Superman Reconnects with One of His Most Underrated Powers

WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Wonder Woman #16! A couple of days ago, if someone had asked me to enumerate Superman’s powers, I would have confidently detailed everything from his incredible strength to his heat vision. However, the release of Wonder Woman #16 made me realize that I’ve often overlooked one of Superman’s most formidable yet frequently understated abilities.

In the latest issue penned by Tom King, Wonder Woman continues to embody the heroic spirit as she focuses on nurturing her newborn daughter, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Marston Prince, the child she shares with the late Steve Trevor. While she pours her devotion into motherhood, she also delegates the responsibility of confronting the Sovereign to her allies, formulating a strategy to bring him down for good.

Following the events of Issue #15 where Wonder Girls Donna Troy, Yara Flor, and Cassie Sandmark—alongside Barbara “Cheetah” Minerva—focused on undermining the Sovereign’s finances, Issue #16 shifts gears, highlighting two of Wonder Woman’s key allies: Detective Chimp and Superman. Interestingly, it’s not Superman’s superhuman abilities that shine through this time; rather, it’s Clark Kent’s prowess as an investigative reporter.

Clark Kent’s Overlooked Superpower: Investigative Journalism

The Daily Planet’s Clark Kent Delivers a Significant Blow to the Sovereign

In Wonder Woman #16, Clark Kent makes an entrance in his civilian guise as a reporter, seeking a moment with the Sovereign for some questions. What unfolds reveals that Clark possesses more knowledge about the Sovereign than the villain would like. Addressing him as “your majesty” subtly hints at Clark’s awareness of the Sovereign’s secretive role as a hidden ruler of the United States. The narrative then propels forward, showcasing the true measure of Clark’s investigative capabilities through the Sovereign’s own reflections.

The Sovereign narrates, “The tenacious Mr. Kent, following leads from the Chimp, uncovered a wealth of evidence linking our family to American history,” which resulted in “three hundred years of sacred secrets discarded.” This implies that Clark’s investigative prowess culminated in an article that unmasked the Sovereign’s villainy. Until now, his existence and influence had remained a secret, but Clark’s journalistic efforts have thrust him into the public eye, rendering him unable to operate as he once did. In this instance, Clark’s role as a journalist proves to be a far more effective weapon than any traditional superpower.

Superman’s Investigative Journalism: A Unique Superpower Worth Celebrating

Cover C Card Stock Variant by Guillem March for Wonder Woman #7 (2024)

Wonder Woman #7 cover featuring superman

While both Clark and Bruce were depicted delivering tragic news regarding Steve’s demise to Diana in an earlier issue, the return of Clark to this narrative serves to reinforce their bond. His assistance to Diana against the Sovereign in a more impactful way underscores that Clark’s identity as an investigative journalist transcends mere secret identity—it’s a powerful extension of his heroism.

Clark’s commitment to investigative journalism stands out as one of his most unique strengths. Superman could have resorted to using brute force against the Sovereign; however, Diana is equipped with allies capable of that, as previously illustrated. When it comes to achieving results through journalistic insight, Clark’s skills are incomparable. With a single impactful article, Clark successfully halted the Sovereign’s operations—an accomplishment that would be unattainable with sheer strength.

Clark Kent Earns Well-Deserved Recognition in Wonder Woman #16 (2024)

The Undeniable Impact of Investigative Journalism on Supervillains

Although Superman’s appearances are limited in Wonder Woman #16, this issue adeptly emphasizes that the true essence of the Man of Steel’s heroism extends well beyond his Kryptonian capabilities. This particular scene serves as a poignant tribute to Clark Kent, illustrating that his power in his civilian capacity as an investigative journalist carries equivalent weight to his superhero efforts. Thus, the next time I’m prompted to enumerate Superman’s powers, investigative journalism will undoubtedly take its rightful place at the top of the list.

Wonder Woman #16 is now available from DC Comics!

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