My One Weakness!

There can be no power without weakness, this is a lesson comic book writers have understood for decades. Superman is nearly invincible not because he is powerful , but because of he is too powerful. Today we're exploring the vast and specific weaknesses of superheroes and how these weaknesses effect their impact on the genre.

To make a simple answer out of the question "why can only three things kill Superman", it's clear that making a hero who has no weaknesses takes the suspense out of his/her adventures. If there is no danger to what a hero is doing, what makes their struggle exciting? Giving heroes weaknesses allows the reader to feel concern for the hero. Superman fighting a bank robber may be run-of-the-mill, but give that robber a Kryptonite gun and the situation becomes more interesting. The reason why characters like Batman and Spider-Man are so liked is because these characters are human enough to have the same weaknesses as the reader: gunfire, knives, blunt force, high falls, and so on. In order to give larger-than-life characters the same relating aspect, they must have at least one weakness. Most modern heroes get their family and friends used as weaknesses. The usual "I've kidnapped your girlfriend" or "your best friend will die". Weakness in a hero's supporting cast can very well exceed the weakness of a physical threat, much like life itself. A bullet wound can heal, but the death of a loved one at the hands of one's own involvement can be a guilt that digs deeper than any bullet. Sometimes continuing to live-knowing a life was costed by your actions-can be a fate worse than death. Spider-Man and Gwen Stacy, Batman and Jason Todd, Wolverine and Jean Grey, they all have felt that weakness disable them, but they always get back up.

As mentioned, there are many heroes who have specific weakness their enemies have exploited. Alan Scott-The Golden Age's Green Lantern-could not use his powers on anything made of wood. Really, Alan? A doghouse could be your prison? The Silver Age Green Lantern-Hal Jordan-could not use his powers on anything colored yellow. Okay, a doghouse painted yellow. Golden Age Wonder Woman becomes powerless when-Rao, this is stupid-she is tied up by a man. Kind of goes against the whole "powerful female role-model" thing, eh? In correlation to this weakness, Wonder Woman had two other weakness more aligned with the sexist opinions of the 1940's: she is easily enraged and unable to blemish her appearance even if her life depends on it. Luckily, these weaknesses changed with the times. Venom is weak to both loud noises and intense heat, also if Venom's host is free of negative emotions the Venom suit will become weaker. The Martian Manhunter-who can read minds, move objects with his mind, shapeshift, fly, lift buildings, turn invisible, and phase through walls-becomes psychologically distressed by even the smallest flame. Oh, and he sometimes has heat vision.

Making a character susceptible to at least something gives them a little more depth than simply making them perfect. It's often imperfection that draws complex characters. Superman may have one weakness for every five powers, but knowing any superhero-godlike or not-can bleed, allows readers to connect to the character and feel invested in the threats they face. Thanks for reading!

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