DC Admits an Iconic Superman Slogan Makes No Sense in the Modern Day

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Wonder Woman #8

Summary Superman's slogan of leaping tall buildings in a single bound is outdated.

Superman's powers have evolved beyond just leaping, with abilities like flight and solar flare.

Superman's iconic slogan no longer captures the full extent of his incredible powers.

Superman is one of the world’s greatest heroes and wields one of the most iconic power sets in the DC Universe. From his incalculable strength to his incredible hearing, Clark Kent wields abilities far greater than those of any mortal man. And while the Man of Steel is still faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive, his ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound no longer holds much weight.

The “World’s Finest Pt. 5” backup story by Tom King and Belén Ortega in Wonder Woman #8 highlights the outdated nature behind the world-famous Superman saying. Discussing her “uncles” with a samurai during a time-travel adventure, Lizzie Prince is unable to complete Clark’s fan-favorite slogan and says, "I forget. It’s like, a jumping thing, but he flies? I don’t know, I don’t get that one."

While this is meant as a tongue-in-cheek moment to establish the new Wonder Girl’s closeness with her superhero family, it does raise a valid point. After all, Superman doesn’t do much leaping these days.

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Superman Can Do Far More Than Leap

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As the ultimate superhero, Superman’s physical attributes are arguably the strongest in the DC Universe. With his powers only having grown since his debut in Action Comics #1 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, describing Clark as “faster than a speeding bullet” or “more powerful than a locomotive” are arguably vast understatements, but it’s his leaping ability that really sticks out. Even if he couldn’t fly, Superman still wields powers that can shatter planets. With that in mind, it’s no wonder that the Man of Steel would have strong enough legs to hop over a skyscraper.

Superman will always be faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

In his initial debut, leaping was Kal-El’s main mode of transportation, and his ability to fly wasn’t officially stated as canon in the comics until 1944’s Superman #30 by Don C. Cameron, Ira Yarbrough, and Stan Kaye. But in the decades since, Superman’s power has grown exponentially to the point where he’s one of DC’s strongest beings. When considering how he has abilities like microscopic vision and his solar flare in his arsenal, Lizzie Prince is totally right that Superman’s incredible leaping abilities simply aren’t as notable as they once were.

The Man of Steel’s Obstacles Are Far Greater in Modern Times

Tall Buildings Are Beneath Superman

Superman will always be faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. But Clark Kent has long since proven that he’s capable of more than just that, and while the slogan is an iconic piece of the Man of Steel’s history, it just doesn’t pack the same punch it used to. These days, Superman can do far more in a single bound than just leap over tall buildings.

Wonder Woman #8 is on sale now from DC Comics.

WONDER WOMAN #8 (2024) Writer: Tom King

Artist: Daniel Sampere, Belén Ortega

Colorist: Tomeu Morey, Alejandro Sánchez

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Cover Artist: Daniel Sampere, Tomeu Morey