Superman, other Kryptonians, relative ages

[glennsim]

I was just reading the recent Superman Secret Files, and it raised a question - why aren't the Kryptonians more visably older than they are?

Kara was a teenager when Krypton exploded, then lived for a while on Argo City, then was put in the rocket and sent to Earth, but got here 30 years later than Kal-El. Now, there was presumably some kind of hibernation/slowed aging going on there while she was in the rocket.

But now, Allura, who should have been in her mid-30's at the youngest 30 years ago (when Kara left) should be about 65 now. But she doesn't look it. And Flamebird, who is supposed to be the same age (or just a little older) than Kara, is still the same relative age.

Granted, powered Kryptonians probably age slower. But for that 30 years, the Kryptonians didn't have powers. Have they established that non-powered Kryptonians age slower, after reaching adulthood?

[Jorriss]

They may age the same as us, or at one point they did but through medical advancements or some shit they have slowed aging.

[the Dagman]

Perhaps their lack of aging can be attributed to Kandor being bottled by Brainiac? Maybe the aging process was slowed by the same ratio they were shrunk?

[drpblunt]

I was just reading the recent Superman Secret Files, and it raised a question - why aren't the Kryptonians more visably older than they are?

Kara was a teenager when Krypton exploded, then lived for a while on Argo City, then was put in the rocket and sent to Earth, but got here 30 years later than Kal-El. Now, there was presumably some kind of hibernation/slowed aging going on there while she was in the rocket.

But now, Allura, who should have been in her mid-30's at the youngest 30 years ago (when Kara left) should be about 65 now. But she doesn't look it. And Flamebird, who is supposed to be the same age (or just a little older) than Kara, is still the same relative age.

Granted, powered Kryptonians probably age slower. But for that 30 years, the Kryptonians didn't have powers. Have they established that non-powered Kryptonians age slower, after reaching adulthood?

Maybe Kryptonians as a whole age slower naturally, like the yellow chick in GL who's people are very long lived, she looks 16 but was actually like a few hundred years old., i could buy Alura being 65 yo chronologically but physically be half that age

[superchick]

I don't understand why Clark does age at a human rate if we are meant to believe he will live centuries

[glennsim]

It's seems to be a consistant idea in sci-fi that even long-lived races conveniently age to adulthood at normal speed then slow down.

That, and with the exception of that one race from ST: Voyager, Earth humans are the shortest-lived sentient species in the universe.

[heffison]

Perhaps their lack of aging can be attributed to Kandor being bottled by Brainiac? Maybe the aging process was slowed by the same ratio they were shrunk?

I was under that impression that Brainiac's tech was responsible, but I can't remember where I heard or read that.

[Mat001]

Perhaps their lack of aging can be attributed to Kandor being bottled by Brainiac? Maybe the aging process was slowed by the same ratio they were shrunk?

I recall reading that either Johns, Gates or Robinson said something to that effect.

I don't understand why Clark does age at a human rate if we are meant to believe he will live centuries

That's because we see potential futures, which aren't always a guarantee to occur. Look no further than "Kingdom Come"/"Thy Kingdom Come" and "DC 1 Million".

[Munkiman]

In chapter four of the Superman: Brainiac TPB, Superman thinks the same thing. He says, "You look so young," to Zor-El when he first meets him, and Zor-El says:

"One doesn't age as rapidly in the confines of the bottle cities."

So, there you go.

[glennsim]

I recall reading that either Johns, Gates or Robinson said something to that effect.



That's because we see potential futures, which aren't always a guarantee to occur. Look no further than "Kingdom Come"/"Thy Kingdom Come" and "DC 1 Million".

I think what he meant was, if Clark is going to live, say, 1000 years, why isn't he still a baby now.

[Jorriss]

I think what he meant was, if Clark is going to live, say, 1000 years, why isn't he still a baby now.
As the life expectancy of humans increases we don't spend more time as infants.

[glennsim]

As the life expectancy of humans increases we don't spend more time as infants.

Well sure, but then we spend more time as old people.

I guess that would be the distinction between "living longer" and "aging more slowly". The end result is the same (assuming that you still don't die until you've aged to a particular point) but the way you spend the time in-between is different.

If Superman is going to "live longer", then he'll continue to get older and older-looking, he just will do so for a longer time. In fact, he should get to a point where he looking older than any human has ever looked, although there may be a point where you can't actually look/get any older.

If his aging has slowed, then he should still look younger than humans who were born at the same time.

[superchick]

As the life expectancy of humans increases we don't spend more time as infants.

yet kryptonians are a different species. All species on earth have a life cycle comparative to their longevity.

[Jorriss]

yet kryptonians are a different species.
Then why are we discussing this at all? Of course Kryptonians are a different species but everyone else is treating them as if they have the same physiology as humans. If you just want say they are a different species then where can we go with this discussion?