Over the years as Superman's mythos has expanded, we've been given relatively plausible explanations for his superhuman abilities(I'm not going to say it makes scientific sense for a difference in solar radiation to enhance his physical abilities but I'm willing to accept that explanation). However, he has a handful of abilities, mostly related to his vision powers, that don't make quite as much sense.
As his senses are all enhanced over a normal human's, I'm willing to accept (to a certain degree) his telescopic and microscopic vision powers. But what's the explanation for him being able to look through solid, opaque objects or fire laser beams ftom his eyes? Even with enhanced senses that stretches the credibility of what he should be able to do.
Yes, I'm well aware I'm talking about a fictional character that's had stories written about him by hundreds of different people olin the past, many of whom did not have a Mort Weisinger looming over their shoulders to make silure the continuity lined up. Still, this is just something I'm curious about.
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I was pleasantly surprised in the largely forgettable SF movie "The Watch" when at the climax Ben Stiller and his friends have to dismantle an alien doomsday device. They ask the one good alien to help them and he protests "I'm not an engineer! I have no idea how it works!"
Richard Willis said:
ClarkKent_DC said:
Philip Portelli said:I recall reading about why they never explained how the phasers (for example) worked on STAR TREK by saying on a police show or western, the hero never goes through the process of how his gun works and the technology behind it unless it was DRAGNET or some other Jack Webb show.
Reminds me of this essay: "If All Stories Were Written Like Science Fiction Stories"
This reminds me of the scene in the first Terminator when the cops ask foot-soldier Kyle Reese how the time machine works: "I don't know how the &%@% thing works!"
"Do you think we’ll be flying on a propeller plane? Or one of the newer jets?" asked Ann.
"I’m sure it will be a jet," said Roger. "Propeller planes are almost entirely out of date, after all."
This reminded me of when the Army joined me in 1968 and put me in a turbo-prop plane, flying me from California to Kentucky. It was my first flight and took forever. I was surprised to learn that turbo-props are still used today and are popular for some purposes.