Warning! Contains spoilers for Absolute Power #3!It’s hard to overstate just how difficult it is to actually hurtSuperman. He’s nicknamed the Man of Steel for a reason and there areveryfew ways to cause him any real damage. While magic and kryptonite are always great options, DC Comics has once again confirmed that there’s only one true way to defeat Superman with absolute ease.
As Amanda Waller’s forces continue to de-power and arrest superheroes all over the world duringAbsolute Power#3 by writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora, the heroes have had to get creative to stay ahead of Waller’s efforts to rid the world of metahumans. When a de-powered Aquaman goes up against an enraged Bizarro, it seems like Aquaman has no chance, until he brings out his secret weapon: the Black Mercy.
The Black Mercy is an alien plant that’s capable of trapping people in a fantasy world where they can live out their greatest dreams. Aquaman manages toeasilytake down Bizarro by simply hitting him with the Black Mercy. And because Bizarro does everything the opposite, instead of experience his greatest dream, he’s actually slowly slipping into his worst nightmare. Even though Bizarro had every advantage going into this fight, Aquaman still manages to take him down with just a single weapon.
There are tons of villains who would love nothing more than to kill Superman, but actually doing that is nearly impossible. The only ways to defeat Superman is either using brute strength greater than his own (which few have), magic (which few know), or kryptonite (which the Justice League actively hoards or even destroys).This means Superman is practically an unstoppable force for good. However, time and time again, the Black Mercy has proven to be the perfect counter to Superman that he really has no answer for.
Robin’s New Power Officially Makes Him Immune to a Classic Superman Weakness
Superman once fell to the terrifying power of the Black Mercy, but Robin possesses a secret ability that helps him overcome the psychic plant.
This has been proven dozens of times throughout Superman’s history, with the first instance of it being in the story, “For The Man Who Has Everything” by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons. Published in 1985’sSuperman Annual#11, this story marks the first time that Superman would come into contact with the Black Mercy, which is used by Mongol. Superman is defeatedinstantlyand needs both Wonder Woman and Batman to help save him. Even after encountering the Black Mercy for the first time, he wouldagainbe defeated by it inTrinity #6by writer Francis Manapul and artist Emanuela Lupacchino, wherehe needs Wonder Woman to save him once again.
Kryptonians Have No Defense Against Black Mercy
While the Earth’s yellow sun makes Kryptonians remarkably strong, all someone has to do is manage to expose them to Black Mercy, which seems surprisingly easy, and they’ll be completely out of the fight. It has worked on Supermannumeroustimes, and it works even better on Bizarro. Typically, the Black Mercy sends someone into their most desired dream, but Bizarro gets sent into his most horrific nightmare. The next time someone plans to take downSuperman,history shows that it’s not kryptonite or magic that can be relied on, but Black Mercy is the Man of Steel’s one true weakness.
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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.
