Superman Just Revealed a Major DC Plothole That Needs Explaining

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The DC Universe has always blended futuristic technology with everyday life. While its heroes and villains wield incredibly advanced gadgets, most ordinary people use technology similar to our own. Despite all the progress made by humans and aliens in DC’s stories, society’s overall technological level remains comparable to our real world. Now, DC is starting to bridge this gap, but this change raises questions that could fundamentally challenge what fans believe about the universe.

Okay, so the new Superman Unlimited series kicks off with a huge Kryptonite meteor hitting Earth – talk about a game changer! Suddenly, everyone has access to practically limitless amounts of this stuff, and they’re quickly figuring out how to use it. What’s really interesting is that the series establishes Kryptonite as this incredibly potent fuel source, and that’s led to a massive surge in scientific advancement. In issue #8, we see humanity make some truly incredible leaps forward, but honestly, it also made me start questioning the established rules of science within the DC Universe. It’s a cool concept, but it definitely raises some questions about consistency.

Catching Up With the Rest of the Universe

Issue #8 of Superman Unlimited featured a daring, and potentially dangerous, first-ever commercial flight faster than light. Financed by the villainous billionaire Sebastian Stagg, the spaceship, called the Stagg Starliner, was built by the inventive Toyman and powered by Kryptonite engines. Because Superman couldn’t guarantee the safety of the flight, Green Lantern Guy Gardner was assigned to protect the passengers. Initially reluctant to babysit a group of wealthy travelers on what he considered a routine mission, Guy was persuaded by Jessica Cruz that the mission was crucial. If humanity achieved faster-than-light travel, it would open the door to interstellar expansion and allow them to join the wider galactic community.

Honestly, you wouldn’t believe the mess I discovered while watching this! So, there were definitely people who didn’t want humanity to advance into space, and it turns out Sebastian was secretly one of them – he’d already made a deal with aliens to hold us back! It was crazy. These aliens, shapeshifting Durlans, infiltrated the ship, and once they passed Saturn, a whole fleet showed up pretending they wanted to destroy it. But the real plan was much sneakier – they wanted to cause chaos, swap themselves in for the original crew, and take over Earth from the inside. Thankfully, Superman and Green Lantern stepped in and blew those ships out of the water, and Superman figured out the invasion plot just in time. But here’s the weird part: even though they saved the day, all the progress on space travel was lost, putting us right back where we started. It’s a bit of a head-scratcher, honestly.

Stepping Back to a Questionable Status Quo

As we’ve discussed, there’s a huge difference in technology between those with powers in DC and regular citizens. While it’s understandable that heroes and villains would keep some tech secret, that doesn’t account for the overall imbalance. The recent delay in faster-than-light travel can be blamed on the aliens and Sebastian, but it doesn’t explain why wealthy and well-intentioned people in DC haven’t tried to bridge the technology gap. It’s especially frustrating because companies like Wayne Enterprises, Queen Industries, and Steelworks are actively developing advanced technology and attempting to share it, but those advancements never seem to last or become widespread.

New technology appears and disappears at a rapid pace. It doesn’t make sense that major advancements, like faster-than-light travel, would suddenly stop just because of one event. DC Comics aims for a world that mirrors our own, but with superheroes and limited advanced technology. However, as this technology becomes more common within the DC Universe, it’s increasingly difficult to explain why it doesn’t affect everyday life for regular people.

I don’t think every piece of technology needs a detailed explanation, and it’s not about ruining the experience. However, a little more consistency and attention to how technology works within the DC Universe would make it feel more believable and grounded.

Superman Unlimited #8 is on sale now!

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2025-12-19 00:12