# Can Superman tear his own head off? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543 "2006-02-21T23:13:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/41 "2006-02-22T20:13:49Z")
> [@True Blue Jack](#): > > Here’s what may strike you as a very odd coincidence.And you may be hearing this for the first time. > > In one of the three or so meetings between Superboy and Superman in the Silver Age, Superboy ended up trapped in Superman’s “time-zone.” […] > In the end someone got the idea to have -Man charge at -Boy in the usual i.f. meets i.o. cliche metaphor. That got -Boy shot “head over heels” back where he came from. With one huge headache that he kinda’ slept off on the family couch. Kewl. And no, I hadn’t heard it before. Thanks **Jack.** ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/42 "2006-02-22T20:25:20Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Nothing to add other than I wish we had a prize for Thread Title of the Month. I’d sure vote for it. And the rest of the thread is living up to it, too. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/43 "2006-02-22T20:45:53Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Nothing to add other than I wish we had a prize for Thread Title of the Month. > > This one would definitely be in the running. +1 **ultrafilter** - I thought your music collection threads were a work of genius, but now we know you are an _eccentric_ genius! Bravo, Sir - I say Bravo! ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/44 "2006-02-22T20:55:28Z")
> [@HeadNinja](#): > > “Superman, why do you always have to be such a dick?” Asks the bartender. I’ve always herd/told it as “Superman, you’re an ass when you’re drunk.” ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/45 "2006-02-22T21:31:13Z")
> [@HeadNinja](#): > > That’s how the Superman is a dick joke I know. sorry to go off topic. Not off topic at all. That joke was alluded to in post #7. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/46 "2006-02-23T01:40:25Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Aside from the issue of raw physical strength vs structural properties of tissue, there’s also _motor control_ to consider; even if you _were_ technically strong enough to rip off your own head, it’s unlikely you’d be able to complete the task because partially ripping off your own head would cause you to lose control of your arms So, basically, Superman would have the same luck in tearing off his head as a [Superhorse](http://members.shaw.ca/legion_roll_call/reserve/pets/comet/) would? What? So, to take a more realistic approach, could Superman, say, break or tear off some of his own fingers? Or rip out his own heart? ---
**Author:** ![fula\_sass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@fula\_sass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fula_sass)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/47 "2006-06-19T18:43:50Z")
OMG does anyone realize these charactors are not real? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/48 "2006-06-19T18:45:05Z")
OMG does anyone realise this thread is four months old? ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/49 "2006-06-19T18:57:13Z")
OMFG, if 2up3rm4n d3capitat3d hiss31f, wud h3 3v3n di3!!!11??? ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/50 "2006-06-19T19:35:45Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > You, sir, are God. _standing ovation of one_ _joins the ovation_ ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/51 "2006-06-19T23:19:36Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > So, basically, Superman would have the same luck in tearing off his head as a [Superhorse](http://members.shaw.ca/legion_roll_call/reserve/pets/comet/) would? > > What? I have to say, while this thread’s still freshly undead…I have no idea what joke I was trying to make, back here. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/52 "2006-06-20T00:53:07Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > Given that he has not posted in the thread since you suggested this, I’m going go assume that, yes, you can tear your own head off. Since the thread has reanimated, I might as well respond. The rumors of my decapitation have been greatly exaggerated. ---
**Author:** ![skine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@skine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skine)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/53 "2006-07-18T04:24:49Z")
I know it’s a few months late, but I have a few options that will probably get shot down. 1- Superman and all from the planet Krypton are of the same species as the Thing from some John Carpenter movie, whose name i can’t remember. As we all know, from that one scene that creeps everyone out the first time they see it, and again in the blood burning scene, every piece of the body acts of its own accord. With this, logically, the main body (including digits, appendages, torso, etc.) would be able to fully function even after. 2- For you naysayers of the last option, consider Superman uses the device that makes him human in Superman 2, but he reaches his arm outside the shield so that it retains its strength. His arm thus rips his head off, considering the tug is quick enough to retain enough force to rip off the SuperHead. 3- From earlier, I feel it goes without saying that Superman can cut himself with his own fingernail. Because of this, it could also be said that he has a SuperNailclipper (unless he chews his nails) that would be able to cut through his skin. He would thus be able to cut through most of his head before bloodflow would become a factor, and then simply pluck his head from the spine (if not pull the spine out completely). Even snapping his neck, as long as he was pulling in the same motion would fulfill the mind experiment. As for the Batman Crusification, he’s flexible enough to pound in the stakes for his hands by using his feet, because he’s freaking Batman. Then, to impale his feet, all he would have to do is click his heels and expose the ice skates (from Batman and Robin, in case you were smart and avoided the film), which he would drive through his own feet and into the crusafix. However, we all know that this is not Batman’s final fate, because he is the intellectual and pollitical heart of Quohog, Rhode Island. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/54 "2006-07-18T06:48:53Z")
> [@skine](#): > > However, we all know that this is not Batman’s final fate, because he is the intellectual and pollitical heart of Quohog, Rhode Island. “Why, thank you, tinkle fairy!” Good post. Funny, but the spelling could use some work. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/55 "2006-07-18T07:51:52Z")
It occurs to me; if he rammed his hands up with superspeed and strength, he might manage to pop his head clean off before the tearing of his spinal cord has time to render his limbs limp. As well, \< applaudes **Terrifel** \> One of the funniest things I’ve read. ---
**Author:** ![drbeeper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@drbeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drbeeper)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/56 "2010-02-23T05:33:58Z")
Teh funnay! ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/57 "2010-02-23T10:10:28Z")
So, how many zombie heads is Superman capable of tearing off? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/58 "2010-02-23T12:41:20Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > So, how many zombie heads is Superman capable of tearing off? You can [go ask him](http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/solicits/dccomics/200908/dcu/BlackestNightSuperman-Cv1.jpg)…I’ll cover you. ---
**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/59 "2010-02-23T18:06:37Z")
jesus christ why did you resurrect this old thing… The OP was properly answered 4 years and 2 days ago by the second post. Let it die. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543/60 "2010-02-23T23:29:28Z")
Before we rebury this thread… is the Batman/Superman death contest really original to this thread? Because my brother swears he’s seen it floating around on the Internet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-superman-tear-his-own-head-off/345543.md?page=4)