X-ray vision

In science fiction stories or superhero comics, X-ray vision is the ability to see through physical objects at the discretion of the holder of this superpower. The most famous possessor of this ability is DC Comics' iconic superhero character, Superman.

Although called X-ray vision, this power has little to do with the actual effect of X-rays. Instead, it is usually presented as the ability to selectively see through certain objects as though they are invisible, translucent or not present, in order to see objects or surfaces beyond or deep to the affected object or material. Thus, Superman can see through walls to see the bad guys beyond, or see through Lois Lane's dress to determine the colour of her underwear (in Superman: The Movie, Warner Brothers, 1978). In such cases, the visions seen are generally in full color and three-dimensional. How such an effect might be created via x-rays is unexplained (the x-rays from the viewer's eyes would need to bounce back to his eyes the same way as normal light reflects off objects and into the viewer's eyes: x-rays simply pass through an object and continue on their way. X-ray films are made as x-rays pass through an object and then through the x-ray film. The images seen on x-ray film are "shadows" of the objects the x-rays passed through on their way to the film). As depicted, x-ray vision is actually more of a form of the supposed psychic ability of remote viewing.

Real world X-rays

X-rays have many practical uses for scientific and medical imaging. Security agencies are experimenting with applications of imaging devices which can "see" through clothing (using terahertz waves). Such devices are being deployed in some airports as a way of detecting contraband, such as guns, which may be carried beneath a person's clothing. The devices have created some degree of controversy from personal privacy advocates who worry about screeners being able to see people "naked.". There also exist certain night-vision equipped video cameras that can be modified to see through clothing at a frequency just below visible light. Such imaging is not true x-ray vision, but rather shows variations in heat radiation rising from the skin beneath the clothing which can provide some detail of the body beneath.

X-ray Specs

In comic books in the latter half of the 20th century, there often appeared an advertisement for "X-ray Specs" which displayed the face of a smiling boy wearing glasses with spirals on the lenses looking at his hand through which he could see the bones.

Examples

The best known figures with "x-ray vision" are the fictional superhero Superman, who once had a heat producing function before that power was separated as heat vision, and the protagonist of the 1963 film X (aka X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes).

The 1934 novel The Lady With the X-Ray Eyes features one of the first literary characters with X-ray vision.

In the TV show The Greatest American Hero Ralph Hinkley has x-ray vision.

In the TV show Lois and Clark, a misfit uses his X-ray vision to look in a dressing room, only to be blocked by Superman, who angrily tells him the most despicable action a superhero can do is use X-ray vision to spy on the girls' locker room. Although in a different episode, Lois Lane temporarily possesses X-ray vision and it is implied that she uses the ability to appreciate Superman/Kent's posterior.

In the movie Superman Returns, Superman uses the X-ray vision to see into the interior of Lois Lane's body in order to check for internal injuries. This is also done in Superman III when Superman checks a broken bone of Jimmy Olsen's to determine the damage.

In the anime and manga series Naruto, the Hyuuga clan possesses the Byakugan, an eye condition which confers a sort of x-ray vision, along with limited thermographic capabilities and the ability to see the flow of chakra.

In the Bionicle storyline, a Kanohi mask called Akaku endows its user with X-Ray Vision. A more powerful version, the Akaku Nuva, grants X-Ray vision to the user and those around him (and can see through illusions).

In the video games Super Metroid, Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Samus acquires an X-Ray Scope or Visor that allows the player to see hidden recesses in walls and enemies that are outside the normal and infrared vision spectrums.

In the comic Buster there is a strip called X-Ray Specs whose hero, Ray, has a pair of glasses which provide him with x-ray vision.

In the Pokémon series, the "Gleam Eyes Pokémon", Luxray has the ability to use X-Ray vision, to spot prey hiding behind objects.

In the Harry Potter series, Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody has an eye which can see through many objects including ceilings and walls.

In the 2011 fighting game Mortal Kombat, the X-Ray special is a devastating move which one fighter performs on the other, while the view changes to "X-Ray" vision, to show the internal damage the body endures.