# Superpoll: Pick A Power **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 12, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344 "2008-11-12T14:39:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/1 "2008-11-12T14:39:36Z")
If you could have _one_ of Superman’s abilities, which would you pick? You have strength, speed, invulnerability, flying, x-ray vision, superior intelligence, heat vision, supercool breath and endurance to choose from. Rules: 1. One ability only, but if I’ve forgotten one, please add it to the list. 2. No kryptonite in this scenario. 3. No using super intelligence to acquire the other powers. I think I would pick the intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/2 "2008-11-12T14:43:55Z")
Did Superman really have superior intelligence? I never read any of the comics, but that’s not one that stuck out to me. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/3 "2008-11-12T14:44:18Z")
I’d have to go for the invulnerability. The superintelligence and superspeed are good, too, but, given it’s me - accident prone and asthmatic - being immune to injury and not needing to breathe (a canon side-effect of his invulnerability pre-Crisis, god only knows what the status is now) would be great. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/4 "2008-11-12T14:44:56Z")
Hmm…I wasn’t aware one of Superman’s powers was superior intelligence. Sheesh, I’m vascilating between superior intelligence and invulnerability. Since I have to pick only one I’ll taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake superior intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/5 "2008-11-12T14:46:28Z")
Being able to fly would be sheer enjoyment. I think that’s what I’d need to finally kick my smoking addiction. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/6 "2008-11-12T14:48:40Z")
Endurance, definitely. To be able to go on and on and on, no matter what. Way cool! ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/7 "2008-11-12T14:51:16Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > Did Superman really have superior intelligence? I never read any of the comics, but that’s not one that stuck out to me. Yes, he does have superintelligence (junked by Byrne, reintroduced by Buseik recently)…although it’s sometimes compartmentalized, with different mental tasks being referred to as specific super-powers. (Super-math, super-memory, super-scientific ability, super-linguistic ability, etc.) While he wasn’t in Jor-El or Brainiac’s class, he was an accomplished scientist pre-Crisis - quite easily Luthor’s equal. There’s a reason he was the one tasked with finding a way to re-enlarge Kandor, or a cure for Mon-El’s lead poisoning. Er…aside from the fact he was one of the few people who had reason to care about the first, and was responsible for the second. (He failed on both of those tasks, but…he’s only a Kryptonian, not a Coluan - Brainiac shrunk Kandor, and Brainiac 5 (with the help of Saturn Girl) was the one who finally cured Mon-El.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/8 "2008-11-12T14:58:25Z")
I’ll take the invulnerability, thank you very much. Super-intelligence has been as helpful as you might think. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/9 "2008-11-12T15:07:05Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’ll take the invulnerability, thank you very much. **Super-intelligence has been as helpful as you might think**. 😃 Sure doesn’t translate to good taste in clothing.😃 I would take invulnerability, super strength doesn’t do much good if you misjudge and get squished. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/10 "2008-11-12T15:13:02Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > 1. One ability only, but if I’ve forgotten one, please add it to the list. Don’t most versions have an increased lifespan, or outright immortality ? I’d go for that. Then I can get increased intelligence by just living long enough for intelligence enhancing cyborg implants to be invented . . . ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/11 "2008-11-12T15:17:01Z")
I’d pick x-ray vision. And not just so I could cheat at cards and see through wimmins’ clothes. I mean, I’m sure after a while I’d be interested in putting the super power to other uses. Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/12 "2008-11-12T15:33:18Z")
Invulnerability. I am mostly a content man, but I do get tired of hurting. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/13 "2008-11-12T15:49:49Z")
I want to fly, please. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/14 "2008-11-12T16:43:16Z")
Flight for me, too. I’ve always wanted to fly by my own power. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/15 "2008-11-12T17:28:35Z")
Invulnerability (or immortality, if Der Trihs is correct). I could live long enough to acquire all the wealth and knowledge I’d care to have. And in the more immediate sense, if I got tired of waiting for that really slow elevator to get down from the 50th floor in downtown, I just jump. No harm done. Seems like a win all the way around. That, and I imagine I’d become something of a vigilante if I didn’t have to worry about physical consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/16 "2008-11-12T17:50:33Z")
If I have to choose one of the Big Blue Boyscout’s powers, I’d have to go for invulnerability. Skydiving would be _fun_. ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/17 "2008-11-12T19:06:06Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > If I have to choose one of the Big Blue Boyscout’s powers, I’d have to go for invulnerability. Skydiving would be _fun_. Naah, landing on somebody would make a big mess. But, I’d still take invulnerability. Why fly, when you could grab any old airplane, train, track, or large catapult risk free? (That’s what I want to do. Build a large catapult and fling myself to the empty field next to work. Or course, I’d need an invulnerable lunch bag, too.I don’t think I’d need to x-ray vision, since I’m sure invulnerability would enable me to learn stunts that would get chicks to take off their clothes. (What?! I don’t gamble.) Endurance would be good, but I’ve already got that, and that’s what’s lead to most of my injuries. I’m not sure what I’d use super breath, hot or cold for, though. Skiing year round? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/18 "2008-11-12T19:36:48Z")
If you get the strength, doesn’t the invulnerability have to come with it? It’s not much use to be able to lift a tank if it immediately crushes you. I’m not sure I’d go for super intelligence. Think how exasperating stupid people are now, and then multiply that by a factor of several thousand. ---
**Author:** ![Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Crocodiles\_And\_Boulevards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crocodiles_And_Boulevards)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/19 "2008-11-12T20:23:06Z")
Yeah, the strength should go hand-in-hand with the invulnerability. Another problem with invulnerability without super strength is what happens if you get trapped somewhere? Like someone chains you up, you get stuck in a hole, your plane crashes in the middle of the ocean and you’re trapped underwater beneath the wreckage, etc. Dying at that point would be a blessing compared to the eventual insanity your condition will cause! ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344/20 "2008-11-12T20:56:59Z")
Invulnerability is the only way to go; strength, speed, and possibly even flying will eventually get you hurt pretty bad without it. Besides if you want to fly, just jump out of planes without a parachute every now and then. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpoll-pick-a-power/472344.md?page=2)