DC Just Confirmed Its Latest Superman Is Losing His Powers & I’m Genuinely Heartbroken

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Superman & Lois season 4, episode 8.Superman & Lois has revealed that Tyler Hoechlin’s version of DC‘s Man of Steel is headed down a tragic path, and I can’t believe that it is worse than what I had imagined. I always thought that Superman & Lois was meant to end with Hoechlin’s Superman handing over his superhero mantle to Alex Garfin’s Jordan. Then, Superman & Lois season 4’s cast got two Superboys, as it was revealed early in the season that Michael Bishop’s Jonathan Kent also has powers. Since then, I saw a future where Clark Kent retired with Lois Lane, and his sons became heroes.

Superman & Lois season 4 has been hinting at Clark hanging his cape in the universe’s future. Ever since he was brought back to life, Superman has not been at full power. Worse than that, the hero is growing weaker as time passes. Sadly, Superman & Lois season 4, episode 8, sets up that storyline to have a tragic ending that is somehow sadder than what I had pictured for the hero. There are still two episodes to come before the end of the live-action DC show, but things are not looking good for Clark.

Superman & Lois Season 4 Confirms The Worst For Clark Kent & His Powers

John Henry Irons Returns To Deliver Bad News

Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman has seen his powers falter multiple times since he came back to life. A couple of memorable moments include Clark falling from the sky while racing Jon near the Fortress of Solitude and the Man of Steel initially not hearing the brick that was thrown at the Smallville Gazette’s window before it broke through the glass. The latter was what led John Henry Irons, who I was glad to finally see return after a long absence, to take Clark back to his garage and scan him for an answer.

While I expected the scan to reveal that Superman’s powers were fading, I did not realize that the situation was as dire as Steel revealed it to be. There appears to be no way for the Man of Steel to get his full powers back, and besides just declining to the point where he will eventually lose all of his abilities, Tyler Hoechlin’s Clark Kent might end up dying sooner than expected. The reason for that is General Sam Lane’s heart is not compatible with his Kryptonian body. Clark might only live up to when Lane would have.

Superman & Lois’ Power Change Storyline Makes Its Ending Even More Dramatic

Lex Luthor Is On The Rise

That bombshell reveal could not have come at a worse time. Superman & Lois season 4’s latest episode did something that I thought was going to happen since we got the first glimpse at Lex Luthor’s power suit in a teaser. Episode 8 ends with Milton Fine successfully stealing John Henry Irons’ Steel suit for Lex and making modifications that turn it into a version of the Superman villain’s classic warsuit from DC Comics. Michael Cudlitz’s Lex Luthor and Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman could not be headed on more different paths than they are.

Lex Luthor is powering up just as Superman is in his most fragile state ever. I’m afraid of what that could mean. Superman & Lois season 4, episode 8, took out two of Superman’s allies for his final fight with Lex, as Starlight’s suit was destroyed by Jon and Jordan after it went rogue and attacked them, while Steel’s suit was taken over by Luthor. Jordan previously failed to take down Lex, meaning he and Jonathan might not be able to do it alone if Clark loses his powers. There is a chance Lex Luthor kills Superman for good.

After 3 Years, It’s Hard Not To Find Superman & Lois’ Setup For Clark’s Ending Heartbreaking

Superman’s Story Is Ending Tragically

I believe that if Superman & Lois ended with Clark losing his powers and retiring to live life as a human with Lois Lane while his sons save the world, it would have been the perfect ending for the series. However, I never expected Clark’s heart to not only make his powers go away but end up deteriorating his body and potentially shortening his lifespan by a considerable margin. If Clark were to stop Lex Luthor only to die a little after or after however many years Sam Lane still had left, it would be utterly sad.

I have grown attached to Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent. He was already great in the role over a few Arrowverse appearances, but Superman & Lois made Hoechlin one of the best versions of Superman ever. To see him end up dying many years before Elizabeth Tulloch’s Lois Lane due to how old Sam Lane’s heart is would be extremely tragic. I still hold out hope that a series about a hero like Superman can find a way for Clark to lose his powers and just retire instead of dying younger than expected in Superman & Lois season 4.

Superman & Lois, the seventh Arrowverse spinoff series, will take the titular characters from Metropolis to Smallville. The CW series is set in the aftermath of the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover, which saw the multiverse collapse and the merging of worlds into what is now Earth Prime. Superman & Lois sees Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) and Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin) dealing with all the pressures of their jobs, along with being parents to two teenage sons. Lois and Clark are no strangers to the Arrowverse, with Hoechlin’s Superman having been introduced all the way back in Supergirl season 2. Meanwhile, Tulloch’s Lois made her debut in the 2018 “Elseworlds” crossover. The duo is joined by a growing cast of characters that includes a new iteration of Lana Lang.

Release Date

February 23, 2021

Showrunner

todd helbing

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