Top Super Powers

Top Super Powers

1) Time Reversal
(Prince of Persia, Curtis Donovan from "Misfits")

  This is a conservative pick because that's what you'd actually want if you actually got a super power. If you walk around demonstrating a super power, you're probably going to wind up a CIA labrat. And if you're powerful enough to fend off the US gov't, now you're a major world power. And unless you want to be God, that's not a pleasant life. Time Reversal cannot be witnessed or even demonstrated publicly. At best, it looks like Pre-Cognition. But unless you really go out of your way to prove it to someone, you can exercise it at-will without notice. Obvious first-step is to win the lottery, but there's all sorts of ways to earn a living with this. The inability to go forward or backward in time past your lifespan is more of a benefit than a drawback, as it eliminates time-travel paradoxes and the Godlike ability to re-shape all of human history. It honestly might be best if limited to 24 hours.

2) Mind Control
(Obi Wan Kenobi, Killgrave)

  If you want the power of Flight, you can always become a pilot. If you want Super Strength, you can rent a crane. Bombs and guns are comparable to various powers of destruction. But Mind Control only exists in the crudest of forms with current technology. Massive multi-million dollar campaigns are needed just to maintain brand awareness or engage in very limited activities (shopping, voting). And recommendations from friends and family will always trump an ad. As Oscar Wilde once said, "Hell is other people." Mind Control eliminates this problem entirely.

3) Invisibility
(The Invisible Man, Simon Bellamy from "Misfits")

    How would you behave if you knew you wouldn't be held accountable for your actions? Do you follow the rules because it's the right thing to do, or because you don't want to get caught? Invisibility answers this ultimate question. The only reason it's not number 1 is because the mechanics are usually quite limited. Do you still make sound? Do you still leave footprints? However, if the power is expressed as more of a mind-blocking power, the inability to recall you or your actions, such as the unnamed God in American Gods in the casino, then this becomes far more powerful. However, this strays from traditional invisibility and more about a form of mass automatic Mind Control, which is why I have it down here at #3.

4) Invincibility/Rapid Healing
    (Wolverine, Claire Bennet from "Heroes")
   
    The ultimate insurance policy. While it's down here at #4, I'll sure feel stupid picking #2 or #3 if I ever get hit by a car.

5) Teleportation
    (Nightcrawler and Azazel from "X-Men")
     
    Human civilization largely shaped itself around our transportation needs. Teleportation basically puts you on another plane of existence. Wholly underrated. Also, didn't it seem like Azazel could kill any non-flying thing at-will in "X-Men: First Class"? How were they dodging him!? Sad fact is I'd mostly use this to eat at faraway restaurants.