Superwoman Is a Force of Nature But Carries a Major Weakness That Sets Her Far Apart From Superman

Warning: Spoilers for Superwoman Special #1

Lois Lane has officially taken to the skies as DC’s new Superwoman, and Superman is no longer the only one with Kryptonian powers in their relationship. However, while they now boast similar skill-sets, Lois has one critical weakness that sets her apart from Clark. Superwoman’s surprising weakness hints that she isn’t quite on Superman’s level yet, though she won’t let that stop her from becoming a hero.

Superwoman shows off her newfound powers in Superwoman Special #1 by Joshua Williamson, Edwin Galmon, Laura Braga, Nikola Čižmešija, Rex Lokus, and Dave Sharpe. Lois assembles her own Kryptonian team with Supergirl and fellow Superwoman Lana Lang, and as the three discuss her abilities, she admits that there’s one feat she can’t accomplish: “I wasn’t faster than a speeding bullet.”

Superman may be one of the fastest characters in the DC Universe, but Lois Lane’s Superwoman hasn’t achieved his speed just yet. This weakness makes her more vulnerable than him, and it’s one of several key differences between her and Superman.

Superwoman Doesn’t Have Super-Speed at Superman’s Level

Unlike Superman, Superwoman Has to Rely on Durability Alone

In Lois’ very first outing as Superwoman, she leaps into action to save Chief Kekoa from an onslaught of bullets, even after being instructed by Mercy Graves to resist using her powers for the time being. It’s through this encounter that Lois discovers her speed isn’t quite as accelerated as she’d anticipated, as a bullet strikes her. Luckily, similarly to Superman, Lois has invulnerability that protects her from injury when she gets shot. Regardless, the experience of getting hit with a bullet turns out to be humbling for Lois, and she holds onto the bullet as a reminder that she isn’t invincible.

Superman’s massive array of Kryptonian powers gives him an incredible advantage over most foes he faces. Even if an enemy can land heavy hits on him, for instance, he can circumvent that obstacle by employing his speed and gaining the upper hand in that fashion. Superwoman, on the other hand, doesn’t have Superman’s versatility as a result of her weakness. Without speed to fall back on, if an enemy succeeds at overpowering her, Lois would have no choice but to take the brunt of the impact. Superwoman’s durability can only get her so far, and she could therefore be defeated far more easily than Superman.

Superwoman’s Slower Speed Isn’t Her Only Weakness in DC Lore

Lois Lane’s Kryptonian Powers Have Potential Risks When She Uses Them

Superwoman’s biggest weakness is her slower speed in comparison to other Kryptonian heroes, but her Kryptonian superpowers have other drawbacks that Superman doesn’t have to deal with. In Superman #19 by Joshua Williamson and Dan Mora, when Lois embarks on a mission as Superwoman, Mercy Graves keeps an eye on her vitals from SuperCorp and instructs her on which powers she can use. She tells Lois that she can use her frost breath, but her heat vision could be too much for her body to sustain. Superman can use any of his powers at will, whereas Superwoman has to be wary of potential damage.

Ultimately, the main downside of Superwoman’s powers is the fact that they aren’t a natural part of her. Superman doesn’t have to pay any mind to what his powers do to his body because they’re compatible with his Kryptonian biology. Superwoman, on the other hand, is a human who’s been imbued with the powers of a separate Kryptonian. These superhuman abilities don’t organically belong to Lois, so her body isn’t equipped to withstand them the way a full-blooded Kryptonian’s would be. Her cells could possibly be incinerated if she used her heat vision, so she’s held back by this limit.

Lois Lane May Be Vulnerable as Superwoman, But She’s Still Fighting Beside Superman

Superwoman Won’t Let Any Danger Deter Her From Being a Hero

Superwoman must be exceptionally careful with how she uses her powers, but at the end of the day, Lois Lane refuses to stand by when she has the ability to help people in need – even if it opens herself up to risks. As different as she is from Superman due to her limitations, she’s also similar to him in this regard. Superman wouldn’t hold back if fighting for good had a chance of hurting him, and neither will Superwoman.

In addition to having an unyielding drive to be a superhero, Lois is also being taught by Superman to develop better control over her powers. If anyone can help her improve her lackluster speed and learn how to outrun a bullet like a true Kryptonian, it’s the Man of Steel himself. With Superman training her and Mercy Graves keeping her in check, Superwoman is sure to be a great hero in spite of her shortcomings.

Superwoman Special #1 is available now from DC Comics.