# Things super-powered characters can't do because of their powers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 29, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440 "2007-10-29T14:26:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/41 "2007-10-30T13:10:13Z")
> [@](#): > > During the Silver Age, Superman was unable to grow a beard; as a side effect of his invulnerability, neither his hair or nails would grow under a yellow sun. He only ever needed to shave if he spent too long in a red-sun environment. Although in one Silver Age story, Superman grew long hair, a beard, and long fingernails because of exposure to that useful plot device, Red Kryptonite. He was able to get himself barbereed by haviong Supergirl and Krypto simultaneously use their heat vision on him. This proves two things: 1.) In the Silver Age, Superman and other Kryptonians were totally invulnerable, except when it was inconvenient (otherwise General Kang could’ve used his fingernails on Superman, or the Kandor folk could’ve descended on Superman en mass and torched him) 2.) Superman trusted his dog an awful lot more than I’d trust my cats. (“Here, Midnight – hold the razor HERE. Now stroke gently. GENTLY!”) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/42 "2007-10-30T13:14:35Z")
[QUOTE= CK Dexter Haven] I guess it depends on when you define “Silver Age,” because back in the late 50s or early 60s, Supes gave himself a shave and haircut by using his heat vision reflected off a mirror. [/QUOTE] Wasn’t it “the heat from his x-ray vision?” ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/43 "2007-10-30T13:32:20Z")
Wolverine’s powers means me makes more money, all else being equal, than other Xmen. He doesn’t need to pay for medical insurance. [QUOTE=BunnyTVS] Yeah Ben always struck me as the kind of guy to take matters into his own hands. [/QUOTE] It’s not like he’d feel it if anyone else did it. Heh. Gettin his rocks off. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/44 "2007-10-30T13:35:26Z")
[QUOTE=hotflungwok] Wolverine’s powers means me makes more money, all else being equal, than other Xmen. He doesn’t need to pay for medical insurance. [/QUOTE] Dr Xavier has a mandatory community-rated plan, surely. ---
**Author:** ![Heller\_Highwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@Heller\_Highwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heller_Highwater)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/45 "2007-10-30T13:52:59Z")
[Quote=hotflungwok] It’s not like he’d feel it if anyone else did it. Heh. Gettin his rocks off. [/Quote] “It’s clobberin’ time!” ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/46 "2007-10-30T15:12:17Z")
Just remembered - She-Hulk can’t get drunk while she’s in her Hulky form. However, if she drinks as She-Hulk and then changes back into Jen Walters, she’ll feel all the effects of the alcohol she dranks with the usual side-effects (vomit, etc.). That’d be useful on a night out, I suppose. Drink all you want in your civilian identity and then when it’s time to drive home: _poof!_ change into a seven-foot-tall atomic monster and you’re good to go. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/47 "2007-10-30T16:05:44Z")
[QUOTE=tonedef] I thought it would suck for Rogue in xmen cause she couldn’t really have any unprotected sex without sucking the life out of them. [/QUOTE] Yeah, what usually sucks the life out of a man is _marriage_, not sex. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/48 "2007-10-30T16:18:33Z")
[QUOTE=shy guy] Just remembered - She-Hulk can’t get drunk while she’s in her Hulky form. However, if she drinks as She-Hulk and then changes back into Jen Walters, she’ll feel all the effects of the alcohol she dranks with the usual side-effects (vomit, etc.). That’d be useful on a night out, I suppose. Drink all you want in your civilian identity and then when it’s time to drive home: _poof!_ change into a seven-foot-tall atomic monster and you’re good to go. [/QUOTE] Thank you, tangentially, for causing me to occupy an entire 30 minutes of should-be-working time reading the (surprisingly long) Wikipedia article on She-Hulk, mostly because I wanted to check my recollection that she didn’t change forms and was stuck in Big Greeny mode. I was apparently wrong, but in my defense, I haven’t read comics on a regular basis since the late 80s. And I had no idea that she was actually married to J. Jonah Jameson’s kid… ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/49 "2007-10-30T16:26:06Z")
[QUOTE=Ranchoth] I thought [Headninja had an interesting take](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7260788&postcount=20) on the simple consequences to personal hygene practices that being immune to most Earthly diseases would bring. [/QUOTE] And don’t stand behind Clark Kent after he’s had a few burritos. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/50 "2007-10-30T16:35:51Z")
[QUOTE=tonedef] I thought it would suck for Rogue in xmen cause she couldn’t really have any unprotected sex without sucking the life out of them. [/QUOTE] Heh. _La petite mort_, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/51 "2007-10-30T18:24:44Z")
[QUOTE=tonedef] I thought it would suck for Rogue in xmen cause she couldn’t really have any unprotected sex without sucking the life out of them. [/QUOTE] But surely unprotected sex would be something to avoid anyway, as it’d probably be even more hazardous in the Marvel universe as it is in ours. Along with all the ordinary terrestrial STDs floating around, there’d no doubt also be freaky mutant viruses, gamma-irradiated pubic lice, Skrull herpes, etc. Plus, of course, the risk that your partner might suddenly suck the life out of you. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/52 "2007-10-30T18:31:12Z")
[QUOTE=Terrifel] But surely unprotected sex would be something to avoid anyway, as it’d probably be even more hazardous in the Marvel universe as it is in ours. Along with all the ordinary terrestrial STDs floating around, there’d no doubt also be freaky mutant viruses, gamma-irradiated pubic lice, Skrull herpes, etc. Plus, of course, the risk that your partner might suddenly suck the life out of you. [/QUOTE] Would Rogue be able to be pregnant? Or would her powers kill any possible child? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/53 "2007-10-30T19:02:24Z")
Supergirl has the Hymen of Steel. So her only hope might be a Kryptonite-based condom. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/54 "2007-10-30T19:13:10Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] 2.) Superman trusted his dog an awful lot more than I’d trust my cats. (“Here, Midnight – hold the razor HERE. Now stroke gently. GENTLY!”) [/QUOTE] Well, Krypto had human-level intelligence so long as he had super-powers, and clearly he and Superman (and presumably Supergirl) could communicate as if in English. So that’s reasonable (or as close to reasonable as you’ll get in a comic-book universe). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/55 "2007-10-30T19:56:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, Krypto had human-level intelligence so long as he had super-powers You haven’t met my cat. It’s the intelligence that makes it particularly hard to trust her with sharp instruments. Bad enough she’s got the claws. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/56 "2007-10-30T20:04:13Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] Supergirl has the Hymen of Steel. So her only hope might be a Kryptonite-based condom. Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] Not an issue for her, really. I think the only guy who really got pre-Crisis Kara Z’s motor running was her cousin, who could have dealt with the hymen pretty easily. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/57 "2007-10-30T20:11:50Z")
Supergirl was also pretty close to Biron the centaur, AKA Comet the Super-Horse. His powers were magical, and Supergirl is vulnerable to magic… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/58 "2007-10-30T21:28:17Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Not an issue for her, really. I think the only guy who really got pre-Crisis Kara Z’s motor running was her cousin, who could have dealt with the hymen pretty easily. [/QUOTE] After her death, her secret marriage was revealed in [one of the last pre-Crisis issues of _Superman_](http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/superman/415-1.jpg) (#415, Jan 1986). ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/59 "2007-10-30T21:39:02Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] After her death, her secret marriage was revealed in [one of the last pre-Crisis issues of _Superman_](http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/superman/415-1.jpg) (#415, Jan 1986). [/QUOTE] My position on that issue mirrors my position on movies about hobbits. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440/60 "2007-10-30T22:20:25Z")
> [@Skald the Rhymer](#): > > I think the only guy who really got pre-Crisis Kara Z’s motor running was her cousin, who could have dealt with the hymen pretty easily. Meh, just bring her Krypto and a jar of peanut butter… [QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] After her death, her secret marriage was revealed in [one of the last pre-Crisis issues of _Superman_](http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/superman/415-1.jpg) (#415, Jan 1986). [/QUOTE] She married Zan?! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-super-powered-characters-cant-do-because-of-their-powers/424440.md?page=4)