Superpowers

Carol M. Highsmith, photographer. The 15-foot-tall, painted-bronze statue of the "Man of Steel" completed in 1993 in Metropolis, a small city in southern Illinois that takes advantage of its name, which mirrors the fictional home of the comic-book and TV-show superhero Superman. Not surprisingly, the Superman theme is ubiquitous around town. 2019. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Superpower is a popular culture term used to describe any superhuman ability and is found across genres and media in the fictional sphere. Those who possess these abilities are labeled superheroes or supervillains, some of the most common of which include superhuman strength, the ability to fly, and telekinesis. The possession of these powers is often used in pulp magazines, comic books, science fiction, television shows and film as the key attribute of a superhero or supervillain.

The following materials include links to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to digital content are included when available.

Batman Science by Tammy Enz
Call Number: T48 .E545 2014
ISBN: 9781623700645
Published/Created: 2014
Batman conquers crime with brains, brawn, and a whole lot of high-tech gadgetry. This book explores the surprising ways the Caped Crusader's gear and gadgets actually connect to reality.
Inventing Iron Man by E. Paul Zehr
Call Number: TJ211 .Z42 2011
ISBN: 9781421402260
Published/Created: 2011
Tony Stark has been battling bad guys and protecting innocent civilians since he first donned his mechanized armor in the 1963 debut of Iron Man. Over the years, Stark's suit has allowed him to smash through walls, fly through the air like a human jet, control a bewildering array of weaponry by thought alone, and perform an uncountable number of other fantastic feats. This book physically deconstructs Iron Man to find out how we could use modern-day technology to create a suit of armor similar to the one Stark made.
The Physics of Superheroes by James Kakalios
Call Number: QC23.2 .K35 2009 FT MEADE
ISBN: 9781592405084
Published/Created: 2009
This book features superheroes and and physics plays into their stories including why Spider-Man's webbing failed his girlfriend, the probable cause of Krypton's explosion, and the Newtonian physics at work in Gotham City.
The Science of Invisibility and X-Ray Vision by Kaitlin Scirri
Call Number: QC406 .S35 2019
ISBN: 9781502637901
Published/Created: 2018
Superpowers like invisibility and X-ray vision have inspired myths and stories for thousands of years. This book explores the scientists who have worked and continue to work to make these superpowers a reality. Readers will journey from the depths of the ocean to Central America to learn about animals that seem to possess these superpowers.
The Science of Marvel by Sebastian Alvarado
Call Number: PN6714 .A42 2019
ISBN: 9781507209981
Published/Created: 2019
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is filled with extraordinary humans and abilities. There are teenaged geniuses swinging through the streets of New York, billionaires creating impenetrable armor in hidden caves, and aliens flying through wormholes to Earth. All of these characters seem to lie firmly in the realm of fantasy--but the technology behind them might not be as farfetched as you think... Using quantum physics, a little bit of mechanical engineering, and some out-of-the-box thinking, you'll be amazed to discover that it's possible to create a real-life Captain America, Incredible Hulk, or Black Panther.
The Science of Mind Control and Telepathy by Cathleen Small
Call Number: BF1156.S8
ISBN: 9781502638014
Published/Created: 2018
This book on mind control and telepathy delves into both the legends behind the topics and real-life examples that suggest the possibility of their reality. It also explores how the superpowers could become reality in the future through the development of new technologies.
The Science of Superheroes by Patricia Hutchison
Call Number: PN6714 .H88 2017 CABIN BRANCH
ISBN: 9781680782516
Published/Created: 2016
Superhero stories may be fictional, but many are based in scientific principles. This book examines the science that comic book and movie-script writers build upon when creating their most fantastic stories.
The Science of Superheroes and Space Warriors by HowStuffWorks.com Staff
Call Number: QC24.5 .S45 2014
ISBN: 9781492603177
Published/Created: 2014
This book explains the science behind your favorite superheroes and supervillains and their ultracool devices and weapons, as well as other awesome technologies from the science-fiction realm.
The Science of Super Powers by Kris Hirschmann
Call Number: Q175.2 .H57 2020
ISBN: 9781541554894
Published/Created: 2019
Can a human ever be as strong as Mr. Incredible--or as fast as Dash? Could you become invisible like Violet? Could your skin and muscles stretch like Elastigirl's? Could anyone become a fireball like Jack-Jack? Learn about the science behind the Supers in Incredibles 2. Technology could make some of those powers real in the near future.
The Science of Super Strength and Super Speed by Rani Iyer
Call Number: Q175.2 .I94 2019
ISBN: 9781502637932
Published/Created: 2018
Human fascination with super strength and super speed has a long history. In recent decades, human fascination has moved to reality. With the aid of science, researchers are now able to discern the secrets to super strength and super speed in animals. Using technology, they have recreated some of these powers for application and use by humans today.
The Science of Supervillains by Lois H. Gresh
Call Number: PN6714 .G75 2005
ISBN: 0471482056
Published/Created: 2004
This book gives an informative look at the mind-boggling wizardry behind the comic book world's legendary baddies. Whether it's artificial intelligence, weapons systems, anti-matter, robotics, or magnetic flux theory, this book is a excursion into the real-world science animating the genius in the comic book world's pantheon of evil geniuses.
Science of the X-Men by Linc Yaco
Call Number: PN6728.X2 Y33 2000
ISBN: 0743400208
Published/Created: 2000
From the Angel to the Wolverine, this book delves in to the strange and wonderful powers of the world's most popular mutant superheroes, with a twist: learn how the X-Men's powers could work in the real world.
The Secret Science of Superheroes by Mark Lorch
Call Number: PN6714 .S42 2017 CABIN BRANCH
ISBN: 9781782624875
Published/Created: 2017
This book aims to introduce a whole range of scientific concepts, from protein chemistry to particle physics, by examining the superhero abilities of comic book and film characters.
Unmasking the Science of Superpowers! by Jordan Brown
Call Number: Q175.2 .B76 2016 CABIN BRANCH
ISBN: 9781481467797
Published/Created: 2016
Did you know that advancements in robotics could soon make super-powered suits a reality? Or that some people have a rare gene that gives them super strong bones? this book explores this and much more about the science behind superpowers.

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Superpowers