Warning: Spoilers for Superwoman Special #1 and Superman #21The Super-Family includes some of the most powerful heroes in the DC Universe, and they just got a major new member with the reveal thatSuperman’sbeloved wifeLois Lanehas just gained her very own set of Kryptonian powers. Comic books are full of strange and surprising situations, but the way Lois Lane gained these incredible powers is more surprising than most superhero origin stories.
One of the biggest events of last year wasAbsolute Powerby Mark Waid and Dan Mora, which ultimatelygave rise to the Superman Family’s newest powered hero- who just so happens to be one of their oldest characters, seeing as Lois Lane debuted alongside Superman inAction Comics#1 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
InAbsolute Power, Amanda Waller made a move against the superhero community, as she tried to take over the world and remove heroes once and for all. Waller very nearly succeeded due to her Amazo army, who could steal powers, but this event also gave birth to the most exciting newmember of the Superman Family: Superwoman, whoseorigins are revealed inSuperwoman Special#1by Joshua Williamson, Laura Braga, Nikola Čižmešija, Edwin Galmon, Rex Lokus, and Dave Sharpe.
Lois Lane Stole the Powers of the Most Dangerous Kryptonian to Become Superwoman
By Accident, Of Course
These Amazos completely drained people’s powers and then took the powers themselves, making them incredibly dangerous. While the heroes succeeded in defeating Waller’s Amazos and returning their powers, those powers didn’t all go back to where they belonged. People’s abilities got mixed up, and due to an absurd fluke, Lois ended up stealing someone else’s powers. Because she was wearing armor created by Lex Luthor when the Amazos were defeated - armor that was also tapped into the Amazo network and had interstellar communication -Lois “steals” the powers of General Zod, who is still in deep space.
These new powers have allowed Lois to be closer than ever to her husband as the new Superwoman. Thanks to her new abilities,she has fought Doomsday alongside Superman, traveled to the moon for a romantic outing, and easily moved all over the world with him, most recently inSuperman#21 by Williamson and Mora. Lois has been having tons of fun with her new powers, as she demonstrated when she revealed her identity asSuperwoman to Superman in the perfect way. But the fact that she got these powers from Zod is definitely going to be a major problem for the Super-Family in 2025 and beyond.
Hopefully whatever’s coming is not as dark as the other times Lois Lane gained Superman’s powers.
For the past few months, General Zod has been roaming around space with his makeshift armada. After Zod exiled his son Lor-Zod and experienced the death of his wife Ursa, Zod has nothing left to live for except empirical conquest, which is going to become infinitely harder for the would-be warlord due to losing his Kryptonian powers. There’s no doubt that as soon asZod learns that Lois Lane stole his powers, he will bring his entire army down on Earth in an attempt to get them back. As dark as this possibility seems, hopefully whatever’s coming is not as dark as the other times Lois Lane gained Superman’s powers.
Superman’s Powers Have Killed Lois Lane in Previous Stories
Page fromSuperwoman#1 by Phil Jimenez, Matt Santorelli, Jeromy Cox, and Rob Leigh
The New 52 continuity reboot was a confusing time for Superman and his supporting cast. While some characters were mostly left alone in the reboot, like Batman, Superman had almost everything changed. He lost both of his parents, the Kents, at a young age. He grew up alone and became a bit darker. Despite this change in upbringing,he still managed to find Lois Lane and fall in love. Unfortunately, audiences didn’t fall in love with him. DC killied him off before the launcg of its Rebirth era and brought over the pre-FlashpointSuperman and Lois. But this switcheroo presented a problem, as there were now two Lois and Clarks in the DCU.
Superwoman’s New All-Kryptonian Team Redefines What the DC Comics Super-Family Can Be
Superwoman just introduced a new team of Kryptonian superheroes to DC lore, with a line-up so impressive they could even put Superman to shame.
After being struck by the energy of Denny Swan, an impostor of Superman,the New 52 version of Lois Lane began to exhibit Kryptonian powers. At first, she wanted to use them for good and to carry on the legacy of the New 52 Superman, who had died. Whileshe assumed the role of Superwoman for a time, her time as a superhero didn’t last. After a brutal battle with a female Bizarro, Lois' power went out of control, and her body turned to ashes; she simply faded away into the wind. It’s a brutal scene, but it definitely got the job done in fixing the problem of two Lois Lanes existing in the DCU when there should only be one.
Will Lois Lane’s Fate as Superwoman End Just as Darkly as Before?
2025 Has a Lot in Store for Lois Lane
Lois Lane has often gained superpowers over the years. She first became Superwoman inAction Comics#60 by Siegel and George Roussos - even if it was a dream sequence. In another dream, she became Power Girl inSuperman#125 by Jerry Coleman and Kurt Schaffenberger, and finally, she became Super Lois inSuperman’s Girlfriend Lois Lane#21 by Schaffenberger.
But all of these historical stories are pretty light-hearted and goofy, especially given that they’re primarily from the Golden and Silver Ages, which are known for their zany stories. It’s hard to forget that the last time Lois gained powers in contemporary DC continuity, it ended in her death. Hopefully,Lois Lanewill be able to avoid repeating that fate, even if it does mean giving up some fantastic dates withSuperman.
Superwoman Special#1is 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.
