Superman is a globally recognized and beloved superhero. For almost 90 years, he’s been a fixture in popular culture, captivating audiences through comics, movies, and TV shows. He’s become a true icon, so much so that even people who don’t read comic books generally know who Superman is and his basic story.
Most people know the basics about Superman, but even dedicated fans might be surprised by some lesser-known facts and trivia. These details go beyond the common knowledge and sometimes venture into the strange or unusually specific. Here are seven unbelievable—but true—facts about the Man of Steel.
7) He’s Vulnerable to More Than Kryptonite
Everyone knows Kryptonite is Superman’s famous weakness, and it’s often seen as the only thing that can harm him. However, Superman actually has several vulnerabilities. While green Kryptonite can seriously injure or even kill him, there are other ways to defeat him. Most notably, he gets his powers from Earth’s yellow sun. Removing that sunlight would strip him of his abilities, making him just as vulnerable as any other person.
While Superman is famously vulnerable to Kryptonite, he has other weaknesses too. Magic can be a serious threat, putting him at a disadvantage against magical opponents and supernatural beings. He’s also susceptible to mind control, which has been shown in the comics many times over the years. So, despite his incredible power, the Man of Steel isn’t invincible.
6) Kryptonite Didn’t Originate in the Comics
Although Kryptonite is famous as Superman’s biggest weakness, it actually originated not in the comic books, but in an early radio adaptation of his story. Back in the 1940s, when Superman was incredibly popular, he was adapted into a radio show. This show, called *The Adventures of Superman*, ran for an impressive 2088 episodes between 1940 and 1951, and it was during this run that Kryptonite was first introduced.
In 1943, the actor who provided the voice for Superman, Bud Collyer, needed a vacation. To accommodate this, the creators invented Kryptonite in the story “The Meteor From Krypton.” The story explained that when Clark Kent was exposed to the mineral remains of his home planet, Krypton, he became weak. This not only gave Collyer time off, but also introduced what has become one of the most famous elements of the Superman mythos.
5) He’s Immune to Vampires
Although Superman is weak against magic, vampires pose a unique threat to him. In a 2002 issue of Superman (#180), Dracula tries to turn Superman into a vampire, using everything he has. But the attempt fails, and when Dracula bites Superman (how he even managed that is a bit of a mystery, but let’s accept it for the story), Dracula suddenly bursts into flames.
Interestingly, since Superman gets his power from the sun and sunlight harms vampires, a vampire biting Superman would be like taking a mouthful of pure sunlight. This means the sun-powered Man of Steel can now add ‘vampire repellent’ to his list of abilities!
4) Clark Kent Canonically Exists in the Marvel Universe
Okay, so we’ve seen Marvel and DC team up for events before, bringing characters from both sides into each other’s worlds. But this is different! Believe it or not, Superman – Clark Kent – actually *officially* exists within the main Marvel Universe, Earth-616! It started way back in the 1970s with X-Men #98, and it was kind of a fun little inside joke between the creators – Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, and John Byrne. He’s just a regular guy, a mild-mannered reporter working at a big city newspaper, and he even has a close friend and colleague named Lois!
The Marvel Universe has a character named Clark Kent that’s more than just a nod to the DC Comics hero. This Marvel version looks remarkably similar to DC’s Clark Kent, and in his first appearance, there’s a funny moment where he accidentally runs into Thor – who is also disguised with glasses, mirroring Clark Kent’s own disguise.
3) He Couldn’t Always Fly
Superman is famous for flying, but it’s interesting to learn he didn’t always have this ability. When he first appeared in comics, Superman couldn’t actually fly – he was known for his incredible jumps, which inspired the phrase “able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” The power of flight was later added to his skillset in 1941, explained by the fact that he’d been living on Earth for a while.
Interestingly, Superman’s power of flight, like his vulnerability to Kryptonite, didn’t actually begin in the comic books. Both of these defining traits originated in early radio adaptations of the Superman story. We owe many of the most recognizable elements of Superman to those initial adaptations.
2) Superman Has a Social Security Number (Or Rather, Clark Kent Does)
It’s often noted that comic book superheroes don’t usually deal with everyday tasks like managing finances – you rarely see them balancing a checkbook! But when those real-life details *do* appear in comics, they become fun trivia. A great example is Clark Kent’s Social Security Number, which was first revealed in response to a fan question in a 1966 issue of Action Comics. Interestingly, Superman doesn’t have a Social Security Number, which makes sense since his secret identity as Clark Kent is closely guarded.
Interestingly, the Social Security number used for Clark Kent in comic books – 092-09-6616 – actually belonged to a real person. It was assigned to Giobatta Baiocchi, who passed away a year before the number appeared in the comics. It’s a curious and little-known fact about Superman.
1) Superman (Sort Of) Made a Sex Tape
Here’s a surprising Superman story: he was once nearly involved in creating an adult film with another superhero, Big Barda. In a 1987 comic book issue, a strange villain named Sleez, exiled from Apokalips, kidnapped Superman and Barda and attempted to force them to make an adult video. Sleez was considered too eccentric even for his home planet.
Luckily, Superman’s strong sense of right and wrong allows him to fight off the influence, giving Mister Miracle enough time to intervene and resolve the situation. In the end, Superman and Barda simply share a kiss, but it remains one of the most bizarre and unexpected scenes in the history of Action Comics – a truly strange and unforgettable story.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Best Season 10 PvE Build in New World: Aeternum
- Gold Rate Forecast
- BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- Why Chishiya’s Alice In Borderland Season 3 Role Was Greatly Reduced
- Once Upon a Katamari Brings the Series Back with a Brand New Game on PS5
- Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl Songs Inspired by Travis Kelce
- The 10 Most Powerful Marvel Zombies Characters in Comics, Ranked
- Top gainers and losers
- Battlefield 6 Campaign Gameplay Features Extensive Destruction and Bad Company 2 Vibes
- 🤑 Tether’s Golden Gambit: $1.5B and Counting! 🤑
2025-10-19 01:14