The 6 Best Super Powers In Cinema

Once upon a time, the phrase ‘super power’ conjured images of stony-faced world leaders posturing on the international stage. These days, however, its closest association is with the superheroes that increasingly crowd our cinema screens – battling it out against nefarious foes with sinister plans. It is imperative that these champions of justice possess the necessary means to ensure our fictional safety and, over time, we have seen a vast array of super power combinations employed on screen. Fictional super powers are a fascinating concept. Though they effectively enable a character to undertake challenges and achieve things that non-superheroes could only dream of, they exist to anchor these extraordinary creations in a realm governed by rules and boundaries, as much as reality is. Just as an electrician can work to solve a wiring issue using her knowledge, her skill and the equipment in her toolbox, so a superhero has a very clearly defined collection of powers with which to face a threat. Each one has an explanation, and an origin. With perhaps the exception of Watchmen’s Dr. Manhattan, even superheroes have their limitations. Inevitably, there are near-universal constants. Almost every superhero that has ever graced the silver screen has the benefit of ‘super strength,’ with which comes the characteristic of being in peak physical condition. While there are exceptions to this rule – such as Constantine, The Crow, and The Incredibles’ offspring (Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack) – the majority fulfil this criteria with energy to spare. The power of durability and endurance is also very common, and understandably so. A superhero that is easily worn out would not be much fun to watch at all. The next most common super power is arguably the ability to excel in hand-to-hand combat, with street fighting or martial arts, and use of specific weaponry – something that ties in directly with strength and durability. These days, you are no kind of superhero if you can’t deliver a devastating roundhouse kick to your opponent, like Spider-Man, Black Widow, The Punisher, Judge Dredd, and Elektra, for example. While giant action sequences involving super-powered beings throwing trucks and buildings at each other is thrilling enough, nothing is more dramatic than a personal, close-quarters confrontation. But what of the other super powers? Those special abilities that make a particular superhero particularly suited to a particular situation? Few super powers can be said to be unique, but there are many that are as cool as they are useful. Using only characters that have appeared in cinema (and yes, we are still waiting for Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Aquaman, Black Panther, and Captain Marvel, I’m afraid), here are six of the best. Genius Intellect Many superheroes boast high, intimidating levels of intelligence among their range of super powers, and this goes hand-in-hand with the common skill-set of tactical expertise. While it sounds fairly generic, genius intellect is actually a vital element in superhero lore, as it opens up the genre to include a broader range of characters. Without the inclusion of ‘genius,’ the position of superhero would be limited to those aliens from another world that draw power from our yellow sun (Superman, Supergirl), those humans that fall victim to terrible accidents (Daredevil), those unfortunate enough to fall foul of scientific experimentation (Captain America, Hulk, Deadpool, Dr Manhattan, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Darkman), and mutants (The X-Men). While these types of characters are enjoyable to watch, they are not especially relatable. Of course, few people are able to relate to ‘genius,’ but when ‘genius’ allows characters that technically have no organic ‘super powers’ of their own to create those abilities externally, we benefit from characters in the genre that are more ‘everyman’ and ‘everywoman’ than their naturally ‘super’ counterparts. It is ‘genius’ that gives us Batman, Iron Man, The Shadow, The Green Hornet and Rocket The Raccoon, for example. Regenerative/Healing Powers You can be as strong and intelligent as you like, but without regenerative or healing powers, you will still have many bad days at the superhero office. Outside of alien beings (Superman, Supergirl) and mutants (The X Men), this particular power is closely associated with those characters that have experienced some kind of chemical interference with their natural state, such as Hulk, Deadpool and Swamp Thing. It is also closely linked with invulnerability, which can manifest in a general way, or as a resistance to a specific threat. Green Lantern, for example, benefits from general invulnerability while wearing a magical ring, while The Mask is generally invulnerable with his facial accessory attached. Hellboy, on the other, giant, hand, is invulnerable to fire, while Blade is invulnerable to vampire bites. This clutch of powers impacts upon the narrative of these characters, as the nature of the threats they face tend to be specifically tailored for their particular skill-sets. Superheroes with regenerative, healing powers, or invulnerability of any kind are far more likely to become embroiled in giant action set-pieces which push the boundaries set for less enhanced characters. This is because such heroes bring with them a certain level of comfort and reassurance – the audience knows they are likely to survive – so the story must increase the peril in order to create the necessary drama. Manipulation There are many forms of manipulation when it comes to superhero super powers, but they essentially break down into three categories – those that can manipulate external elements and objects, those that can manipulate aspects of other living beings, and those that can manipulate aspects of themselves in extraordinary fashion. The ability to manipulate external elements and objects is incredibly useful in a superhero movie, and encompasses powers such as telekinesis (Jean Grey, Dr. Manhattan), manipulation of magic (Howard The Duck, Scarlet Witch, Constantine), atmospheric manipulation (Storm, Thor), and manipulation of insects (Ant-Man). There are even those that can create objects by manipulation of light (Green Lantern), or water (Frozone). This power theoretically allows the hero to regain control of a dangerous situation, and attempt to bring it to a safe conclusion. The ability to manipulate aspects of oneself is a little rarer, and involves a superhero changing their form in some way in response to a threat. Examples of these include both Mr. Fantastic and Elastigirl with their impressive elasticity, Sue Storm and her invisibility, Groot and his super-growing branches, and the Human Torch, with his fiery form. These are essentially super-powered defence mechanisms – the heroic version of deimatic behaviour in animals. The difference is that - while some animals change their appearance to protect themselves - these superheroes have the power and skill to back it up. Being able to manipulate aspects of others is highly effective, but far more insidious, since it usually involves violating the privacy of the mind. Perpetrating psychic attacks (Scarlet Witch), reading people’s minds and memories (Professor Xavier, Rogue, Jean Grey, Drax The Destroyer), and using hypnosis (Blade) give these superheroes a very specific edge over their opponents. Flight There are those that can fly organically, and there are those that need a little engineered help. Either way, being able to lift off at a moment’s notice is invaluable when you have to mount an important rescue mission in double quick time. The ultimate flying superhero is obviously Superman. Like a solar-powered Rocketeer, Kal-El can take to the skies faster than a speeding bullet. This comes in handy when he’s trying to drag General Zod away from populated areas and up into space, or when he’s trying to spin the globe backwards to turn back time. Since Superman took off, we have seen the rise of the flying suit (Steel, Iron Man, War Machine and Falcon) and watched superheroes achieve aerial domination with purpose-built vehicles (Batman, Nite Owl II, The Incredibles, Rocket The Raccoon, Star Lord, and of course, the Avengers). Then there are those oddities, like Thor, who can essentially fly courtesy of his magic hammer (Mjolnir), and Hulk, who can jump so high that he may as well be flying. There is arguably more to the flight of the superhero than just a logistical battle advantage. The power of flight is symbolic of liberation from the binding ties of earth’s gravitational forces – the rules by which others must abide. Having these crusaders – caped and otherwise – independently aerially enabled sets them apart from everyone else. These characters don’t fly commercial, and you won’t find them at luggage claim. They chart their own routes, which, in narrative terms, is something to aspire to. Speed It seems fairly obvious that a superhero would have the ability of super speed but, surprisingly, it is not always fitted as standard. Being in peak physical condition and having super strength does not guarantee you can leave everyone else in the dust once the starter pistol sounds, apparently. There are the obvious speedy characters – The Flash, Quicksilver, and Dash (The Incredibles) for example – and we all know that Superman can shift himself better than most, but there are relatively few others that can list super speed among their special traits. Spawn – the undead, demonic CIA agent – has a vast array of super powers, and super speed is chief among them. The Mask also has the ability to move quickly when necessary, and vampire hunter Blade is also fleet of foot. This is not a near-universal constant in terms of super powers, however, and that poses some interesting issues from a narrative point of view. If superhero stories see their lead characters utilizing their special skills to combat specific threats, then those with super speed presumably use that to make their escape, on occasion, as necessary. It follows, then, that those without super speed more often find themselves having to stand and fight. Does this lead to different levels of boundary-pushing, in terms of storytelling, as is the case with regenerative and healing powers? A quick look at the names involved might well lead you to conclude that is, indeed, the case. Inter-Dimensional Travel Perhaps the coolest of all the super powers is the ability to move between dimensions – because it opens up all kinds of storytelling opportunities. The most popular of dimension-travellers is certainly Thor, who pops back and forth from his home-world of Asgard to work with the Avengers. Ant-Man has the ability to shrink into the Quantum Realm and return, in one piece, and Ghost Rider can roar his way between dimensions, dispensing justice as he goes. But it is Dr. Manhattan that rules this particular super power corner, as his inter-dimensional abilities are so powerful that he can see all of time simultaneously. If surprisingly few cinematic superheroes have the power of super speed, then even fewer are able to slip between the fabrics of one reality to another. These are the characters that have a view of the universe entirely unique to them. They hold secrets that are unknowable to the human race, and that makes them more powerful than most.