Warning: Spoilers for Action Comics #1075Superman The DC Universe’s greatest weakness is widely considered to be Kryptonite, but he has another one that could spell even more trouble for him in the long run. In a shocking revelation, the Phantom Zone has transformed into a terrifying weapon with the ability to strip Superman of his powers. A staple of Superman lore exploits his true weakness by eliminating the source of his superpowers: the sun.
In Action comics #1075 by Mark Waid, Clayton Henry, Michael Shelfer, Matt Herms and Dave Sharpe, Superman asks Jor-El what would happen if the Phantom Zone changed beyond being a void. Jor explains that he once tried to solidify the Zone and caused a two-day blackout on Krypton, so this consequence would get worse on a larger scale.
Meanwhile, on Earth, Jimmy Olsen informs Lois Lane that Earth is suddenly getting colder instead of hotter. This global cooling turns out to be the work of the Phantom Zone. Jor-El’s prediction came to pass thanks to the machinations of the wicked Aethyr. The Phantom Zone is consuming Earth’s sun in order to fuel your evolutionweakening Superman in the process and potentially stripping him of his powers for good.
The Phantom Zone consumes Earth’s Sun in a drastic shift in Superman lore
Aethyr Expands DC’s Darkest Prison, Putting Earth in Danger
Superman first sets out to investigate the Phantom Zone after a horrific fusion of prisoners emerges from it. Since then, he has discovered who is the author of these dark designs: Aethyr, a villain originating from the Zone. Aethyr’s disdain for criminals leads him to subject them to his own cruel vision of justice. He turned the Phantom Zone into absolute nightmare fuel, torturing its inhabitants and sending them through time portals, all to punish them for their crimes. Despite Superman’s efforts to foil Aethyr’s plot, he ends up being sent through time as Aethyr continues his reign of terror.
Aethyr’s punishment of the Phantom Zone prisoners comes to a head in this issue when he decides that they deserve the greatest form of suffering he can cause. His original intention may have been revenge against Superman, but here he has redirected his goal to tormenting the Kryptonians within the Zone to a horrific degree. Channeling dark powers, Aethyr proclaims that he will transform the Phantom Zone into “an entire world dedicated to judgment and pain… from which there is no escape.” The Phantom Zone thus begins its transformation and requires the power of Earth’s sun to do so.
The Phantom Zone Just Became the Ultimate Anti-Superman Weapon for a Critical Reason
Superman’s godlike powers disappear without the sun
Kryptonians like Superman draw their supernatural power from the sun, with the energy of yellow suns unleashing their immense potential. Essentially, Superman’s exposure to Earth’s sun is what gives him his god-like abilities. He can even amplify this effect through techniques such as sunbathing. Without the sun, Superman is no stronger than an average human.
Superman’s weakness in the absence of a yellow sun is proven when he travels back in time to Krypton. Under the red sun of his home planet, Superman has no superpowers and becomes physically vulnerable. Superman needs a yellow sun to reach full power, and the Phantom Zone has now deprived him of Earth.
The expansion of the Phantom Zone will condemn Earth to eternal darkness and Superman to eternal powerlessness.
The Phantom Zone is used against Superman as it surpasses Superman’s primary power source. Without a sun, even if Superman finds his way back from past Krypton, he will be significantly weakened and therefore unable to fight Aethyr. Artificial upgrades, including Superman’s high-tech solar gauntlets, can replicate the effect of a yellow sun, but their limited energy supply makes them ineligible as a long-term solution.
Superman’s Dark New Villain Discovers His Greatest Weakness
By targeting the Sun, Aethyr becomes a major threat to Superman
Superman will need to somehow overcome this environmental obstacle and restore the sun if he is to be strong enough to stop Aethyr. Otherwise, the expansion of the Phantom Zone will condemn Earth to eternal darkness and Superman to eternal powerlessness.
Superman has fought many iconic villains in DC history, from Lex Luthor to Brainiac, but Aethyr has just risen up the list to become one of his most dangerous foes. The Phantom Zone sapping the power of the sun also weakens Superman’s power, giving Aethyr a revolutionary advantage over Superman that no other villain has. Earth’s temperature is plummeting due to Aethyr’s intrusion, which shows how dim the Sun’s light has already become in a short space of time. Superman is in danger of permanently losing his superpowers when the Phantom Zone begins to steal Earth’s sun.
Action comics #1075 is now available from DC Comics.