Maintaining your secret identity

[Dannyalcatraz]

In that sense, it’s quite realistic that more or less the first thing Superman does in print is beat up a domestic abuser. I’m not sure I’d bother sewing myself a pretty costume first, though I would probably cover my face.

Imagine, just for a moment, how different Superman would have been if the middle of that first defense of another had been the moment his super powers manifested. Not truly understanding the strength he now possessed, that could easily have turned into a homicide. And a messy one at that.

Think…a darker version of Larry Niven’s “Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex”.

 

[MoonSong]

Imagine, just for a moment, how different Superman would have been if the middle of that first defense of another had been the moment his super powers manifested. Not truly understanding the strength he now possessed, that could easily have turned into a homicide. And a messy one at that.

Think…a darker version of Larry Niven’s “Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex”.

I thought it was already quite dark.

 

[MarkB]

Imagine, just for a moment, how different Superman would have been if the middle of that first defense of another had been the moment his super powers manifested. Not truly understanding the strength he now possessed, that could easily have turned into a homicide. And a messy one at that.

Think…a darker version of Larry Niven’s “Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex”.

The whole "knowing your own strength" thing is a topic in its own right. If you stumble over a stray shoe and catch yourself on a doorframe it's a nice recovery. If you-with-new-powers does so, you may knock the whole house down.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I thought it was already quite dark.

What? Niven’s story? Or Supes’ intervention?

 

[Morrus]

It doesn't even need to be anything on a regional or city scale, imagine how many people are being mistreated within a 5 mile radius of you and you can hear it happening.

I don't think he can just constantly hear everything all the time. That would be torture. He'd never be able to sleep.

He needs to actively listen to use his superhearing. Just like his X-ray vision, he doesn't just see through everything all the time, he has to actively use it. Otherwise he'd be constantly walking into things!