Superhuman strength

Superhuman strength, (also called super strength or enhanced strength) is an ability commonly utilized in fiction. It is the ability to be far stronger than normally possible for a human being. This term is also attributed to non-human characters when describing their superior strength. Super Strength characters have been found in many ancient mythologies and even in ancient religions, which implies that the desire to be far stronger than anyone else, has been a common form of wish-fulfilment or fantasy since the beginning of recorded history.

Nowadays, superhuman strength is used in for a variety of characters in fantasy and science fiction. Most comic book superheroes and many supervillains have a degree of super strength. In most portrayals, superhuman strength is usually accompanied by superhuman stamina and durability as well.

Feats of superhuman strength
These are some of the uses of super-strength commonly portrayed in fiction and comic books, with varying degrees of plausibility:


 * Lift objects many times one's own weight
 * Run and smash through solid walls, barriers and obstacles
 * Leap vast heights and distances due to enhanced leg muscles
 * Scale sheer surfaces by implanting fingers and/or toes, or fists into said surface
 * Launch objects great distances
 * Slow down or stop momentous objects
 * Strike an object so it moves considerable distances
 * Create a concussive force by slamming body, foot or fist on the ground
 * Able to create shockwaves with the force of a punch.

Superhumanly strong characters in fiction
These are only a handful of the most well known from the vast number of characters with greater than human strength:

Mythology

 * Hercules, the half-god son of Zeus
 * Thor, the Norse god of thunder, strength powered by magic girdle
 * Perun, the Slavic god of thunder
 * Gilgamesh, Sumerian king and son of Ninsun
 * Minotaur, part man and part bull
 * Samson, Biblical hero

Novels

 * Dracula is said to have enormous strength derived from his vampire nature.
 * Tarzan possesses strength great enough to overpower wild beasts and bend iron bars.
 * Hugo Danner, the protagonist of the 1930 novel Gladiator, which helped inspire the creation of Superman.

Comics and Manga

 * Superman and other Kryptonians possess phenomenal strength when they have absorbed light from a yellow sun
 * Wonder Woman is gifted with godly strength
 * Captain Marvel has magically enhanced strength on the same level as Superman
 * Aquaman's body is adapted to withstand deap sea depths, and so is incredibly strong
 * Doomsday from Superman grows stronger after each death he receives
 * Solomon Grundy possesses zombie strength which varies between appearances
 * Gorilla Grodd from the Flash possesses far greater strength than the average gorilla


 * The Incredible Hulk's strength increases as he gets angrier; Hulk is often depicted saying "Hulk strongest one there is."
 * The Thing received his strength and stature from a space accident involving cosmic rays
 * Spider-Man possesses the proportionate strength of a spider
 * Colossus from X-Men possesses great strength when he transforms into organic steel


 * Son Goku from Dragon Ball and other Z Fighters have phenomenal strength attained through special trainings.
 * Eiko Megami of Project A-ko possesses fantastic strength. Some scenes imply that her parents are actually Clark Kent and Diana Prince.
 * Popeye gained fantastic strength whenever he ate spinach

Film

 * Neo of The Matrix is the prophesised "The One", a messianic figure, a powerful hero
 * Mr. Incredible of The Incredibles has strength similar to Hercules'
 * The titular protagonist of Donnie Darko is described in the director's cut as possessing "enhanced strength", and managed to embed an axe into a statue.
 * G-Girl of My Super Ex-Girlfriend, as a Superwoman pastiche
 * Godzilla of Godzilla possesses strength proportionate to his size.
 * Destoroyah of "Godzilla" can fly over know and or pick up opponents while the air.

Television

 * The Six Million Dollar Man's titular character has cyborg strength
 * Jake Foley of Jake 2.0 has cyborg strength
 * Buffy Summers and other vampire Slayers of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel possess mystical strength originating from the heart of a demon
 * Angel and other vampires of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel possess strength which originates from the Old Ones which increases with age.
 * Multiple characters from Charmed including demons and magical creatures possess some degree of superhuman strength.
 * Captain Hero of Drawn Together has the same powers as Superman
 * Niki Sanders from Heroes has an alter-ego with superhuman strength.

Animated series

 * Fourarms and Vilgax from Ben 10
 * Ten from Justice League

Video games

 * Knuckles the Echidna from the Sonic the Hedgehog series
 * Bowser, Wario, and Donkey Kong from the Super Mario series
 * Jax from Mortal Kombat