# Things that bugged me about the Superman TV series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 19, 2011, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899 "2011-02-19T10:05:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/1 "2011-02-19T10:05:34Z")
First, it opens with a guy in a crowded metropolis area looking up and yelling to all within earshot, startled, “LOOK…up in the sky, it’s a\*\*\* bird!\*\*\*”. So what? It it really important to point out birds in the sky? Aren’t there millions of them in the city? Then some other piece of Samsonite pipes in with, “No, it’s a plane!”. Ummm, so what". Is that really newsworthy either? Another thing that always bugged was his ability to puff up his chest and let bullets bounce of it but as soon as the bad guy ran out of ammo he would throw the gun at Supes. Now that in itself was stupid - if the bullets wont do it the thrown hand gun surely wont. But what was really weird was that the man of steel always had to dodge the thrown handgun. Huh? And the whole “disguise” thing, not to mention his voice. Of course that applies to a lot of super heroes but Superman didn’t even wear a mask. And if he could fly without any sort of ornithopter-type movements or airfoil supports, why did he need a running start? Don’t get me wrong, I loved the show, I just thought there were some things that didn’t make sense. Anyone else notice anything that seemed strange or bugged you? * * * MODERATOR NOTE (26-Apr-2013) - Note that this thread is from 2011. The “new” posts resurrecting it begin with Post #46. – CKDH ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/2 "2011-02-19T10:28:11Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > And if he could fly without any sort of ornithopter-type movements or airfoil supports, why did he need a running start? Originally Superman only leapt, and didn’t fly. Due to the different gravity that Earth had compared to Krypton, Superman was able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/3 "2011-02-19T12:05:00Z")
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**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/4 "2011-02-19T12:33:23Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Originally Superman only leapt, and didn’t fly. Due to the different gravity that Earth had compared to Krypton, Superman was able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Yeah, but Superman is probably the SH whose abilities have been retconned the most. And that, almost from the start. Didnt he get his flying abilities from the Fleischer Brothers cartoons? BTW, did he have a cape when he was in his bounce/leap mode? (On the other hand, I have always found the Hulk’s bounces really hard to swallow). ---
**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:** [February 19, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/5 "2011-02-19T13:09:38Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > First, it opens with a guy in a crowded metropolis area looking up and yelling to all within earshot, startled, “LOOK…up in the sky, it’s a\*\*\* bird!\*\*\*”. So what? It it really important to point out birds in the sky? Aren’t there millions of them in the city? Then some other piece of Samsonite pipes in with, “No, it’s a plane!”. Ummm, so what". Is that really newsworthy either? I admit, it is pretty dumb for someone to call attention to a bird, but I’d like to point out that this line is derived from the 1940s radio series and cartoons, in which the distinctive voices indicated: Person 1: Look! Up in the sky! Person 2: [presumably offering a mundane explanation] It’s a bird. Person 3: [presumably offering a mundane explanation that takes the object’s speed into account] It’s a plane. Person 4: It’s Superman! For some reason, the TV series buried the distinction between 1 and 2. > [@](#): > > Another thing that always bugged was his ability to puff up his chest and let bullets bounce of it but as soon as the bad guy ran out of ammo he would throw the gun at Supes. Now that in itself was stupid - if the bullets wont do it the thrown hand gun surely wont. But what was really weird was that the man of steel always had to dodge the thrown handgun. Huh? There’s at least one shot (presumably a composite) that shows a handgun boucing off Superman’s chest. Given the tight budgets and schedules, though, I can see why it’s easier to just tell Reeves to duck. > [@](#): > > And the whole “disguise” thing, not to mention his voice. Of course that applies to a lot of super heroes but Superman didn’t even wear a mask. He relies on a widespread form of faceblindness known as Lois Lane’s Disease. ---
**Author:** ![Heyoka13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Heyoka13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heyoka13)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/6 "2011-02-19T14:46:34Z")
Something I found odd about the 1950s series was that is was clearly produced with a very limited budget, yet the shows creators sprang for color film. Also, the show did feature in one episode, a criminal who had made himself a cozy comfy apartment in a cube of material that even Superman could not fracture. He did this so as to let the statute of limitations run out on his crimes, and then he could emerge from the structure and enjoy his ill gotten gains. Superman had the government speed up the time signals the criminal was receiving and tricked him into emerging early where he was then arrested. Amazing, to me at least, to have as an essential plot line of all the episodes the incredible powers of Superman, yet in this one, we have a Supermanproof container. BTW, wouldn’t this material be FAR more valuable than any ill gotten gains,wasn’t the criminal stupid to not sell the formula to the US military defense contractors? (yeah, I am attempting to establish my geek credentials;)) ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/7 "2011-02-19T15:35:02Z")
> [@Heyoka13](#): > > Something I found odd about the 1950s series was that is was clearly produced with a very limited budget, yet the shows creators sprang for color film. > > Also, the show did feature in one episode, a criminal who had made himself a cozy comfy apartment in a cube of material that even Superman could not fracture. He did this so as to let the statute of limitations run out on his crimes, and then he could emerge from the structure and enjoy his ill gotten gains. Superman had the government speed up the time signals the criminal was receiving and tricked him into emerging early where he was then arrested. > Amazing, to me at least, to have as an essential plot line of all the episodes the incredible powers of Superman, yet in this one, we have a Supermanproof container. > > BTW, wouldn’t this material be FAR more valuable than any ill gotten gains,wasn’t the criminal stupid to not sell the formula to the US military defense contractors? > > (yeah, I am attempting to establish my geek credentials;)) I’m bugged by this episode for different reasons. I seem to remember that Superman develops the ability to somehow vibrate his molecules to allow him to penetrate the Superman proof container, but a threat to a hostage forced him to back out. Superman never uses this ability again, just like the ability to split into two half-powered Supermen that he picked up while in a South American prison. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/8 "2011-02-19T15:36:01Z")
> [@Heyoka13](#): > > (yeah, I am attempting to establish my geek credentials;)) Yup, me too. I wasn’t ragging on him just pointing out funny inconsistencies ---
**Author:** ![Heyoka13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Heyoka13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heyoka13)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/9 "2011-02-19T17:56:07Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > I’m bugged by this episode for different reasons. I seem to remember that Superman develops the ability to somehow vibrate his molecules to allow him to penetrate the Superman proof container, but a threat to a hostage forced him to back out. Superman never uses this ability again, just like the ability to split into two half-powered Supermen that he picked up while in a South American prison. You are right! Seems like there was a risk of Superman ‘fusing’ into the material, too. And I think Superman had to have a scientist explain to him how to use that power. What good is a superpower if it does not come with instructions?:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/10 "2011-02-19T18:01:33Z")
I thought the Supergirl movie was a pretty stupid version of this. In a world where Superman exists, and his powers and abilities are well known, a woman arrives in a similar outfit, and who do some rednecks do? Lift up her skirt. Oooo…real smart move there guys. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/11 "2011-02-19T18:20:36Z")
**Bryan Ekers** has explained the bird/plane situation. The show was a 1950s kids’ show. They didn’t strive for realism, or even for plausibility, let alone consistency. Superman was WAY less powerful than (say) the Christopher Reeve movie. He bent steel bars, bullets bounced off him, but there was no way that he would stop a locomotive or catch a nuclear missile. It was mostly budget, of course, but it was also that he was just very, very strong (and invulnerable, x-ray vision, etc.) You’re kvetching that Superman ducked when the crook threw the gun at him? What kinda stupid crook throws a gun at someone whom bullets bounce off? ---
**Author:** ![priapus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@priapus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/priapus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/12 "2011-02-19T18:36:24Z")
What I loved about the series is the way Reeves made the whole thing plausible. I bought the Reeves dvd series and I’ve seen the Kirk Alyn serials. Reeves is still the most mature, believable Superman in my old eyes ---
**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:** [February 19, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/13 "2011-02-19T18:45:58Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > but there was no way that he would stop a locomotive But… but… he’s _more_ powerful than a locomotive! The voice said so! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/14 "2011-02-19T19:29:04Z")
But he would not stop a locomotive. He’s not an idiot like Lucy and Ethyl. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/15 "2011-02-19T20:52:16Z")
> [@Heyoka13](#): > > What good is a superpower if it does not come with instructions?:smack: You will have to ask Ralph Hinkley. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/16 "2011-02-19T22:13:36Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > Didnt he get his flying abilities from the Fleischer Brothers cartoons? I thought that was what the OP was talking about. I’ve never watched any Superman cartoons, they didn’t play them where I grew up. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/17 "2011-02-19T23:22:46Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > BTW, did he have a cape when he was in his bounce/leap mode? Yep. Here’s the front cover of his first appearance, where he’s of course dressed kinda like a circus strongman – cape and tights with underpants on the outside – and is playing weightlifter with the big fine '30s-style car he’s looking to smash. [http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug02/yeung/actioncomics/cover.html](http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug02/yeung/actioncomics/cover.html) ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/18 "2011-02-19T23:54:50Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] I’ve never watched any Superman cartoons, they didn’t play them where I grew up. [/QUOTE] Same here, although I had a tv since 1948. If you want to see the first one, 10 minutes of your life. https://www.youtube.com/embed/WU8JdKp5BtI?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/19 "2011-02-20T03:13:32Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > But what was really weird was that the man of steel always had to dodge the thrown handgun. Huh? And when the bad guys tried to punch him in a final act of desperation, instead of just taking the punch he blocked it. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899/20 "2011-02-20T03:29:59Z")
> [@Heyoka13](#): > > Something I found odd about the 1950s series was that is was clearly produced with a very limited budget, yet the shows creators sprang for color film. > > Also, the show did feature in one episode, a criminal who had made himself a cozy comfy apartment in a cube of material that even Superman could not fracture. He did this so as to let the statute of limitations run out on his crimes, and then he could emerge from the structure and enjoy his ill gotten gains. Superman had the government speed up the time signals the criminal was receiving and tricked him into emerging early where he was then arrested. > Amazing, to me at least, to have as an essential plot line of all the episodes the incredible powers of Superman, yet in this one, we have a Supermanproof container. Actually, it wasn’t Supermanproof. Superman _was_ able to get inside (he showed how he could do it later – by walking through the wall), but used the time signal trick because breaking in would have gotten Lois and Jimmy killed. The bigger flaw was that why did he have to come out of the cube exactly at noon? If he waited an extra day just to be safe, he’d be fine. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bugged-me-about-the-superman-tv-series/571899.md?page=2)