As a superhero ability, is the ability to fly overrated?

Question

Most of the heroes I know have the ability to fly but to me it's overrated.

Answer 1

Overrated, no; overused, yes.

Answer 2

People have wanted to fly ever since the 1st man saw a bird flying. As far as superheroes goes. When I think about a great hero one of things I think about is how they get around. A Bat-line or spiderman's webs don't always work in a story. Anyone who has every been stuck in traffic would say that a car or motorcycle doesn't always work. But flying works most of the time. The writers of legion of Super Heroes gives everyone a flight ring. There aren't to many heroes that wouldn't benefit from the power of flight. Think of how many heroes have been made that are just regular people who could fly.

Answer 3

I think it is overrated for the simple fact that it is rarely looked at as both something really exciting and something insanely dangerous.

Why is it that they never show superheroes flying at mach speed...right into an oncoming passenger jet? The closure speeds would be incredible...so fast that they could never react to it.

Also, have you ever tried to look out the open window of a moving car? Can't see much can you? Imagine what it would be like if your were flying face-first...you'd be blind, not to mention deaf as well.

Ever been at altitude? Ever notice how cold it gets? Imagine flying around in spandex at 20,000 feet...you'd freeze...and you'd also asphyxiate.

Most super powers aren't practical, but they can be cool. Flying would have a lot of great advantages, but I'd choose to stay on the ground. At least I'd have my feet on solid earth and not have to worry about freezing as I took my dying breath while colliding with a 747 that I couldn't see because I left my goggles in my other set of spandex.

Answer 4

I totally agree with you. I think about this every time I see the show Heroes and they make a big deal about how the flying brother is so powerful. Being able to fly would obviously be fun. And from a story point of view, it's important because it allows characters to get from one place to another quickly. But it doesn't make someone particularly powerful. Just being able to fly doesn't help a whole lot in defeating a powerful villain.

Answer 5

Yeah, storm in the original x-men could fly and everytime she became exhausted either Wolverine, Cyclops, or Rogue had to catch her as she fell to her doom. As a child I asked other children why she kept choosing to fly? I would have quit a long time ago. Besides I'd take speed any day. The Flash can run on water and that's the only obstacle that flying dealt with. Shoot if the Power Rangers have had everything except flight then something must be wrong with it anyways!

Answer 6

It's not overrated. The ability to fly will always be in fashion, like how black will never cease to be in fashion. Unless of course you happen to be 'The Flash', which would mean you would rarely have the need to fly, seeing as you could run at lightning speed to apprehend those baddies.

Answer 7

Just the ability to fly? Yeah, much better powers out there. Heck most of the ones who fly need more powers anyway. I think it is just so they can fight above the city and do less damage.

Answer 8

Flying is essential. If the hero must rely on other forms of transportation, then when that gets destroyed, the hero is out of luck and must call for help.

Morg

Answer 9

I picked 3: 3. Invisibility - You have a tendency to be shy, or a very keen observer. Or both. you opt for to understand each thing that is going on round you. occupation clue: some solid careers for observers, a author, artist, or inner most investigator. Sounds solid to me, except i'm no longer shy

Answer 10

I can get on a plane and fly, give me something that can't be a profession, like invisibility!

Answer 11

It's easier to go after the super villains if you can fly.