Superman Just Unleashed the 1 Power I Never Realized He Had

WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Wonder Woman #16!If you had asked me two days ago to list every power Superman possesses, I would have confidently rattled off everything from his superhuman strength to his heat vision and beyond. However, after the release of the latest Wonder Woman issue, I’ve realized I’ve been overlooking one of the Man of Steel’s most regularly used and overpowered abilities.

Tom King’s Wonder Woman #16 continues the tone set by the previous issue, with Diana dedicating her time and energy to caring for her and the late Steve Trevor’s newborn daughter, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Marston Prince. 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 of Wonder Woman’s other allies, Detective Chimp and Superman. However, it’s 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 Always Forget About: Investigative Journalism

Daily Planet Reporter Clark Kent Strikes MAJOR Blow to the Sovereign

In Wonder Woman #16, Clark approaches the Sovereign in his civilian guise as a reporter, asking if the man has a few moments to answer some questions. It quickly becomes clear, however, that Clark knows more about the Sovereign than the villain wants him to, as Clark addresses him as “your majesty,” subtly acknowledging that he’s aware of the Sovereign’s secret identity as the hidden ruler of the United States. After this moment, the story skips ahead, and through the Sovereign’s narration, it becomes evident just how powerful Clark’s investigative reporting truly is.

The Sovereign reflects, “The tenacious Mr. Kent, following leads provided by the Chimp, discovered troves of evidence linking our family to American history,” resulting in “three hundred years of sacred secrecy tossed in the waste bin.” This suggests that Clark’s investigative skills led to an article that exposed the Sovereign for the villain he is. Prior to this, no one even knew of his existence or influence over the U.S., but now, under intense scrutiny, thanks to Clark's article, he can no longer operate as he 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)

Cover C Card Stock Variant by Guillem March for Wonder Woman #7 (2024)

While both Clark and Bruce were shown delivering the news of Steve’s death to Diana and comforting her in Wonder Woman #14, it was exciting to see Clark return to the narrative and assist Diana in her war against the Sovereign in a more actionable 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 their heroics 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. While Superman’s strength could have been used to sabotage the Sovereign’s assets, Diana had plenty of allies capable of that role, as shown in issue #15. But when it comes to achieving the results Clark did through investigative reporting, the pool of potential allies shrinks significantly. With one well-headlined article, Clark brought the Sovereign’s operations to a halt—something Superman’s might couldn’t have accomplished.

Daily Planet's Clark Kent Gets the Appreciation He Deserves in Wonder Woman #16 (2024)

There Is Now No Denying the Impact of Investigative Journalism Against Supervillains

Despite Superman only appearing 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’d even call this scene the ultimate tribute to Clark Kent, showing that his power in his civilian role as an investigative journalist is just as impactful as in his superhero persona. So, if I’m ever asked to list Superman’s powers again, you can bet I’ll be putting investigative reporting at the top.

Wonder Woman #16 is available now from DC Comics!