Superman is Losing His Powers

Things keep getting worse and worse for Superman. When he got his new solar flare power in SUPERMAN #38, it appeared things could be changing in his favor. This powerful blast, while it did leave him temporarily powerless for 24 hours, it gave him quite an upgrade in a way to take out big and powerful threats. Of course he'd have to learn to control it to keep those around him safe. It was during this practice time in issue #40 that lead to the TRUTH about his secret identity coming out.

Superman's secret identity may have been exposed (or about to be exposed next month) but that's not his only problem. It appears his powers are seriously messed up, as seen in the ACTION COMICS Sneak Peek free issue.

What we saw before was Superman slowly regaining his abilities after a day. We saw him go through several tests with the Justice League. When he tried flying out his bedroom window, he discovered he couldn't fly but attested this trying to do so "too soon." He was still able to jump really really high. He stood up to some blasts from some strange high-tech weaponry but survived with some cuts and bruises.

With his inner monologue in the sneak peek, he says his powers are fading rather than simply taking time to recharge. While fighting some shadow ninjas, he holds his own but it does take some effort.

He is still Superman. He manages to complete his journey to his destination--the Fortress of Solitude.

We may not know the full extent of what is going on. It doesn't seem this is just during a 24-hour period where he needs to recharge. If that was the case, it'd be a lot smarter to wait until he's fully recharged before making the trip, especially if he's being chased by those shadow ninjas. He figures the Fortress with its access to "all the secrets of Kryptonian Science" will be able to solve his problems. Unfortunately another problem arises. This is much more serious than we realized.

The Fortress of Solitude doesn't recognize him when doing a bio-scan. It's basically saying it's not registering a Kryptonian. Even if it was just a matter of Superman being temporarily de-powered, that wouldn't affect his physiology or DNA. The Fortress is saying there's something off about him. To throw even more salt in the wound, it finishes off by reclaiming his Kryptonian clothing. Now we know why he's forced to wear jeans and a t-shirt all the time.

This could also explain why Superman is seen on a motorcycle on the cover for BATMAN/SUPERMAN #22.

There is a multi-part arc, Truth, coming up in ACTION COMICS, SUPERMAN, SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN, and BATMAN/SUPERMAN. Superman's secret identity has become public, he's lost his costume, his powers are all messed up and his physiology may be getting re-written somehow.

This definitely isn't the Superman we've been reading about for the 77 years and perhaps that's a good thing. Having a character's status quo shaken up can lead to interesting stories. We'll definitely have to see how the heck they get him out of this messy situation.

Check out our interview with Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder as we try to get to the bottom of some of the changes in Superman's life!

Well that is definitely a bigger story than I expected, some mystery is always nice :)

Also nice to see an actual reason to his new outfit, and not just a "because" lol

So exited for this arc. Just that thing Superman needs to change things up after the same old song and dance. I was absolutely disgusted with Johns after his lazy attempt at returning Clark to the Daily Planet, glad to see the writers took him out of there. Can't wait for the next Paktion Comic issue.

I bet Bruce is happy now that he can leave hickeys on Clark.

I am so ready for this.

I'm always excited for anything going on with Superman. But I'm much more interested in whatever is going on in Truth. Should be an interesting story arc.

Been loving Pak and Kuder on Action. The recent sneak peek got me pretty hype.

Haven't read Superman in a while, what're the odds this is just some clone of Superman or something that doesn't know it's a clone, with the real Superman being indisposed somehow? Superior Spider-Man style, switching the two offpanel so they're indistinguishable til the reveal. As in what if this is some version of Superboy, or an off-shoot, that sort of thing? It'd explain the new power, the instability of his powers, and the bioscan coming up negative.

Pak and Kuder's Action Comics has been nothing short of amazing. I truly think its one of the more under appreciated titles out there right now.

I don't think so. Supergirl's series ended with her mysteriously losing her powers too, so I think something's supposed to be happening to all Kryptonians.

Why did he lose his powers again?

This reminds me how it sucks that Supergirl's fortress was destroyed. Well, that little evil robot survived.

I called this when I saw that his hands were bleeding and rapped in bandages. Also Geoff Johns was qouted right after the new look reveal saying "He's going to be superman no matter what, it's who he is." so I thought this was pretty predictable.

After Convergence, the Man of Steel is not the hero he used to be.

must...resist...New 52" crack!

After Convergence, the Man of Steel is not the hero he used to be.

It's basicly the same thing that has been happening since Doomed.

@amazingwebhead said:After Convergence, the Man of Steel is not the hero he used to be.must...resist...New 52" crack!

I'll gladly do it for you.

*ahem*

After Convergence?

He'll still possess super intelligence (right?), and will still be the most intelligent being on Earth, so he'll still be OP af from an intellectual standpoint.

There is a multi-part arc, Truth, coming up in ACTION COMICS, SUPERMAN, SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN, and BATMAN/SUPERMAN. Superman's secret identity has become public, he's lost his costume, his powers are all messed up and his physiology may be getting re-written somehow...

...and now his girlfriend has to teach him to be superhuman again, like he taught her how to be human.

He will get his powers back eventually but it is nice to see they are shaking it up a bit.

meh.

@devil_driver: rumor is that he'll go, at least, a year in the current state.

Ugh

" Do you bleed? You do now." XD

dropped. immediately.

Super Street Level Man? :p

bleh

It looks and sounds really good. Excited for this.

Yay!

not paying for this one

they always need to shoehorn batman

I am really surprised they aren't giving him tattoos as well.

Not sure how I feel about this...

Are you sure cornell isn't writing this?

thank you :)

I saw the peek of superman..and I imagined it. His fortress not let him go? and the scooter... now that's a metahuman powers no kriptonian? lois affection betrayal of his powers?

I will give an opportunity but not out another saga ..

Will have to wait for the return of authentic Superman and his powers ...anyway. we continue to see Superman in justice league....

Instant pick up

"Hey Superman ! Welcome to Marvel Comics !"

Still not used to seeing a powerless, cape-less Superman wearing jeans and riding a motorcycle.

Mixed feelings.

I don't care about the depowerment.

But I DO DISLIKE the crossover format.

Yeah the motorcycle part sounds awful :P But T-Shirt and jeans were done before and it was quite enjoyable.

He never displayed any particular Super-intelligence. Except when he speed-read medical books. Something Flash can also do.

But no Superman doesn't have super-intellect in the New52, if he did he wouldn't need a plethora of scientists to help him. Ex. Shay, Hiro "Toyman", Batman and more.

Well...

I'm done reading Superman for a while. This kind of Superman story just doesn't interest me. "Oh noes! Superman loses his powers! ... Again."

I might care if Superman didn't do this story every so often anyway. Remember the original 52 series? Superman has no powers for a year. Now this Superman has no powers. Yadda yadda. Give me back Superman... Flying, super strong, senses, heat vision, super breath... The whole package... And stop pandering to the Batman crowd. Or you can forget me as a reader.

Because of his over-the-top powers there are not as many stories to write for Superman which get people interested. For some reason the depowered Superman is one which comes up fairly frequently.

I guess for the time being then that a female character is the strongest in the Justice League? That might be the first time that this has happened.

His best stories are always the ones that stay true to the character. Look at a top ten list and you will see that the Supermen in that list are all more powerful, that in-continuity Superman. All-Star, Kingdom Come, Red Son, Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow etc.

Depowered Superman is as cliche at this point as evil Superman.

Who would wanna read about depowered superman??

This kind of reminds me of a much more drawn out episode of Smallville. The premise of most episodes was to de-power him to show how he could overcome the odds in other ways. But everything usually returned to normal by the end of the episode.

Sounds interesting.

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