Summary

• Superman died at Doomsday's hands in "Death of Superman"
• Superman's death now gives him an advantage to access the Dark Roads and help the heroes.
• The Dark Roads can be Superman and Zatanna's secret weapon to gather allies and stop Waller's reign of terror.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Superman #16!One of the darkest moments in Absolute Power has arrived in the DC Universe and Amanda Waller has unleashed her most critical attack on the superhuman community.

Unfortunately, one of the first people to come under fire is the Man of Steel, who wasn't just stripped of his powers, but shot through the chest. As Waller and her Task Force VII squad is tearing through the world de-powering and arresting heroes in droves, heroes gather at Superman's Fortress of Solitude, where Clark discovers a surprising power that could help the heroes turn the tide against Amanda Waller.

Superman's Death Helped Him Discover the 'Dark Roads'

In Superman #16 by Joshua Williamson, Jamal Campbell, and Ariana Maher, Clark is in critical condition. He's just been shot after being de-powered by Amanda Waller's 'Last Son' Amazo in the middle of a robbery. Mister Terrific and Doctor Mid-Nite operate on Superman at the Fortress of Solitude, where they attempt to remove a bullet from his shoulder. While the professionals do their best to patch Clark up, Zatanna is on the run from Waller’s agents. Unfortunately, Zatanna, like many other heroes, has had her powers removed.

Zatanna tells Superman of the Dark Roads, a series of ages that allows people to traverse between different points.

Thankfully, Zatanna is able to hold her own against the agents and stalls for time until she’s rescued by Mercy Graves. Together, the two hightail it to the Fortress of Solitude where the survivors of Waller’s first attack have gathered to reassess the situation. Tensions are running high among the heroes, but things simmer down when Superman comes out of surgery, now wearing his black Recovery Suit. Superman tells his allies that they need a way of getting other survivors to the Fortress, causing Zatanna to suggest an unusual method involving magic.

Zatanna tells Superman of the Dark Roads, a series of ages that allows people to traverse between different points. She also points out that they’re not limited to magic s, making them the perfect way for the heroes to operate in the shadows. Superman asks Zatanna why she needs him to access the Dark Roads and she informs him that the realm responds well to death. Given Superman’s prior death and other near-death experiences, Zatanna sees him as the best hero available to travel the Dark Roads.

Doomsday Changed Superman Lore by Killing Him

Comic book deaths nowadays might be seen as overdone, but three decades ago, the world practically stood still the day Superman died. He’d faced a lot of powerful villains, but none that rivaled the sheer brutality and rage that drove Doomsday. The hyper-evolved killing machine came to Earth and there wasn’t a hero alive who could stop him, much less slow him down, other than Superman. For the first time in his life, Clark faced an opponent who succeeded in doing the impossible and actually killed Superman.

The death sent shock waves through the DC Universe and had some long-lasting effects on the world. The biggest consequences of Clark dying in battle was the debut of 4 new ‘replacement’ Superman’ who all vied to fill in as the new premier superhero. Some like Steel and Superboy were valiant heroes in their own right and they became prominent of the Super-Family. Others like the Eradicator and Cyborg Superman proved troublesome and became recurring threats to Superman when he eventually came back to life.

Superman’s death, thankfully, wasn’t permanent, but the DC Universe would wind up feeling the effect his death for years. Cyborg Superman, in particular, was one of the worst villains to be ‘inspired’ by the Man of Steel. Not only did he routinely terrorize the Super-Family, but he also became a big threat to the DC Universe at large. Cyborg Superman was integral to the destruction of Coast City, which played a huge role in allowing Green Lantern to become possessed by Parallax, something Hal Jordan wouldn’t shake for years.

Superman's Death Finally Pays Off in a Positive Way

For the first time since “Death of Superman”, Clark has finally discovered a benefit of sorts to dying at Doomsday’s hand. While Zatanna says that the Dark Roads are accessible to magic s and non-magic s alike, it responds better to those who have died before. While Superman’s not the only hero who fits that bill, he’s one of the only heroes at the moment who can assist Zatanna. Superman’s connection to the Dark Roads could be a boon to the heroes as they continue to survive Waller’s onslaught.

This can give the remaining heroes the time they need to mount a proper counterattack.

During the initial wave of Waller’s attack, Green Arrow, now working for Waller, phoned in to the heroes and informed them that Waller had closed off every escape point she could think off. The timestream, the multiverse, space-travel, even the microverse are all out of the question now. Between no ways to get outside help and the Task Force VII Amazos stalking every superpowered person on Earth, the heroes left standing are faced with bad and worse options. But Superman and Zatanna could turn things around thanks to his new ‘power’.

Waller thinks she has the advantage right now because she’s carefully cordoned off every possible route for the heroes to take. But even someone as studious as Waller was bound to miss something and Zatanna has brought the best contingency plan straight to the Man of Steel. Because of his previous death, Superman can maintain with the Dark Roads and usher heroes around in complete secret. This can give the remaining heroes the time they need to mount a proper counterattack or even figure out a way to restore their powers.

Can Superman's Newly Discovered Power Save the Day?

While it isn’t much, being able to access the Dark Roads is a benefit that Superman and his allies need. Right now, every second counts and the longer they stay off Waller’s radar, the greater chance her plan doesn’t succeed. Granted it’s a long shot, but at the very least, traversing the Dark Roads will help Superman and Zatanna gain more allies and hopefully figure out a new way to stop Waller’s reign of terror.

Superman #16 is available now from DC Comics.