have watched Thor-cool movie.To those who are worried that movie Thor could be more more powerful than Movie Superman you have nothing to fear.

Clark grew in power every season, he is stronger than all of them now

 

[Galactus123]

I want Superman to shoot red beams from his eyes again

His other powers should be like in 40s cartoon series.

 

[afan]

I'm not sure you'd be able to ever really see the level of his power. He's strong enough to tunnel through the earth, which is exactly what would happen if he tried to 'push' a planet. He's strong enough to snap/break metal, and that is what would happen if he tried to lift a battleship. You can't focus such power on a man-sized area of large objects such as these and have them be lifted how we'd imagine them to be. Similar to the wings of the plane coming off in Returns. Physics.

Physics should be the limit. Not his power.

Exactly! and may I add it challenges writers to create practical and more interesting methods for Superman's rescues. Lifting a sinking cruise ship and carrying it to land is boring, IMO..........................................."I pick things up and put them dowen."

Superman would realize that pulling an airliner by its wingtip would be disastrous.

I would also add that my favorite Superman is a Superman who works as a team member. Making him all powerful and capable of ludicrous feats makes him a one man super-show.

 

[Lead Cenobite]

What are you saying, that he simply should not be able to lift it, and instead should try to repair it or something? Team work is out of the question in a Superman movie, because there most likely won't be any other superheroes.

 

[JAK®]

I would also add that my favorite Superman is a Superman who works as a team member. Making him all powerful and capable of ludicrous feats makes him a one man super-show.

Are you saying that he shouldn't be a super... man?

 

[afan]

What are you saying, that he simply should not be able to lift it, and instead should try to repair it or something? Team work is out of the question in a Superman movie, because there most likely won't be any other superheroes.

Repair would be one way sure. Anything but a simple lift.
By team I mean Superman and earth/humans, and not necessarily other supers.
I despise Superman as the saviour of humanity, and IMO the ability to perform unlimited super-feats makes him so.

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

So if he lifted a building by its flagpole you'd be okay with it? Just like how you'd be okay with him punching Lex hard enough to send him through a brick wall and still being alive enough to be taken to prison? If you don't take physics into account it may as well be happening somewhere else, on another planet.

Superman isn't realistic. Right. He's a super-powered alien that's come to our planet. That's the whole point. Our planet. With the physics of our planet. Verisimilitude. Grounded reality in a work of fiction and then you add a fantastic element: Superman. Now I'm not saying absolute faithfulness to our physics, but you can't hold a building horizontal from a mid point and not have it crumble to the ground below. It should be taken into account. It adds a problem for a somewhat invulnerable hero. It's a nice touch and should create drama, as it did with the best set piece of Superman Returns.

I wouldn't want anything too over the top, like, holding a building in the palm of his hands or anything. But I had no problem with Superman holding an ocean liner by a support beam with one hand or lifting an island.

I can accept most things that are ridiculous, but applying to much real world physics ruins Superman.