Superman, Batman, The X-Men, Flash, Spider Man . . . they protect us from evildoers, defend truth and justice, and, occasionally, save our planet from certain doom. Yet, how much do we understand about their powers?

In this engaging yet serious work, Lois Gresh and Robert Weinberg attempt to answer that question once and for all. From X-ray vision to psychokinesis, invisibility to lightspeed locomotion, they take a hard, scientific look at the powers possessed by all of our most revered superheroes, and a few of the lesser ones, in an attempt to sort fact from fantasy. In the process, they unearth some shocking truths that will unsettle, alarm, and even terrify all but the most fiendish of supervillains.

A Word about the Law.

Introduction: Men of Steel, Feathers of Fury ( Dean Koontz).

Chapter 1. More Powerful than a Speeding Locomotive: Superman.

Chapter 2. Rays—Cosmic and Gamma: The Fantastic Four and the Incredible Hulk.

Chapter 3. The Dark Knight: Batman.

Chapter 4. Under the Sea: Aquaman and Sub-Mariner.

Chapter 5. Along Came a Spider: Spider-Man.

Chapter 6. Green Lanterns and Black Holes: Magic, Science and Two Green Lanterns.

Chapter 7. Of Atoms, Ants, and Giants: Ant Man and the Atom.

Chapter 8. Fast, Fast, Fast: The Flash.

Chapter 9. Good, Evil, and Indifferent Mutants: The X-Men.

Chapter 10. Mysteries in Space: Science Fiction Superheroes.

Chapter 11. The Right Stuff: Donald Duck.

Appendix A: Who Missed the Cut?

Appendix B: The Professionals Speak.

Bibliography and Reading List.

Acknowledgments.

Index.