Should Superman's powers have an on and off switch?

[Flash's Lightning]

Similar to energy Superman Red and energy Superman Blue, or Wonder Woman, should Superman have the ability to will himself to be human?

Myself, I gave it a lot of thought. After all, it's essentially changing the core of the character to give him the ability to humanize himself. But then I thought, isn't the character always evolving anyway? From the days of leaping tall buildings and wrestling locomotives, to developing his other powers, to world juggling, and then having his power levels taken down a few pegs post Crisis on Infinite Earths, the character is ever changing, ever adapting. And that isn't even counting the times his powers have dramatically changed.

Given all that, I think a great evolution to the character would be for Clark to be able to depower at will. I think it'd make a great difference in his day to day life, both in his interactions with others as well as his own feelings about himself. (After all, he enjoyed being human during Busiek's run, even mentioning it afterwards - saying it made him feel normal for a bit.)

[Uxas]

And how exactly would Superman do this?

I'm honestly curious how you think it would happen.

[Flash's Lightning]

And how exactly would Superman do this?

I'm honestly curious how you think it would happen.

I'm sure there's many ways it could happen. Again, I point out how Wonder Woman and the energy based Supermen did it. But even without those, there are other ways to go about it. Just say it's another evolution of his abilities. Kryptonian technology. Hell, many other types of tech out there too. Magic.

That's not really the point asking "how" is it? That's like asking how he'd shoot heat vision from his eyes...he kind of just does.

[Alan2099]

I suddenly got the hilarious image of Superman's powers being hooked up to the Clapper.

[Captain Smith]

He could just say Kalzam-El!

[dmore454]

I personally wouldn't mind if they went back to the Red/Blue powers... I actually prefer him that way... didn't anyone else think Supes Blue was BA in Morrison's JLA?

[Hromovlad]

interesting concept for a character, but I prefer the classic

[DonC]

He could always wear the red sun bracelet that Chris Kent wore.

[supamike]

i say thee nay. I think superman being super all the time is part of what makes him him.The fact that he has tremendous powers makes him understand how fragile earth and humanity is.He walks among them but the fact that since he is invulnerable to just about everything under a yellow sun means he cant really relate to us so he puts on the cape and becomes the "boy scout" so he wont be feared. Having a on and off switch for his powers would allow him to be mortal for awhile and i think would take away from the fact that superman is a outsider looking in. I could be wrong though

[Joe Acro]

He could always wear the red sun bracelet that Chris Kent wore.So that he, too, can blow up an apartment complex?

[ggersten]

Maybe Superman could have a teen sidekick - maybe a kid who gets around on crutches. Superman could maybe give the kid his powers and then when Superman needed to use the powers he could say or imagine a word - something unusual like maybe 'lynx" - On second thought - that's a stupid idea. No one at DC would ever do something like that.

[dupersuper]

I personally wouldn't mind if they went back to the Red/Blue powers... I actually prefer him that way... didn't anyone else think Supes Blue was BA in Morrison's JLA?

Superman as a whole was BA in Morrisons JLA...he was giving inspirational speeches while fighting boss bad guys at the Earths core, wrestling angels, moving the moon, visiting his future self in the 853rd century who lived in the sun, delivering lines like "to catch them if they fall" and "There are millions of them, we have no powers and there's a little boy in there who needs us to save the world. Let's go.", taking out ancient god weapons by absorbing anti-sunlight...

[PaulTMD]

Personally, I always thought that Batman should have given him a lead box with some Gold Kryptonite to keep on his nightstand. But maybe that implies some things aren't happening now that we're to assume are.

[Flash's Lightning]

I suddenly got the hilarious image of Superman's powers being hooked up to the Clapper.

"Damn it, Lois, stop that! You know I hate it when you turn my powers off when I'm walking on the ceiling. I was thinking!"


He could just say Kalzam-El!

Where does that come from?


I personally wouldn't mind if they went back to the Red/Blue powers... I actually prefer him that way... didn't anyone else think Supes Blue was BA in Morrison's JLA?


Superman as a whole was BA in Morrisons JLA...he was giving inspirational speeches while fighting boss bad guys at the Earths core, wrestling angels, moving the moon, visiting his future self in the 853rd century who lived in the sun, delivering lines like "to catch them if they fall" and "There are millions of them, we have no powers and there's a little boy in there who needs us to save the world. Let's go.", taking out ancient god weapons by absorbing anti-sunlight...

Agree, I loved Superman blue and even Superman red when they split. But I'd rather they not replace the current Superman. They should be another Earth's superman/supermen.


He could always wear the red sun bracelet that Chris Kent wore.


So that he, too, can blow up an apartment complex?

Considering what an ass Batman is, he probably worked out that problem. Or if he hasn't he'll figure it out when he comes back.


i say thee nay. I think superman being super all the time is part of what makes him him.The fact that he has tremendous powers makes him understand how fragile earth and humanity is.He walks among them but the fact that since he is invulnerable to just about everything under a yellow sun means he cant really relate to us so he puts on the cape and becomes the "boy scout" so he wont be feared. Having a on and off switch for his powers would allow him to be mortal for awhile and i think would take away from the fact that superman is a outsider looking in. I could be wrong though

Do you consider Wonder Woman gaining the ability to turn human as taking away from her character as well?


Maybe Superman could have a teen sidekick - maybe a kid who gets around on crutches. Superman could maybe give the kid his powers and then when Superman needed to use the powers he could say or imagine a word - something unusual like maybe 'lynx" - On second thought - that's a stupid idea. No one at DC would ever do something like that.

I'm trying to remember, didn't Superman have a sidekick for a little while during King of the World or just before it?


Personally, I always thought that Batman should have given him a lead box with some Gold Kryptonite to keep on his nightstand. But maybe that implies some things aren't happening now that we're to assume are.

Yeah, the only problem being, you can't turn back Super at will with Gold K can you? You're locked out for 24 hours or whatever the limit is.

[PaulTMD]

It's not 24 hours. I think the time duration would be based on how long you were irradiated. As long as he remembered to close the box when he was done, all he'd have to worry about is getting a good night's sleep and letting the cops handle stuff until he woke up.

[Nick073]

If you think about it, he kinda has one. During the one year later story line, in the Up, Up & Away story arc, Clark was powerless after being affected during the crisis. But for some reason his powers didn't return for a year. The conclusion for this story was that he kept his powers dorment, subconscience or conscience, but it wasn't until he let them come back, that they actually reappeared again.

[Alex L]

I'm trying to think of how super-at-will would lead to better stories, and off the top of my head I can't think of any.

[jgiannantoni05]

The "switch" would undermine a main struggle/theme in Superman comics, that Superman has both superhuman powers and yet a human life/upbringing, and he is forced to make do with both despite the problems (and joys) both bring into his life.

[DarkKnghtJared]

I could see it working for a story arc, letting him briefly be able to be like a human being and then realizing it can't work. In fiction, especially long-form stuff like superhero comics, it often doesn't help to lessen the problems they have.