Superpower (ability)
A superpower is a currently fictional superhuman ability. Superpowers are typically displayed in science fiction comic books, television programs, video games, and films as the key attribute of a superhero. The concept originated in American comic books and pulp magazines of the 1930s and 1940s, and has gradually worked its way into other genres and media.[1]
Definition
There is no rigid definition of a "superpower." In popular culture, it is often associated with unusual abilities such as flight, enhanced strength, invulnerability, or enhanced speed. However, it can also describe natural abilities that reach peak human potential, such as enhanced intelligence or weapon proficiency.[2][3][4]
Generally speaking, superheroes like Batman and Iron Man may be classified as superheroes even though they have no actual superhuman abilities beyond their exceptional talent and advanced technology. Similarly, characters with superhuman abilities derived from artificial, external sources, like Green Lantern's power ring and Tony Stark's Iron Man armor may be described as superpowers, but the wearer is not necessarily superhuman.
In fiction, superpowers are often given scientific, technological, pseudoscientific, or supernatural explanations. They come from sources such as magic, technology, or the character's own physiological nature (being an alien, a supernatural being, or a mutant).[2][5]
In manga and anime
Superpowers are a commonly used concept in manga and anime, particularly in the shonen genre. They are often featured in popular manga and anime such as Dragon Ball Z, Saint Seiya, YuYu Hakusho, One Piece, Naruto, Fullmetal Alchemist, Bleach, Code Geass, Fairy Tail, Hunter × Hunter, Attack on Titan, and My Hero Academia.[6]
The types of powers featured vary from series to series. Some, such as Dragon Ball and Fullmetal Alchemist, feature many different characters who have the same types of powers. Others, like One Piece and Bleach, feature characters with a wide range of different powers, with many powers being unique to only one or a few characters.[6]
List of common superpowers
Below is a list of common superpowers depicted in fiction. This list is not exhaustive, and only covers the most frequently depicted powers from the most well-known superheroes.[7][3]
Almighty powers
Powers that can manipulate, control, create, or reshape everything and anything.
| Power | Description | Example from Marvel Comics[3] | Example from DC Comics[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy manipulation | The power to manipulate, generate, absorb, and convert energy. | Captain Marvel | Green Lantern |
| Immortality | The power to live eternally and never die. | Deadpool | Dream |
| Magic | The power to utilize supernatural forces to potentially achieve any effect one desires. | Doctor Strange | John Constantine |
| Matter manipulation | The power to manipulate anything in the universe that has substance and physical form. | Jean Grey | Darkseid |
| Omnipotence | The power to be supremely almighty and invincible, holding infinite power with almost no limitations. | One-Above-All | Presence |
| Omnipresence | The power to be absolutely anywhere and everywhere. | Eternity | Dream |
| Omniscience | The power to possess absolute and infinite knowledge of everything. | Eternity | Spectre |
| Probability manipulation | The power to manipulate probability, luck, and even the course of destiny itself. | Scarlet Witch | John Constantine |
| Reality warping | The power to manipulate all of reality. | Phoenix Force | Spectre |
| Telekinesis | The power to move, manipulate or otherwise interact with objects with one's mind. | Jean Grey | Raven |
| Time manipulation | The power to manipulate, stop, reverse, accelerate, or alter time. | Quicksilver | Flash |
Superpower manipulations
Superpowers that interact with other superhumans' powers.
| Power | Description | Example from Marvel Comics[3] | Example from DC Comics[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power absorption | The power to absorb or steal powers from others. | Rogue | Parasite |
| Power augmentation | The ability to enhance the powers of oneself or others. | Apocalypse | Saint Walker |
| Power bestowal | The ability to bestow powers upon another. | Galactus | Shazam |
| Power negation | The power to nullify other powers. | Leech | Metallo |
| Power replication | The power to replicate the powers of others. | Rogue | Amazo |
Personal physical powers
Powers that affect the user's physical body.
| Power | Description | Example from Marvel Comics[3] | Example from DC Comics[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal morphing | The power to transform into animals. | Mystique | Beast Boy |
| Aquatic breathing | The power to breathe underwater. | Namor | Aquaman |
| Bone Manipulation | The power to manipulate the bones within one's body. | Wolverine | Doomsday |
| Density manipulation | The power to manipulate one's density. | Vision | Martian Manhunter |
| Elasticity | The ability to stretch, deform, expand, or contract one's body into any form imaginable. | Reed Richards | Plastic Man |
| Elemental mimicry | The power to transform into or have a physical body made up of inorganic elements. | Ben Grimm | Killer Frost |
| Enhanced accuracy | The ability to achieve complete and utter accuracy on distant targets. | Hawkeye | Green Arrow |
| Enhanced agility | The ability to possess agility and reflexes beyond that of peak human potential. | Beast | Superman |
| Enhanced durability | The power to possess durability beyond that of peak human potential. | Captain America | Superman |
| Enhanced hearing | The power to hear sounds far beyond that of peak human potential. | Daredevil | Superman |
| Enhanced longevity | The power to possess a long lifespan and decelerate aging. | Wolverine | Wonder Woman |
| Enhanced senses | The power to possess extremely accurate senses. | Daredevil | Superman |
| Enhanced speed | The power to possess speed beyond that of peak human potential. | Quicksilver | Flash |
| Enhanced stamina | The power to possess stamina and endurance beyond that of peak human potential. | Spider-Man | Superman |
| Enhanced strength | The power to possess a level of strength beyond that of beyond that of peak human potential. | Hulk | Superman |
| Healing | The power to heal physical injuries or diseases. | Wolverine | Superman |
| Illusion manipulation | The power to create and shape illusions. | Doctor Strange | Scarecrow |
| Intangibility | The ability to phase through physical matter. | Kitty Pryde | Flash |
| Invisibility | The power to render oneself unable to be seen. | Invisible Woman | Martian Manhunter |
| Invulnerability | The power to be completely immune to all forms of physical harm. | Thor | Superman |
| Replication | The ability to create clones of oneself. | Loki | Mirror Master |
| Shapeshifting | The power to completely change and reshape one's physical form. | Mystique | Martian Manhunter |
| Size manipulation | The power to increase or decrease the size of oneself. | Ant-Man | Atom |
| Weapon proficiency | The power to possess proficiency, capabilities and knowledge in weapons beyond that of peak human potential. | Black Widow | Rorschach |
| X-ray vision | The power to see through practically anything. | Star-Lord | Superman |
Mental powers
Powers that manipulate the mental capabilities of the mind.
| Power | Description | Example from Marvel Comics[3] | Example from DC Comics[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empathy | The power to fully interpret and replicate the emotions, moods, and temperaments of others. | Jean Grey | Mento |
| Enhanced intelligence | The power of extremely heightened and enhanced intelligence and other mental abilities. | Iron Man | Batman |
| Mind control | The power to control the minds of others. | Professor X | Gorilla Grodd |
| Precognition | The power to perceive future events. | Spider-Man | Doctor Manhattan |
| Telepathy | The power to mentally communicate with other minds. | Professor X | Martian Manhunter |
Spiritual powers
Control over supernatural forces including ghosts, demons, or the astral plane.
| Power | Description | Example from Marvel Comics[3] | Example from DC Comics[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astral projection | The power to separate one's spirit from the body. | Doctor Strange | John Constantine |
| Chi manipulation | The power to manipulate the flow of vital energy in the physical body. | Iron Fist | Kong Kenan |
| Clairvoyance | The power to acquire information using sight outside the normal range of detection. | Doctor Strange | Shazam |
| Mediumship | The power to perceive and communicate with spirits and those who are in the afterlife. | Doctor Strange | John Constantine |
| Possession | The power to inhabit the bodies of other beings. | Phoenix Force | Parallax |
| Resurrection | The power to bring the deceased back to life. | Ghost Rider | Ra's al Ghul |
Elemental powers
Powers related to manipulating the elements of nature.
| Power | Description | Example from Marvel Comics[3] | Example from DC Comics[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air manipulation | The power to manipulate air. | Thor | Red Tornado |
| Animal manipulation | The power to manipulate animals. | Namor | Aquaman |
| Darkness manipulation | The power to manipulate darkness. | Mandarin | Shade |
| Earth manipulation | The power to manipulate earth. | Thor | Terra |
| Electricity manipulation | The power to manipulate electricity. | Thor | Shazam |
| Fire manipulation | The power to manipulate fire. | Human Torch | Lucifer Morningstar |
| Gravity manipulation | The power to manipulate gravity. | Nova | Geo-Force |
| Ice manipulation | The power to manipulate ice. | Iceman | Mr. Freeze |
| Light manipulation | The power to manipulate light. | Jubilee | Green Lantern |
| Metal manipulation | The power to manipulate metal. | Magneto | Doctor Polaris |
| Plant manipulation | The power to manipulate plants. | Groot | Swamp Thing |
| Water manipulation | The power to manipulate water. | Namor | Aquaman |
| Weather manipulation | The power to manipulate the weather. | Thor | Zatanna |
Transportation powers
Powers that are mainly used for transportation.
| Power | Description | Example from Marvel Comics[3] | Example from DC Comics[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensional travel | The power to travel between different dimensions. | Thor | Flash |
| Flight | The power to fly without any outside influence. | Wasp | Hawkman |
| Portal creation | The power to create portals for transport between two non-adjacent locations. | Silver Surfer | John Constantine |
| Teleportation | The power to move instantaneously from one location to another without physically occupying the space in between. | Nightcrawler | Raven |
| Time travel | The ability to travel through time. | Cable | Booster Gold |
| Wallcrawling | The power to fasten onto and climb vertical and horizontal surfaces without falling. | Spider-Man | Catwoman |
Other powers
| Power | Description | Example from Marvel Comics[3] | Example from DC Comics[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy blast | The ability to discharge energy onto a specific target. | Iron Man | Starfire |
| Energy constructs | The power to create solid constructs from pure energy. | Gambit | Green Lantern |
| Force field generation | The ability to project powerful fields of manipulated energy. | Captain Britain | Booster Gold |
| Heat vision | The power to generate beams of heat from one's eyes. | Cyclops | Superman |
| Radiation manipulation | The power to manipulate radioactive decay and radiation spectra. | She-Hulk | Captain Atom |
| Sonic scream | The power to emit a highly enhanced scream of a high amplitude. | Banshee | Black Canary |
| Technology manipulation | The power to manipulate technology. | Iron Man | Blue Beetle |
References
- "The Golden Age Of Comics". www.pbs.org. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- Lovece, Frank (July 16, 2008). "The Dark Knight". (movie review) Film Journal International. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
Batman himself is an anomaly as one of the few superheroes without superpowers…
- "Top 100 Comic Book Heroes". IGN. 2011.
- "Superhero | Definition of Superhero by Merriam-Webster". Merriam-webster.com. March 22, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- Gesh, Lois H.; Weinberg, Robert (2002). "The Dark Knight: Batman: A NonSuper Superhero" (PDF). The Science of Superheroes. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-471-02460-6. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 6, 2015.
- "Superpowers Characters | Anime-Planet". www.anime-planet.com. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
- Johnston, Ben (January 24, 2021). "What Is The Most Common Superpower In Comics?". ben-johnston.co.uk.
External links
- Superpower List - A growing list of user-submitted superpowers.
- Superhero Database: Superpowers
- 8 Super Powers, an online Wired Magazine article on how certain superpowers might work
- The Physics of Superheroes, by James Kakalios- a book examining how the powers of several comic book characters would work if they were real.
| Media | |
|---|---|
| Plot elements | |
| Continuity | |
| |
