When it comes to the Man of Steel, there isn't much that he can't do. Because of the earth's sun, Superman's Kryptonian cells react differently than humans and provide him with his amazing abilities. He possesses super strength, super speed, super senses, and the ability of flight.

Super-speed & Flight Ability
When Superman first began his crime-fighting career, he did not possess the ability to fly. Though he was able to move at extreme speeds, he could only jump extraordinary distance and was incapable of taking flight. Just as time went by and his other powers increased, Superman's jumps became higher, longer, and more complex. This was a gradual process to him eventually gaining the ability to fly. Though his flight speed has never been tested, it does exceed the sound barrier.

Super-strength & Invulnerability
Similar to his gradual progress to flight, Superman's strength gradually increased over the years as well. He is capable of moving extremely large, heavy objects and his grip is capable of turning coal into diamonds.

As well as possessing super-strength, Superman is almost invincible. Because of the reaction between the sun's rays and his Kryptonian cells, there is an invisible "shield" that surrounds his body. This "shield" makes his skin impossible to penetrate, which is why bullets have been seen bouncing off him on countless occasions.

Super-hearing
Superman's hearing is equivalent to a normal human's if magnified thousands of times. He is capable of hearing the footfall of an insect a thousand miles away, or trace the source of a sound across millions of miles across space.

Super-intellect
Accompanying Superman's powers, is his superior intellect and mental powers. Superman has claimed to have a photographic memory and has been able to recall events with the inclusion of the most minute details. Due to his superior intellect, one instance saw Superman conversing with a mermaid fluently despite the language being foreign to him. It was his superior intellect that allowed him to comprehend the language.

Torquasm-Vo
Though Superman has been unable to master this art, he has made progress. Torquasm-vo is an ancient Kryptonian discipline that shifts the individual's conscience into a higher state so that he can fight an enemy in a purely mental realm.

Super-vision

Utilizsing his telecopic vision, Superman has viewed the solar system. His microscopic vision has seen the tiniest dust particles and his x-ray vision has pierced every element know to man, except lead.

Superman also possesses another optical power -- heat vision. This enables him to apply intense heat to any substance. He also possesses infraraed vision, which allows him to see objects outside the visual spectrum. This allows Superman to see in pitch darkness.

Like his other powers, in Superman's beginnings he did not possess all of these optical powers. Powers like his heat vision etc. came along gradually as he matured. Eventually, Superman also was able to combine optical powers, for instance use telecopic vision and heat vision to burn something at extreme distances.

Super-breath
The Man of Steel also developed use for his breath and lungs just as his other powers developed. Superman is capable of condensing air inn his lungs to an extremely cold state and exhale it to freeze opponents/objects. He can also utilize his immense lung capacity to hold his breath and travel in outer space for long periods of time. Exhaling without condensing air results in extreme gusts of wind capable of extinguishing forest fires!

Superman's Powers written by Jeffrey Ball with reference to information found at www.thekryptonian.com.
Images downloaded from and © www.thekryptonian.com.