Does Superman HAVE TO have super intelligence?

[magha_regulus]

It's not inflating, and there are tons of examples of Superman's intelligence, it's about what makes sense given the characters abilities. And Wonder Woman should be a genius, she was blessed by Athena.

Yes indeed. Wonder Woman was blessed by the goddess of strategy herself, a much better mentor for her than Ares if I do say so myself, but I digress.

Super intelligence is a CORE trait of Kryptonians. He absolutely needs to be able to have Super Intelligence in order to challenge the likes of Brainiac and Luthor. If I remember correctly in current canon Kryptonians are a level 8 intelligence while humans are level 3, and Luthor has stated that Superman's intellect is second only to his own.

[The True Detective]

Yes indeed. Wonder Woman was blessed by the goddess of strategy herself, a much better mentor for her than Ares if I do say so myself, but I digress.

Super intelligence is a CORE trait of Kryptonians. He absolutely needs to be able to have Super Intelligence in order to challenge the likes of Brainiac and Luthor. If I remember correctly in current canon Kryptonians are a level 8 intelligence while humans are level 3, and Luthor has stated that Superman's intellect is second only to his own.

If Kryptonians are at a much higher level than humans how is Lex smarter than Superman? That doesn't really make much sense. Shouldn't it be the other way around where Lex's intelligence is 2nd only to Superman's.

[Agniwolf]

If Kryptonians are at a much higher level than humans how is Lex smarter than Superman? That doesn't really make much sense. Shouldn't it be the other way around where Lex's intelligence is 2nd only to Superman's.

oh, that is his hubris speaking higher. lets not forget that luthor pride and arrogance were many times the reason he lost to supes

[ManSinha]

If Kryptonians are at a much higher level than humans how is Lex smarter than Superman? That doesn't really make much sense. Shouldn't it be the other way around where Lex's intelligence is 2nd only to Superman's.

Luther is abnormally intelligent - but I agree with you - the only thing separating them should be Luthor's disregard for who he hurts and Superman's insistence on saving as many as he can

[DieHard200904]

oh, that is his hubris speaking higher. lets not forget that luthor pride and arrogance were many times the reason he lost to supes

His pride inhibited him in multiple continuities, from admitting that Clark Kent could actually be Superman. Even intellect has a blind spot.

[Agent Z]

His pride inhibited him in multiple continuities, from admitting that Clark Kent could actually be Superman. Even intellect has a blind spot.

So maybe this applies to Superman as well?

[Tayswift]

If Kryptonians are at a much higher level than humans how is Lex smarter than Superman? That doesn't really make much sense. Shouldn't it be the other way around where Lex's intelligence is 2nd only to Superman's.

because being kryptonian doesn't make anyone smarter. this is not how intelligence functions.

[Johnny Thunders!]

because being kryptonian doesn't make anyone smarter. this is not how intelligence functions.

It does if you get superpowers from sunlight.

[Jim Kelly]

If Kryptonians are naturally highly intelligent, then wouldn't Superman have that intelligence? I think that's how intelligence functions. Homo sapiens sapiens was presumably more intelligent than Homo sapiens neanderthalensis--and that intelligence has been passed down for generations.

We expect that Kryptonians (Homo sapiens kryptonensis?) were highly intelligent, given their advanced scientific society. And it's possible they were naturally more intelligent than us. Just like Querl Dox (Brainiac 5) had high intelligence passed on genetically.

Of course, that doesn't rule out that Superman also has greater intelligence because of all the power that he has. But if you take your baseline for Superman's intelligence the average intelligence of a Kryptonian, then he has to be at least that intelligent--unless he was brain-damaged on his way to Earth.

That reminds me of the Sand Superman Saga. In that story, Superman did get brain damage when he was powered down--and when he recovered his powers, this brain damage remained. Of course, that was a Denny O'Neil story--and he's not what I regard as an expert on Superman lore. But it does stand as an example where a brain-damaged Superman is possible.

[Pamp_Lusa]

Of course Superman has super intelligence, name one attribute, Superman's got them all, in SPADES! he's MORE everything than everyone else. Such is the Kryptonian race, the Master Race. The male ones anyway, Supergirl is not quite as extraordinary is she. You know, 74 years ago Wonder Woman used to be a genius, she invented the purple healing ray, found the L-3 vitamin..however intelligence doesn't become women so she lost hers completely. Now she's but a sword-swinging oaf, and she's more popular than EVER woo hoo! happy days

[Sacred Knight]

Why even follow the character if you hate him so much?

[Pamp_Lusa]

Why even follow the character if you hate him so much?

I have a love-hate relationship with Superman. He's my waifu, but I hate him, passionately. it's complicated

[Sacred Knight]

Fair enough there.

[ManSinha]

because being kryptonian doesn't make anyone smarter. this is not how intelligence functions.

Oh do tell - how does intelligence function?

[Sacred Knight]

Actually intelligence when it comes to aliens can function however it wants because these aliens are fictional creations. There are no rules except the rules the lore makes. And in this case indeed, the general rule is that indeed your average Kryptonian is inherently smarter than your average human being.

With that in mind, Lex is not your average human, and can be used as a rare example in which the intelligence of a human can match that of a Kryptonian if so desired. On the other hand of the spectrum maybe there were not-so-average Kryptonians whom even by human standards were stupid. Its a general thing. In general Kryptonians are smarter than Humans. But the general fact does not have to apply to ever single organism in question.