10 Weirdest Powers Superman Once Had But Lost

10. Shapeshifting

Pre-Crisis Superman was a strange character when you get right down to it. Early in his crimefighting career, he was relatively undeveloped, so each new issue of Superman tended to throw something at the Man of Steel to see if it would stick. Such a thing occurred in #45 when he became a shapeshifter!

Seriously, the Last Son of Krypton could alter his body to look like anyone he wanted, and this is not a power that he retained. In fact, it isn't something he's done since this single issue, and the reason for losing the ability has never been explained.

In the issue, Supes deals with some inter-dimensional invaders who wanted to capture him for their menagerie. Initially, they succeed with some numbing gas, but he managed to escape. He then disguised himself as one of his former captors by twisting and turning until he changed his appearance.

This is a man who dons a pair of glasses to fool the world into thinking Clark Kent is nothing more than a mild-mannered reporter. Why doesn't he simply alter his appearance completely to better blend in with humanity? He clearly could, but he doesn't, and he never bothered to do this again.