I like this but I don't think you go far enough. In Philip Wylie's Gladiator he is much like Superman\Doc Savage but without the vision and other powers. I think you can trisect Superman's powers. First as you say because Kryptonian's evolution. A good comparison I think would be the equivalent of Captain America. after taking the super solider serum. Next level comes from earth having less gravity. Superman was the Hulk before The Hulk was The Hulk. Third is the sun. Before Superman was Superman he was Superboy and Super-baby. But he didn't have as well or all the developed powers. The reason being that less body surface so less cells to absorb and use solar radiation.
During the Silver Age there would be stories about Superman being stranded on a planet the size of earth but with a purple or orange or some other type of sun. Or on a planet like Krypton but with a yellow sun. Everyone seems to have forgotten those.
What I really think is missing is that basically all of the Superman stories were mysteries. By that I mean Superman had to think his way out of whatever situation he was in. Being Super wasn't enough. He had to think about how to trick Mr. Mxyzptlk into saying his name backwards, how to penetrate Brianiac's force shield, etc. It wasn't just using his powers but what powers he had and how to use them.
My own theory is that the reason Luthor hated Superman was he realize that Superman was the only person on Earth who was as smart or smarter then Luthor. Classic Doc Savage vs John Sunlight or Shadow vs Shiwan Khan. or o use another Marvel analogy Reed Richards and Dr. Doom.
In the Silver Age Superman BUILT his Fortress of Solitude. He didn't just throw a magic crystal and it grew from that., poof! To make Superman a Joe Ordinary is to diminish him. Think about how much you have know to build something like The Fortress of Solitude. I remember a comic where Superman built a hospital using his superpowers and supersede in something like 5 minutes. Think about how much you have to know to be able to do that.
In the Great Comic Book Heroes by Jules Feiffer he pointed outact Superman's secret identity was Clark Kent where Bruce Waynes was Batman. That's been almost totally reversed. I think to the determine of both characters.
I like this but I don't think you go far enough. In Philip Wylie's Gladiator he is much like Superman\Doc Savage but without the vision and other powers. I think you can trisect Superman's powers. First as you say because Kryptonian's evolution. A good comparison I think would be the equivalent of Captain America. after taking the super solider serum. Next level comes from earth having less gravity. Superman was the Hulk before The Hulk was The Hulk. Third is the sun. Before Superman was Superman he was Superboy and Super-baby. But he didn't have as well or all the developed powers. The reason being that less body surface so less cells to absorb and use solar radiation.
During the Silver Age there would be stories about Superman being stranded on a planet the size of earth but with a purple or orange or some other type of sun. Or on a planet like Krypton but with a yellow sun. Everyone seems to have forgotten those.
What I really think is missing is that basically all of the Superman stories were mysteries. By that I mean Superman had to think his way out of whatever situation he was in. Being Super wasn't enough. He had to think about how to trick Mr. Mxyzptlk into saying his name backwards, how to penetrate Brianiac's force shield, etc. It wasn't just using his powers but what powers he had and how to use them.
My own theory is that the reason Luthor hated Superman was he realize that Superman was the only person on Earth who was as smart or smarter then Luthor. Classic Doc Savage vs John Sunlight or Shadow vs Shiwan Khan. or o use another Marvel analogy Reed Richards and Dr. Doom.
In the Silver Age Superman BUILT his Fortress of Solitude. He didn't just throw a magic crystal and it grew from that., poof! To make Superman a Joe Ordinary is to diminish him. Think about how much you have know to build something like The Fortress of Solitude. I remember a comic where Superman built a hospital using his superpowers and supersede in something like 5 minutes. Think about how much you have to know to be able to do that.
In the Great Comic Book Heroes by Jules Feiffer he pointed outact Superman's secret identity was Clark Kent where Bruce Waynes was Batman. That's been almost totally reversed. I think to the determine of both characters.
Great stuff. Hope your write more.
Thank you.
Superspeed, not supersede. Though per Larry Niven I guess superseed would also apply.