What was scarier than Superman's heavy punches?
A hug from Superman.
Although Shane's physical age had increased by about three years, putting him roughly on par with Mark at the start of the original Invincible story, and years of training had given him a more powerfully built physique.
In front of a hulking man like Superman, he was still as helpless as a little bird before an eagle.
One spread of those enormous wings, and he was wrapped up tight from head to toe.
Caught in a full-on bear hug.
And because Shane was physically tough enough, Superman had no need to be as careful as he was in that "world of fragile paper."
It was one hell of a tight hug.
Shane rolled his eyes and repeatedly slapped Superman's arm.
Superman released him in a daze and spread his hands sheepishly, watching Shane hastily slip away through the air like a fish in water.
"Uh, I just couldn't help myself."
Shane gave him a strange look. "It felt like being clamped in a hydraulic press. Sure, I'm a chunk of iron myself, but that doesn't make it comfortable."
Superman never got a chance to answer.
The Teen Titans behind him had finally recognized the Instructor from that familiar tone, and they swarmed past him, charging toward Shane.
"Oh, this really is a nightmare I can't escape."
They even came in a distinct order.
Kara was the fastest. She easily knocked aside and overtook Shazam, who was also moving quite fast, leaving the big red lug spinning in place several times in midair.
Next came Donna and Tula, whose bloodlines made them physically stronger than the others.
In the end, the whole group piled into a small mountain, burying Shane at the bottom.
Rachel even reached a hand out of