7 Powers You Probably Forgot Superman Still Has

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When Superman first appeared, his powers were relatively basic. He was strong, couldn’t be harmed, had incredible senses, and could jump amazing distances. Soon, he began developing more and more abilities, like X-ray vision and even shapeshifting. During the ‘Silver Age’ of comics, it often felt like Superman could do anything the story needed him to – even things like teleporting the entire planet! Eventually, his powers were streamlined to a core set of iconic abilities, but he still has a surprisingly wide range of powers even today.

Superman is famous for his incredible strength, ability to withstand damage, flight, and special vision. However, over the years, he’s gained many other powers that people often forget about. He hasn’t lost these abilities, meaning he could use them whenever needed. Let’s explore seven of Superman’s lesser-known powers that he still possesses, but rarely demonstrates.

7) Solar Flare

Superman’s solar flare ability was a significant new power he gained after the DC Comics reboot known as New 52. It allows him to release all the solar energy he’s absorbed in a powerful, fiery blast – one of his most devastating attacks. However, using the flare completely drains him, leaving him incredibly vulnerable for a full 24 hours. This power played a key role in a major storyline where Superman publicly revealed his identity, but it hasn’t been used much since. The last time it was important was eight years ago, when his son, Jon Kent, also developed the ability. While risky, the solar flare is an incredibly powerful attack.

6) Bio-Electric Aura

Superman isn’t just naturally invulnerable and strong – he’s protected by a constant, invisible energy field he creates around himself. This field is why his clothes don’t tear and allows him to lift incredibly heavy objects without crushing them. It’s similar to a basic form of moving things with his mind through touch. This ability was first introduced in the comic series Man of Steel by John Byrne, which retold Superman’s origin story after a major event called Crisis. Because the current version of Superman is considered the same character, this energy field technically still exists unless it’s specifically removed from his powers, even though it hasn’t been mentioned in recent stories.

5) Radiation Vision

As a huge Superman fan, I always thought his heat vision and X-ray vision were his most impressive eye-powers, but it turns out he can actually emit microwave radiation from his eyes! I only recently discovered this – it happened in Action Comics back in 2011 when he basically short-circuited everything around him while being tortured. It got me thinking – if he can do microwaves and X-rays, can he control the entire electromagnetic spectrum? Could he, like, shoot out radio waves? Actually, he did mess with radio waves way back in the original Superman comic in 1939! He broadcast into police scanners. It’s a seriously deep power, and honestly, I’m obsessed with figuring out the full extent of what he can do with it. There’s so much potential there!

4) Phasing

Superman has complete control over his body, allowing him to shapeshift and perform incredibly precise movements. He can also vibrate his molecules to pass through solid objects, though he rarely uses this ability. It’s a power more commonly associated with the Flash, and often feels unnecessary for Superman, who is already nearly invulnerable and can simply break through obstacles. He mainly uses it occasionally during fights to add a bit of challenge.

3) Energy Absorption

Superman gains his powers by absorbing sunlight, but he can actually absorb all kinds of energy. He doesn’t just actively seek out energy sources – his body seems compelled to absorb certain energies automatically. We’ve seen him boost his power by drawing energy from others like Starman and the Totality, become incredibly stronger without even realizing it through the Genesis Fragment, and even absorb the energy from a nuclear blast (though it temporarily weakened him). This demonstrates that Superman can absorb any energy, even if it’s harmful.

2) Soul Sight

Superman has another incredible, but often overlooked, power: his vision. He doesn’t just see what we see – he can perceive the entire electromagnetic spectrum and even glimpse into other dimensions, allowing him to understand things beyond our comprehension. At its peak, this ability lets him see the life force surrounding all living beings. He can essentially see proof of life, making even looking at corpses deeply disturbing. What’s even more remarkable is that this life force appears as a unique aura for each person, meaning Superman can literally see the energy of someone’s soul. It’s a truly beautiful ability.

1) Super Voice

Superman’s senses are incredibly heightened, and while his super sight and hearing are famous, his super voice often gets overlooked. He can project sounds with the force of an airhorn, perfectly imitating any noise and making it unbelievably loud – far louder than even emergency sirens. He can even use his voice as a weapon, shouting with enough power to destroy his surroundings. It’s similar to Black Canary’s sonic scream, but much broader and more potent. If Superman honed this ability, he could develop a devastating range of sonic attacks.

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2026-03-30 21:12