The Periodic Table of Super-Powers

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Today on ComicsAlliance, we’ve unveiled my latest love letter to Futura Hv, The Periodic Table of Super-Powers! In which, hopefully, the fact that I said “common and notable” will head off the torrent of “you forgots” reminding me that I didn’t include the power to create escape-proof spirit bottles. Good luck thinking up an abbreviation for that one, kids. (Qz.)

Also, a special thanks goes out to Pal Andrew, who suggested doing the Sub-Legionic powers to parody the Trans-Uranic elements, finally putting his years as a high school chemistry tutor to good use. Thanks, Andrew!

30 thoughts on “The Periodic Table of Super-Powers”

  1. It’s a table, but it’s not especially periodic. You’ve got blocks, but the periods and groups don’t appear to mean anything.

  3. The most entertaining parts are the non-self-explanatory abbreviations (FS, PY, WX, U, DS, etc). But I’m afraid FM and SZ have stumped me.

  4. Excellent! (it would’ve been awesome if, as E.D. said, you’d grouped them – the first column almost worked as ‘Superman powers’ but not quite).

    Also wouldn’t Superman be ALsF2S3I4Sp2VxVhSn6 ? :)

    Can I just ask: Is “Military” a power? And why Nf?

  5. Hmm, the subscript tag didn’t work in my post above. Just imagine all the numbers smaller and lower down on the line. :)

  6. It’s a table, but it’s not especially periodic.

    OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    But I’m afraid FM and SZ have stumped me.

    Frank Miller and Shazam.

    Can I just ask: Is “Military” a power? And why Nf?

    In comics, I think Military Training (you know, being a super-commando) pretty much does count as a super-power, especially for guys like the Punisher and–as you might expect from the abbreviation–Nick Fury.

  8. One of the ComicsAlliance commenters mentioned fitting Captain Cold into the chart, which made me start thinking of possible supervillain origin elements. Rival-gone-bad (Ri), evil counterpart (Bz), just kind of an asshole (Ah)…

  9. I’m with Jacob, but I can’t figure out Ds, Fs and U. I don’t know if I would have got Fm and Sz either, but of course in retrospect they seem obvious.

  10. I’m with Jacob, but I can’t figure out Ds, Fs and U.

    Dawnstar, Firestorm, and Umbra. My original plan for Shadows was to go with “Sh,” but I’d already used that for shapeshifting and it seemed more appropriate there, even though it fit with Shadow Lass and the Shade. “Sw” didn’t really seem to fit, thus, Shadow Lass’s reboot counterpart, Umbra.

  11. Great stuff.

    Does Cable count has having an Arms Fall Off power? He can use his mental powers to make his arm fall off and grow back. How about Curt Conners?

  12. Shouldn’t there be a single, unique element Batman?

    Yes, there’s only one instance of it — but one is all he needs.

  14. If you’re Marvex the Super-Robot, is your origin Sc or does being a robot just come in under having FeTc powers?

    Also, are there any Shape-shifting, invulnerable, time-travellers in comics? Because I have a funny idea…

  15. Also, are there any Shape-shifting, invulnerable, time-travellers in comics? Because I have a funny idea…

    Fun fact: Shapeshifting and water control make you an awesome basketball player.

  18. Ah, I don’t know my Legion characters very well, so that explains why I missed two of those. That makes me feel better, for some reason.

  20. It is an index of my patheticness that I immediately thought, “Jars. Escape-proof spirit jars.” Damn you, Grant Morrison! Your work is occupying neurons that I need.

    Oh, and thanks Mr. Sims for another hilarious and brilliant column.

  21. Of course, like with all things scientific the really interesting bits are what are implied by its properties.

    For example – PyGr is a very common power compond in the Marvel Universe but, due to the nature of covalent bonds, it can also easily become PyGrO.

    This is why you father died, Cassie Lang! SCIENCE!!!

  22. In comics, I think Military Training (you know, being a super-commando) pretty much does count as a super-power, especially for guys like the Punisher and–as you might expect from the abbreviation–Nick Fury.

    Nick Fury. Of course! I was trying to fit Nerf in for Military but, although that sounds interesting (though somewhat ineffective), it wasn’t comic-booky.

    And, okay, Military Training – gotcha. I thought it was access to the military.

  24. You’d need the Anime Table, and that’s a whole different matter. MgTfAsDHn: Magical Girl, Transformation, Annoying Sidekick, Ditz, Hair color occurs in nature.

  25. “Shouldn’t there be a single, unique element Batman?

    Yes, there’s only one instance of it — but one is all he needs.”

    I agree. Bouncing should be Bb, and Batman should be B. It exists simultaniously as an origin, a mental power and a physical power but is not unique. Robin, Spoiler, Oracle and many others contain trace amoungs of Batman. The bronze age Huntress was composed of almost 50% Batman.

  27. I’m delighted to see that, as with the normal periodic table, III/V semiconductors are still pretty much the most awesome compounds out there. Rich/Martial arts? Yes please. Intangible time travels? Don’t mind if I do. This is so going up in our cleanroom at work.

  28. You can obtain “man” from combining elements 5 and 72 (“M” and “An”), but what about “superman”?

    So, I quickly cobbled together a little Java application which can help me answer such burning questions.

    I’d like to tell you its URL, but your comments box doesn’t seem to like web addresses. It’s the address I entered in the website box.

  29. I think Mr. Weiss would be upset you didn’t save RAD-ium for Jack of Hearts.