EDITORIAL: Superman's Abilities Explained with Science and a Reasonable Way Batman Can Stand Toe-to-Toe with a Man of Steel.

EDITORIAL: Superman's Abilities Explained with Science and a Reasonable Way Batman Can Stand Toe-to-Toe with a Man of Steel.

In Man Of Steel, Superman as well as other Kryptonians are perceived to be basically God-Like and powerful, but not omnipotent. Meaning there is a limit to their power. Using physics and science, as well as some understanding of how Kryptonians use their abilities, let's take a look at how Batman could exploit Superman's weaknesses.

Editorial Opinion
By AontheheadStarontheChest - Jul 08, 2014 03:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman


Firstoff, we can make a long story short and say Bruce gets kryptonite and just uses it on him in BvS:DoJ, and thats his weakness.. so yeah. End of Story. That's not the point of this article.



Let's get into a realistic way of how Superman's powers work in the Man Of Steel DC Cinematic Universe.
Superman's powers must follow a set of rules for them to be realistic and for Bruce Wayne to be able to fight him, the rules must be definite and somewhere in the real realm of physics.


In Man of Steel, Jor-El explains to Kal-El that Earth's gravity is less than that of Krypton and the Yellow Sun powers him up. But there has to be more to it than that. So I present to you the following rules that apply to Superman in the Man of Steel and may apply in the DCCU to explain all his powers:
 
  1. Kryptonians possess seemingly Super Human Strength and Super Human Speed in areas with less gravitational force than Krypton
  2. Kryptonian Physiology is slighlty different than a normal Human, which allows their bodies to exert more physical force and endure forces acted upon it
  3. Kryptonian Biology is unique and allows for different radiations to be absorbed, manipulated, and repelled
  4. Kryptonians need extreme focus to manipulate their body and parts of their body to exert a force or change a force using the radiation energy that they have absorbed and channel it out
  5. Kryptonians under their natural Red Sun radiation seem powerless due to the absorption of that particular light spectra having a negating effect on their abilities to manipulate radiation
  6. Kryptonite radiation has a physical negative effect on Kryptonians by overloading their cellular absorption and causing a sort of very rapid radiation poisoning effect.

Stronger than a locomotive, faster than a speeding bullet, able to leap over tall buildings in a single bound..


Rule #1 partially accounts for his strength and speed, and rule #2 partially accounts for his physical endurance such as being bullet proof.

But I believe Superman's true power is #3, by absorbing Yellow Sun radiation he can channel that energy to create a thin force field around his body that can manipulate the surrounding radiation in the air around him. Having less gravity on Earth allows him to lift heavy objects and jump really high, but Superman manipulates the electro-magnetic spectrum to physically lift things and himself with anti-gravity force. This force also causes him to be more aerodynamic so he can fly around a lot faster and negate air drag.

You see this force before he flys in the sky as he kneels down, and stuff sort of floats in the air a bit, then a force is seen crushing the ground beneath him and pushes him up.



It's this same force that allows him to be bullet-proof and near invulnerable to physical harm, such as the burning fire in the oil rig, by creating that strong thin walled anti-gravity force.

It doesn't make sense for Superman only to be strong on Earth and being flight capable just because of less gravity. This would make it impossible for him to exhibit his powers in space, which he did in the movie. The thin anti-gravity force allowed him to survive in vacuum, to surive earth re-entry, and to propel around in space which of course has no gravity to begin with. Electromagnetic forces move in a straight line and the fastest in a vacuum. Superman needs a way to direct a force behind him, otherwise he would be floating slowly and randomly around in space trying to swim his way around. 

X-ray vision, Heat vision, and why your Vision needs more Focus


Onto to rule #4, if you remember in the film, young Clark started to randomly exhibit X-ray vision. He wasn't able to control it as he had no focus and was scared. He didn't calm down until he heard his mom's voice and then it all stopped. It must take a "super" amount of focus to use his abillities and channel the absorbed radiation properly. You see him sort've calm down in the ocean as he's remembering his mom's speech, and then he suddenly blasts off in the water.

It's also important to note that Zod has a similar panic attack and gets an overload of Yellow sun for the first time, but increasingly got better with the use of his powers due to his military training.

The absorption of Solar radiation must be a passive thing and probably can't be controlled as well as other forms of radiation energy. Yellow Sun radiation must be that catalyst for the manipulation of other waves in the electromagnetic spectrum. And Red Sun radiation must be the inhibitor of that abiltity to manipulate it and channel in various other forms of the electromagnetic spectrum.



According to Wiki:

The electromagnetic spectrum, in order of increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength, can be divided, for practical engineering purposes, into radio wavesmicrowavesinfrared radiation,visible lightultraviolet radiationX-rays and gamma rays

I bring this up because this explains his ability to manipulate and see in the other spectrums such as X-ray as it is a form of radiation in the larger electromagnetic spectrum. I also believe his Heat vision is actually a very very very very focused and concentrated form of microwaves manipulated by the physiology of his Kryptonian eyes turning Solar energy into heat energy. I believe so much force is concentrated in his pupils and exit so rapidly, that when it exits they appear to be "red" which is the first color of the visible light spectrum.

Super Hearing, Super Breath, and Super everything else


Super Hearing is all due to Kryptonian's natural ability and heightened senses. Sound is not an electromagnetic wave, so I don't think he manipulates sound. As for him floating in space ala Superman Returns and him listening to earth, that would be impossible due to sound needing to travel in a medium such as air. So more or less likely he is listening to Radio waves emitted from broadcast frequencies.

As for Super Breath, Superman must have a much larger lung capacity and stronger chest muscles to exert air rapidly out of his mouth to blow out fires and freeze things(and possibly super strong lips to funnel that air out properly.) He doesn't manipulate the temperature of the air, he just blows it out rapidly. You can try this yourself with a not so super breath. Put out your palm in front of your face and open your mouth a little wide, inhale deep, and blow a breath out as if you were trying to check the smell of your breath. Should feel warm right? Now blow as if you're blowing out a candle, and the air should feel cold. Now move your hand closer to your face as your blowing out wind, it should start to feel warmer the closer you get to your face.

Every other ability that doesn't account for radiation manipulation and anti-gravity forces is just natural Kryptonian ability of being really good at mundane things like hearing, blowing-air, or styling his hair really good.




I want you to remember Clark, In all the years to come, in your most private moments, I want you to remember my hand at your throat, I want you to remember the one man who beat you."



Bruce is proably going to use all of this knowledge to his advantage and probably use a simulated Red Sun radiation to neutralize Superman. He could possibly also use the material from Zod's ships which could carry materials or elements from Krypton that carry the proper radiation to poison Superman with.

So Batman has three options to handle Clark and his extraterrestrial abilities.

By using Red Solar Radiation he will inhibit Clark's ability to manipulate the other spectra and cause him to be vulnerable and seemingly powerless. Not sure how much this will affect Clark's normal strength and speed on Earth due to less gravity than Krypton. He could still have the agility and still be able to pack a punch, but without the invisible force shielding him from harm, I don't think he'll be able to withstand a couple of well placed punches from Batman.

On the otherhand, with Kryptonian radiation and its radiation poisoning effects weakening Superman, he would have Clark on his knees slowly dying. This seems more like a last resort type of thing as for it to be a real battle, Clark has to be able to fight back at least a little bit.

The third and final option I think I could see play out, is using Batman's own intimidation. It's Batman's greatest power besides his genius, his raw presence is meant to strike fear into his enemies. Just as Rule #3 with Clark's ability to absorb as his greatest power, Rule #4 might be his downfall if Clark has to really focus to use his powers properly. Imagine, Batman using his mind, his cunning, his gadgets and his element of surprise and instill fear to make Clark cower like a small child in a cape playing hero.



 
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kong
kong - 7/8/2014, 4:58 AM
"But I believe Superman's true power is #3, by absorbing Yellow Sun radiation he can channel that energy to create a thin force field around his body that can manipulate the surrounding radiation in the air around him. Having less gravity on Earth allows him to lift heavy objects and jump really high, but Superman manipulates the electro-magnetic spectrum to physically lift things and himself with anti-gravity force. This force also causes him to be more aerodynamic so he can fly around a lot faster and negate air drag."


FINALLY SOMEBODY GETS IT!!!!
kong
kong - 7/8/2014, 5:29 AM
That last comment was posted after I had only read the first part of your article. This current one is after reading all of it. This is an amazing article and one of the best of all time. I've watched all the videos on "Science explaining Superman" and seen all of the explanations of his origins and I've NEVER seen something so well rooted in earth's physics that still makes him seem like the god he is.

People try to break Superman's wow factor when they do stuff like this. "Oh he can only jump high and fly because his home planet had a larger gravitational pull!!!" One, that doesn't explain how he chooses where's he's going and why he can go so fast. Two, you're taking all the fun out. They make it seem like he doesn't have super powers, but super luckiness.

This article showed that you can ground Superman's abilities, and still make him seem more powerful than anyone. He controls our physics, he's not given powers by them. That's what makes him awesome. All I have left to say is...

WELL DONE































(That guy in the suit...that's not @MrBlackJack. That's your article!)




^Pasto











stephens2177
stephens2177 - 7/8/2014, 6:09 AM
John Bryne rebooted superman after crisis on infinite earths with man of steel,in it he explained all supermans powers pretty much exactly like you just did,plus the thin force field you brought up is how Karl Kesel explained superboys tactile telekinesis.
Vortigar
Vortigar - 7/8/2014, 6:30 AM
What about wall rebuilding vision?

^_^

Nice article, educate the masses!
BoneSawIsReady
BoneSawIsReady - 7/8/2014, 7:28 AM
Very science-y and all. You can shield against electromagnetic forces... By your argument rendering Supes ability to "manipulate" EM forces a mute point. Shielding against EM would be easy for someone like Batman.

Also the energy is quantized meaning it's finite and even if he could generate EM waves, the energy your talking about to withstand forces and generate forces would essentially sublime any organic solids. All the energy absorbed by any object would be superheated.

I do like your Alien physiology points and there's a lot to be discussed there. Like mitochondrial production of energy, does his physiology support a system of photosynthesis rather than combustion? That would be a great discussion. Also some time ago before MOS Snyder revealed this iteration of Superman would have a recently undisclosed power. I think it's on the order of psychokinesis. I'd rather he break metaphysical "laws" instead of laws of physics (smiley-face gif). I'd like to see his mind as his greatest strength not just muscle.... kind of like Batman.

CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 7/8/2014, 7:35 AM
Earth having less gravity doesn't explain why Superman has super strength. Superman was on Krypton for all of twenty minutes right after he was born. His body and muscles never would have adapted to Krypton's high gravity. All his body has ever known is Earth. That is the scientific side of it. These are comics and comic book characters. You have to be able to accept that the yellow sun just gives him super strength. Gravity has no part in it.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 7/8/2014, 7:38 AM
@ bonesawls

Its a "mute" point? Like the point doesn't make any sound?
Pasto
Pasto - 7/8/2014, 7:59 AM
Klone's gonna have a field day with this article.

And thumb.
HulkOnion
HulkOnion - 7/8/2014, 8:04 AM
WHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEERRRRR




But really nice article, bruh.


Still not as good as the new GotG trailer! That stole your thunder big time....
Pasto
Pasto - 7/8/2014, 8:06 AM
Someone should do an article like this but on me and Gusto. Cause he'd have to move heaven and earth to beat me.
Invictor
Invictor - 7/8/2014, 8:10 AM
Kryptonians need extreme focus to manipulate their body and parts of their body to exert a force or change a force using the radiation energy that they have absorbed and channel it out

Ha ha, Kryptonian orgasm.
Invictor
Invictor - 7/8/2014, 8:12 AM
Great article, good job!
McGee
McGee - 7/8/2014, 8:13 AM
@Pasto


SuperPickle
SuperPickle - 7/8/2014, 8:14 AM
GREAT article! Fantastic bit of brain work. Very impressive.
yossarian
yossarian - 7/8/2014, 8:18 AM
Want some real science? Here:
200,000 years of breeding gave us this:
Greengo
Greengo - 7/8/2014, 8:18 AM
@corndog: you're not accounting for the kryptonian gestation period, and we don't know how long it is.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 7/8/2014, 8:21 AM
The theory of Superman manipulating the electro magnetic spectrum and having a kind of force field were explained by john Byrne for the infinite crisis arc.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 7/8/2014, 8:23 AM
I think everyone pretty much figured out how Batman can stad "toe to toe" with Superman. We're in live action now so he's gonna have to really use weaponry and cunning to even be able pit a scratch of the last kryptonian. There's no logical way he can throw lunches at him without kryptonite and red sun radiation. Any long distance attacks requires weapons.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 7/8/2014, 8:24 AM
All explianed in science of Superman as well pretty much
yossarian
yossarian - 7/8/2014, 8:26 AM
@whyso - True. But, if you close your eyes she looks like this:
Darktower
Darktower - 7/8/2014, 8:26 AM
DeViLKidd
DeViLKidd - 7/8/2014, 8:26 AM
I would like to go to a time where it wasn't important to know how a characters powers worked and you just watched or read about them because they were so much larger than life and the more inexplicable power they had, the more you enjoyed them. THIS IS FANTASY. if you want realism, go watch a documentary.
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