Superman's X-Ray Vision

[optimal321]

Okay, i've had a problem w/ this ever since i saw UNITY. I had always thought that the sun gave him the power to see through things, not actually emit x-rays from his eyes. However, due to the populus generally considering x-ray and see-through synonyms, the phrase was coined: X-ray vision. So then, how in UNITY can he and Supergirl defeat the aliens?

If x-rays are actually coming out of his eyes, then wouldn't he be harming a lot of people w/ the radiation? I mean, it must take some pretty powerful rays to see through entire people. So then if those beams were aimed directly at the person, there may be some side-effects. Not to mention when he sees through buildings.

Any super fans or scientists able to help me out here?

[Calhoun07]

I don't know, but I've always wondered why Superman tells me the X rays from his eyes won't hurt me then he goes and stands behind that iron wall.

[DR. BELCH]

In one issue of the Superman comics, he assures a pregnant woman (as X-rays can harm fetuses) that the radiation that comes out of his eyes isn't the same as that used in hospital machines, so he can safely look at her unborn child and make sure it didn't get hurt in some mishap (earthquake, I think). So that should explain it somewhat....

[Kylewayne]

Wow! And here I thought that you would say something perverse (sp?)about the x-ray vision topic.:D


http://www.okieday.com/katherine/kawaiikatt.gif No one can resist my big blue eyes.

[EarthX]

Originally posted by optimal321
Okay, i've had a problem w/ this ever since i saw UNITY. I had always thought that the sun gave him the power to see through things, not actually emit x-rays from his eyes.

Byrne described it as "a combination of [Superman's] telescopic and microscopic visions" in one of his early issues.

Now in the old days, it probably was X-rays. In the first appearance of the Legion (1958), Superboy's heat vision was decribed as "the heat from his X-ray eyes"

[Joe Tully]

If they worked the same way as real x-rays, then I think that anyone looking in the same direction as him should be able to see thru walls/people/whatever when he used his x-ray vision, just like him. He wouldn't be able to spy on people with his x-ray vision because they would be able to see through the wall back at him.

[DR. BELCH]

kylewayne:
Wow! And here I thought that you would say something perverse about the x-ray vision topic.
No, unless you're creeped out at the thought of looking into a pregnant woman's uterus. Those babies don't wear clothes in there, after all. :p Though like Earth X-rays they are ineffectual against lead, they don't have a tetragenic effect on babies en utero.
There seem to be two different beam types generated by those eyes--those that can see through objects, and those than can blast, and I imagine Superman is as skilled at diffrentiating between each as a voice actor is with different accents....

[xbuilder]

Supes X-ray eyes are more than likely do not emit exrays but allow him to shift his visual spectrem to include x-rays or other waves of light that pentrate solid objects. He will see the waves bounce of the things inside an object or be absornbed by said object and thus be able to see through things.

[Domino]

No wonder there are so many doggone mutants in the world. Not that I have anything against mutants. Some of my best friends are mutants...

[Shriek]

What would us guys do with X Ray Vision?????

:: Has one of those Homer Simpson thought clouds ::

Oh the possibilities.

[xbuilder]

Originally posted by Shriek
What would us guys do with X Ray Vision?????

:: Has one of those Homer Simpson thought clouds ::

Oh the possibilities.

I would use it to help mankind......

No really I would....

Stop Laughing!!!!!
:mad:
:D

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by xbuilder


I would use it to help mankind......

No really I would....

Stop Laughing!!!!!
:mad:
:D

You'd rent yourself out to hospitals? :p

[xbuilder]

Originally posted by Maxie Zeus


You'd rent yourself out to hospitals? :p

Yeah and to find dinosaur bones and crap like that.

[Calhoun07]

If I had X ray vision, I'd get a job with airport security.

[Shriek]

It would be cool to find dinosaur bones. I always wanted to be an archealogist. But the digging is a turn off.

I think I would probably go on game shows and stuff and guess the right letters. Probably like Wheel of Fortune. Or the price is right