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This article is about heat vision, the superhuman ability. For the fictional TV character of the same name, see Heat Vision and Jack.

Heat vision is a superhuman power, best known as one of the powers possessed by the DC Comics character Superman, in which beams of intense radiation are projected from the eyes. Originally, Superman's X-ray vision was used to heat things as well as see through them, but over time a new term was developed for this application and the abilities became distinct from each other.

It is usually only visible as parallel energy beams firing from his eyes at near-maximum output levels. He is able to vary the intensity of the beams, ranging from (usually invisible) beams that can warm a person gently to high-powered beams with temperatures similar to those generated in a nuclear explosion. It ranges from thin beams capable of performing minute welding and cutting tasks to a swath of heat energy projecting across a field of approximately 45 degrees.

Superman's heat vision is created by specialized organelles located in Kryptonian ocular tissue, when yellow solar energy is converted into a form which can then be converted to microwave energy (though the fact that the beams are visible to human eyes, at higher power levels, means they must be also composed of wavelengths in the human visual range).

These beams can be used for a variety of effects from cutting objects, to heating and evaporating objects and even as a concussive effect as demonstrated by Superboy Prime in Infinite Crisis #4 when he managed to throw off all of the Teen Titans at the same time with his heat vision by explosively heating the air around him.

Superman's heat vision is often tied into his emotions, seemingly causing his eyes to glow when angered; whether this is a conscious decision on his part to intimidate people or an involuntary coincidence is unknown. As such, it has become a common motif to have Superman silhouetted in shadow with his eyes glowing red in moments when he wishes to appear intimidating. It should be noted that though in comics his heat vision is usually tied into anger, on the television show Smallville it was linked to feelings of sexual arousal, triggering involuntarily during periods of extreme arousal upon the power's first appearance.

It's often referred to as Laser vision, which is inaccurate. Superman has used his heat vision to evaporate large bodies of water and/or ice or to perform emergency welding; lasers cannot do such things.

The exact limitation of Superman's heat vision is undetermined. Heat vision, while one of Superman's most powerful abilities, is usually considered the one which drains him of solar energy fastest. Shortly after his resurrection, he lost control of his newly-regained super-powers and was forced to submerge in the ocean for a time to let his heat-vision drain his stamina and allow him to regain command of his faculties.

His current upper limit has been demonstrated to destroy an army of poorly made Doomsday clones in a single application. (The original Doomsday could resist Superman's heat vision). However, Superman stated (while rubbing his eyes) that he "couldn't do that twice" after unleashing the blast, suggesting that it taxed him heavily.

Several other superheroes also have heat vision. This list includes Martian Manhunter, Kid Miracleman, Superboy, Supergirl, Power Girl, Valor, the Powerpuff Girls, Hyperion, Gladiator,G Girl and Ikaris. In some cases, particularly where the character is not Kryptonian or not published by DC Comics, heat vision may be referred to by other names; for example, the Martian Manhunter's power is called "Martian vision", and most incarnations of Marvel Comics' Hyperion have been said to use "Flash vision' or 'Atomic vision'.

Mister Fantastic theorised that Gladiator's heat vision was an expression of the psionic power of pyrokinesis.^[1]

This power was parodied in The Fairly Oddparents, where Timmy Turner's Mom and Dad gained superpowers, one of them being 'Meat Vision', a beam shot out of their eyes that would cause meat products to materialize out of thin air.

A February 2007 episode of the Colbert Report joked that group prayer had had the effect of bestowing actress Candice Bergen with the power of heat vision.

1. ^ Fantastic Four #250