# How many superhumans would you need to conquer the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 7, 2026, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709 "2026-06-07T02:53:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/21 "2026-06-07T14:49:15Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > They are tough enough to not be destroyed by their own speed. They aren’t ripped apart by the air, and their legs aren’t shattered by pounding the ground fast enough to move them at Mach 1. IMO that’s in line with the other characteristics mentioned, like a couple of orders of magnitude more powerful than regular humans, plus flying powers Surviving a mach 1 impact sounds more like superman complete invulnerability. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/22 "2026-06-07T14:55:15Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Surviving a mach 1 impact sounds more like superman complete invulnerability. If they aren’t roughly that durable then just running at mach 1 would kill them. Hitting a car would be like a normal human running into a mass of jello. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/23 "2026-06-07T15:09:05Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > If they aren’t roughly that durable then just running at mach 1 would kill them. Hitting a car would be like a normal human running into a mass of jello IMO if that’s not true for a fighter jet, it’s not true for a superhero. But I guess until we develop superhero serum we can’t say for sure. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/24 "2026-06-07T16:06:19Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > However, consider a situation where they don’t announce themselves, but travel discretely to various power centers and only commence attack when they’re all in place Maybe but the US military is pretty resilient to command and control attacks. It would take a lot more than just killing some top brass to make it ineffective. This is one of my bug bears with post apocalypse sci fi, it generally under estimates what it would take for the US military to collapse completely. The US military was setup during the Cold war to carry on functioning and fight a war after a exchange of nuclear weapons between the US and the USSR. Whatever silly sci fi scenario you can come up, e.g. evil superpowered bad guys trying to wipe them out or a zombie pandemic, is less horrific than central Europe in the immediate aftermath of a nuclear war between the US and the USSR. ---
**Author:** ![f.coli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@f.coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/f.coli)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/25 "2026-06-07T18:20:26Z")
I think if they were patient, about 100 could conquer the entire world in about a year. They could issue various ultimatums to all the world governments, spelling out the consequences of failure to comply. A few demonstrations of their powers would convince most governments to go along. The elimination of the few recalcitrant leaders would expedite agreement. If they turned out to be “benevolent despots”, most of the world’s population wouldn’t be fanatically opposed. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/26 "2026-06-07T18:44:39Z")
If there were 50 in LA and NYC and just announced they were the new world leaders and did some demonstration of power to prove how strong they are, they’d all be dead within the day. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/27 "2026-06-07T19:31:42Z")
> [@f.coli](#): > > ultimatums to all the world governments Bad guys: muwwahhhahh! I will destroy your president and every member of your government if you don’t… Wait a second let me finish. Don’t you want to hear my demands before you refuse? What do mean go ahead? ---
**Author:** ![f.coli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@f.coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/f.coli)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/28 "2026-06-07T20:22:43Z")
How? Kryptonite doesn’t exist in the OP’s description. Or do you think the U.S. or some other government would launch 10 megaton bombs at LA & NY. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/29 "2026-06-07T20:24:57Z")
In the OP’s description, kryptonite (or nukes) isn’t necessary, just a 20 mm armor piercing shell. The US military has lots of those. ---
**Author:** ![f.coli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@f.coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/f.coli)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/30 "2026-06-07T20:33:52Z")
How many would it take to hit a human sized target moving at mach 1? The superhumans wouldn’t just stand still like George Reeves letting the bullets bounce off him. ---
**Author:** ![f.coli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@f.coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/f.coli)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/31 "2026-06-07T20:41:05Z")
I’m guessing that you saw the _Simpsons_ episode where Kang & Kodos made the same threat. “Don’t forget Ken Starr,” Bart reminded them. I’m sure everyone can suggest a more current public figure to the superhumans. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/32 "2026-06-07T22:13:11Z")
Okay, someone has to say it Batman, if he’s prepared. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/33 "2026-06-07T22:17:04Z")
> [@f.coli](#): > > How many would it take to hit a human sized target moving at mach 1? The superhumans wouldn’t just stand still like George Reeves letting the bullets bounce off him. Just hide a really big bomb, trick them into landing next to it, and blow it up. You just have to outsmart them, and that won’t be too hard - after all, the the OP didn’t say they were super-smart, which means that _your_ smartest guys will be much smarter than them. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/34 "2026-06-07T22:21:36Z")
Anyway, to answer the question in the OP: at least 1,000. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/35 "2026-06-07T22:58:45Z")
> [@f.coli](#): > > How many would it take to hit a human sized target moving at mach 1? The superhumans wouldn’t just stand still like George Reeves letting the bullets bounce off him. How many do you want? The Phalanx system can fire 4500/minute, and it’s designed to hit a target moving at supersonic speeds. The C-RAM is the land based version. > **[Centurion C-RAM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centurion_C-RAM)** > > The Centurion C-RAM, also called the Land Phalanx Weapon System (LPWS), is an American counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) air defense artillery system. It was developed in 2004, when combat during the Iraq War identified a weakness in ground-based anti-projectile artillery. The system is produced by Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Oshkosh Corporation. > The Centurion was developed and produced by Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Oshkosh Corporation during Operation Enduring Freedom to... ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/36 "2026-06-07T23:17:46Z")
The one big advantage the supers would have would be stealth (like @Snarky_Kong said): Until they start using their powers, they’d look just like anyone else. What you’d want to do is to pick one or two prominent world leaders to use as examples. Announce to the world “We have a new superweapon. Tomorrow afternoon, X and Y will be assassinated.”. Then get a couple of these guys close to their targets by conventional means (watching a speech or something), and only go supersonic once they’re in striking distance. With luck, nobody will even be able to tell how the targets were killed. Then, you announce “We will continue to use this superweapon until our demands are met. If (X nation) does not meet our demands, (Y leader) will die next”, and continue until everyone’s cooperating. Move fast, before they can figure out what’s going on and deploy countermeasures. Because they will figure it out eventually. ---
**Author:** ![Cmyers1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyers1980/32/11814_2.png) [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/37 "2026-06-08T01:31:56Z")
I think 200 would be sufficient for the initial takeover. During the initial takeover I think it would be best if they were divided between every state and federal capital and the largest and most important military bases and command centers. The idea is to eliminate/coerce the political leadership and destroy major centers of resistance all at once as a fait accompli. If unprecedented military losses in such a short span of time doesn’t induce the leaders to surrender then attacking civilians in cities can also be done to demonstrate how far the superhumans are willing to go to get what they want. There would still be an insurgency afterward but the mission would be functionally completed. A territory doesn’t have to be completely free of enemies to be considered conquered. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709/38 "2026-06-09T23:13:54Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > One not particularly superhuman apparently has conquered the US with bugger all resistance as one half of the US is seemingly happy to be conquered provided the other half get their heads kicked in during the process. Ninjaed, but I was about to reply that it takes only one subhuman. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-superhumans-would-you-need-to-conquer-the-us/1030709.md?page=1)