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A Real Life Superman: Speculation

Posted:
Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:21 pm
by Shadowman
I thought this would be cool for discussion.
I was thinking today, and my thoughts led me to thinking what it would be like if someone in real life suddenly began developing powers just like the Last Son of Krypton.
Now we can assume that the idea that this kid would suddenly devote himself to Truth, Justice, and the American Way is a bit unrealistic. If you suddenly became able fly, which would you do first: Look for crime to solve, or show off to your friends? Keep in mind that it's not common practice for kids to keep awesome tricks secret.
And then this kid get's into a fight. He's got super speed, strength, endurance, flight, laser beam eyes, and a slew of other tricks. I've seen Superman angry. That's not taking into account the psychological changes one would get when obtaining superpowers. Now let's imagine this kid doesn't have Pa Kent's sense of judgement.
Not a pretty sight.
So we have a superpowered show-off who can't keep his emotions in check. And kryptonite isn't a real substance! Yikes.
A real life Peter Parker would probably die from radiation and venom poisoning. That's the shorter discussion.
But what do you people think?

Posted:
Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:02 am
by Senor Hugo
I guess it really depends on how the person was raised before they got these powers.
Certainly if the guy came from a broken home, knows nothing but violence, then he gets these powers, then sure he'll use them for selfish reasons.
If the kid grew up in a good home, was taught common sense, the differance between right and wrong and responsibility when he gets the powers, he may use them for something more just.

Posted:
Sun Apr 01, 2007 8:27 am
by Nico
Senor Hugo wrote:I guess it really depends on how the person was raised before they got these powers.
Certainly if the guy came from a broken home, knows nothing but violence, then he gets these powers, then sure he'll use them for selfish reasons.
If the kid grew up in a good home, was taught common sense, the differance between right and wrong and responsibility when he gets the powers, he may use them for something more just.
Good point...
BUT, a person raised in a bad familly can sometime realise that its wrong. All the violence, mistreat and that...
He can still learn what is right and was is wrong...

Posted:
Sun Apr 01, 2007 8:35 am
by Tammuz
indeed sometimes coming from a broken home can make a kid desperate not to commit the same mistakes their pearants did.

Posted:
Sun Apr 01, 2007 2:50 pm
by Rodimus_Lantern
Well I'm looking at this assuming that most of the population fits into the same niche as myself.
-Middle Class(Encompasses a large gamut. I personally live in a lower middle class.)
-Non Broken home nor sheltered excistence
-Not Violent or Pacifist.
Basically your average human being.
Now upon discovering super powers I myself would at first use them selfishly. Using them to pick up chicks earn money and just have fun. Eventually though as comics tend to show us most every matures at some point. So after X amount of time passes I would then try to help the common populace. However regardless of who you are you will have your own priorities. I myself would end up probably becoming your anti hero. I'm dissatisfied with the current regime and with my new powers and influence would begin restoring to society to what I feel it should be.
So ultimately if anyone ever developed super powers with the exception of the criminal based I think that they would eventually would become heroes although they would be biased in certain directions.

Posted:
Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:15 pm
by Senor Hugo
Rodimus Lantern wrote:Well I'm looking at this assuming that most of the population fits into the same niche as myself.
-Middle Class(Encompasses a large gamut. I personally live in a lower middle class.)
-Non Broken home nor sheltered excistence
-Not Violent or Pacifist.
Basically your average human being.
Now upon discovering super powers I myself would at first use them selfishly. Using them to pick up chicks earn money and just have fun. Eventually though as comics tend to show us most every matures at some point. So after X amount of time passes I would then try to help the common populace. However regardless of who you are you will have your own priorities. I myself would end up probably becoming your anti hero. I'm dissatisfied with the current regime and with my new powers and influence would begin restoring to society to what I feel it should be.
So ultimately if anyone ever developed super powers with the exception of the criminal based I think that they would eventually would become heroes although they would be biased in certain directions.
Well, for me, I can say that if I were to ever get superpowers. I would go the Fantastic Four route. Do superheroic deeds, but then get in on the merchandising.
Get super rich by plastering your face on every thing from shirts, to bumperstickers to diapers. One of the benefits of being a superhero.

Posted:
Thu Apr 05, 2007 4:18 pm
by Nightracer GT
I would definately attept to police the whole world according to my political leanings.

Posted:
Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:07 pm
by Rijie
Dark Zarak wrote:I would definately attept to police the whole world according to my political leanings.
LOL...almost made me spit iced tea everywhere...

Posted:
Thu Apr 05, 2007 6:23 pm
by Nightracer GT
PorQPine wrote:Dark Zarak wrote:I would definately attept to police the whole world according to my political leanings.
LOL...almost made me spit iced tea everywhere...

I'd like to meet one person who wouldn't eventually do it.

Posted:
Sat May 05, 2007 12:06 pm
by Ramrider
At Superman's power levels it might not be such an issue, but to be honest, I think I'd probably want to keep a fairly low profile, at least at first. I'd certainly be somewhat concerned about winding up more of a scientific curiosity than a person. I don't want to end my days in a lab.
But yeah, in the long run, I think I'd try to help others when I could, and certainly further my own goals, within reason.
Whether the power would corrupt me, I couldn't possibly say; let's face it, while you ideally think you know what you'd do in a given situation, you'll never really know until it happens.

Posted:
Sat May 05, 2007 3:49 pm
by Shadowman
Then there's the "Fight or Flight" reaction. You have NO idea what you'd do or even what you'd be capable of during FoF.
I've seen Superman angry before, it's quite disturbing. He literally tore down buildings just to get to his target, and slaughtered anything that stood in his path.
So what if the Superman Brand Superpowers ended up in the hands of someone with rage control issues?

Posted:
Sat May 05, 2007 10:00 pm
by Jar Axel
Shadowman wrote:Then there's the "Fight or Flight" reaction. You have NO idea what you'd do or even what you'd be capable of during FoF.
I've seen Superman angry before, it's quite disturbing. He literally tore down buildings just to get to his target, and slaughtered anything that stood in his path.
So what if the Superman Brand Superpowers ended up in the hands of someone with rage control issues?
Pray that there is someone with a level enough head and a sharp enough wit to take him down. O and Shadow scientists have confirmed the plausability of the "Spiderman" syndrone.

Posted:
Sun May 06, 2007 1:32 am
by YouFearGalvatron
Dark Zarak wrote:PorQPine wrote:Dark Zarak wrote:I would definately attept to police the whole world according to my political leanings.
LOL...almost made me spit iced tea everywhere...

I'd like to meet one person who wouldn't eventually do it.
I know I would.
I was thinking a few hours ago if I were not president, but DICTATOR of the US...I would balance the budget, create a flat tax system (no double taxation like the IRS), build our military, close the borders & build a 20ft tall steel and concrete electrically-charged wall on each border and post Marines on it 24/7, have free healthcare and education for all.
Oh yeah, and every friday would be a national holiday.

Posted:
Sun May 06, 2007 8:50 am
by Shadowman
Jar Axel wrote:Shadowman wrote:Then there's the "Fight or Flight" reaction. You have NO idea what you'd do or even what you'd be capable of during FoF.
I've seen Superman angry before, it's quite disturbing. He literally tore down buildings just to get to his target, and slaughtered anything that stood in his path.
So what if the Superman Brand Superpowers ended up in the hands of someone with rage control issues?
Pray that there is someone with a level enough head and a sharp enough wit to take him down.
I've figured out (And probably said before) that, given the right circumstances and resources, most people can become Batman.
And we all know Batman can beat Superman.
Jar Axel wrote:O and Shadow scientists have confirmed the plausability of the "Spiderman" syndrone.
Seriously? The radiation poisoning and Spider venom would probably kill you. But if it didn't...GET ME A SPIDER AND A LASER!

Posted:
Sun May 06, 2007 9:24 am
by Handels-Messerschmitt
YouFearGalvatron wrote:I know I would.
I was thinking a few hours ago if I were not president, but DICTATOR of the US...I would balance the budget, create a flat tax system (no double taxation like the IRS), build our military, close the borders & build a 20ft tall steel and concrete electrically-charged wall on each border and post Marines on it 24/7, have free healthcare and education for all.
Oh yeah, and every friday would be a national holiday.
You'd kind of sort of have to more or less completely oppress the rest of the world, too, if you wanted to sustain that sort of thing.
I'd work if you had the powers of Dr. Manhattan, though you would still be oppressing your people...
Me, if I gained obscene superpowers, I don't know what I'd do. Chances are it'd take a little while to figure it out.
At least I wouldn't have to worry a lot about finding employment!

Posted:
Sun May 06, 2007 10:26 pm
by Jar Axel
Shadowman wrote:Jar Axel wrote:O and Shadow scientists have confirmed the plausability of the "Spiderman" syndrone.
Seriously? The radiation poisoning and Spider venom would probably kill you. But if it didn't...GET ME A SPIDER AND A LASER!
Radiation poisoning? Just where the hell did you get that ludacris and unscientific idea? The venom simply could not hold enough radiation to affect a human; hell you get more exposure from the sun on a day at the beach.
Spider Venom? Realy depends on the type of spider and wether or not, and how much it's been mutated.
The whole plausability aspect of it comes from the theory that either through exposure (classic origing) or genetic manipulation (movie origin) the venom has mutated into a retro virus which of course mutates it's hosts genes to be more like those of a spider.

Belive it or not we are actualy fairly close to being able to create made to order "spider men", "hulks", and a few other of the classic super hero types intentionaly.


Posted:
Tue May 22, 2007 7:43 pm
by Tweezy
I actually read an article about this once. according to the Arachnologist being interviewed, if one were to be bitten by a radioactive spider, then you'd have the squirts for about a week!
Re: A Real Life Superman: Speculation

Posted:
Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:50 pm
by royopolis
First, I'd scan the ocean til I found a sunken ship full of treasure. Lots of riches
Then I'd worry about my ingrown toe nail when no power on Earth can clip it short.
While I wouldn't fly around looking for muggers, there are some high-profile bad guys I'd be tempted to deal with. Maybe join up with the CIA, so they provide the intelligence & I provide the muscle.
But mostly, I'd use my money & powers to make the world a better place.
Shadowman wrote:A real life Peter Parker would probably die from radiation and venom poisoning. That's the shorter discussion.
Did you ever see the episode of
Family Guy where Peter & his family got superpowers from radioactive waste? Then the mayor tried it, and only got radiation poisoning.

Posted:
Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:14 pm
by Creature SH
Jar Axel wrote:The whole plausability aspect of it comes from the theory that either through exposure (classic origing) or genetic manipulation (movie origin) the venom has mutated into a retro virus which of course mutates it's hosts genes to be more like those of a spider.

Belive it or not we are actualy fairly close to being able to create made to order "spider men", "hulks", and a few other of the classic super hero types intentionaly.

Then again, the results would be more like... uh... Anyone here see the 80s remake of "The Fly" ?
That. Just more crippled. If it could live at all.

Posted:
Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:34 pm
by Nugget
Creature SH wrote:
Then again, the results would be more like... uh... Anyone here see the 80s remake of "The Fly" ?
That. Just more crippled. If it could live at all.
Creepy flick, the best scenes are when his body parts start falling off.
Re: A Real Life Superman: Speculation

Posted:
Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:24 am
by Ramrider
royopolis wrote:Then I'd worry about my ingrown toe nail when no power on Earth can clip it short.
Well, Superman shaves with his heat vision. I imagine that should work on toenails too...


Posted:
Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:33 pm
by Jar Axel
Creature SH wrote:Jar Axel wrote:The whole plausability aspect of it comes from the theory that either through exposure (classic origing) or genetic manipulation (movie origin) the venom has mutated into a retro virus which of course mutates it's hosts genes to be more like those of a spider.

Belive it or not we are actualy fairly close to being able to create made to order "spider men", "hulks", and a few other of the classic super hero types intentionaly.

Then again, the results would be more like... uh... Anyone here see the 80s remake of "The Fly" ?
That. Just more crippled. If it could live at all.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineeringYea I know it's a wiki artical but it has a number of good links at the bottum (I'm being lazy today)

Posted:
Tue Jul 24, 2007 6:46 am
by Tammuz
you know whats really suprising, you take the gene responsible for the formation of the eye in a mouse, and shove it in the place of the gene for a FLy eyes, and you get a fly with perfectly normal Fly eyes. wierd eh?
so depending on how you combine the human and fly you wouldn't end up to bad.
I loved the fly,thought it was a great film(though it really shook me up at age 7) but i'm fairly sure it didn't help with the general populous frankenstein complex.....
now the thing, that is something to be scared of.

Posted:
Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:55 am
by Creature SH
Jar Axel wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineering
Yea I know it's a wiki artical but it has a number of good links at the bottum (I'm being lazy today)
Engineering isn't the same as a happenstance mutant retrovirus, though....

Posted:
Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:32 am
by Jar Axel
Creature SH wrote:Jar Axel wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineering
Yea I know it's a wiki artical but it has a number of good links at the bottum (I'm being lazy today)
Engineering isn't the same as a happenstance mutant retrovirus, though....
Your right actualy. A happenstance retrovirus (verses an engenered one) would be much more likely to cause a cancerous mutation rather than a benificial one. One of the reasons I said "made to order superheros" in my first post. That being said the "spider man" syndrone is still fairly plausible compared to some of the other super hero origins.