Twenty-two years ago, Superman itted there was one hero on Earth who topped his list of beings he would be afraid to face. Now, DC is finally bringing that fear to the forefront of its narrative in an epic crossover that will see the Man of Steel face off against the very superpower that made him fear this hero in the first place.
Mark Waid’s “We Are Yesterday” crossover is in full swing, with Part 2 of the event arriving on April 23, 2025, in his and Travis Moore’s Justice League Unlimited #6. This crossover spans both Waid’s JLU and his Batman/Superman: World's Finest, as the Legion of Doom once again sets its sights on world domination and the destruction of Earth’s heroes.
Flash’s telepathic nemesis, Gorilla Grodd, is leading the charge, traveling back in time to recruit past versions of DC’s most infamous and dangerous villains to form his Legion. As revealed in the preview for JLU, Grodd is now a greater threat than ever, because he possesses the powers of the one hero even Superman fears: Martian Manhunter.
Superman Will Be Fighting Against Martian Manhunter’s Powers (But There’s a Twist)
Comic Comes from Joe Kelly’s JLA #86 (2003) - Art by Doug Mahnke
In JLA #86 (2003) by Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke, the Justice League of America was attacked by Martian Manhunter’s dark personality known as Fernus. During a brainstorming session to decide how to handle their rogue teammate, Superman made a startling revelation. Speaking to the rest of the team, he said, “I can count on one hand the number of beings in the known universe I would be afraid to face in open combat. J’onn J’onzz is at the top of that list. He is the most powerful being on the face of the Earth.”
Fast forward to the present day, and fans will recall that following the events of Absolute Power, Martian Manhunter was essentially nerfed when it was revealed that not all of his powers had returned. He is now missing both his telepathic and ocular abilities. This kind of power mix-up is something several DC characters have dealt with before, with their abilities often ending up in someone else’s hands. Now, the preview for Justice League Unlimited #6 finally reveals who got Martian Manhunter’s powers: Gorilla Grodd.
DC Is Nerfing One of Its Strongest Heroes With an Overhauled Set of Superpowers
There is perhaps only one Justice League hero in the DC Universe who can rival Superman’s abilities. However, that may no longer be the case.
Grodd’s narration explains that he heard a telepathic scream in the ether, a disembodied energy looking for a host. Using his own telepathy, he drew it toward himself and became the new wielder of Martian Manhunter’s most iconic and overpowered abilities. Given that the We Are Yesterday crossover is building toward a face-off between the Justice League and the Legion of Doom, Superman will soon be forced to confront the powers he once itted he feared the most.
Superman Might Be GETTING the 1 Superpower He’s Scared Of (Hint: Impending Body Swap)
Cover B Lee Bermejo Variant for Justice League Unlimited #6 (2025)
The Justice League having to face off against a Martian Manhunter-enhanced Gorilla Grodd is a terrifying prospect that spells impending trouble for the team. However, perhaps even more interesting is the fact that Superman may soon find himself wielding Martian Manhunter’s powers. In an interview with AIPT, Mark Waid revealed that Superman and Grodd will be switching bodies. While this means Grodd will be in control of Superman’s body and powers, it also suggests that Clark will take control of Grodd’s abilities, giving him access to Martian Manhunter’s stolen powers. There’s no denying that things are about to get wild for Superman and the rest of the Justice League.
Justice League Unlimited #6 is available April 23, 2025, from DC Comics!
