What material blocks Superman’s x-ray vision?

Answer 1

Superman cannot see through lead. This has been established in many comics and movies and on TV over the years.

Kryptonite rays also cannot penetrate lead, and this has caused some confusion to many people (note how many answerers thought he could not see through Kryptonite!)

Ever since the reboot of the DC universe after Crisis on Infinite Earths, Superman has been somewhat changed. Before, his x-ray vision seemed to have been able to penetrate through the entire Earth! and he could use his combined vision powers-- for example, he could be sitting in his Clark Kent identity at the Daily Planet and use his super vision to watch what was going on in the bottle city of Kandor in his artic Fortress of Solitude!

Since he did not leave the front door of the Fortress open to do that (not to mention that the Fortress was past the horizon, around the curve of the Earth) this means that Superman had to use his telescopic vision to see that far, his microscopic vision to be able to see the Kandorians (since they were reduced in size) and his x-ray vision to be able to see through the walls!

The writers at DC solved this absurdity by limiting Superman's powers. His so-called x-ray vision will penetrate a thin layer of lead, but not a thick one. That means that if enough mass is in the way, Superman cannot see through everything, the same way that your cell phone signal starts to fade if you drive through a tunnel. That goes for earth, rock, steel, lead or water. He can see through buildings, so probably over a hundred yards of thick materials will be needed to stop his x-ray vision.

The same holds true for Kryptonite. It is much less common than it used to be, but its rays can't be stopped by just a thin lead foil or a coating of lead paint! Generally speaking, treat it the same as any other dangerous radioactive mineral. The bigger the piece of Kryptonite, the thicker the shielding you need.

By the way, it must be clear that Superman does not actually project x-rays from his eyes. He can project heat from his eyes, that is his heat vision. They are two separate things.

Originally, Superman had none of these powers. He just had good eyesight. Then some writer made him able to see things that were concealed behind other things, and they called it x-ray vision. Then another writer recalled reading somewhere that x-rays caused heating in objects that they passed through, and when it was convenient for Superman to have a power to cause something to get hot and melt or burn at a distance, they referred to "the heat OF his x-ray vision".

Thus, Superman's x-ray vision was established and his heat vision developed from that. The x-ray vision probably got started at about the same time his microscopic vision and his telescopic vision did.

(I realize this is more than you asked, but I'm saving you points having to ask more questions.)

So, how does superman's x-ray vision work...? he is probably detecting natural high-energy particles, and his imagination fills in colors comparable to actual objects. These particles may be cosmic rays (which penetrate the ground for a depth of many meters) or solar mesons (which the Drug Enforcement Agency has begun to use to detect drug shipments, welded inside engine blocks, for example.)

His microscopic and telescopic visions may be just two facets of the same clairvoyant (psionic) ability, just as he unconsciously uses a touch-telekinesis similar to that of Superboy (Kon-El). It was stated in the issue after the reboot in which he met Metallo that objects seemed lighter to him once he lifted them in the air. This clearly implies that there is something at work aside from his Kryptonian mucles. Granted, he can lift hundreds of thousands of tons, but to keep an ocean liner from snapping in half under its own weight after he lifts it out of the water, would require something like telekinesis, which he cannot use at range.

I hope this is clear enough to answer your question.

20 NOV 06, 1603 hrs, GMT.

Answer 2

Lead blocks his x-ray vision, but many villains think if they put something in lead it makes it "invisible" because he can't see through it.

Also, if something is covered by use of magic, Superman is unable to see through it. Besides kryptonite, magic is the only other "element" that gives Superman trouble.

Answer 3

Through all of his incarnations, it is Lead.

Lead will also stop the spread of Green K radiation.

Magic will also interfere with Superman's x-ray vision.

Answer 4

Lead. Superman can not see through lead walls, objects.

Answer 5

lead... louis lane and lana lang must wear lead underwear in their date with superman

Answer 6

The answer is LEAD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman

Answer 7

lead

Answer 8

You raise some good points in your question.

Answer 9

Kryptonite :)

Answer 10

i would say anti-xray vision cloth, but i could be wrong.