Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 55
  1. #1
    Astonishing Member mathew101281's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    3,177

    Default Superman vs high frequency sounds.

    If Superman has super hearing ( of the magnitude that he can hear things from hundreds of miles away.) wouldn’t high frequency sound attacks hurt him? They probably wouldn’t kill him, but they might disorientate him. It’s a logical weakness given what his powers are.

  2. #2
    Father Son Kamehameha < Kuwagaton's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    8,754

    Default

    I don't remember the specifics, but the best example I know of sound being used to hurt Superman would be in Unchained.

    Although, I imagine invulnerability is the concept that largely protects him from that which should cause damage to his proportionately powerful body.
    Welcome or welcome back! Please check out the updated
    CBR Community STANDARDS & RULES

  3. #3
    BANNED
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Posts
    791

    Default

    In fact, it's the opposite.
    1: every cell in the superman body is invulnerable (it would take a sound capable of destroying a planet to cause damage)
    2: superman's brain professes information millions of times more faster than a supercomputer (it is almost impossible to overload it).
    3: superman is in full control of t audition, listen what you want.

  4. #4
    Incredible Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Posts
    678

    Default

    Snyder's MOS movie showed how Superman had to train himself to acclimate to sound. In comics I think that it's kind of like an off panel assumption.

  5. #5
    Ultimate Member Gaius's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    Occupied Klendathu
    Posts
    12,885

    Default




  6. #6
    Ultimate Member Phoenixx9's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    14,684

    Default

    I think a close-up, very high sound could disorient him, but not really "hurt" him the way it would someone else. Think Black Canary or Silver Banshee. But Supes might be able to block out the superhearing and not be affected once he gets his bearings.

    Far away sonics, I do not think would bother him. He might be able to tune in to them to know they are happening, but then he could tune back out. This would be harder to do up close when someone sneak-attacks him.
    [Quote Originally Posted by Thor-El 10-15-2020 12:32 PM]

    "Jason Aaron should know there is already a winner of the Phoenix Force and his name is Phoenixx9."


    Like a Red Dragon, The Phoenix shall Soar in 2024!

  7. #7
    Extraordinary Member Primal Slayer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    6,054

    Default

    I say yes. Someone like Black Canary and Silver Banshee should be able to do some type of harm to him if they try hard enough.




  8. #8

    Default

    If Superman is written correctly, then high frequency sounds wouldn't affect him because he's invulnerable.

    If Superman is written incorrectly, as he most often is because writers feel obligated to show how powerful he's NOT (see examples above), then HF sounds would affect him and even cause his ears to bleed.

    Why does Black Canary's sonic cry incapacitate the invulnerable Superman, but have no affect on her own ears? Because writers say so, that's why.

  9. #9
    Incredible Member magha_regulus's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    625

    Default

    This is a weakness that's been shoehorned in recent years. Like others have said his invulnerability would take care of this if the writers actually remembered he was invulnerable.

  10. #10
    Extraordinary Member Primal Slayer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    6,054

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Comic-Reader Lad View Post
    If Superman is written correctly, then high frequency sounds wouldn't affect him because he's invulnerable.

    If Superman is written incorrectly, as he most often is because writers feel obligated to show how powerful he's NOT (see examples above), then HF sounds would affect him and even cause his ears to bleed.

    Why does Black Canary's sonic cry incapacitate the invulnerable Superman, but have no affect on her own ears? Because writers say so, that's why.
    Why doesnt Fire burn everytime she lights up? Some/most are invulnerable to their own powers. If you have super hearing, you have to be affected somehow. Everything has its limits.

  11. #11
    Incredible Member magha_regulus's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    625

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by NaVi View Post
    In fact, it's the opposite.
    1: every cell in the superman body is invulnerable (it would take a sound capable of destroying a planet to cause damage)
    2: superman's brain professes information millions of times more faster than a supercomputer (it is almost impossible to overload it).
    3: superman is in full control of t audition, listen what you want.
    This right here.

  12. #12

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Primal Slayer View Post
    Why doesnt Fire burn everytime she lights up? Some/most are invulnerable to their own powers. If you have super hearing, you have to be affected somehow. Everything has its limits.

    Superman is invulnerable. He can fly through the sun. He can survive an atomic blast. His invulnerability might have limits, but I'm not convinced Black Canary can make him bleed.

    It's like in comics beginning in the 1970s where some writers decided that Superman was not only vulnerable to magic, but MORE vulnerable than a regular person. Why? Again, because writers feel the need to show that Superman is not all-powerful, so they take it overboard even if it doesn't make sense given the previously established parameters of his powers.

  13. #13
    Ultimate Member Ascended's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    19,547

    Default

    As others have said, Clark's invulnerability means you're not gonna hurt him with a loud noise. And his ability to tune things in and out, and focus on what he wants while ignoring the rest, also gives him an extra degree of immunity.

    But sound isn't just a blunt force either, that "hits" harder the louder it gets. I can believe that there's some frequency out there that would vibrate in just the right way, that would slide past a lot of Clark's durability, and if it were cranked up enough, could actually hurt him. And I believe that Dinah and Banshee could, at least theoretically, hit that note if they know what sound they're singing. That's not to say this drawback to Clark's senses aren't abused by writers, because most of the time they just treat it like "swing hammer made of noise, hurt strong flying man!" but sure, I can believe that a sonic attack, at *just* the right frequency and volume, could hurt Superman.

    Hell, just look at Invincible; his species can all fly so they've evolved a much more advanced inner ear, and if that gets screwed with it induces some legit, crippling vertigo.

    And the thing with Diana in Sacrifice, where she smashes Clark with the bracers? That's arguably the second strongest person on the planet hitting Clark with a sucker punch/sneak attack (he has no chance to "tune out" the vibration or brace for the physical blow), while wearing armor forged by gods that's practically a combination of adamantium and vibranium. If that doesn't get a pass, we might as well end Clark's story now because if that can't hurt him, nothing can.
    "We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe."

    ~ Black Panther.

  14. #14
    Retired
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    18,747

    Default

    Like people have said, he's invulnerable, so it shouldn't hurt him. And the fact he has super-hearing should give him an edge.

    In old comics, there were times when Superman's powers were so cranked up--or his control over them was lost--that he was overwhelmed by all his super-senses. I could see that as being the weakness--that he can't control what he's hearing and so it's a cacophonous storm of sounds he can't sort out.

    But the Man of Tomorrow used to have super-shouting, not to mention super-ventriloquism. So really he should be able to shout better than some of the best shouters--because he's so super-powerful that there would be no limit to the amount of sound he can generate. Remember also his super-breath. Presumably there's a limit to Black Canary's lung capacity.

    I seem to recall a story or two where Superman shouted so loud it caused massive destruction.

    However, because Supes is a general practitioner and there are so many specialists among the super-heroes--they can never let Clark be the best at any power, because then he's overshadowing those specialists. He's become a Jack of All Trades and a Master of None.

    It seems to me, if one of the other shouters can generate a sound wave that's capable of causing Superman pain, then the vibrations would also impact everything else in range. What stops them from killing people or bringing down buildings and bridges while they're attacking the Caped Kryptonian? Sound waves propagate outward, so there's no stopping those vibrations in a natural environment. I think there would be a lot of collateral damage, before the attack on the Man of Steel would have any severe effect on him.

  15. #15
    BANNED
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Posts
    791

    Default

    this theme is a perfect example of dc creating weaknesses out of thin air, Kryptonians would have to have extra resistance to this type of attack, but dc treats it as a weakness. If a scream from black canary manages to harm superman, it should kill beings like ww (it is just as resistant, but it has no control over its hearing), as well as normal people, each scream would kill a city (minimum).

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •