what is superman's method of propulsion?
- Thread starter octavius
- Start date
Leap over a tall building in a single bound
He leaps. At least, that was the cinematic explanation in 1978. I can't recall exactly how it was explained, except that it's not intuitive; he shouldn't be able to turn quite like he does, and he certainly should not be able to hover as he frequently did in Superfriends cartoons. But it has to do with Earth's yellow sun powering his strength; his body is unusually dense compared to Earthlings, which has something to do with deflecting bullets. Nonetheless, as I recall, his mode of propulsion was to simply leap with such strength as to defy gravity in such a manner. Strange, then, that he never left holes in the concrete like the Power Puff Girls, whose Chemical X powers include simple defiance of gravity.
Or so says my two cents.
I didn't find a web page discussing Superman's propulsion directly, but that just means I haven't found it yet.
Remember:
(Note: Bryan Singer's 2006-slated Superman Returns, starring Brandon Routh as Superman and Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor, begins filming in March.)
He leaps. At least, that was the cinematic explanation in 1978. I can't recall exactly how it was explained, except that it's not intuitive; he shouldn't be able to turn quite like he does, and he certainly should not be able to hover as he frequently did in Superfriends cartoons. But it has to do with Earth's yellow sun powering his strength; his body is unusually dense compared to Earthlings, which has something to do with deflecting bullets. Nonetheless, as I recall, his mode of propulsion was to simply leap with such strength as to defy gravity in such a manner. Strange, then, that he never left holes in the concrete like the Power Puff Girls, whose Chemical X powers include simple defiance of gravity.
Or so says my two cents.
I didn't find a web page discussing Superman's propulsion directly, but that just means I haven't found it yet.
Remember:
Faster than a speeding bullet!
More powerful than a locomotive!
Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!
Look, up in the sky ...!
More powerful than a locomotive!
Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!
Look, up in the sky ...!
(Note: Bryan Singer's 2006-slated Superman Returns, starring Brandon Routh as Superman and Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor, begins filming in March.)
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There is a book which I am actually currently looking for since it is out of print called "The Science of Superman" which hypothetically explains that Superman's cells have an energy field around it which is essentially a forcefield. With this he can deflect bullets, have incredible strength and use antigravity. Its actually a really interesting book when I read it a number of years ago. I just actually found a link here on Amazon. Check it out.
-AntonK
-AntonK
I've always been a huge fan of Superman. I collect just about anything Superman I can get my hands on (well, not really anything, but anything of quality). I really liked the above book because it gave it a "bit" (and I use that word liberally) of science and realism to the Superman Universe. He truly is the greatest super hero ever created. I've heard from different sources that, although not directly translating, the name Kal-el sounds like the Hebrew term for "All that is God". Pretty apt I'd say.
-AntonK
-AntonK
The pseudo-science of DC Comics states that his flight is a kind of telekinesis; why he can't use the same power to affect other objects at a distance, they never say. Certainly, the modern SuperBOY has powers which are "tactile-telekinetic" in nature - only with objects he can physically touch...
I always thought it was the cape.
I just thought capes were like wings.
Keep in mind, this was when I was about 5 and still thinking about superman.
I just thought capes were like wings.
Keep in mind, this was when I was about 5 and still thinking about superman.
Spiderman's web is not natural. He created web-slingers with technology. This is where the movie failed by making it a natural consequence of his powers.
However, there was a brief period of time when he was able to sling webs naturally. When he had the black symbiont spider suit. Then he produced web from his body and would have to eat to replenish it if he used too much of it.
I never really cared for spider-man much, but I do have an issue of What if... around somewhere where they asked What if the Punisher had received the suit after Spiderman discarded it instead of Venom (Not the real title of course.) Venom rocks. Spiderman sucks.
However, there was a brief period of time when he was able to sling webs naturally. When he had the black symbiont spider suit. Then he produced web from his body and would have to eat to replenish it if he used too much of it.
I never really cared for spider-man much, but I do have an issue of What if... around somewhere where they asked What if the Punisher had received the suit after Spiderman discarded it instead of Venom (Not the real title of course.) Venom rocks. Spiderman sucks.
Dr Lou Natic said:
I think Batmans sometimes flown, or glided, between buildngs using his cape like that.
way back when Superman was 1st invented (30s, was it?) he could only jump - not fly truly. When did that change?
jennyRater said:
Superman has gone through a variety of changes. Every few decades he is reinvented to match the times, the story is kept (mostly) the same. There is Silver Age superman, Golden Age Superman, Modern Day superman (which is probably up for a redo in about 5 years).
-AntonK
Well, this goes without saying doesn't it? I mean how could Earth's explanation be as much as Kryptons?
I mean, come on.