Does Superman know how to fight? [Archive] - Comic Book Resources Forums

Devil_LeonX

09-29-2006, 05:13 PM

CapFan

09-29-2006, 05:20 PM

DonC

09-29-2006, 05:55 PM

Superman trained with Mongul II for some stupid storyline that I've already forgotten most of. I think it was that Millennium Giants story that appeared 2 years before the actual millennium.

md62

09-29-2006, 06:14 PM

Superman trained with Mongul II for some stupid storyline that I've already forgotten most of. I think it was that Millennium Giants story that appeared 2 years before the actual millennium.

It was Loeb's first arc on Superman around #151. McKone did the art.

Kid Kyoto

09-29-2006, 06:48 PM

Nah he's a bit fruity @##% who wears his underwear outside his tights. You hear me you caped wimp! I can take you apart!

Anyway my guess would be since he has to hold back so much any training is wasted since his instinct is to ALWAYS fight well below his potential.

Gernot

09-29-2006, 07:07 PM

filthysize

09-29-2006, 07:44 PM

I would think that he's just a brawler. He usually gets his hands full when he's facing those kung fu types. Probably why he always loses to Batman.

Reminds me of the Cassidy/Custer fight from the ending of Preacher.

"You have the strenght. You have the speed. But you don't know how to put two and two together."

megladon8

09-29-2006, 09:05 PM

He's pretty much a brawler.

He doesn't really NEED to know how to fight.

90'sCartoonMan

09-29-2006, 09:35 PM

He doesn't really NEED to know how to fight.

Sure he does. I mean, how many times does Superman lose his power? Better safe than sorry.

Wonder Woman's got loads of power, but she still knows how to fight and trains. I wonder if Diana and Bruce have ever brought that to his attention.

Sean Whitmore

09-29-2006, 09:48 PM

The "Superman doesn't need to know how to fight" theory doesn't really wash, when you consider:

1. How often he loses his powers (it's not like the movies; powerless Supes can kick some ass).

2. How often he runs into beings as strong or stronger than himself (the number of such beings is dwindling these days, but throughout the 80s and 90s there were many of them).

SEAN

phantom1592

09-30-2006, 04:23 AM

I don't WANT Superman to know how to fight. He's SUPERMAN for heavens sake. Its pretty tough to give him a challenge in the first place. I always love the idea that he doesnt' NEED to know to fight. He's faster and Stronger and that's all he needs.

IF he loses his powers or better yet comes across someone in his league THEN he actually has a challenge on his hands. Its called Drama ;)

Personally I don't think his powers or enemies function well within martial arts. He's already faster and stronger and opposed to a triple nerve punch, its easier to wrap a lightpole around them.

Kind of like Wolverine. Why did they bother making him a martial artists?!?! He's a BERSERKER! They DON'T GO TOGETHER!

trickster

09-30-2006, 04:38 AM

He doesn't know how to fight. He got it from Lex Luthor in Up, Up and Away. Not to mention the movies. "I've been... working out". No you haven't, ya big sissy, you just got lucky by getting your power back. With such a "protector", that trucker in the movie could have raped Lois, no problem.

GreenHornet

09-30-2006, 04:42 AM

I also remember a story were young Kal-el was taught the Krypton-type arts in self defense with in the FOS.

Lorendiac

09-30-2006, 05:01 AM

I know this sounds like a stupid question, but Does Superman know any fighting arts or is he just a brawler?? or is he like spiderman in the sense that Spdiy doesnt know any OFFICIAL fighting arts, but has developed his own style which is completly unique to spidy alone?Thanks anyone in advance.

Remember the old Superboy live-action TV series, starring John Haymes Newton as the title character? I remember, back around 1990 or thereabouts, reading an interview with him in which he said that in real life he has studied martial arts, and at one point an episode called for him to fight an alien with superstrength similar to his own, so he suggested he use a few throws and things to show that Superboy knew how to handle a physical equal; an opponent who wouldn't just collapse the first time he was punched on the jaw.

The idea was shot down. Apparently it was made very clear to him that the Superboy/Superman character concept only involved good old-fashioned fisticuffs in the same tradition as the way John Wayne used to fight in barroom brawl scenes in his westerns. (I believe those were almost his exact words in the interview -- he was supposed to continue in the John Wayne tradition of brawling!)

phantom1592

09-30-2006, 05:13 AM

The idea was shot down. Apparently it was made very clear to him that the Superboy/Superman character concept only involved good old-fashioned fisticuffs in the same tradition as the way John Wayne used to fight in barroom brawl scenes in his westerns. (I believe those were almost his exact words in the interview -- he was supposed to continue in the John Wayne tradition of brawling!)

Which is COOL! Personally I love the storylines with Zod or the Smallville Episode where Pa Kent gets superpowers. Kal decides to teach dad a lesson, but when on equal footing, Pa takes the boy behind the woodshed :D

Having a character this powerful is a hard thing to write. If he gets schooled then he's simply not superman. If he's all powerful then the stories are boring. If you focus too much on the humanity/emotional parts of the characters then people get annoyed because Supermans powers aren't coming into play.

Martial arts or any kind of structured fighting style is quite simply overkill and redundant.

Personally I would never want to write Superman. Or Flash. How do you write a story for a character who can save the world before the bad guy can blink?

TheTen-EyedMan

09-30-2006, 06:29 AM

"Let's face it Kal, the last time you inspired anyone was when you were world boxing champ"

http://www.antekprizering.com/alisupermancomicbook0204.jpeg

The man knows how to fight.

filthysize

09-30-2006, 08:59 AM

Would you believe me if I tell you that I've seen that cover hundreds of times, but I've never noticed Batman and Lex before?

What's wrong with me?

Sean Whitmore

09-30-2006, 10:29 AM

He doesn't know how to fight. He got it from Lex Luthor in Up, Up and Away.

No he didn't. He won. And Luthor does know how to fight.

SEAN

kane

09-30-2006, 10:40 AM

Sean Whitmore

09-30-2006, 10:51 AM

And what is the fascination with martial arts? A brawler fighting for 10 years can be more dangerous then a martial artists.

Yeah, you gotta assume Pa was the first to teach young Clark how to fight, and I'll bet he didn't strap on any white pajamas before doing so. :)

SEAN

dreyga2000

09-30-2006, 10:52 AM

"Let's face it Kal, the last time you inspired anyone was when you were world boxing champ"

http://www.antekprizering.com/alisupermancomicbook0204.jpeg

The man knows how to fight.

Didn't he lose against Ali?

P.S. Supes is from smallville... You'll learn all the fighting abilitiy you'll ever need growing up in small country town... trust me :D

Alan2099

09-30-2006, 11:28 AM

Certain writers have tried to give Superman some advanced skills and martial arts abilities, but it never sticks.

Other than that, Superman is a country boy. He might not know anything fancy, but he's a good brawler.

cactusmaac

09-30-2006, 11:36 AM

He doesn't really need to know martial arts. What he does need to know is how best to efectively combine his various powers for combat situations.

filthysize

09-30-2006, 12:11 PM

Heh... Does anyone remember the Superman 5 script J.J. Abrams wrote? It had Superman kung fu fighting Zod.... IN MID-AIR.

Eliseu Gouveia

09-30-2006, 02:17 PM

Heh... Does anyone remember the Superman 5 script J.J. Abrams wrote? It had Superman kung fu fighting Zod.... IN MID-AIR.

Seems like Dragonball to me :)

chilled monkey

09-30-2006, 03:56 PM

In a JLA issue Superman was in Batmans body and beat the Cobra. So he can fight.

And what is the fascination with martial arts? A brawler fighting for 10 years can be more dangerous then a martial artists.

The fascination is that martial arts is not about fighting. It's about improving yourself mentally, physically and spiritually.

I do see your point though. True, sometimes an untrained brawler can defeat a trained fighter. Then again, sometimes it's the other way around. It all depends on the individuals.

And yes, Superman can fight. No one expects him to be a Shaolin master, but he should at least be able to hold his own in fisticuffs. Remember, Superman is smart. He knows it's dangerous to depend entirely on his powers, which can and have been stolen.

He doesn't need to know 'advanced' fighting skills. Basic self-defence is enough.

dreyga2000: Yes he lost, but just being able to put up a fight against Muhammad Ali is impressive.

3D Master

09-30-2006, 04:49 PM

In a JLA issue Superman was in Batmans body and beat the Cobra. So he can fight.

And what is the fascination with martial arts? A brawler fighting for 10 years can be more dangerous then a martial artists.

Purely depends on what type of martial arts and how often that martial artist has fought. If it's just some exhibition type stuff yeah, but actual martial arts designed for fighting and the guy actually trained how to fight? Not a chance!

I saw a test once; a martial artist kicked a pressure meter: same pressure as being hit by a car at 35 miles an hour. And these kicks martial artists take to the chest and face without much difficulty; one part of martial arts is learning how to take hits: how to now exactly to tense their muscles for a moment, which then become shock absorbers.

kane

09-30-2006, 05:19 PM

Purely depends on what type of martial arts and how often that martial artist has fought. If it's just some exhibition type stuff yeah, but actual martial arts designed for fighting and the guy actually trained how to fight? Not a chance!

I saw a test once; a martial artist kicked a pressure meter: same pressure as being hit by a car at 35 miles an hour. And these kicks martial artists take to the chest and face without much difficulty; one part of martial arts is learning how to take hits: how to now exactly to tense their muscles for a moment, which then become shock absorbers.

Well, that can be, but still there is a difference between training fights and real dirty fights.

A martial artist may be good, even in real fight. Still, i there would be a real dirty fight between a martial artist and a experienced brawler, who fights just for the fun of it, i would place my bets on the brawler. I know people who just like to fight, everywhere and everytime. They do not care if their opponent is more skilled, bigger and heavier, they just attack, until their opponent goes down.

And martial arts do not work everywhere. In a crowd for example, there is not much place to do kicks etc.

Tequilamokinbrd

09-30-2006, 07:06 PM

Is he in the same league as Bruce or even Diana? No.

But people, Superman can fight.

If it was about nothing but power, he'd get his ass kicked all the time, as he's usually fighting someone in his ballpark powerwise (he doesn't fight Black Manta, he fights Metallo), so it's not like he just muscles over everyone without a second thought.

How long has he been fighting alongside some of the best fighters the world has ever known? It's called combat experience. I don't care how powerful you are, you spend the better part of 12 years fighting humans, robots, monsters, or whoever else feels like picking a fight, you learn a thing or two.

Without powers I say Supes goes down easy to people like Richard Dragon, Shiva, or Batman, but someone like Gangbuster for instance? I think Supes punches him in the face and meets Lois for brunch.

filthysize

09-30-2006, 08:08 PM

Was that Fight Science on the Discovery channel?

I saw that too. CRAZY stuff.

Bored at 3:00AM

09-30-2006, 11:16 PM

3DMaster & Kane:

1) Stop the pissing contest.

2) Watch the language. This is a PG-13 forum.

3) Keep this up, you'll both find yourselves unwelcome here.

Thanks.

kane

10-01-2006, 02:40 AM

3DMaster & Kane:

1) Stop the pissing contest.

2) Watch the language. This is a PG-13 forum.

3) Keep this up, you'll both find yourselves unwelcome here.

Thanks.

??? What language ???. Sorry, but i cannot remember using swearwords here.

Thats all

chilled monkey

10-01-2006, 03:50 AM

And martial arts do not work everywhere. In a crowd for example, there is not much place to do kicks etc.

No offence, but that's not exactly true. There are some martial arts that work fine in crowds or confined spaces. Wing Chun for example.

TheTen-EyedMan

10-01-2006, 07:18 AM

Heh... Does anyone remember the Superman 5 script J.J. Abrams wrote? It had Superman kung fu fighting Zod.... IN MID-AIR.

http://homepage.mac.com/john_kruper/artwork/carl_douglas/soul_of_the_kung_fu_fig.jpg

Alex Dragon

10-01-2006, 08:55 AM

I have no idea what the take is on Superman's fighting abilities in the comics because they keep changing and shoehorning in new continuity but it the movies when Supes loses his powers he becomes the biggest wimp on two feet. In SUPERMAN II and SUPERMAN RETURNS when he lost his powers he didn't even try to fight back when he was getting the snot beat out of him. When he lost his powers in SUPERMAN RETURNS and Luthor is beating him up I honestly thought he was going to start crying (I'm not joking). I understand the drama of seeing Superman powerless but geeeez...they could've had him at least put up a fight.

chriskenny

10-01-2006, 09:33 AM

Kind of like Wolverine. Why did they bother making him a martial artists?!?! He's a BERSERKER! They DON'T GO TOGETHER!

I liked that about Wolverine. I think he addresses the shame of his irrational berserker self by learning the art of bushido. I think his samauri background is his attempt to counteract the things that shame him. I think the contradiction makes sense and makes him more interesting.

trickster

10-01-2006, 11:07 AM

No he didn't. He won. And Luthor does know how to fight.

SEAN

What do you mean, "he won"? "But Clark, you must have 20 pounds on him, and you're in killer shape. Why didn't you fight back?" "I did. he article came out today". Sure you did, you chicken.

In a JLA issue Superman was in Batmans body and beat the Cobra. So he can fight.

And what is the fascination with martial arts? A brawler fighting for 10 years can be more dangerous then a martial artists.

Yeah, in Batman's body. Just like Batman in Superman's body said he didn't like it cos he was becoming too reliant on invulnerability.

Person Man

10-01-2006, 07:00 PM

At the end, if I recall, they had that weird fist fight where the Kryptonite had screwed with Clark's powers, and he still cleaned Lex's clock.

Bored at 3:00AM

10-01-2006, 09:03 PM

??? What language ???. Sorry, but i cannot remember using swearwords here.

Thats all

My warning was directed at two people, not just you. 3D Master was swearing. Both of you were engaging in the pissing contest.

That language warning now extends to you too, Count Vertigo. Watch your language please.

G. Wayne

10-03-2006, 03:22 PM

He can fight, but it's more of the Superman Brawling style than boxing or whatnot. The Superman vs Captain Marvel fight in JLU would be a great example.

Reminds me of an old Wolverine comic, I think, where Logan is watching Mr. Fixit fight, and comments that he'd know the Hulk's fighting style anywhere. And Hulk's style isn't anything specific, just tricks and techniques Hulk's developed that are effective with his level of power.

Or like a recent wrestling house show I went to, where the crowd started taunting the "7 foot, 500 pound" Big Show with "You Can't Wrestle!" chants. He responded pretty quickly with "I don't /have/ to!" and proceeded to swat Sabu around some more.

mattx110

10-03-2006, 07:45 PM

well, being a part of the jla, i figured they all have to do fight training and simulations and learn martial arts and stuff or batman would through a fit and be like "i ain't working with amateurs. get yourself killed on your own time..."

as one of the real main longstanding members, and leader of the team on many occassions, he's not the kind to be a hypocrite and not learn how to throw a punch or two himself.

and this martial arts vs. brawling debate is just silly sometimes. brawling is trial and error, martial arts is based on the trial and error work (along with stylistic/ nationalistic "color" thrown in) of centuries past. it's like learning to play an instrument by yourself vs. classical training. sure a self-taught guy might be a great musician able to take on classical musicians in skill level, but chances are you could have gotten there faster and more efficiently with proper training.
if you wanna learn to fight, start with martial arts (you don't even have to be a black belt) and then figure out how you fight. But if you wanna just brawl, chances aren't that good you'll be very good at it, and you'll learn slower than someone with mr. miyagi on his side. you don't learn how to fight from getting one-punched, you just get brain damage.

now see, i solved that problem without resorting to the "how many street-fighting brawlers could take on bruce lee?" argument.

Tequilamokinbrd

10-05-2006, 03:47 PM

Totally agree with the post above me. I'll use myself as an example.

I've never been the type of person that people would call a "wuss", and I'm proud to say that I've won many a fight(even though fighting is kinda dumb)

Now with that being said, if I fought an alternate universe version of myself that was never on the wrestling team in high school, I'd destroy him. Just because we'd do different things if the fight got to the floor. Alternate world me would just throw random(but admittedly hard) punches, whereas I'd make alternate world me wish he didn't have joints.