Handiest Super Power?

[fireinthedust]

What is the handiest Super Power?

I mean this because I've been pondering the every-so-likely eventuality that the world would get zapped by a possibility phenomenon: everyone gets a wish, or a super power, or something. Maybe you get to become one character of fiction you're thinking about just then.

Now, in theory, you'd get loads of Superman and Batman and Spider-man, and more than a handful of Wolverines.

I'm just thinking: objectively, what WOULD the best Super Power be? Like, in terms of just usefulness. There are some that sound powerful, like Rogue's vampiric touch, but ultimately would you really want that? No romance? I don't think so. Ditto Cyclops' eye-beams, it's just not handy.



I think there's an argument for elongation. It's not the sexiest power, but you'd be able to reach stuff very easily.

Madrox-multiples would likewise be really useful. Sure, you're not going to win in combat against most strong folks, but you'd be all over the place and you could have loads of money and dozens of jobs. You could write that book, learn to play guitar, play that MMO and spend time with your family.

Vandal Savage's immortality: another big one for me. Think about it: not only do you not age, but you can't be killed at all. That's handy in terms of a long-term investment. As a banker or investor, eventually you'd be able to amass a fortune. Plus think of all the skills! In fact, get someone to lace your skeleton with adamantium and implant some cybernetic retractable blades in your arms, and you're Wolverine, too!

Mr. Fantastic's mind: that's a super power. Being super smart would tend to be the ultimate power, as you could in theory get any of the others once you figured out how. That would be handy.


Thoughts?

 

[SteelDraco]

I think it's hard to beat the Martian Manhunter's shapeshifting. He can turn into giant monsters for combat, tiny insects for surveillance/hiding, and can impersonate specific people. The possibilities are pretty endless.

Telepathy would be amazingly handy too, similar to what Professor X has. You could become rich easily (by playing the stock market with insider information, or just poker if you want to move from casino to casino a lot). You can suggest things to people, so you can avoid problems if people figure out what you're up to, and get whatever you want. You can also sense threats against you.

Fun fact - the Martian Manhunter can do both, though I'm not sure he can do suggestion telepathy. If you get to choose whose powers you get, anyone who doesn't choose him is just plain wrong.

 

[Morrus]

Super Luck.

Everything works out for you, whatever you do.

 

[Daztur]

Living each day a couple times like in Groundhog Day. Could pull all kinds of insane stunts without ever showing any signs of having a super power. Also very hard for anyone to attack.

 

[hafrogman]

I gotta think, especially if EVERYONE has a power, that I'd chose teleportation. If everyone's super, then I gotta assume life more or less continues apace, everyone still does their day job . . . and that means that rush hour and commutes are exactly the same as they are now.

I could live wherever I like, and just tele(heh!)commute to wherever my job is with no concern for commute times, owning and maintaining a car, buying gas or pollution.

 

[Umbran]

I'm just thinking: objectively, what WOULD the best Super Power be? Like, in terms of just usefulness.

What is "useful" really depends upon what it is you want to do.

If you live in a famine-ridden land, the ability to photosynthesize is pretty darned useful.

The ability to conjure up arbitrary amounts of legitimate cash is pretty darned useful.

If you want "handy", there's only one - telekinesis is as handy as you can get.

Vandal Savage's immortality: another big one for me. Think about it: not only do you not age, but you can't be killed at all. That's handy in terms of a long-term investment. As a banker or investor, eventually you'd be able to amass a fortune. Plus think of all the skills!

Immortality does not necessarily imply the ability to learn new skills forever - that's the super-smarts power. And yes, immortality means that you could live to amass a fortune, but it also means that you may live several centuries as a homeless, bedraggled, ever-starving vagrant until you manage to earn the money...

 

[Wiseblood]

Everyone else picked the good ones. I'll have to go with my second string super power. Incredible Hulk powers. Break stuff, open pickle jars, lift cars, rip my pants whoops. The sky is the limit.

 

[FireLance]

I'd go for time reversal. It's related to the Groundhog Day power, and works like a combination of Precognition and Super Luck, although it requires more patience. Wouldn't you love to be able to save-scum your life?

 

[exile]

They've both already been mentioned, but I'd want to be a teleporter. I'd want my wife to have super-stretching; she'd be able to do some pretty kinky stuff.

 

[RangerWickett]

The ability to nullify the fact that everyone has super powers, because I don't want the world blowing up.

If I could be assured Super Qaddafi won't mind control the planet or anything, yeah, teleportation would be fun.