If it takes something in the sky to give them hope, so be it.

[momebie]

Quick! When you think of characters that fly--I'm thinking superheroes here, obviously, but really anyone you can think of who doesn't have wings and doesn't use magic, who just seems to have an innate ability to defy gravity--do you assume that they are manipulating the gravitational field outside of them, or that they are flexing something extra

Comments

[seratonation]

in Captain Marvel they say that her ability to fly is inside her.

as for superman... i never really thought about it that way but i always assumed it was the same? that he could fly because he was an alien and it was part of his alien physiology, but i guess that could also explain the gravity theory too...

I'm trying to think of other superheroes who could fly, but Thor uses his hammer, just as Tony is in the suit, and Magneto and Storm both use their mutations.

I cant think of anyone else who can just fly, without any explanation :(

[yachiru]

I've always assumed Superman had some super powerful gas. Of course that might be the pain meds talking.

I stand by it either way.

[legoline]

I have Birthright somewhere but haven't read it yet--I really really should. I had no idea Mark Waid was involved. He curerently writes the insanely brilliant Daredevil vol. 3 comics, that I just adore, so him writing Supe? I need to get on that.

As for comics...I really liked "Secret Origin" but I'm not sure how much someone who usually isn't that much into Supe would like it...if that makes sense? I really love the Batman/Superman series because you usually get Bat's voice describing Supe and vice versa, which is alternatively angsty and fanboyish :D Oh, and Nightwing Year One has an issue that has Supe and is really cool.

Other than that I haven't read that many Superman series (except the random Action Comic) because I think that a lot of writers get him wrong. It's very easy to take a character like that and NOT make the reader care so I'm glad Mark Waid did and I'll go and read that comic later.

/random

[saphire_dance]

The most modern explination for Superman's powers is something they call Tactile Telekinesis. He manipulates a feild of energy around him. Superboy has this power, but he's aware of and had to be trained in it, where as Superman has a less aware controll over the power.

[alephz]

Always figured that everyone flies differently even if the result is the same. Superman's got some weird solar-powered alien organ that, under the yellow sun, converts energy and gravity into flight, Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) was infused with alien energies (Kree and cosmic and probably more to boot) through an accident involving Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell) that she can now project to move herself through space, Captain Marvel (Billy Batson/Shazam) is straight-up magic, Captain Marvel/Photon (Monica Rambeau) is constantly shifting/transmuting molecules around her. And those are just the Captains Marvel I know.

As for Superman fic, you could go a lot worse than the silver age "Miracle Monday" story by Elliot S! Maggin (available here) though it's hard to say whether or not it's quite as good if you don't already love the guy.