After 88 Years, Superman Just Changed Which Power He Discovered First

Published Nov 1, 2026, 2:00 PM EST

An experienced Editor representing Canada via ScreenRant's Team Anime, J.R. has been reading manga since the first printing of Shonen Jump in North America. This passion drove him to write about anime, manga, and manhwa since 2022, having recently served as Lead Anime Editor for ComicBook.com.

His favorite moments in media coverage include reviewing the series premieres of Zom 100 and Bleach: TYBW Part 2 back-to-back and briefly meeting Junji Ito at a VIZ gallery event in 2023.

That being said, for readers who have also seen films like Man of Steel or Superman in which the hero is commonly seen taking hits from projectiles without flinching, this power can be more subtle, yet equally signifying of Superman's "super" qualities. Such is the case in Superman: The Stranger, a reimagining of the character in his Golden Age-era origins in which, instead of strength or other abilities said durability is the first thing he discovers. Now for multiple issues, this has been reiterated before finally being spelled out in the preview for issue #3, and it's worth diving into a little further to see just how impactful such a change to Superman can be.

Superman's Strength Takes A Backseat To One Other Superpower In New Origin

Fans may quibble about canon and whether this change should be considered in other stories, it's doubtlessly cool to see a Depression-era Superman reflecting on how he grew into his powers. Further removing this comic from others telling the classic origins, Superman: The Stranger #3 talks about his childhood at Saint Mary's Orphan Asylum, and how one particular kid living there, George, frequently chose him to pick on. Despite previous stories from Clark in the first issue about how the boy hit him once, breaking his nose, but tried to do so again later, when George instead hurt his own hand.

This time in issue #3, George is shown to have broken his own hand, with Clark confirming this durability was what surfaced first, not his strength. It's a highly different version than fans are perhaps familiar with, such as innocent acts of incredible strength even as a baby, but it's used aptly in a fairly introspective reimagining of Superman's origins.

It's an interesting spin on Superman's origin story, almost like a warped version of hitting puberty, while also making an importantly distinguished retelling emblematic of a different era. The world is a harsh reality in Golden Age-era Superman, with systemic corruption and powerful individuals bearing down on the downtrodden. George, dubbed "King George" due to the high-quality gifts he'd get every Christmas, seemed to throw his weight around among the other kids, always having an excuse, believing himself to be above them. But upon awakening the first of his powers, this version of Superman would stand up against cruelty and be a champion of the oppressed.

Clark Kent Recounts The Horrors Of Having One Superpower Without The Others

Suddenly being able to withstand virtually any physical trauma, Superman's origins may feel ostensibly the same, as he'd soon awaken the rest in due time. But as one key incident from Clark's past proves, these gifts didn't awaken soon enough, such as the case of his time at the Saturn Building, working the sewing machines and being unhindered by otherwise faulty machinery that'd often injure other workers. But when a fire breaks out, eerily matching the horrors of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911 in the real world, Clark is seen trapped alongside everyone else, his coworkers burning to death or suffocating, while he remains feebly stuck, lacking the strength to open the door and help everyone escape.

In just three internal pages of additional story, Superman's origins take a dark turn as readers learn firsthand the absolute downsides of him having durability, but not super strength, speed, or other powers. Superman could take a gunshot to the chest without it breaking his skin, but the impact would still leave him winded. He'd be able to survive lethal disasters, but unable to ensure the survival of others trapped alongside him. But now, with Superman: The Stranger continuing its run, Wes Craig and Jason Wordie have the chance to show just how much this steeled his resolve, both in mind and body.

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Superman: The Stranger #3 will be available Wednesday, November 4, 2026.