Superman’s 10 Weirdest Superpowers

By Marc Lax and Steve Younis

Since 1938 Superman’s powers have fluctuated, changed and evolved. Super strength… check. X-ray vision… check. Heat vision… check. Ability to fly… check. Super shape shifting… uh, well, yes but we’ll get to that. Every writer has their own take on what Superman can do and at some points in his history he could do pretty much anything. Some things for just an issue (super mathematics anyone?). So let’s take a little journey back in time and examine some of the weirdest powers Superman has exhibited (and not just in the comic books).

Super Mathematics

Super Mathematics: Whether you believe Superman should be the smartest being in the universe or not, he has had the ability to figure out the most challenging mathematical equations. Like in “Superman’s Girlfriend, Lois Lane #10” (with a cover date of July 1959) when he used this awesome power to figure out how many beans there were in a jar. Unable to use his x-ray vision, Superman astounds Lois Lane with his mathematical prowess when he sets about figuring out how many ounces a bean weighs and the weight of the jar to figure our that there were 32,000 beans in the jar. Impressive… even if his calculations aren’t mathematically accurate.

Super Ventriloquism

Super Ventriloquism: There are just too many uses of this ability to count. Superman has used Super Ventriloquism to mimic a persons voice to fool crooks, get Clark Kent out of a jam, or even thrown his voice to contact Supergirl from a long distance away. As weird as it was it actually came in handy. Now sometimes it got even more ridiculous, like the time Krypto the Superdog used it to mimic Clark Kent’s voice. Yes, Krypto spoke English… when the writer wanted him to. Super dog indeed.

Super Weaving

Super Weaving: Here’s one that’s pretty hard to defend. In “Superman’s Girlfriend, Lois Lane #15” (February 1960) Superman weaved a wedding dress. Yes, Superman weaved a brand new wedding dress. No doubt many brides would likely have paid anything for a gown weaved by Superman. The durability alone would leave the dress intact for generations to come. A super family heirloom.

Super Shape Shifting

Super Shape Shifting: Superman used this one to great effect in “Action Comics #55” (December 1942). In the story Superman was kidnapped by these strange aliens and in order to fool them he rearranged his face and twisted his body to look just like the aliens. So convenient and so easy, it’s not hard to figure out why this power didn’t stick around.

Super Telepathy

Super Telepathy: For a short time during his comic book adventures Superman was able to to use this ability to change the minds of villains to his advantage. He used it in “Action Comics #55” (December 1942) as well in “Superman #45” (March 1947). If it had stuck around, this ability could have been very useful over the years. Can you imagine Superman using this in his battles with Luthor over the years? Mind over muscle.

Super Mini Me

Super Mini Me: Even at the time this one would have been pretty hard fans to go along with. In “Superman #125” (November 1958) a new ability emerged which allowed Superman to shoot a mini version of himself from his fingers. No lie! As crazy as it sounds, Mini Me Superman did sacrifice himself to save our hero proving size doesn’t matter.

Super Dancing

Super Dancing: In “Superman Family #196” (August 1979) Superman boogied his way across the dance floor in order to create a vibration that could stop a bomb. Not the most amazing super power, but seeing Clark busting a move across the dance floor made for a great visual!

Super Eating

Super Eating: Now this is a power I’m sure a lot of people wouldn’t mind having. In “Action Comics #454” (December 1975) Superman consumed a whole lot of hamburgers. With Superman not having to eat to survive he could consume thousands of calories without gaining any weight. So the next time someone asks you “Which of Superman’s powers would you like to have?” you might consider Super Eating.

Super Cellophane

Super Cellophane: Don’t ask why. Don’t ask how. But we all saw it in the movie “Superman II” (released in 1981). In a confrontation with General Zod, Ursa and Non at the Fortress of Solitude, Superman grabbed his shield and pulled out a giant cellophane S to try and stop the Phantom Zone villains. It was so affective he used it again in the “Superman ’78” comic book that was released in 2022. Even the 1996 “Justice League Action” animated episode titled “Play Date” referenced this power. I wonder if he uses it to wrap Christmas gifts?

Super Wall Building

Super Wall Building: As seen in the movie “Superman IV: The Quest for Peace” (released in 1987), the Man of Steel rebuilt the Great Wall of China simply by staring at the bricks. While it made for a nice visual it didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Unless he was feeling low on energy and figured it would be easier to use his eyes instead of his muscles.

So there you have it. Those are just a few examples of some of the weirdest powers Superman has used over the years.