After a 20 Year Wait, Superman Is About to Gain the 1 Superpower He’s Always Feared

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WARNING: Contains Spoilers for Justice League Unlimited #6After more than 20 years, Superman may finally be gaining the one powerset he’s openly admitted to fearing. Fans might expect that this new, incredibly overpowered ability lineup would turn him into the most unstoppable version of Superman ever seen. But this transformation comes with a catch.

DC’s “We Are Yesterday” crossover event is in full swing with the release of its third installment, featured in Mark Waid, Christopher Cantwell, and Dan McDaid’s Batman / Superman: World’s Finest 2025 Annual #1. The event spans both of Waid’s ongoing series, Justice League Unlimited and Batman / Superman: World’s Finest, bringing the present-day DC Universe into direct conflict with the past.

So far, fans have witnessed the return of the Legion of Doom, now led by Gorilla Grodd, who has acquired Martian Manhunter’s powers. Grodd is traveling through time to recruit past versions of DC’s most dangerous villains and rebuild the Legion. But what does any of this have to do with Superman gaining the one power he has always feared? Read on to find out.

Gorilla Grodd Just Gained the One Power Superman Fears Most

Comic Panel Comes from Joe Kelly’s JLA #86 (2003) – Art by Doug Mahnke

Before diving deeper into DC’s We Are Yesterday storyline, it is important to go back 22 years to JLA #86 (2003) by Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke. In this issue, the Justice League of America was attacked by Martian Manhunter’s dark alter ego, Fernus. During a strategy session to determine how to stop their rogue teammate, Superman made a startling admission. Speaking to the rest of the team, he said, “I can count on one hand the number of beings in the known universe I would be afraid to face in open combat. J’onn J’onzz is at the top of that list. He is the most powerful being on the face of the Earth.”

This quote is important to keep in mind because it confirms that the powerset Superman fears most on Earth belongs to Martian Manhunter. J’onn is just as powerful as Superman, and in some ways, even more so. Readers following Mark Waid’s Justice League Unlimited series will also remember that after the events of Absolute Power, Martian Manhunter was essentially nerfed. It was revealed that several of his powers, particularly his telepathic and ocular abilities, had not returned. In Justice League Unlimited #6 by Waid and Travis Moore, it was revealed that Gorilla Grodd is now in possession of those missing powers. However, these abilities may soon find their way into Superman’s hands.

Gorilla Grodd & Superman Will Swap Bodies in We Are Yesterday Crossover

Main Cover by Dan Mora for Justice League Unlimited #7 (2025)

Justice League Unlimited #6 finally answers the question of where Martian Manhunter’s powers went and how Gorilla Grodd obtained them. As Grodd explains in his narration, he heard a telepathic scream echoing in the ether, searching for a host. Using his own telepathy, Grodd drew the energy toward himself, ultimately becoming the new wielder of Martian Manhunter’s most iconic and powerful abilities. This explanation provides a clear and concise reason for why Grodd is now more overpowered than ever. With the Justice League and Legion of Doom in direct conflict, the League is now facing the most formidable version of Grodd to date.

However, this may be just the beginning of Grodd’s power evolution. In an interview with AIPT, Mark Waid revealed that at some point during the crossover, Superman and Grodd will swap bodies. This is a terrifying development. Grodd will soon possess Superman’s body, and his powers, whileClark will find himself in Grodd’s body, inheriting his abilities. And since Grodd currently holds Martian Manhunter’s powers, it stands to reason that Clark will gain access to J’onn’s abilities as well. Hence, Superman may soon gain the very powers he once said made Martian Manhunter “the most powerful being on the face of the Earth.”

Superman Gaining Martian Manhunter’s Powers Is His Only Hope of Defeating Gorilla Grodd

Cover C Salvador Larroca Variant for Batman / Superman: World’s Finest 2025 Annual #1

Assuming Clark does inherit Gorilla Grodd’s body, and with it, Grodd’s power and Martian Manhunter’s abilities, this may be the Justice League’s only chance to defeat a Grodd-possessed Superman. Since Superman openly admitted in JLA #86 that Martian Manhunter is the most powerful being on Earth, it stands to reason that J’onn J’onzz is one of the few heroes capable of taking Superman down. So if Clark gains access to Martian Manhunter’s powers through Grodd’s body, it’s reasonable to conclude he will have the necessary strength to stop the Grodd-possessed Man of Steel.

A body-swapped showdown between Superman and Grodd would already be epic, but the added twist of Clark wielding Martian Manhunter’s powers makes it even more thrilling. If the two go head-to-head, fans may finally get a long-awaited answer to the question of who is more powerful: Superman or Martian Manhunter. Still, it’s worth noting this wouldn’t be a definitive match between the two at their prime. After all, Clark would be fighting Grodd, not J’onn himself, and neither combatant would be using powers they’re fully accustomed to.

Superman Gaining Martian Manhunter’s Powers Is a Win for J’onn J’onzz (Seriously)

Cover B Jim Lee Variant for Justice League Unlimited #1 (2025)

It is also worth noting that Clark possessing Gorilla Grodd’s body will be a major benefit to Martian Manhunter. With an ally in control of Grodd’s form, this may be J’onn’s best chance at recovering his powers. It creates an opportunity for Atom’s Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi, who have already been working on returning stolen powers to their rightful owners, to do the same for Martian Manhunter, potentially. That said, this won’t be a straightforward fix, since Palmer and Choi are still working out the kinks in their power-swapping machine. Still, with Superman now in possession of Grodd’s body, things may finally be looking up for Martian Manhunter.

Justice League Unlimited #6 is available now from DC Comics!

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