Superman versus the Living Tribunal

[Beyonder]

Sure he's a character, but that isn't the issue. Supey and (especially) Bats have well-defined powers and limitations. The LT doesn't. I can make lists of definite things that Superman can and can't do. Can you do the same for the LT?

In the Nineties, especially in the JLA series, Batman WAS more of an plot device then a actual character. The same goes for his abilities.

Let's get to the star of this board, shall we?  :wink:

Superman's powers - PRE-Crisis - allways seemed to rise to whatever level any given crisis would demand.

For instance, Kal-El once uttered a "Super-Scream", which altered the molecular structure of the ground of the "Superboy Plaanet", effectively transfomed one substance into another, on a molecular level! Usually, you need Firestorm, Element Lad or an GL Ring to do anything like that.

Or how about the many times projected his voice via Super Ventriloquism (gah, was THAT the right way to spell this word?? This word is even harder to spell then "scientist) even across the gulf of outer space, to be "heard" only by exactly those Supes choose to do so, thusly effectively mimicing telepathy?

And those were but 2 examples.

How about the time Supes OBLITERATED an entire, distant solar system with a mere random sneeze?? And if that happens when he sneezes, imagine what would happen if he really gets mad, and REALLY excerts his power?

Sorry, but I'd wager the Tribunal would LOSE to Kaal-El 9/10-- but only as long as Supes doesn't suffer from his many limitations, especially that magic vul.

[Beyonder]

It depends on how the LT is written.

In What IF Korvac hadn't died, the LT made our sun go supernova and Korvac not only survived that but protected the entire Earth as well.  The LT then claimed that was his ultimate retribution and he was incapable of standing against Korvac, so he gave up that version of the MU for lost and sealed it off from all the other MU timelines.

Superman at his peak portrayals is way beyond a mere supernova in comparison.

In fact, according to "Costume, Costume, Who's Got the Costume?" he's capable of generating power enough to counter the entire GLC whose power was negating all the infinite possible futures of Earth save for the Kamandi timeline at the time.  That's power to counter at least a multiverse, dude.

To be fair, I tend to side with the LT as he's usually intended to be written.  But in the MU we do have precedent for the LT being written as not so absolutely omnipotent.  If this were in the DCU of any variety, Superman wins in any incarnation simply because the LT has no jurisdiction in the DCU.  It's not even an argument.

You said it, Cap.  

[Daybreaker]

I gotta go with the Living Tribunal.  Superman has always been kind of vulnerable to beings with powers that abstract.

[Beyonder]

Yes, but that was mostly due to his magic vul. Take it away from him, and guess who's going to get the Laurel?