Warning: Spoilers for Action Comics #1078Superman’s Kryptonian abilities define him as a hero in DC lore, but now that he’s lost them, he must find a different path to power. The Man of Steel has just taken his classic nickname to a whole new level as he receives the ultimate armored upgrade, protecting his vulnerable body from the very energy source he needs to draw his strength from.
Action Comics#1078 by Mark Waid, Clayton Henry, Michael Shelfer, Matt Herms, and Dave Sharpe sends Superman on a perilous quest to fly near the sun and destroy a device thevillainous Aethyris using to consume it. The problem is that, because it’s no longer emitting enough light to empower Superman, proximity to the sun has a possibility of killing him.
Luckily, Mister Terrific andSuper-Family ally Steelare on the case.The two geniuses work together to design a suit of armor for Superman that shields him from the sun so he can safely recharge his powers.
Superman’s New Armor Enhances His Power Without Sunlight
Superman Can Sustain Damage From the Sun Thanks to His High-Tech Suit
Typically, Superman can tap into his Kryptonian powers at will when he’s under the light of Earth’s yellow sun. Here, Aethyr has flipped that status quo on its head bydraining the sun to fuel the Phantom Zone’s expansion, thereby depriving Superman of the power he converts into superhuman might. Superman does possess a"sun-dipping" power-uphe seldom uses, with which he can fly into the sun’s rays and recharge with a major boost; however, doing so is dangerous enough when he’s at his regular level of strength, and the risks are even worse now that Superman’s formerly indestructible body is as vulnerable as a human being’s.
Superman’s “Black Lightning” Weakness Makes Kryptonite Look Safe
Superman reveals a mysterious new weakness that puts Kryptonite to shame, as Krypton’s black lightning affects him in a terrifying way.
Mister Terrific’s plan is an ingenious solution to this dilemma.With Steel’s help, he constructs a costume that can endure the sun and allow Superman to replenish his energy so he can shut down Aethyr’s dimensional rift.Considering that two ofDC’s smartest charactersare behind this costume’s design, Superman can be assured that it’ll do its job. The armor itself isn’t as flashy as other gear he’s donned over the years, but its functionality is the priority in this scenario. Thankfully, Superman’s armor works as planned, elevating him to Kryptonian-level durability despite his diminished powers.
Superman Has Used Technology to Overcome Weaknesses Before
Superman’s Armored Upgrades Grant Him Newfound Advantages
Superman’s status as one of thestrongest characters in the DC Universemakes him a prime target for getting his abilities stripped away, and technology like his new armor is employed in these instances to keep him in fighting shape. In Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Rafa Sandoval’sAction Comics#1058, Superman is in a similar situation to where he is now, asSteel builds him armorto compensate for a lack of powers. Likewise, inSuperman#9 by Joshua Williamson and Bruno Redondo, he wears arobotic suit designed by Lex Luthorthat assists him through his Kryptonite poisoning.
The most iconic costume upgrade to a de-powered Superman is, of course, hisblack recovery suit. After Doomsday kills Superman, he’s eventually resurrected via the Kryptonian Regeneration Matrix inAction Comics#689 by Roger Stern and Jackson Guice. However, his body is significantly weakened, so he wears his sleek new costume to both protect himself from injury and absorb more energy from the sun than his normal garb enables him to. Artificial enhancements to his gear can give Superman game-changing advantages when he’s at his lowest.
Superman recently wore his fan-favorite recovery suit again after losing his powers in theAbsolute Powerminiseries by Mark Waid and Dan Mora, available now from DC Comics!
Additionally, though it isn’t a full costume in form,Superman’s solar gauntletsserve as another upgrade that compensates for a lack of powers in an inventive way. Created by Bruce Gordon, they allow him to charge up energy for the duration of their battery life when he doesn’t have ayellow sun to naturally draw power from. Ultimately,the purpose of these and other high-tech accessories is to elevate Superman to his usual godlike state in situations where he’s powerless. While they’re useful on occasion, it’s also important to remember that Superman doesn’t need to rely on armor under normal circumstances.
Superman’s Armor May Be Durable, But His Kryptonian Powers Are Still Superior
Superman Doesn’t Need Technology to Reach His Full Potential
Even whenSuperman loses his powers, he’s still as super as ever - and it isn’t an armored enhancement that cements him as such. In this issue, as Superman skirts by the sun on his mission to save the Earth, his armor starts to fall apart due to the overpowering rays. Most would fear the side effects of losing protection from the blazing sun, but the Man of Steel remains resolute in his mission.Supermanends up breaking free from the armor to absorb the sun’s energy and proceeds to successfully destroy Aethyr’s device, proving that he’s a powerhouse with or without artificial help.
Action Comics#1078is available now from DC Comics.
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
