View Full Version : Does food do anything for Superman physically?
Buried Alien
12-14-2006, 02:05 PM
Superman does not need to eat food to survive. He draws all the sustenance that his body needs from the ambient solar energy radiating out of the sun. Superman does eat food, however, as a way of connecting to his humanity: he enjoys the taste of food like any human being would, and it helps him function socially as Clark Kent.
When Superman does eat, however, does that food contribute anything to him physically? Does he draw any energy/strength from it?
Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)
SKETCHSANCHEZ
12-14-2006, 02:42 PM
I dont have an answer or theory for you but I'd just like to say you ask the most interesting questions.
MaxofSteel
12-14-2006, 03:09 PM
I thought I should mention that Supes' favorite food happens to be "Beef Bourguignon with ketchup".
I've never tried it but I'm sure it must be... "super". :p
(I hate puns)
glennsim
12-14-2006, 03:20 PM
It's probably completely voluntary.
He probably doesn't poop, either.
Must have been an interesting experience the first time he ever spent a significant amount of time without his powers.
CYOTI
12-14-2006, 03:56 PM
He still needs food as the raw materials for the synthesis of organic molecules that his body can't make by itself so yes he probably needs food and water like everyone else.
Rik Levins
12-14-2006, 06:55 PM
Pre-Crisis Superman didn't need to eat, ever.
Present-day Supes has to breathe, so it's likely he needs to eat as well. Probably a lot less often than a normal guy, but if he went for weeks without food I imagine he'd start to get hungry, and gradually lose strength and muscle mass like anyone else (just more slowly.) Byrne did have him mention that his metabolism uses 100% of what he consumes, so no need for bathroom breaks.
As glennsim mentions, there must have been a few...adjustments...during those times when he lost his powers.
However, he had no powers as a kid, so presumably it wasn't THAT strange to him.
Buried Alien
12-14-2006, 07:01 PM
Pre-Crisis Superman didn't need to eat, ever.
Not physically, no, but he did enjoy it enough to make sure that the Arctic Fortress had a machine that dispensed chocolate milkshakes. :)
Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)
Superman Priime
12-15-2006, 06:24 AM
He still needs food as the raw materials for the synthesis of organic molecules that his body can't make by itself so yes he probably needs food and water like everyone else.
No, he doesn't. He gets all the energy he needs from the Sun. He eats only because he was raised as a normal person and because he does enjoy the taste of certain foods (particularly Ma Kent's rhubarb pies).
glennsim
12-15-2006, 08:13 AM
No, he doesn't. He gets all the energy he needs from the Sun. He eats only because he was raised as a normal person and because he does enjoy the taste of certain foods (particularly Ma Kent's rhubarb pies).
So if something actually powerful enough to cut him (such as Doomsday's claws) cuts him, where do the new cells come from when he heals?
MaxofSteel
12-15-2006, 08:23 AM
No, he doesn't. He gets all the energy he needs from the Sun. He eats only because he was raised as a normal person and because he does enjoy the taste of certain foods (particularly Ma Kent's rhubarb pies).
Hm. I suppose Supes body works like a plant then, photosynthesizing the light from the yellow sun to produce the sugars (and proteins) his body needs to stay energized.
But in the light of Krypton's red sun, Kryptonians probably have to eat, as their cells are unable to make use of the weak rays.
Still, plants which use photosynthesis still need water as well. Rik levins brings up a good point, if he needs to breath once in a while, he probably needs to eat/drink once in a while too.
One thing I'm pretty sure of though, is that I doubt he needs to sleep like us human folk.
Rik Levins
12-15-2006, 09:32 AM
One thing I'm pretty sure of though, is that I doubt he needs to sleep like us human folk.
Actually...
There was a Pre-Crisis story dealing with this. Superman, for reasons I don't remember, went without sleeping for an extended period. Although he never got physically tired, his mind started to play tricks on him.
Experiments with normal people have shown that everyone needs to dream on a regular basis (even though most people don't remember their dreams, everyone does it). If test subjects were prevented from dreaming for more than a few days, they started to become confused and even hallucinate. And Superman, it turned out, is not exempt from this need.
I don't think it's been dealt with post-Crisis, but since present-day Superman is more human (and more vulnerable) in just about every way than his pre-C counterpart, I would not be at all surprised if he, too, can't go without sleep forever.
Actually...
There was a Pre-Crisis story dealing with this. Superman, for reasons I don't remember, went without sleeping for an extended period. Although he never got physically tired, his mind started to play tricks on him.
Experiments with normal people have shown that everyone needs to dream on a regular basis (even though most people don't remember their dreams, everyone does it). If test subjects were prevented from dreaming for more than a few days, they started to become confused and even hallucinate. And Superman, it turned out, is not exempt from this need.
I don't think it's been dealt with post-Crisis, but since present-day Superman is more human (and more vulnerable) in just about every way than his pre-C counterpart, I would not be at all surprised if he, too, can't go without sleep forever.
I think Birthright mentioned Superman needing to sleep, though not as much as a human. Something about it being easy to study if you only have to sleep three hours a night.
dupersuper
12-15-2006, 01:33 PM
Funny how going extended periods without food/drink/air/sleep and not having to go to the bathroom never made it into the tv/cartoon intros...
"Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to drink tall sodas and not pee!..."
Let's just say you don't want to be around after he's had Taco Bell.
DemonJack
12-15-2006, 06:06 PM
Well, has he ever been drunk in the comics? If he can get drunk it would mean that what he ingests does have some sort of effect on him.
Also, if he suddenly started eating to much could he gain wheight? For that matter can he gain wheight in some way? Is there any way to alter his physique? What amount of cheeseburgers and lack of exercise is necessary to get him the least bit out of shape?
I also find it hard to believe he could use 100% of what ever he consumes, that would mean he was some kind of nuclear reactor inside. What happens if accidentally swallows a diamond or something. Does he actually digest it?
Furthermore, do I ask to many questions? Does it seem I have to much time on my hands? Why is kryptonite green anyway? Am I rambling again? :rolleyes:
Augusto
05-11-2008, 11:57 AM
This is one of the reasons I liked electric Superman. He started to do all these things: eat, drink, sleep. But better eat healthy....Superman may get fat...
http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/superman/221-1.jpg
http://www.smileyhut.com/laughing/lolabove.gif (http://www.smileyhut.com)
About Superman (actually Clark, you should read Adventures of Superman #474, a Dan Jurgens story).
http://www.yelims.com/IPB/Invision-Board-France-234.gif
Green Lantern wannabe
05-11-2008, 01:18 PM
I'd have to say that Superman needs to eat. He gets his energy from the sun, but sunlight, red or yellow, doesn't provide protein or other organic molecules. We also get our nourishment from the sun, by the way, because sunlight helps us synthesize Vitamin D.
The one thing I've been wondering is, if Superman does need to eat, then does he need to eat more than us? I mean, it must take a lot of energy to fly and use heat vision, so he must eat like a body builder.
Sizzle
05-11-2008, 06:56 PM
For a guy who does not eat, they sure put his image on a lot of food products.
I'd like to see him have a drinking contest with Lobo.
Augusto
05-12-2008, 09:56 AM
For a guy who does not eat, they sure put his image on a lot of food products.
I'd like to see him have a drinking contest with Lobo.
Drinking MILK contest...:biggrin:
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/5413/super64bj7.jpg
Anybody knows who draw this???:confused:
http://www.yelims.com/IPB/Invision-Board-France-234.gif
Captain Smith
05-12-2008, 10:58 AM
He can't get all the energy he needs for mass from Earth level ambient sunlight. The equations are clear on that. So he would have to sit close to the sun.
As far as no bodily waste - that must have made the Kents happy as no super poop for PC Superbaby. Post PC Clark must have pooped till his powers developed and now does he miss a good poop, reading the Sunday Daily Planet?
davids
05-13-2008, 07:18 AM
Diana, "Apokolipse pie...double dark chocolate icecream between two chocolate chip cookies...dipped in chocolate and covered in shaved chocolate...MMm I love being pregnant!"
Clark, "Make that three!"
Bruce, "I never eat desert."
Clark, "I know, but I do and I'm always eating for two!"
Green Lantern wannabe
05-13-2008, 08:17 AM
I'd agree with that. Elliot S. Maggin wrote the novelization of the first two Christopher Reeve Superman movies, and he's quite a senior author in the DC ranks.
davids
05-13-2008, 01:20 PM
I'd agree with that. Elliot S. Maggin wrote the novelization of the first two Christopher Reeve Superman movies, and he's quite a senior author in the DC ranks.
There was photos from the movies but the stories last son of Krypton and Miracle monday had nothing to do with the movie. last son of krypton was a paper back best seller because of Xerox! They bought thousands of copies and gave them to their workers thru their in company book club.
In the story it was memtioned that aliens were stealing Xerox copying machines from the top floors of sky scrappers, because in all the galaxy Xerox copiers were the best in photo copying and at the time you could not buy a copy mahcine only rent one! I guess the paperless society was bull in outer space as well he on earth!.
That meal in KC, Clark had staro the caserol, Diana had, the giant turtle soup and Bruce had "Steak well done!" To drink, Clark [milk the wimp] Diana water [would have had a beer or some mead, but she was expecting] and BRuce "Coffe, black and keep it coming!"
Drinking MILK contest...:biggrin:
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/5413/super64bj7.jpg
Anybody knows who draw this???:confused:
http://www.yelims.com/IPB/Invision-Board-France-234.gif
Jose Lius Garcia Lopez - classic Superman artist from the 80's.
PatrickG
05-17-2008, 04:52 PM
I'd have to say that Superman needs to eat. He gets his energy from the sun, but sunlight, red or yellow, doesn't provide protein or other organic molecules. We also get our nourishment from the sun, by the way, because sunlight helps us synthesize Vitamin D.
The one thing I've been wondering is, if Superman does need to eat, then does he need to eat more than us? I mean, it must take a lot of energy to fly and use heat vision, so he must eat like a body builder.
But under yellow sunlight, his organic material doesn't age or decay.
So maybe if he's injured, food would be nice.
But I got the impression his cells could convert energy into matter anyway, allowing him to essentially reconstruct his body with ambient solar radiation.
Flash's Lightning
05-17-2008, 07:04 PM
Just thought I would point out that when Superman was supercharged, before he got Parasite to drain off the excess, he had grown huge.
This might show that he does gain mass from the sun (hence, he gets fat from too much sunlight, so no tanning for you Clark!)
And when Parasite drained Supes, Parasite gained mass as well.
Augusto
05-18-2008, 08:13 AM
Jose Lius Garcia Lopez - classic Superman artist from the 80's.
Thanks Chad. I should have remembered from "Kal".
http://www.yelims.com/IPB/Invision-Board-France-234.gif
herogirl
05-19-2008, 11:15 AM
So if something actually powerful enough to cut him (such as Doomsday's claws) cuts him, where do the new cells come from when he heals?
Ah, the sun.
Psyco panda
05-22-2008, 01:16 AM
Fun fact - Superman survives entirely on Hostess Fruit pies, like all superheroes. At least precrisis. Thats why people always try to steal them.
herogirl
05-22-2008, 02:51 PM
Fun fact - Superman survives entirely on Hostess Fruit pies, like all superheroes. At least precrisis. Thats why people always try to steal them.
Fruit Pies? That's very interesting.
interesting question Buried...I'd have to say that Superman needs to eat. He gets his energy from the sun, but sunlight, red or yellow, doesn't provide protein or other organic molecules. We also get our nourishment from the sun, by the way, because sunlight helps us synthesize Vitamin D.
The one thing I've been wondering is, if Superman does need to eat, then does he need to eat more than us? I mean, it must take a lot of energy to fly and use heat vision, so he must eat like a body builder.
yeah, I'd agree with this, but in terms of eating to survive, he must draw most of his energy from the sun and only a little from food as he would need to consume almost worldly amounts to actually survive on it with what energy he uses. I'd bet his body could burn up a ton of food (literally) like a matchstick being burned up by a large campfire.
DC themselves don't know I bet. That being said, Superman probably needs everything that we need, except he needs VERY little of it. He probably has bowel movments as well, but it's not very "super" to show it on panel. It's not like we see Spider-Man having an epic bowel movement after a battle with Goblin, or Iron Man complaining how his armor's waste disposal is malfunctioning because Iron Monger's weapons shorted it out.
We all know the Goddamn Batman doesn't need poo.
herogirl
07-08-2008, 03:33 PM
For a guy who does not eat, they sure put his image on a lot of food products.
I'd like to see him have a drinking contest with Lobo.
Would alcohol even affect him? It doesn't in Smallville.
Captain Smith
07-09-2008, 10:37 AM
When all the heroes go on a long mission to space, why don't you seem them take backpacks with TP? I know a GL can produce green energy TP but what about WW or the Flash? Bats probably has some in his belt.
Do they take credit cards or cell phones on missions?
Superman does not need to eat food to survive.
So supes does not need water or food what so ever? Does he even need oxygen? Could he stay in space forever as a result?
KryptonianFan315
07-16-2008, 02:54 PM
In Louis and Clark Superman was asked if he needs to eat to which he replied he didn't need to eat but he enjoyed it so he did it anyways.
KryptonianFan315
07-16-2008, 02:55 PM
When all the heroes go on a long mission to space, why don't you seem them take backpacks with TP? I know a GL can produce green energy TP but what about WW or the Flash? Bats probably has some in his belt.
Do they take credit cards or cell phones on missions?
They comunicate thru the Martian Manhunters telepathic ability
octothorp
07-17-2008, 10:40 AM
And it's threads like this that keep me coming back! :biggrin:
JCAll
07-17-2008, 05:15 PM
When all the heroes go on a long mission to space, why don't you seem them take backpacks with TP? I know a GL can produce green energy TP but what about WW or the Flash? Bats probably has some in his belt.
Now we know why most heroes wear capes :tongue:
Xybernauts
07-20-2008, 03:41 AM
In the series Legion of Superheroes, Superman could travel through space in the future and still retain the powers he would on earth near the yellow sun. How an he do this?
As for the question of whether Superman needs to eat; It's possible his body can manufacture the molecules he needs by converting particles he breaths in.
It's possible his body can take subatomic particles from the air and forms the various molecules his body needs to heal; kind of like the replicator in Star trek? Superman's body exceeds the limits of human understanding, so it's possible it is able to do things that regular animals can't do. With all that energy he carries it wouldn't surprise me if he could trigger fusion reactions. If he could it would explain where he gets the materials he needs to heal.
herogirl
07-22-2008, 01:19 PM
So supes does not need water or food what so ever? Does he even need oxygen? Could he stay in space forever as a result?
Superman can hold his breath indefinitely, meaning forever. Therefore he can stay in space, or underwater, or in a methane environment, FOREVER.
Superman can hold his breath indefinitely, meaning forever. Therefore he can stay in space, or underwater, or in a methane environment, FOREVER.
ru being serious? cause if he could do that, he shouldn't have to breathe. I don't know the specifics, but his voice wouldn't change octave, he'd never have to take big breaths while pushing large things and stuff. and, would be even have a heartbeat? what would pump his blood throughout his body?
Augusto
07-23-2008, 04:44 PM
ru being serious? cause if he could do that, he shouldn't have to breathe. I don't know the specifics, but his voice wouldn't change octave, he'd never have to take big breaths while pushing large things and stuff. and, would be even have a heartbeat? what would pump his blood throughout his body?
It's not air what pumps the blood. Recent research have named the pump heart:wink:
One thing I'm pretty sure of though, is that I doubt he needs to sleep like us human folk.
Power Girl (who should have a similar biology) has mentioned in JSA that she doesn't need to sleep.
shadow knight
07-25-2008, 09:16 PM
Superman doesn't need to eat he just enjoys it. IIRC he once went weeks without eating when he exiled himself from Earth in the late 90's. As long as he has yellow sun energy powering up he doesn't need to eat under red sun radiation he would.
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.