Why is Superman stronger than other Kryptonians
Is Superman really awesome compared to other Kryptonians?
Yes, Superman was really great even compared to other Kryptonians.(At least it was until the DCnU New 52 changed the DC Universe again.) Under the original premise of being the last son of Krypton, Kal-El / Superman gained his powers from the slow and long-term exposure of his body to our radiation yellow sun.This made him a force to be reckoned with compared to other Kryptonians as he is much stronger, more durable, more experienced and more controlled in handling his many powers.
Superman and the sun rays
Yes, according to writers who wanted to strengthen Superman's powers in the early 1950s, he gained extraordinary abilities after being exposed to Earth's yellow sun. The early Superman was only able to jump a quarter mile and run faster than a freight train. These modest accomplishments would still make him astonishing by the standards of the early 1940-1950s. Check out these clips from Secret Origins # 1.
The early Superman is heroic, jumping over tall buildings and chasing cars on foot.
- No, there is currently nothing in science that can explain this. So don't think too deeply about the authors who have grasped Superman's powers beyond those stemming from Earth's diminished gravity.
- They knew next to nothing about stars, solar energy, radiation or the properties of stars.
They did not realize how little difference there is between a red and a yellow sun besides the color, energy output and lifespan of the star.
This exposure to a yellow sun would activate a process by which his kryptonic cells would become overcharged and, along with Earth's decreased gravity, would enable him to perform a variety of amazing superhuman abilities, making him one of the most physically powerful beings on the planet.
That said, over the years there have been many reboots and changes to the premise of how quickly Kal-El would gain his powers (one continuity allowed him to gain his powers as a kid and have a whole career as a superboy as a superboy) that became later reconnected from existence. In most stories, Superman gains his powers as an adult after years of exposure to the sun.
However, this does not explain the rapid rate at which most Kryptonians appear to gain their powers when exposed to Earth's yellow sun. In the new Krypton stories, the Kryptonians have super powers too, and this wasn't after decades of exposure.
What makes Superman so great?
What Superman does great was characterized by the reluctance he has in using his powers. Even when Kryptonians had powers from the sun, it was often considered to be stronger due to the exposure it had compared to theirs. The current DCnU seems to be working towards the idea that Kryptonians need time to gain powers under the yellow sun. Supergirl's spaceship had a device that could charge her cells with yellow solar radiation.
In previous continuities it was believed that Superman had a store of internalized energy that had built up over the decades, making him stronger, tougher, and more enduring than a Kryptonian who felt invigorated by the sun but not by longevity, the Superman would have been constantly exposed to the electrifying radiation.
His other advantage that writers played was his experience of using his superpowers. This may not be so obvious when the DCnU restarted, but in previous continuities his experience as Superman, the use of his powers, and the weak points he had to overcome gave him a distinct advantage in fighting other Kryptonians.
Imagine discovering the ability to hear over the entire listening area and not practicing recognizing which sounds are important, how to distinguish sound levels, and in which areas you want to hear sounds.
Supergirl is overwhelmed by her new super senses.Supergirl # 2
Now add that visual acuity across the electromagnetic spectrum, telescopic, microscopic visions, energy projection from your eyes, a sense of smell that is ten thousand times better than that of a human, and all of this happens at the same time and is a million t