WARNING: Contains potential spoilers for Wonder Woman #16!If you had asked me two days ago to list all the powers Superman possesses, I would have confidently recited everything from his superhuman strength to his heat vision and more. However, after the release of the latest Wonder Woman question, I realized I was neglecting one of the Man of Steel's most used and mastered abilities.
Tom King Wonder Woman #16 continues the tone set by the previous issue, with Diana dedicating her time and energy to caring for herself and the late Steve Trevor's newborn daughter, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Prince Marston. Meanwhile, she entrusts her allies with the task of dealing with the Sovereign and carrying out her plans to defeat him once and for all.
In issue #15, Wonder Girls Donna Troy, Yara Flor and Cassie Sandmark, alongside Barbara “Cheetah” Minerva, targeted the Sovereign's assets, essentially bankrupting him. Issue #16 shifts the focus to two other allies of Wonder Woman, Detective Chimp and Superman. However, It is not the Man of Steel who comes to Diana's aid, but rather Clark Kent, using his power as an investigative reporter.
The One Clark Kent Superpower I Keep Forgetting: Investigative Journalism
Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent deals a MAJOR blow to the sovereign
In Wonder Woman #16, Clark approaches the Sovereign in his civilian guise as a reporterasking if the man has a few moments to answer some questions. It quickly becomes clear, however, that Clark knows more about the Highbreed than the villain wants, as Clark calls him “Your Majesty,” subtly acknowledging that he is aware of the Sovereign's secret identity as the hidden ruler of the United States. After this moment, the story progresses and, through the Sovereign's narration, it becomes clear how powerful Clark's investigative reporting really is.
The Sovereign reflects, “The tenacious Mr. Kent, following clues provided by the Chimpanzee, discovered countless pieces of evidence linking our family to American history,” resulting in “three hundred years of sacred secret thrown in the trash can.” This suggests that Clark's investigative skills led to an article that exposed the Sovereign for the villain that he is. Before this, no one even knew of its existence or influence over the US, but now, under intense scrutiny, thanks to Clark's article, it can no longer operate as it once did. In this way, Clark's journalism proved to be a greater weapon against the Sovereign than any of his traditional powers ever could.
Superman's investigative journalism is his most unique superpower (seriously)
Guillem March cover card C stock variant for Wonder Woman #7 (2024)
While Clark and Bruce were shown delivering the news of Steve's death to Diana and comforting her Wonder Woman #14, it was exciting to see Clark return to the narrative and help Diana in her war against the Sovereign in a more practical way. What made his support even more memorable was the fact that he came to her aid as Clark Kent rather than Superman, highlighting not only their friendship beyond heroism, but also emphasizing that Clark's role as an investigative reporter is more than just a secret identity – it's an extension of his heroism.
Clark's investigative journalism stands out as one of his most unique and effective powers. Although Superman's strength could have been used to sabotage the Sovereign's assets, Diana had many allies capable of fulfilling this role, as shown in issue #15. But when it comes to achieving the results that Clark achieved through investigative reporting, the pool of potential allies narrows significantly. With a well-titled article, Clark disrupted Sovereign's operations-something Superman could not have achieved.
Daily Planet's Clark Kent Gets the Recognition He Deserves Wonder Woman #16 (2024)
Now there's no denying the impact of investigative journalism against supervillains
Although Superman only appears in a few brief panels in Wonder Woman #16, this comic does a brilliant job of reminding fans – myself included – that the Man of Steel's heroism goes far beyond his Kryptonian powers and strength. In fact, I would even call this scene the final tribute to Clark Kent, showing that his power in his civilian role as an investigative journalist is just as impactful as it is in his superhero persona. So if I'm ever asked to list Superman powers again, you can bet I'll put investigative journalism at the top.
Wonder Woman #16 is now available from DC Comics!