Conan O’Brien has asked a thought-provoking question on YouTube (in the video below). How does Superman shave? In the trailers we’ve had for Man of Steel so far, there have been shots of bearded Superman and clean-shaven Superman. Grooming has taken place. But how?
O’Brien’s not alone. The Flickering Myth writing team have been debating this for a while…
Jack Morris
After seeing the images of Superman with a beard in the new film – a question has been bugging me for some time and I thought I’d see if anyone in the great group could answer it for me – HOW THE HELL DOES SUPERMAN SHAVE?! Has it ever been answered in one of the comics? Surely his hair has some of the strength that he does?!
Martin Deer
In the comics he used a kryptonite shard to reflect his heat vision. But, does it really matter? He can fly and shoot fire from his eyes, I can buy he’s somehow able to shave.
Jack Morris
I thought kryptonite would be involved somehow. I can go along with the willing suspension of disbelief that this man can fly, etc, but something just bugs me about how he shaves. It really is the most trivial of things but it has gotten under my skin.
J-P Wooding
Massive, massive marketing opportunity for Gillette. “The best a SUPERman can get!”
Jack Morris
I have a beard and even I would buy a shaver with this tagline!
Gary Collinson
I think I would like to see him bouncing his heat vision off a shaving mirror in Man of Steel. Could get a good gag out of Costner trying to show him how to shave. And some canny product placement, like J-P says.
Martin Deer
Perfect opportunity for Bizarro too when he inevitably cuts himself massively right on the chin and bleeds everywhere
Oliver Davis
I remember reading somewhere that Alan Moore wrote an entire short story on how Superman would go to the toilet, and eventually concluded he’s so efficient, his waste sorts itself out, like plants with photosynthesis.
J-P Wooding
He could always fashion a blade if he could find a piece of Doomsday’s bone.
Martin Deer
Maybe Zod shaves it in an homage to that scene from Skyfall.
J-P Wooding
That’s why he won’t be as good as Stamp: No beard. No bow.
Bell The-Destroyer
Mallrats raised some interesting Superhero questions too.
Gary Collinson
As does this and Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex…
And J-P, you might want to file a lawsuit against Gilette. They’ve stolen your idea.
Man of Steel is released on June 14th with a cast that includes Henry Cavill (Immortals) as Clark Kent / Superman, Michael Shannon (The Iceman) as General Zod, Amy Adams (The Fighter) as Lois Lane, Kevin Costner (Hatfields & McCoys) as Jonathan Kent, Diane Lane (Secretariat) as Martha Kent, Antje Traue (Pandorum) as Faora, Laurence Fishburne (Contagion) as Perry White and Ayelet Zurer (Angels & Demons) as Lara Lor-Van.
Originally published May 28, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
