Superman

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Superman
Alias(es)	Clark Kent; Kal-El; Tom (black-suit Superman) 398
Species/Race	Kryptonian
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Justice League; Superman family; Superman Regime (Injustice counterpart) 332 397
Occupation/Role	Earth’s protector; superhero; Clark Kent maintains a civilian job as a reporter in Metropolis 167
Status	Main Superman: active, having resumed heroic duties after the Amazo Virus crisis. Injustice Superman: alive but unresponsive, maintained in a life-supporting “ice coffin” at the Fortress of Solitude. 236 361 413 415
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Identity and Variants

Identity	Description
Red-and-blue Superman	The younger, public-facing Superman active with the Justice League. He is a Kryptonian protector of Earth, recognizable by his blue suit, red cape, and chest emblem.
Black-suit Superman / Tom	An older Superman from a bygone world. He rescues Shane in space, later chooses a quiet civilian life as the fisherman Tom, and uses bio-force fields to keep Shane safe from temporal instability. 2 73 74 He describes himself as a survivor of vanished worlds whose continued existence may result from a past ascension into a higher-dimensional life-form. 73
Flashpoint Superman	A gaunt Superman imprisoned by the American military for decades without sunlight. His confinement leaves him physically weak, paranoid, and inexperienced in combat. 62 He later uses the alias Lur and becomes visibly more robust while living among the main Superman’s extended family. 184 397
Rib-man Superman	A severely injured, skeletal Superman recovered during the cross-dimensional crisis. Rachel determines that his soul has not dissipated despite the absence of vital signs; Batman and Shane revive him with artificial sunlight. 65
Infected / Zombie Superman	The main Superman after infection by the Amazo Virus. The virus copies his Kryptonian abilities and erodes his personality, leaving him cruel, instinct-driven, and able to share or combine powers with other infected Justice League members. 205 225 226
Merged future Superman	In Emperor Zhent’s former future, the younger Superman develops incurable Kryptonian cancer following a higher-dimensional scheme. Black-suit Superman gives up his separate existence and merges with him. The resulting Superman retains both versions’ memories and experience but is only somewhat stronger than the ordinary Superman, losing Tom’s overwhelming advantage over the Emperor. 123 144
Injustice Superman	An alternate Clark who establishes the Superman Regime after Joker’s murder of Lois and the destruction of Metropolis. He later receives a custom Yellow Lantern ring from Sinestro, becomes empowered by worldwide fear, and is defeated by Shane. Although he remains alive afterward, he loses the will to awaken. 333 336 352 361

Appearance

The main Superman wears a blue, form-fitting suit with a red cape and a bright S-symbol on his chest. Shane notes that he appears younger and more openly warm than the black-suit Superman who first saved him. 20

• Red-and-blue Superman — blue suit, red cape, and S-symbol; youthful blue eyes and an approachable expression. 20
• Black-suit Superman — black suit with a silver S-symbol; later appears as Tom in plain civilian clothing, with a thick beard and visible white hair at his temples. 2 73 74
• Flashpoint Superman — sickly and skeletal after decades of imprisonment without sunlight. 62
• Infected Superman — his face becomes bruised and covered in spreading black veins after infection; his usual warmth is replaced by a sinister, malicious expression. 205
• Injustice Superman — wears an armored costume with a raised S-shaped breastplate and armored shoulders connecting to his cape. Yellow Lantern power changes its colors to yellow and black. 350
• Post-crisis Clark — wears glasses together with his Superman suit during the family reunion at the Fortress of Solitude. 397
• During strength testing — after 6,000 repetitions on the Earth Bench Press Machine, his body is covered in sweat and his muscles become unusually pronounced from exertion. 415

Personality

Superman is compassionate, idealistic, and willing to judge people by their present choices rather than their past. When Shane rejects any comparison between them, Superman argues that Shane’s escape from Viltrum and refusal to continue its slaughter prove that he is different from Viltrumite conquerors. 20

He is protective of civilians and consistently restrains his power to prevent collateral damage, even when this leaves him at a disadvantage against enemies such as Doomsday. 99 His faith in rehabilitation and teamwork also leads him to encourage Zhent to join the Justice League despite Batman’s skepticism. 112

Tom shares Superman’s compassion but is more weathered and cautious. Rather than reclaiming a heroic public role, he attempts to live normally as a fisherman while quietly intervening in crises and watching over Shane. 73 74

Following the World Patch, Superman becomes more emotionally expressive and increasingly resembles an ordinary Earthling in his reactions. Batman warns him to question whether these changes are genuinely his own or originate from alternate-universe memories imposed by the Patch. 191

Superman’s protectiveness is especially pronounced toward Kara. Although he reluctantly permits Shane to train her, he repeatedly monitors the Teen Titans from a distance and pleads with Shane not to let her be seriously harmed. 183 187

After Amazo Virus infection, Superman’s conscience is nearly erased. He becomes violent and mocking, pursues former allies without restraint, and offers Shane the “mercy” of surrendering to infection. 205 226

His sense of responsibility also makes him vulnerable to overwork. When the Justice League loses several major members, he attempts to compensate through constant deployments while maintaining his reporting career, becoming visibly weary and mentally exhausted rather than abandoning his duties. 167

Family and companionship are especially important to him. Kara’s arrival brings his long-suppressed loneliness to the surface, and the prospect of rescuing Mon-El prompts an unusually enthusiastic response. 45 398 He continues defending Shane’s character long after their initial meeting, telling Conner that Shane’s imperfect history does not negate the trust he has earned through his actions. 397

Injustice Counterpart

Injustice Superman’s authoritarianism develops from grief, fear, and a desire to prevent another tragedy. His early regime still reflects aspects of his former compassion, but his methods become increasingly extreme from its second year onward. 348 352

He claims to oppose violence and crime while excusing his own violence and blaming others for disasters he causes. Shane views this contradiction as central to his downfall. 336 337 Even after deciding that mercy was a weakness, he repeatedly gives Batman and the Resistance additional chances, preventing his rule from becoming the absolute order he imagines. 352

His final conversation with Shane reveals greater self-awareness than his conduct as ruler suggests. After his defeat, he acknowledges how regret and fear shaped his choices, asks whether Lois is alive in Shane’s universe, and eventually loses the desire to regain consciousness. 352 361

Shane later suspects that this universe’s mysterious interference aggravates Superman’s temper, just as it appears to intensify Batman’s fixation and Shane’s forgetfulness. Mxyzptlk also claims that a vague warning of a greater approaching darkness influenced Superman’s decision to establish the regime. These explanations are presented as claims and suspicions rather than a complete account of his actions. 355

Power Progression

Stage	Advancement	Evidence
Established Kryptonian protector	Possesses the physical strength, speed, flight, heat vision, freeze breath, and bio-force field expected of a yellow-sun Kryptonian; can contend directly with divine power.	20 40
Doomsday recovery	Recovers from near-fatal injuries through solar exposure near Mars, then combines his bio-force field with Zhent’s to move Doomsday’s prison moon beyond the Solar System.	99
Special training	Begins sustained combat and environmental training under Shane, including training on Europa, Io, Mercury, and Venus.	155 162
Post-Patch growth	His speed and bio-force field become markedly stronger after the World Patch; Shane estimates that Superman is traveling at more than three times his own speed, apparently without Superman recognizing the increase.	183
Amazo Virus enhancement	The virus reproduces his Kryptonian abilities as a separate power source, allowing him to retain superhuman strength after Kryptonite suppresses his natural powers.	205
Infected ability-sharing	As part of the infected Justice League, he contributes his bio-force field to other zombies’ attacks and rapidly adapts his own combat patterns alongside them.	225 226
Post-crisis combat demonstration	After Wally removes Shane’s kryptonite during the staged Viltrumite attack, Superman lands a blow powerful enough to break Shane’s neck while Shane is fighting under self-imposed restrictions.	283
Stellar Wristband equipment	Receives Mon-El’s Stellar Wristbands from Shane to help sustain his powers during the planned Phantom Zone rescue.	398
Measured planetary strength and endurance	Adapts to a simulated load of 1.137 × 10²¹ short tons, then performs 6,000 repetitions at a load equivalent to Earth’s weight. He stops for other responsibilities rather than completing an exhaustive maximum-endurance test.	414 415 416
Black-suit variant: higher-dimensional survivor	Freezes time and the Speed Force, physically obstructs a dimensional portal, and reconstructs Shane after temporal turbulence. Tom attributes his survival beyond vanished universes to a possible earlier higher-dimensional ascension.	72 73
Black-suit variant: Golden Superman history	Shane identifies Tom’s earlier history as including ten thousand years inside the Sun and an ascension into a fifth-dimensional Golden Superman. He notes that Tom may no longer be able to use that dimension-transcending power in his current state.	392
Injustice variant: Yellow Lantern restoration	A custom Yellow Lantern ring expels a kryptonite bullet from his body and restores his powers, enabling him to kill Black Canary with heat vision.	333
Injustice variant: planetary fear empowerment	An uncontrolled fear-energy burst devastates a city; the worldwide broadcast subsequently exposes him to the fear of an entire planet and greatly increases his power.	336 337
Injustice variant: defeat and suspended survival	Shane counters his Yellow Lantern energy with a Green Lantern ring and defeats him. After losing the Yellow ring and suffering catastrophic injuries, he remains alive but unwilling to awaken and is placed in life support.	350 352 361

Abilities & Skills

Kryptonian Physiology

Under yellow sunlight, Superman possesses exceptional physical power, speed, endurance, and recovery.

• Recovers rapidly through solar exposure, including after being badly injured by Doomsday and Lobo. 99 112
• Can fly throughout Earth and the Solar System at extreme speed. 155 183
• Possesses strength sufficient to contest divine power and move celestial bodies alongside Zhent. 40 99
• Uses heat vision in combat; Doomsday adapts by absorbing its energy and growing stronger. 99
• Is vulnerable to kryptonite, which weakens him and can interfere with his ability to act. 60 141 142
• Uses freeze breath alongside heat vision to create sustained ranged pressure against opponents. 226
• His natural Kryptonian powers can be suppressed by concentrated Kryptonite in his bloodstream, especially when combined with extreme cold. 220
• Uses X-ray vision to examine markings inside Kara’s spacecraft and recognize its family emblem. 45
• His freeze breath is powerful enough to create an enormous artificial ice mountain while suppressing a Hawaiian volcanic eruption. 45
• Normally increases his output gradually rather than jumping instantly from everyday restraint to maximum strength. Shane explains that this process can take several minutes unless Superman acts against his instincts. 414
• At the Earth Bench Press Machine, moves beneath a simulated load of 1.137 × 10²¹ short tons and later performs 6,000 repetitions against Earth-equivalent resistance. The test demonstrates planetary-level strength and exceptional stamina without establishing his final endurance limit. 414 415 416

Bio-Force Field

Superman generates a biological force field that protects himself and can be extended to others or larger structures.

• The black-suit Superman uses it to preserve Shane’s life during his initial rescue in space. 2
• Tom uses it to restrain Shane’s weightless, temporally displaced body and prevent him from drifting into space. 73
• Tom reconstructs Shane after temporal turbulence shatters his body at the molecular level. 73
• Superman links his field with Zhent’s to cover and push Ganymede out of the Solar System with Doomsday sealed within it. 99
• Force fields can provide a medium for sound transmission in space. 112
• Following the World Patch, Superman’s field appears to have strengthened enough to support repeated high-speed travel between Earth, space, and the outer planets. 183
• The Amazo Virus enables other infected League members to employ Superman’s bio-force field, including using it to accelerate Cyborg’s energy cannon and Green Arrow’s projectiles. 225
• Protects passengers from the effects of extreme acceleration and deceleration; Shane experiences no dizziness when Superman rapidly transports him and Kara’s spacecraft to the Watchtower. 45
• Can be spread through the surrounding environment for investigation, including searching for Shane and Doomsday beneath Ganymede’s icy surface. 99
• Helps Superman navigate in space, estimate environmental conditions, and track elapsed training time. 155 156
• Offsets the kinetic effects of his high-speed flight and adaptively assists him in living normally despite his enormous strength. 183 414
• Tom uses his field to herd fish toward his boat, undermining the apparent ordinariness of his fishing. 74

Amazo Virus Physiology

After infection, the Amazo Virus copies Superman’s Kryptonian powers and develops them independently of his natural solar-powered physiology.

• Retains superhuman strength after a Kryptonite injection suppresses his original Kryptonian abilities because the virus provides a separate copy of those powers. 205
• Can coordinate with the infected Justice League’s shared powers, though their unfamiliarity with one another’s abilities initially disrupts their combat instincts. 225
• Suffers a major reduction in effectiveness when Batman repeatedly freezes the battlefield, as cold slows the virus sustaining his copied abilities. 220
• Is defeated and knocked unconscious by Thunder Zhent after his heat vision, freeze breath, and physical defense are overwhelmed. 228
• The virus’s copying spreads Kryptonian-like strength, flight, heat vision, and biological force fields among other infected heroes. However, incompatible additions can disrupt their original abilities, as happens when Flash’s copied Kryptonian physiology interferes with the Speed Force. 224 225 226
• The combined suppression of kryptonite and cold leaves him with less than one ten-thousandth of his powers during Batman’s grenade ambush. He avoids a potentially fatal internal detonation by spitting out the grenade before it explodes. 220

Combat and Rescue

Superman is Earth’s foremost responder, balancing direct combat with large-scale rescue work.

• Holds open a spatial rift against Zeus’s divine power. 40
• Protects Shane from Flash’s attempted lethal strike by positioning himself between them. 51
• Battles Doomsday until the creature’s adaptation, kinetic reinforcement, and concern for civilians leave him critically injured. 99
• Fights Zhent alongside Martian Manhunter and Shazam, though the future Viltrumite initially handles all three with ease. 122 123
• Trains with Shane on Europa after Batman determines that Superman needs specialized combat training. 154 155
• During his infected state, combines heat vision and freeze breath into a dense barrage while coordinating with Flash, Firestorm, Green Arrow, and Cyborg. 226
• Has previously undergone combat training under a red-sun device, although he admits attempting to avoid it by arguing that red-sun environments are uncommon. 155
• Endures more than seven hours of Shane’s initial Europa training. Shane subsequently recognizes that he has been applying Viltrumite training expectations too harshly. 156
• Trains his senses amid Io’s volcanic smoke, agility across Mercury’s extreme day-night temperature boundary, and physical resilience on Venus while dismissing his bio-force field. Shane also teaches him knifehand strikes. 162
• Restrains Kara when an unfamiliar hostile personality makes her dangerous, then requires departing Amazons to undergo virus testing. 236
• During Shane’s staged Viltrumite attack, warns the assembled heroes about kryptonite and supports their assault with ranged heat vision and freezing breath until Wally removes the fragments. 283

Black-Suit Superman’s Exceptional Abilities

Tom’s abilities greatly exceed those demonstrated by the younger main Superman.

• Freezes the surrounding scene so completely that Flash and the visible Speed Force around him become motionless. 72
• Physically jams a portal between worlds and seizes Shane during his attempted escape, surviving the portal’s subsequent collapse. 72
• Reassembles Shane molecule by molecule after the resulting temporal turbulence and maintains constant protection while Shane’s body remains temporally unstable. 73
• Can relinquish his ordinary use of powers to live as Tom and reclaim them with a thought when intervention becomes necessary. 73
• Instantly changes his civilian clothing into his black battle suit and alters his beard and physical presentation. 74
• Preserves a miniature city containing people from his vanished world and places rescued children in their care. 75
• Vundabar recalls that the Black Superman of the Old World Main Universe defeated a Darkseid avatar in direct combat. 272
• Shane describes him as having previously become a fifth-dimensional Golden Superman after ten thousand years of solar exposure, while distinguishing that historical state from the powers Tom can currently access. 392

Injustice Superman’s Yellow Lantern Power

The Injustice counterpart receives a custom Yellow Lantern ring as part of Sinestro’s manipulation.

• Fear energy removes a kryptonite bullet and restores his suppressed Kryptonian abilities. 333
• Uses the ring to arrest his fall after Battle Beast strikes him into a city. His fear of killing its inhabitants instead produces a catastrophic burst that corrodes bodies and skeletons. 336
• Draws greatly increased power from worldwide fear after the disaster is broadcast, allowing him to overwhelm Battle Beast. 336 337
• Heals a shattered spine through the combined assistance of Yellow Lantern power and sunlight. 350
• His Yellow Lantern energy can be countered by Shane’s Green Lantern ring, removing the advantage he expects in their confrontation. 350
• Shane judges that his use of fear energy does not amount to genuine acceptance of it and doubts that he possesses the strength of character required to connect with a Lantern Entity. 337

Relationships

• Shane / Zhent — Superman initially approaches Shane as a fellow alien outsider and becomes one of the first people to affirm that Shane can reject Viltrumite values. They later cooperate against Doomsday and train together. 20 99 155 Superman also clashes with Shane over Kara’s harsh Teen Titans training, though he ultimately permits Kara to decide whether to continue. 187 When Shane disguises himself as a hostile Viltrumite, Superman refuses to surrender Zhent and fights to protect him without realizing whom he is facing. 281 283 He later reassures Conner that Shane has earned everyone’s trust and enthusiastically accepts Shane’s help in rescuing Mon-El. 397 398
• Tom — Tom is the older black-suit Superman identity who rescues Shane, lives as a fisherman, and mentors him toward self-control and heroism. 2 73 74 He explicitly challenges Shane to choose heroism rather than obey him merely because he is stronger. 74
• Batman — Justice League ally whose caution often contrasts with Superman’s faith in others. Batman maintains surveillance on Tom and remains skeptical of Zhent, while Superman pushes for trust and cooperation. 73 112 Batman later recognizes that the World Patch is affecting Superman’s personality and warns him to distinguish his own will from imported memories. 191 His absence leaves Superman and Diana struggling with responsibilities he normally manages, prompting them to ask Shane to bring him home. 324 After his return, Batman oversees Superman’s planetary strength test. 414 415
• Shazam — Justice League teammate. Superman reprimands Billy when his recklessness creates an opening for Zhent’s escape, then trains alongside him under Shane. 126 155 The Injustice Shazam regards his Superman as an older brother and idol, making Superman’s later attempt to kill him especially devastating. 350
• Kara / Supergirl — Superman’s cousin. He entrusts Shane with taking Kara to Themyscira when the situation becomes too dangerous for him to protect her personally. 118 He remains intensely concerned for her safety, repeatedly watching her Teen Titans training from a distance and asking Shane to limit the danger she faces. 183 187 He restrains her during the aftermath of Shane’s apparent death when a hostile personality takes hold of her. 236 Kara later insists on accompanying him to rescue Lar Gand. 398
• Diana / Wonder Woman — Justice League ally. Their combined team later confronts Zhent, with Diana using the Lasso of Truth and divine weapons to restrict him. 126 When Superman worries over Kara’s training, Diana reassures him that Kara has chosen the path of a warrior for herself. 187 They jointly persuade Shane to retrieve Batman by showing him the League’s enormous backlog. 324 The Injustice counterpart has a particularly close relationship with his Wonder Woman, making him reluctant to force Themyscira’s cooperation as he does Atlantis’s. 345
• Flashpoint Superman — An alternate Superman Shane encounters during a cross-dimensional mission; the imprisoned Kryptonian distrusts him and refuses to provide information. 62 He later helps oppose Doomsday and works with Kara to protect the injured main Superman. 95 97 By the later Fortress reunion, he is a visibly healthier member of the extended Superman family. 397
• Rib-man Superman / Clark Kent — A traumatized alternate Superman whom Batman and Shane revive. Shane helps mediate his first interactions with Batman. 65 66
• Lois Lane — Tom’s Lois is an older counterpart of the journalist who remains with the black-suit Superman after he decides to settle in this world. 75 Injustice Superman’s Lois dies while pregnant as a result of Joker’s actions; her death and Metropolis’s destruction are central to his turn toward authoritarian rule. 348 352
• Jonathan and Martha Kent — Superman’s adoptive parents. He brings them to the Fortress of Solitude for the extended family reunion, and they warmly welcome Shane and the returning Mon-El. Superman had previously told them that Mon-El left Earth rather than revealing his confinement in the Phantom Zone. 397 398 400 Their Injustice counterparts live at the Fortress, where Superman disconnects the simulated Earth network to shield them from bad news about his rule; they later mourn beside his unresponsive body. 361
• Mon-El / Lar Gand — A Daxamite prince and Superman’s childhood friend. Main Superman reacts with intense hope when Shane offers a way to rescue him, accepts Mon-El’s Stellar Wristbands, and reunites with him before bringing him into the family gathering. 398 400 In the Injustice world, Mon-El recounts being befriended by a young Superman and placed in the Phantom Zone to halt fatal lead poisoning; Shane later discovers that Mon-El’s account contains false elements, so its details require caution. 375 392
• Conner / Superboy — A newly arrived member of the Superman family. Clark attempts to ease Conner’s suspicion of Shane by explaining Shane’s history and earned reputation. His enthusiasm over Mon-El’s rescue, however, helps leave Conner feeling overlooked during the reunion. 397 398
• Super-Dog — A Kryptonian dog introduced into Superman’s Fortress by the World Patch. Superman initially mistakes it for an ordinary dog and relaxes his body to avoid hurting it, only to be struck hard enough to hurt his ribs. He later tries to manage its exuberance and uncontrolled strength. 170 171 The dog joins the family reunion and detects Shane’s approach from kilometers away. 397
• Sinestro — Manipulates the Injustice conflict to deliver a custom Yellow Lantern ring to Superman, disguising his true objective through the simultaneous attempt to recruit Hal Jordan. 332 333
• Injustice Batman — Former friend and leader of the Resistance against the Superman Regime. Superman repeatedly spares him despite his stated rejection of mercy. After Shane’s victory, Batman determines that Superman can survive but no longer wants to awaken, then transports him to his parents at the Fortress. 352 361
• Mr. Mxyzptlk — A fifth-dimensional being and self-proclaimed devoted Superman fan. He is distressed by Shane’s treatment of Injustice Superman and claims Shane does not understand Superman’s burdens or the incomplete warning underlying the regime’s creation. 354 355
• Mongul — Although they have not yet met in the main universe, imported memories of other versions’ defeats at Superman’s hands cause Mongul to fear him and avoid the Milky Way. 319

Story Role / Major Arcs

Shane’s Arrival

The black-suit Superman intercepts Shane’s damaged escape pod near Earth. He catches Shane’s attack without difficulty, uses his bio-force field to keep him alive, and brings him to Earth to recover under Tom’s care. 2 3 4

Acceptance of Shane

The younger Superman meets Shane while he is struggling with the fear of rejection. On a deserted island, Superman reframes Shane’s escape from Viltrum as evidence that he has chosen not to become a conqueror, beginning their mutual understanding. 20

Kara’s Arrival

While Superman is suppressing a volcanic eruption in Hawaii, Shane investigates an alien signal and recovers Kara’s damaged spacecraft. Once notified that the passenger is Kryptonian, Superman hastily freezes the eruption site and races into space to meet them. 44 45

Recognizing the emblem of his own family inside the craft, he thanks Shane and carefully transports both him and the spacecraft to the Watchtower. The reunion exposes the loneliness he has carried for decades as an apparent survivor of Krypton. 45

Cross-Dimensional Crisis

The Justice League’s cross-dimensional missions bring Shane into contact with alternate Supermen and Lex Luthor’s weapons. The main Superman is absent from Shane’s first fight with Flashpoint Superman; Batman and Shane later revive the Rib-man Superman with artificial sunlight and question him about his world. 62 65 66

Black-suit Superman intervenes after Shane kills Flashpoint Luthor and threatens a group of children. He freezes time, including Flash’s Speed Force, and obstructs Shane’s attempted dimensional escape. The portal collapses, subjecting Shane to temporal turbulence. 72

Tom reconstructs Shane and explains that Shane’s actions have prevented the expected reboot into the New 52 central universe. As a survivor of vanished worlds, Tom had hoped to settle in that future with the wife he protected, but is now stranded in the replacement reality. He watches over Shane through years of temporal instability, living quietly as a fisherman and intervening only when necessary. 73

As they reach the period of Shane’s original arrival, Tom forces him to confront his earlier behavior and asks whether he wants to become a superhero. He later takes the rescued children into a miniature city containing people from his old world. 74 75

Doomsday Incident

Superman is critically wounded fighting Doomsday in New York after the creature adapts to his attacks. Following solar recovery near Mars, he finds that Zhent has dismembered and buried Doomsday within Ganymede; the two then use their force fields to push the moon beyond the Solar System. 95 99

Conflict with Emperor Zhent

When the future Zhent begins attacking Earth, Superman joins Martian Manhunter and Shazam against him. Zhent repeatedly evades the team through the Negative Zone, and Superman later leads a coordinated five-person assault that nearly prevents Zhent’s escape. 122 126

The Emperor’s account of his former future reveals a separate tragedy: the younger Superman developed incurable Kryptonian cancer, leading Tom to merge with him. Although this preserved their combined memories, it removed the older Superman’s overwhelming power as a check on the Emperor. This history belongs to the Emperor’s former timeline rather than Superman’s current condition. 123 144

During the Crime Syndicate invasion, kryptonite dust weakens Superman while Ultraman attacks him. He begins recovering once sunlight penetrates the dust, allowing Shazam to hold Ultraman off. 141 142

The kryptonite attack is initially enabled by the Outsider’s possession of Firestorm, whose atomic reconstruction produces a large mass of kryptonite during the battle against Despero. Batman subsequently uses a protective mask to prevent Superman from inhaling the dust spread by Ultraman. 136 142

Special Training

After the Crime Syndicate conflict, Batman identifies Superman, Shazam, and Firestorm as requiring special training. Shane takes Superman and Shazam to Europa, then later subjects them to harsher environments on Io, Mercury, and Venus. 154 155 162

Superman’s first Europa session lasts more than seven hours, prompting Shane to reconsider how closely he has been reproducing Viltrumite conditioning. The later program includes sensory training, rapid movement through extreme temperature changes, fighting without protective force fields, and knifehand techniques. 156 162

Shane also campaigns for the construction of the Earth Bench Press Machine. Batman initially regards its cost as disproportionate to the likely benefit for the League, but approves the project after prolonged lobbying that includes Shane’s warning about possible future Kryptonian cancer. 162

Expanding Responsibilities

After Wonder Woman and Aquaman withdraw from the Justice League, Superman’s daily deployments rise sharply. He balances his civilian work with disasters, criminal activity, rescue operations, and repeated secret visits to observe the Teen Titans. 167 183

His increased visibility improves public opinion of him, but the shortage of League members leaves him unable to meet every demand. He apologizes for missing training while continuing to push himself through mental exhaustion. 167

Batman’s later absence again exposes the League’s dependence on its central organizer. Superman and Diana show Shane the backlog of metahuman, paranormal, and international crises created or intensified by the World Patch and previous missions, persuading him to undertake an inter-universal rescue. 324

World Patch

As the universe prepares to absorb New 52 information through Flash’s reconnection to the Speed Force, Superman urges the Justice League to cooperate, report changes, and face the coming reality shift together. 168 After the Patch, his bio-force field and travel speed increase dramatically, while his behavior becomes more emotionally expressive and less characteristically restrained. 183 191

The Patch also places a Kryptonian puppy in his Fortress of Solitude. Its exuberance and lack of strength control initially surprise and injure him, providing a concrete example of the new histories and possessions appearing through the reality shift. 170 171 191

Kara’s Training

Superman becomes increasingly distressed by Shane’s extreme Teen Titans training methods, particularly when Kara is involved. He privately asks Shane to protect Kara from serious injury, then seeks Wonder Woman’s counsel when he remains uncertain whether to intervene. 183 187

Amazo Virus Crisis

The Amazo Virus infects Superman and copies his abilities, allowing him to retain superhuman strength even after Batman injects him with concentrated Kryptonite. 205 Batman later exploits the combination of Kryptonite and low-temperature grenades to reduce both Superman’s natural abilities and the virus’s copied powers. 220

As an infected member of the Zombie Justice League, Superman joins coordinated attacks against Shane using shared powers and combined heat-vision and freeze-breath barrages. 225 226 Thunder Zhent eventually breaks through his defenses, shatters his arm, and knocks him unconscious. 228

By the confrontation following Batman’s disclosure of Shane’s apparent death, Superman is again acting protectively rather than as a zombie attacker. He restrains Kara while Rachel assaults Batman, then mediates with Artemis and requires the Amazons to submit to virus testing before leaving. The supplied events do not establish the precise mechanism of his recovery. 236

Staged Viltrumite Attack

Shane later impersonates a hostile Viltrumite who claims to be Zhent’s older brother, staging a crisis to test the Teen Titans and Justice League. Superman arrives after Kara and Shazam have been incapacitated and refuses to allow the supposed invader to take Zhent or harm anyone else. His initial restraint gives Shane an opening to launch him into the sky. 281

After Shane uses kryptonite to overwhelm him, Barry Allen and Wally West catch Superman before he can crash into San Francisco. The remaining heroes coordinate their efforts while Superman recovers. 282

Superman and Kara then provide ranged support, warning the others to target the kryptonite in Shane’s hands. Once Wally vibrates the fragments free, Superman lands a blow that breaks Shane’s neck. Shane survives and inadvertently reveals that the fight has strengthened him. Diana recognizes his characteristic techniques, and Superman also realizes that the apparent invader is Shane. 283

Injustice Universe

While the main Superman remains occupied with his own world, Shane’s mission to retrieve Batman brings him into conflict with the Injustice counterpart and his regime. The Resistance and Green Lantern Corps initially gain the advantage, but Sinestro secretly restores Superman with a custom Yellow Lantern ring. Superman removes the kryptonite bullet that had weakened him and kills Black Canary with heat vision. 332 333 334

Battle Beast briefly surprises and injures him. While trying to avoid crashing into a populated city, Superman unleashes an uncontrolled burst of fear energy that kills and corrodes its inhabitants. The broadcast undermines his regime’s legitimacy while simultaneously empowering him through planetary fear. Shane intervenes because he fears the emergence of another Parallax. 336 337

Over the following months, resistance operations repeatedly frustrate the regime’s expansion, and the circulated footage of the city’s destruction further damages public support. Superman becomes increasingly irritable and extreme. 345 348

When Superman attempts to kill Shazam, Shane ambushes him, shatters his spine, and saves the younger hero. Superman heals through sunlight and Yellow Lantern power, but Shane counters his ring with Green Lantern energy and dominates their subsequent fight while magical allies occupy the Spectre. 350

Shane eventually leaves him near death, with most of his bones broken and one eye destroyed. After Superman speaks about Lois, Metropolis, and the fear underlying his regime, Shane listens rather than immediately killing him. Superman admits the contradictions in his pursuit of order and asks about Lois in Shane’s universe. 352

Chronos preserves his body in an Anti-Dimensional Cube. Injustice Batman later determines that Superman could be revived, but his brain activity indicates that he no longer wishes to awaken. He is placed in a life-supporting ice coffin and taken to the Fortress of Solitude, where his elderly parents grieve beside him and Jor-El’s AI apologizes for his actions. 354 361

Superman Family and Mon-El’s Rescue

After Batman returns, Superman gathers Jonathan, Martha, Kara, Flashpoint Superman, Conner, and the Super-Dog at the Fortress of Solitude. The gathering is intended partly to welcome Conner and ease his distrust of Shane. Superman explains Shane’s history and argues that his deeds have earned lasting trust. 397

Shane arrives with news of Mon-El and offers to help rescue him from another universe’s Phantom Zone. Superman’s enthusiasm immediately overtakes the reunion as he prepares for the mission and accepts the Stellar Wristbands Mon-El made to sustain Kryptonian powers in the Zone. Kara insists on joining because of her own childhood connection to Lar Gand. 398

Superman and Mon-El reunite and speak at length before returning with the group. Jonathan and Martha welcome Mon-El back into the family, having known him when they were younger. Superman’s earlier claim that Mon-El had simply left Earth had concealed the truth of his Phantom Zone confinement from them. 400

Earth Bench Press Testing

At the newly opened Super-Strength Center in the Canadian Shield, Superman asks to test first because he must travel to China for political cooperation and a body scan. Shane grants him priority, then discovers that Batman has charged Superman $200 for access despite the facility’s heroic purpose. 413

Batman equips Superman with alloy rings, traction wires, sensors, and electronic patches. Superman initially strains under the rising resistance, but gradually adapts and moves freely beneath a simulated load of 1.137 × 10²¹ short tons. 414

After roughly twenty minutes, the machine reaches Earth-equivalent resistance. Superman remains controlled and completes 6,000 repetitions before leaving for his other responsibilities. The performance astonishes the gathered heroes and establishes a large measurable gap between him and most other participants. His result is incomplete rather than a confirmed upper limit; Shazam’s enhanced second transformation later narrowly exceeds that recorded performance. 415 416

Notable Quotes

“You escaped a civilization like Viltrum, which prides itself on slaughter and conquest, doesn't that mean you fundamentally reject their ideology?” 20

“Although you participated in those brutal massacres in the past, you chose to escape, thus preventing yourself from causing more, more terrifying slaughter under Viltrum's orders in the future.” 20

“Or you could understand it this way: I'm an old Superman from an old world.” — Black-suit Superman. 73

“His past record isn't perfect, Conner, but Zhent has stood the test of time. He's earned everyone's trust.” 397

“You've met Mon-El? Have you found a way to save him?” 398

Trivia

• Shane initially suspects that the black-suit Superman who rescued him and the red-and-blue Superman seen on television are separate individuals because their appearances and temperaments differ so greatly. 7
• Tom can switch seamlessly between his civilian appearance and black-suit Superman identity, including instantly growing or removing his beard. 74
• Superman’s concern for collateral damage is a major difference between his combat style and Zhent’s; he cannot bring himself to use city-destroying force merely to win. 99
• Superman secretly checks on the Teen Titans at least ten times in a single day while continuing his work and worldwide rescue duties. 183
• Superman falsely claimed to Shane that he had argued with and been expelled by a girlfriend; he later admits that the story was merely an attempt to save face after declining a coworker’s invitation. 20 171
• Tom’s apparently ordinary fishing is assisted by his bio-force field, which herds fish toward the boat. 74
• The World Patch’s Kryptonian dog injures Superman’s ribs when he treats its greeting as that of an ordinary puppy. 170
• Mongul avoids the Milky Way out of fear of Superman despite never having encountered this universe’s Clark; the fear comes from memories of other versions’ repeated losses to him. 319
• Shane interprets Superman’s planned China body scan as possible groundwork for the creation of a Chinese Superman, but this is Shane’s inference rather than a confirmed purpose of the trip. 413
• Superman pays $200 to enter the Super-Strength Center, while Shazam pays $300 from his part-time-job savings. Shane’s joke about Superman being a “lifetime free VIP” exposes the discrepancy. 413
• His 6,000-repetition Earth-weight test should not be treated as his absolute stamina limit: he stops to attend to other matters. 415 416