DC added a new element to Superman‘s powers, but it’s one that audiences should be excited about. Superman is one of the most powerful superheroes in the DC universe. He has super speed, super strength, heat vision, frost breath, X-ray vision, and flight. He is also bulletproof and can withstand large amounts of damage unless exposed to kryptonite. His power levels can vary depending on the story, and all his abilities aren’t always utilized.

My Adventures With Superman has taken several creative risks in its adaptation of Superman, as it offers a few changes to Superman’s lore. For example, Superman’s origin story normally has him beginning to use his powers when he’s grown up, but the animated series shows a young Clark Kent mastering his abilities at an early age. The latest episode added another change to Superman’s story that could bother hardcore comic book readers, but it offers a unique angle that separates itself from modern adaptations.

DC Just Gave Superman The Perfect Power Upgrade In My Adventures With Superman Season 2

In My Adventures With Superman Season 2, Episode 6, “The Machine Who Would Be Empire,” Kal-El and Kara show off their powers in space. After learning he can breathe in space without a helmet, Kal-El participates in a comet snowball fight with Kara, showing off their strength and speed.

When Kara gets stuck, Superman’s eyes turn blue and shoot lightning before he punches the comet into smithereens. When Kara asks how he did that, Superman says, “Whenever I’ve needed to protect someone I care about, I get stronger. I always thought it was a Kryptonian thing.”

Superman has always been incredibly strong, but he typically doesn’t get stronger only at moments when someone he loves is in need. However, this does provide a good explanation for him performing more impressive moves at certain times. It also fits the show’s tone, which is a more upbeat, lighter Superman, rather than the morose, darker Superman that has been in more recent projects, like Man of Steel.

My Adventures With Superman’s Power Upgrade Totally Flips A Common Man Of Steel Downgrade

Superman doesn’t often use his maximum power because he’s worried about where it could lead. In Superman: Man of Tomorrow #7, a skilled combat trainer named Wioska revealed that Superman was intentionally holding himself back. Kal-El believes abusing one’s power can lead to internal corruption, which he has seen many times through the villains he’s fought. A famous example of this would be in Man of Steel when he holds back against General Zod, who uses the full capacity of his powers to destroy humanity. It isn’t until Zod almost kills a family that he decides to stop holding back.

This change in My Adventures With Superman is a nice flip on a recent Superman trend. Instead of holding his powers back out of fear, he embraces them and uses them for noble purposes. It also shows that Kal-El does let his emotions sometimes get the better of him, which could lead to trouble down the line. It’s an interesting situation that could lead to some great storytelling later in the season.