"Wait, you really think that?" Martian Manhunter sounded surprised. "I thought all that archnemesis stuff was just Lex Luthor getting carried away."
"Don't underestimate Luthor, or you could pay for it," Superman said.
"I wouldn't underestimate him. He's one of the few people with telepathic powers, after all. And that one time—his willpower was unbelievably strong for a human," Martian Manhunter said. "It's just that compared to you, that's hardly worth mentioning."
"I'm just a hero who's a little stronger than most." Superman smiled.
Martian Manhunter fell silent, giving Superman a complicated look.
"Ahem—don't look at me like that." Superman grew a little embarrassed under his gaze. "Head back to Earth first. I'll keep an eye on Luthor's giant robot here—oh, if you have time, could you check on Metropolis for me? Just in case any supervillains are stirring up trouble."
Any supervillain capable of causing havoc in Metropolis was no pushover, but Martian Manhunter was powerful too. Superman trusted him to handle it.
"Okay." Martian Manhunter nodded, shifted his body into an unusual shape, and launched himself toward Earth.
He shot toward the ground like a meteor, but thanks to the structure of his body, friction with the atmosphere didn't set him ablaze. He returned smoothly to Metropolis.
Metropolis.
"Let's check for trouble first." Martian Manhunter spread his psychic power outward but found little of note. The people here were remarkably law-abiding. Even rude behavior was rare. The closest thing to trouble was an old man streaking down the street, with a priest chasing after him taking pictures.
"Is Metropolis really this peaceful?" Martian Manhunter was a little surprised.
"Of course. Metropolis is the safest place around, J'onn." Martian Manhunter noticed a young, brash Superman suddenly standing before him. "You're—"
"Clark Kent, or you can call me Superboy-Prime," Superboy-Prime