Fanboy Theories: Why Doesn't The Fortress Recognize Superman?

He's still Superman...?

Last Wednesday, more previews for the future DC Comic Line-Up came out and one of these intrigued me greatly. This one of course being Action Comics, as part of the new Superman storyline "Truth". To those who haven't taken the chance to read it, it is essentially Superman trudging through the Arctic to get to his Fortress of Solitude. He goes on about how he is losing his powers, and after a fight with some enemies, he makes it to his destination. HOWEVER after the Fortress scans him, it claims he isn't Kal-El and takes back the "stolen artifacts." These artifacts are his suit, S-Shield, and sadly his cape. He is left out in the cold, with only torn bits of his cape in his hands. Seeing the last two pages sent my theorist mind into overdrive. Why did the Fortress, Superman's Iconic getaway, not recognize it's owner? It's obviously related to him losing his powers, but what could be the reason behind it? Is it the Super Flare, or is there something much more sinister in the works? Could his years of being the greatest hero on Earth-0 finally get the better of him? Lets dive into this weeks theories of the now fallen Man of Steel.



Theory 1: Super Flare

This new superpower of Superman's is more of a burden than it is good. To those who haven't read about it, it is essentially a "Self-Destruct" attack that causes all the solar charged cells in Superman's body to explode all the energy out of him, he then becomes a normal man for about 24 hours. I'll be honest, I would not be surprised if THIS is the actual reason. This solar radiation is essentially BURNING his insides when it comes out in the force it does. theres a good chance it would burn his cells too. If you scar a thumb, it would be harder to identify it with it's original thumbprint, as it is different than before. What if his cells, and by extension, his DNA was getting damaged each time he did the flare? It would become harder to identify him. We already know the Flare has begun to weaken him each go, so destroying his DNA could bring this full circle. However you are probably asking- "How does DNA burning make any sense?" Answer: Comic Book Science.


Theory 2: Side Effect from the Phantom Zone
In the four years we have had the New 52, how many events in the Superman comics have had the Phantom Zone tied in one way or another? Doomsday broke out of it leading to the events of Doomed, Phantom King came out to bring hell to the last son of Krypton, and the most recent attack came from the freaky Ultra-Humanite(Yes, this still creeps me out). These are just a few examples of the attacks from the zone. The Phantom Zone has always been a mystery in the new 52. It can take you to two ends of the universe? It turns it's captives into permanent corporeal form? Its an anomaly to say the least. It could be entirely possible that all his time dealing with these Phantom Zone threats, the zone effected him in a negative way. Perhaps he has begun to become a phantom outside the Zone. This would mean that he would become weaker, and in the case of Phantom King and Ultra-Humanite, might change to the point of becoming unrecognizable. If "Phantom-Poisoning" is the cause of this lack of power AND unrecognized Superman, then he's in a whole world of trouble in the coming storylines.


Theory 3: THAT MAN ISN'T SUPERMAN!

This idea comes from two main facts that happened in the preview. The first one is the fact that Supes rips his cape. As he described it, the cape is an indestructible fabric which was his blanket as a child. This has been a detail that has held true throughout the continuity...then we see it ripped...We have seen this cape survive the Super Flare, Doomsday, a black hole etc. How is it the thing that rips when Superman tugs a little too hard as it's sucked in. Maybe because that isn't actually the cape. Why would Superman have a false cape? My second point: Why would Superman need to convince himself he's Superman? Maybe because he is in doubt...Maybe he thinks he's someone...or something else... We have had clones convinced of their "superman lineage," prime example being Superman: Doomsday. These two factors could be pointing to the fact the man trying to get into the fortress is just a failing clone from ANY villain. It could be Luthor, Brainiac, Phantom King(He is a scientist after all)...only time will tell as the story unfolds.

Those are my theories on Superman! Hopefully we will get answers as time goes on, but we just need to wait till march for the Truth Storyline to begin. What do you think of these theories? Do you think the Truth storyline will be an interesting step for the Man of Steel?

Leave your thoughts in the comments below and remember...When it comes to DC, QUESTION EVERYTHING!