Curious to know how long Superman could hold his breath in the DCU and the comics? The latest movie presented an impressive demonstration of his breathing powers when he went up against Luthor’s metahumans.
They attempted to kill Superman by infiltrating his throat and lungs. Despite this, the Kryptonian managed to survive and take a fresh breath of air, eventually turning the tables and defeating Luthor and his pawns. Here are more details on Superman’s breathing abilities.
Here’s how long Superman can hold his breath
It’s been revealed that Superman can survive without breathing for up to an hour in the DCU.
Superman and Lex’s metahumans engage in an intense fight, which takes a perilous turn soon. The Engineer deploys her nanites, which are meant to enter Superman’s lungs and throats, making him suffocate in minutes and ultimately leading to his demise.
However, the antagonist’s plans fail eventually when it’s discovered that Superman, in advance, had taken a fresh breath of air. During his fight, he held on to his breath, taking nanites high in the orbit, where they could freeze from the temperature. He then crashes to Earth, ultimately defeating The Engineer, who deployed the nanites. After crashing, he takes and spits off all the nanites to breathe again.
While the movie showcased Superman holding his breath for approximately one hour, the comics had an alternative take on his breathing abilities. The comics suggest that Superman could hold his breath for days and even weeks, when on a space mission. He can do this as his Kryptonian physiology is more dependent on solar energy than oxygen, allowing him to hold his breath for a longer time. Though a superhero, this ability is often not easy for him. Therefore, occasionally, he appears to be using a breathing device in space, so he could adapt to whatever conditions he is put in.
