Things Superman’s Story Could Do Without

Superman is one of the oldest and greatest characters in comic book history. Over the years, his character and lore have been refined to near perfection. However, with such a long legacy, plenty of additions have been made that don’t feel necessary. If I had my way, there are a few things I would change about the Man of Steel.

Jonathan Kent Should Be Removed Again

Superman’s mythology has changed significantly over time. Originally, he didn’t have superpowers in the traditional sense. His abilities came from Krypton’s higher gravity, allowing him to leap great distances and lift heavy objects with ease on Earth.

Over time, this evolved—his jumping ability turned into full-fledged flight, and his Kryptonian background was expanded. He also gained new abilities, such as heat vision, and weaknesses, like Kryptonite. However, not every change to his character has been necessary.

Superman’s Origin Story Has Become Too Complicated

The destruction of Krypton is a crucial part of Superman’s history. Without it, the Man of Steel would never have come to Earth. However, DC has continuously added villains responsible for Krypton’s destruction instead of simply letting it be a natural disaster.

One of the most frustrating examples of this is Rogol Zaar, a character created by Jor-El who ultimately destroyed Krypton. He didn’t stop there—he hunted down surviving Kryptonians, destroyed the Lost City of Kandor, and later fought Superman.

Rogol Zaar doesn’t add anything meaningful to Superman’s story. The same applies to past retcons that made Brainiac responsible for Krypton’s destruction. Not every tragedy needs a villain. Some of the most powerful moments in Superman’s story come from his inability to change the past.

Jonathan Kent No Longer Serves a Purpose

For a nearly omnipotent character like Superman, it’s crucial to have problems he can’t solve. If villains like Rogol Zaar or Brainiac were behind Krypton’s destruction, Superman could defeat them and avenge his homeworld. But that’s unnecessary for his character.

This brings me to another issue—the Kents. If DC isn’t interested in incorporating Jonathan Kent into Superman’s stories, he might as well be removed entirely. This has been done before. In Action Comics #870 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, Jonathan Kent dies from a heart attack.

This moment is incredibly impactful because it shows that, despite all his power, Superman is powerless in the face of ordinary human tragedy. Many people have lost loved ones unexpectedly, and this adds to Clark Kent’s relatability. For that reason, I believe Jonathan Kent should be written out again.

Superman Shouldn’t Be Completely Helpless Without His Powers

Another thing I’ve never liked is the idea that Superman becomes utterly defenseless when his powers are removed. Whether it’s Kryptonite or Red Solar Radiation, Superman should still be able to hold his own.

He may not be able to fight someone like Doomsday, but he’s still 6’3″ and 240 pounds of muscle. The idea that a regular thug could knock him out with one punch just because he lost his powers feels forced. While storytelling sometimes demands these moments, it’s a weak plot device.

Refining Superman’s Legacy

Superman has undergone many changes over the decades. His marriage to Lois Lane, his evolving powers, the expansion of Krypton’s history, and the addition of other Kryptonians have all strengthened his lore. However, not every change has been beneficial.

Fortunately, it seems that DC agrees with me. Concepts like Superman revealing his secret identity or characters like Rogol Zaar have largely been abandoned. Hopefully, future Superman stories will continue to focus on what truly makes the character great.