Summary

• Superman's heat vision can be incredibly destructive, capable of burning through entire planets and even cooking someone's brain from the inside out.
• Although Superman possesses this power, he never uses it in a cruel or torturous manner, demonstrating his commitment to his values and refusal to cross ethical boundaries.
• The fact that General Zod and Ursa utilize heat vision for gruesome torture highlights the extent to which Superman restrains his powers and demonstrates his superior moral character.

Warning! Preview pages ahead for Kneel Before Zod #2!One of Superman's most famous powers has a far more gruesome application than fans may have thought. The Man of Steel's Kryptonian nemeses General Zod and Ursa are attempting to resurrect Krypton and nothing is going to stand in their way. When an invader threatens their work, Ursa reveals a torture the Man of Steel would never attempt.

In a preview General Zod and Ursa have captured the remaining Khund after their attack on New Kandor. However, the Khund refuses to work with Zod and isn't giving up any information.

Zod informs the Khund that they're going to torture him and he steps aside, allowing Zod's wife Ursa to take the lead. Ursa's eyes start to glow red as the Khund begins crying in pain as she uses Kryptonian heat vision to cook the alien's brain inside his skull, the first of several tortures they have prepared.

Superman's Heat Vision Can Cook Someone's Brain From the Inside Out

Kryptonians are afforded dozens of amazing powers when exposed to yellow solar rays. Not only can they fly or become incredibly strong and durable, but with enough training, they can achieve Superman-level feats. But of all the powers at the Kryptonians' disposal, few things are as impressive as their heat vision. At will, people like Superman or Zod can unleash beams that burn at temperatures hot enough to burn through entire planets. The solar energy is so powerful and so destructive, Superman's half-Kryptonian child Jon blew up millions of people in a potential future when he lost control of himself.

Superman and those who abide by his values take steps to make sure their heat vision doesn't unnecessarily harm anyone. But as Ursa shows here, heat vision can be much worse than what Superman does with it. From a distance, someone like Clark could liquefy one or all of someone's internal organs before they'd even know what was happening. Superman would obviously never do something like that to someone, not even his most hated enemy. But the fact that Ursa or Zod could do something so horrifying with heat vision shows just how much Superman is restraining his powers.

Superman Refuses to Use His Ultimate Power (For a Good Reason)

Superman could use his heat vision like Ursa does. But he'd never cross that line. Clark doesn't believe in underhanded tactics or outright torture. Sure, he'll use the full brunt of his powers on people he feels can take it, but he'd never attack someone in a manner they couldn't defend themselves from. Superman knows that his powers are some of the mightiest in the DC Universe, but he's also aware that it's not his place to wantonly or cruelly use them. While this use of heat vision is true nightmare fuel, fans can rest easy knowing Superman would never use them in such a way.

Kneel Before Zod #2 is available on February 6th from DC Comics.