Now, usually, whenever someone thinks of “super powers,” they think of the big, flashy ones…superhuman strength, invulnerability, flight, superspeed, invisibility, etc. But, personally, I think there’s a lot to be said for some of the less famous powers. Not the useless, CRAPPY powers, mind you, just the ones that get less “press.”
I was wondering if anyone else had any favorites that they’d like to share. The rule? The power has to be one that’s actually been used in print or onscreen before.
My picks? (Origins available upon request, because I’m tired.)
The ability to absorb and comprehend all the knowledge in a book, just by touching it. (Super speed-reading could count too, I guess.)
A very cool power for any geek, nerd, or bookworm. Useful enough if the effects are only temporary…but if they were permanent, and I had them, I might be tempted to just take a vacation to the Library of Congress and stay inside till I starved.
Superhuman vehicle-driving abilities.
Basically, the ability to expertly drive or pilot ANY kind of vehicle, with no training, even if you’ve never even seen that particular vehicle before. (“It’s SuperSteveMcQueen!” )
Mutant ability to understand any language.
Not something that’d be terribly handy in combat, true.
Machine telepathy/machine control.
This one is getting more popular, nowadays. And it seem to range anywhere from talking to the “spirits” of machines, to mentally controlling and animating electronic and mechanical equipment, and any number of other variants.
Anyone else?
Teleportation (Nightcrawler)
Transmuting the elements (Element Lad)
Stretching (Plastic Man)
And turning into metal (Colossus) always struck me as pretty cool, too.
I always liked the luck abilities of Longshot. Things just work out for him. Darn near godlike in scope. Could be the one power Batman cannot be prepared for.
Maybe if you could use it to read your opponent’s body language?
The one episode of Birds of Prey that I managed to sit through showed a secret bar for super-powered types. There was an Iceman clone, working behind the bar, freezing margaritas. That would be pretty darn cool.
The power to yell really loud (Banshee from X-Men and others that I can’t remember) falls under “second-string super powers” in my book.
While I don’t consider it “second-string”, the power to stretch your body, ala Plastic Man or Mr. Fantastic, isn’t the most terrifying thing I’d be worried about if I were Galactus.
The power to escape any entrapment - Mr. Miracle (real name - Scott Free “snicker”). Seems smarter just to avoid those situations.
I was going to say Mr. Miracle’s escape abilities, too.
Triplicate Girl’s (or Multiple Man’s, I guess) power would be cool to have. You could send off selves to go to work, go to class, etc.
It would be cool to have Wonder Woman’s lasso, either Pre-Crisis (command people to do whatever you want) or Post-Crisis (force people to tell the truth). Granted, it might be a little bit impractical for everyday use.
Non-corporealness, like Kitty Pryde or The Vision. Think of all the great stuff you could do! For one thing, you’d always have a job as the world’s greatest magician.
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