Warning: Contains spoilers for Action Comics #1071!!In the DC Universe, Superman’s Kryptonian powerset is among the most impressive, but he is able to expand it further with a little innovation and the right circumstances. As Kal-El faces down some nightmarish alien arachnids that leave him blinded, he combines his incredible strength and hearing into a surprisingly effective version of echolocation. His latest ability isn’t just creative—it’s life-saving.
Superman faces a daunting battle with a species of alien spiders in Action Comics #1071. After countering a brute force attack, they attack with a poison strong enough to blind Kal-El. Since he cannot see to attack or defend himself. It’s the perfect moment to reveal the new “trick” he’s been working on, and even the strange Phantom Zone environment doesn’t hamper it. He claps his hands together, effectively using his strength to produce sound waves that interact with his super-hearing and allow him to “see.” In other words, Superman developed his own echolocation, and it really works.
Superman’s echolocation lets him see in any circumstances
Action Comics #1071 By Mark Waid, Clayton Henry, Michael Shelfer, Matt Herms and Dave Sharpe
X-ray vision and Superman’s other natural abilities allow him to see almost anything. His sight is rarely taken away entirely, as few things are strong enough to blind him. However, the alien spiders prove that there are at least a few things strong enough to handle it. As long as soundwaves are present and his super-hearing is intact, Clark will still have one method of seeing what is around him in these unlikely circumstances. Given that it is effective even in the Phantom Zone, even in its weird and unpredictable state, the echolocation trick is probably even better on Earth.
Kal-El is typically able to rely on his strength, flight, and heat vision to get him through combat or free him from captivity. The standard-issue Kryptonian abilities are viable in nearly every situation, however Learning to use his gifts more creatively keeps Clark from becoming predictable. When one sense or power is removed, he is theoretically able to fall back on other combinations to make up for it. Most of Superman’s enemies wouldn’t count on something like echolocation, for example, giving him enough of an upper hand to win. In the case of his spider-battle, it nearly let him regain control of the battle.
Superman will need creativity in the coming battle
Giant spiders and old enemies aren’t the only things waiting for Clark Kent in the Phantom Zone. After the discovery of the Phantom King, he is at an extreme disadvantage. He is nowhere near full strength and is essentially trapped in the most dangerous place anyone from the House of El could be. The same line of thinking that led him to develop echolocation may be the only way he gets out of this situation alive. Superman’s Innovation allows him to use echolocation through his super-hearing and generating soundwaves, and he will need the creativity to ever leave the Phantom Zone again.
Action Comics #1071 is available now from DC Comics.