Metropolis Mailbag: Prof Hamilton scenes?
Anonymous asked:
There are a few Professor Hamilton sequences that I'd love to check out--namely the discoveries of Superman's low level force field, tactile telekinesis, ability to store solar energy, etc. I've seen them referenced in flashbacks and in Roger Stern's Death and Life of Superman, but I have no idea which issues they're originally from. As Tumblr's preeminent curator of this era of Superman comics, maybe you can help me out. My apologies if this has been requested before. - Ken
Hey Ken! Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think those moments don't exist — not with Professor Hamilton, anyway. The aura around Superman's body was first mentioned during John Byrne's run: Ma Kent notes that his clothes never seem to get dirty in Man of Steel #1, a few months before Hamilton was introduced (as a crazy guy who wanted to explode a prostitute, have I mentioned that lately?). Then in Superman #3, when Superman is transported to Apokolips, he tries to disguise himself as a Hunger Dog (space hobo) but laments that he can't make his face dirty because of this:
Superman's “solar battery” ability was explained in one of those early issues, too, meaning that Superman knew about it before becoming pals with Hamilton. I thought Hambone might have mentioned it while he was trying to help Superman get 1) his powers back and 2) a nice tan during Krisis of the Krimson Kryptonite (Starman #28), but I looked up the issue and, again, it was Superman himself who explains how his powers work:
As for the tactile telekinesis: Cool '90s Superboy is the one who has that power, not Superman, so once he comes around we'll see the whole thing explained… by someone at Cadmus, though, and not Hamilton. Sorry! Maybe it's different in the Death and Life of Superman novel by Stern, but I've never read it. Hey, should I?