IC#7 spoilers inside

[Adam Chapman]

The following was posted in the Who's Faster thread originally:

With regards to IC#7-
I read it more as both Supermen flying fast, until catching up with Superboy, and then Superman kind of grabbed hold of Superboy Prime and stayed on for the ride.

Otherwise, it's impossible to really explain Superman surviving all of the Kryptonite that he was exposed to, as well as actually blowing through a Red Sun. E-2 Superman could have survived it, sure, different alignment of the universes and all, but Superman should have been dead, despite the speed he'd be going at, being that close and then inside a Red Sun would sap his power and then fry him. Especially as the speed the three were going at was obviously diminished at that point, or else they would have pounded through Mogo as well.

And how the hell is it E-2 Superman that dies? That actually makes no sense. Superman should have been powerless, effected by both kryptonite and the red sun, he had less of his powers and durability left, yet somehow he survives and beats Superboy Prime who OBVIOUSLY still had tons of power left? I could believe E-2 Superman beating him at that point, but not Kal-El. And then he conveniently loses his powers just after beating Superboy Prime? Fah!

Discuss!

[JX141]

Ehh I am not quite convinced he should have died giving that I am nowhere near an authority on Supes. However I would think the incredible expenditure of energy fighting SBP, then being under a red sun where he wouldnt immediately recharge and then too top it off being surrounded by green K, and yeah I know post CoIE he doesnt immediately drain hiim, could/should have been more than enough to kill him. The arguement is certainly there.

I definitely dont think he should have had the power left to take out SBP that makes no sense at all except to put current Supes over.

I do however see how Kal-L could die. Since both he and SBP are pre-crisis Kryptonians the red sun really weakens them, but the armor probably helped SBP quite a bit. That and the previoulsy stated incredible expenditure of energy fighting SBP, and getting beat to a pulp was certainly great enough to kill him.
Perhaps if they had not been still under the red sun he might have survived.

[Mark Blicharz]

Superman doesn't have to worry about red sun radiation, it just doesn't recharge him. The PC characters were drained by it. It was an experienced, muscled man against a teenager with no experience at all. It was a mad, strong teen against a 70 year old, weakened man.

[thtadthtshldntb]

Ok, I didn't see this thread when I posted this in the Who's faster thread, so I will just link to my response there rather than double post.

http://www.comixtreme.com/forums/showpost.php?p=365886&postcount=26

So does anyone think that post IC Superman will return at his current end of IC levels? He is supposed to face some uber space menace in an upcoming arc, i wonder if he will need his current high level of power.

[Jiggaman Tiga]

really dumb question now...but doesnt Clark still have a GL ring? i really want them to go down that path moreso than them just giving his classical powers.

[Fanatix]

really dumb question now...but doesnt Clark still have a GL ring? i really want them to go down that path moreso than them just giving his classical powers.

no, he didnt even keep it for the entire issue.

[thtadthtshldntb]

I know this is a bit geeky but I want some of the E1 powers back.... like super tk. I also want all types of Kryptonite other than Green K to go away.

[Picard]

This is the problem with PC characters, they are ridicilous.
Put a PC character in the "real" DC U and he'd immediatly start contaminating everyone else with his PC-shenanigans :)

[Figaro]

If the red sun doesn't drain Superman of Earth 1 how come he is now powerless?

[jonsnow]

If the red sun doesn't drain Superman of Earth 1 how come he is now powerless?
Mark has very interesting theory on that. Ask him to fill you in.

[Figaro]

Mark has very interesting theory on that. Ask him to fill you in.


Oh...Mark....?

[jonsnow]

Makr is one of the mods, and has an unbeleievable amount od DC knowledge. Basically (and this is very cut and dry, and does not do Mark justice) The idea is that Superman's powers are psionic in nature. He thinks he is powerless, therefore he is. Once he opens his mind the power will return.

[Figaro]

Makr is one of the mods, and has an unbeleievable amount od DC knowledge. Basically (and this is very cut and dry, and does not do Mark justice) The idea is that Superman's powers are psionic in nature. He thinks he is powerless, therefore he is. Once he opens his mind the power will return.

Oh I was just paging Mark. Thanks for the info though. I hope that theory isn't the case, it is just too big of a departure from Superman's history.

[loganalpha75]

It's funny, I don't read much DC, but after reading IC I want to start reading Superman and the Flash. I just finished reading Superman 651, and I am very excited as to what will happen in 652. Did the explanation of the crate of Kryptonite in Batman ever get answered? Looks like Lex may have got it.

[Justice Blues]

If the red sun doesn't drain Superman of Earth 1 how come he is now powerless?
It doesn't drain his powers, he just can't recharge while under it. Think of it as a rechargeable battery in a camera. While he is under a yellow sun, he recharges as he uses his powers, like the battery in the camera when it is plugged into a wall socket. When he is under a red sun, he is like the camera when it is unplugged, he still has his powers until he is out of energy.

In IC #7, he was exposed to kryptonite, then went all out in battle under a red sun where he couldn't recharge. He ended up being drained because of that. Since it originally took him almost 2 decades to absorb enough yellow solar energy to have his powers, him being powerless for a year after the fight is not out of line.

I don't exactly agree with Mark, it is not that Supe's powers are psionic in nature, I think the loss is both real and psychosomatic in nature. People can exhibit signs of pregnancy because they believe they are or they want to be so badly. Superman lost his powers from the fight, and has convinced himself he hasn't got them back despite slowly recharging over the year.
Figaro, it is not really a departure from Superman's history. It has been the basis for his powers since COIE and the Byrne reboot. At least in part.

[jonsnow]

Again that was crude and hasty description, and Mark is probably offended I did such a bad job explaining. So wait until he has a chance to do himself justice before passing a decision.

[Adam Chapman]

It's funny, I don't read much DC, but after reading IC I want to start reading Superman and the Flash. I just finished reading Superman 651, and I am very excited as to what will happen in 652. Did the explanation of the crate of Kryptonite in Batman ever get answered? Looks like Lex may have got it.

Ah, the crate of Kryptonite which Black Mask had ordered, but was commandeered by Jason Todd, only to become a black hole of a plot point...

[Figaro]

It doesn't drain his powers, he just can't recharge while under it. Think of it as a rechargeable battery in a camera. While he is under a yellow sun, he recharges as he uses his powers, like the battery in the camera when it is plugged into a wall socket. When he is under a red sun, he is like the camera when it is unplugged, he still has his powers until he is out of energy.

In IC #7, he was exposed to kryptonite, then went all out in battle under a red sun where he couldn't recharge. He ended up being drained because of that. Since it originally took him almost 2 decades to absorb enough yellow solar energy to have his powers, him being powerless for a year after the fight is not out of line.

I don't exactly agree with Mark, it is not that Supe's powers are psionic in nature, I think the loss is both real and psychosomatic in nature. People can exhibit signs of pregnancy because they believe they are or they want to be so badly. Superman lost his powers from the fight, and has convinced himself he hasn't got them back despite slowly recharging over the year.
Figaro, it is not really a departure from Superman's history. It has been the basis for his powers since COIE and the Byrne reboot. At least in part.
If Red sunlight can't hurt him, how come it could hurt him when the Supergirl who could shoot red sunlight shot him? Ugh! I have been out of this game for far too long.

[thtadthtshldntb]

With the Bryne Reboot, Superman has vast stored of yellow sunlight which, depending upon the amount, gives him his powers at various intensities and applications. Pre Crisis, they just had their powers if they were exposed to yellow sunlight and lost them under red, and their reserves were not as vast and did not make a difference as to their power levels.

Red sun light seems to force out yellow sunlight from his system. As long as he has reserves he can keep going at varying power levels.

As to the OYL power loss
I agree that he was massively drained. I also favor the idea that has been put out there that Mxylplyk is doing something... something which in a way enables the pending "big announcment" that changes Clark and Lois life for ever.

[Figaro]

Ok this is pretty damn funny.
http://the-isb.blogspot.com/2006/05/infinite-crisis-in-thirty-seconds.html

[WhereIsTony]

I was under the impression that red sun still drained him just at roughly the rate yellow powered IE

Just being on an earth type planet with a red sun would drain him in two decades or so

[Mark Blicharz]

I was under the impression that red sun still drained him just at roughly the rate yellow powered IE

Just being on an earth type planet with a red sun would drain him in two decades or so

Nope. He's just not charged by a red sun.

[Figaro]

Where are you all deriving your "superman's powers work like this" info from? I can't find any definitive source.

[Mark Blicharz]

Well I own every Superman comic ever printed. :P That and I've been reading or being read to his books since before I was born. :D

[Justin Byrd]

Where are you all deriving your "superman's powers work like this" info from? I can't find any definitive source.
From the comics :)

Seriously though, post-crisis writers have switched it a little, but for the most part red sun radiation doesn't drain him, he's just expending all his energy while not recharging under a red sun.

[thtadthtshldntb]

Well I own every Superman comic ever printed. :P That and I've been reading or being read to his books since before I was born. :D

This is one of the greatest understatements of all time...

Its analagous to saying... I only have $50,000... in each of my 5000 checking accounts....

Just reading it gives me goosebumps...:D