David Corenswet's Superman smiling as he flies into the camera in Superman (2025)
By
Kevin Erdmann
Published 1 hour ago
Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.
With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.
Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.
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Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for DC K.O. #3
Superman has always been DC’s gold standard when it comes to pure power. However, The Man of Steel was just given the most unexpected upgrade in the pages of DC K.O.
As seen in the brand-new DC K.O. #3 from Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson, the "King Omega" tournament's Elite Eight (Superman, Wonder Woman, Guy Gardner, Cyborg, Zatanna, Aquaman, Lex Luthor, and Joker) are pitted against each other in a series of epic showdowns.
Allowed to choose partners from outside the tournament, Superman chose incredibly well in this brand-new round of DC K.O., resulting in the Man of Steel becoming far more powerful than usual (and that's saying something).
Superman Just Gained The Powers of Shazam in DC K.O.
As seen in DC K.O. #3, Superman chose Billy Batson's Shazam as his partner, with the overseeing Heart of Apokolips pitting the duo against Guy Gardner's Green Lantern, who chose to bring in Hal Jordan.
After trading a series of impressive blows and the Lanterns preparing to weaponize synthetic kryptonite, Billy Batson shares his powers with Superman. This transforms the Man of Steel with a brand-new set of powers (and a new costume) on top of his already impressive abilities as a Kryptonian.
With Shazam’s strength, speed, wisdom, and lightning added to Superman’s own, both Green Lanterns are taken out almost instantly. As such, it couldn't be clearer that this major magical upgrade more than likely made Superman the most powerful he's ever been in the official DC continuity, securing his place in the Final Four.
Will Superman Keep His New Powers Heading Into The Final Four?
Superman’s costume reverting to normal by the issue's end suggests that Shazam's power boost was only temporary. As the tournament moves into the Final Four with Wonder Woman, Lex Luthor, and Joker, it does seem as though Superman will be back to relying on his more typical abilities alone.
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Crave deeper takes on moments like Superman gaining Shazam's powers? Subscribe to our newsletter for in-depth breakdowns, character power comparisons, and smart tournament speculation—everything you need to follow DC K.O. developments with expert coverage. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.Even if the truly awesome upgrade didn't last beyond a few pages, it's still pretty cool that DC K.O. gave us one of the most impressive superhero hybrids ever. As we look forward to what's next in DC's King Omega tournament, one can only imagine what other surprises and major twists are likely in store.
DC K.O. #3 is now on sale from DC Comics.
Superman
Created By
Joe Shuster, Jerry Siegel
First Appearance
Action Comics
Alias
Kal-El, Clark Kent, Jonathan Kent
Alliance
Justice League, Superman Family
Race
Kryptonian
Franchise
D.C.
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Superman
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Shazam
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