How exactly do Superman's kryptonian powers work? I mean, how do you account for the super-speed, the way he gets his abilities from the yellow sun, his super-breath, and even how he shaves in the morning? Now you can have the answers to these crucial questions and more at your fingertips. Philipp Lenssen gives you a quick lesson in stick figures (via Sketchcast) on how all these powers work, in a very no-nonsense fashion. Sit your non-Superman converts down and see if they come away enlightened, confused, or wanting those few minutes of their life back. Check it out.
Superman's Powers Are Sketchy
11:40 AM on Thu Feb 21 2008
By Kevin Kelly
4,491 views
20 comments









Comments
The minutes back please.
His laser eye beam can destroy all kinds of fabrics? OK, how can the superbeam, which can destroy all kinds of fabrics and burn away his superhair, not melt his Sharper Image no-fog mirror?
. . .
I for one, would like to see more Superman questions answered in such a simple, fun fashion.
Give me back my minutes.
my minutes, give me back them.
Looks to me like Superman needs some SuperBeano.
Sorry, but as an examination of Superman's powers, this doesn't hold a candle to Larry Niven's classic, "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenix."
OK, seriously, I just now got the headline. Good one, Kevin.
And Australia is all "WFT mates?"
Meh. I've never been a fan of superman. Mostly because of the invulnerability thing. Did you know when he first came out he couldn't even fly? He would just jump really, really high. Running fast, Jumping High, Lifting stuff, and nigh-invulnerability were his powers. Then the artists complained about having to draw him jumping and he gained the ability to fly, and it is all down hill from there.
I mean, I like the invincible hero just as much as the next guy, but only in the figurative sense, not in the its-one-of-his-actual-powers sense. It's one thing if he survives because of a twist of fate, a little ingenuity, or a bit of help... again... and again... and again... and another if he survives because he can't be hurt.
That was pretty boring, until he lasered off his beard.
ok this was a bit weak. though its not the worst Superman animated piece ive seen. Superman: Doomsday is still #1.
NEXT
@j0hnnyb: But I am le tired.
Superman is boring. Batman is pretentious. Wonder Woman FTW!
I love when people try to apply science to fictional characters created in lieu of said science.
Minutes please.
(The mirror would so melt from his laser eye beams, or whatever the kids are calling them these days)
@Git Em SteveDave: 1) Superman's hair doesn't normally grow under a yellow sun. 2) on the occasion when it has grown elsewhere and does have to shave or cut it, he doesn't use a bathroom mirror but a piece of super-hard kryptonian metal or glass, both of which could handle his heat vision, not laser vision.
@Ghede: It was the Fleischer animated Superman of the 40's because it was a pain to continuously animate jumping and landing.
Yeah, one of the comics had him using a piece of the rocket that sent him to Earth to reflect the heat vision, polished to a high sheen. I'm not sure why I remember that.
At least there was no invocation of the wormhole or nanobot bugaboos to explain his powers. Two words that deserve to be permanently banned from the " scifi how it works" dictionary.
Greetings is right.
I do love a good video cast, and I love stick figures but... minutes back, please?
WTF? There are some many things wrong with this I can't name them all.
To begin with, he has to fly counterclockwise around the earth to make time go backwards! Duh!
Batman is much better!
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