Superman’s Five Biggest Mistakes That Nearly Doomed the World
Superman is often seen as the ultimate hero. He’s an incorruptible symbol of hope and justice.
With his immense strength, speed, and near-invulnerability, he stands as Earth’s greatest
protector, always striving to do the right thing. However, even the most powerful hero in the
universe isn’t immune to mistakes. Despite his noble intentions and unparalleled abilities,
Superman has made decisions that have nearly led to disaster, both for himself and for the
world he has sworn to protect.
Whether it’s misplaced trust, moral dilemmas, or the unintended consequences of his actions,
Superman’s failures serve as a reminder that even the mightiest heroes have their flaws. But
what makes him truly inspiring is his ability to learn from these missteps and continue
fighting for what’s right. Here are five of Superman’s biggest mistakes that nearly doomed
the world.
- Trusting Lex Luthor (Too Many Times to
Count)
Superman has always believed in redemption, even for his greatest enemies. Unfortunately
this optimism has often backfired, especially when it comes to Lex Luthor.
One of the most glaring examples came in Superman: Birthright, where Superman tried to
befriend a young Luthor, hoping to steer him toward good. Instead, Luthor used his
knowledge of Superman to turn the world against him. In All-Star Superman, Superman even
gave Luthor a taste of his own powers, hoping he’d use them for good, only for Luthor to
immediately try to destroy everything.
Luthor’s genius, combined with Superman’s repeated willingness to believe he can change,
has led to countless near-apocalyptic events. Whether it’s political power, alien technology,
or outright superpowers, every time Superman gives Luthor an inch, he takes a mile.
- Creating the Phantom Zone (Which Backfired
Horribly)
The Phantom Zone was meant to be a humane alternative to execution for Krypton’s worst
criminals. Instead of being killed, villains like General Zod were banished to a dimension
where they couldn’t age or escape. Sounds great, until they started breaking out.
Superman’s insistence on using the Phantom Zone as a prison has repeatedly backfired. In
stories like Superman II and Superman: Last Son, Zod and his army have escaped and nearly
conquered Earth. Even worse, Superman has at times accidentally sent innocent people into
the Phantom Zone, such as Mon-El, a hero who was trapped for decades.
What was meant to be a prison for Krypton’s worst criminals has instead become a ticking
time bomb, unleashing deadly threats upon Earth whenever the Zone’s barriers weaken.
- Giving Batman a Kryptonite Ring
Superman and Batman have one of the most complicated friendships in comics. As a sign of
trust, Superman once gave Batman a Kryptonite ring, telling him to use it if he ever became a
threat. While this seemed like a responsible safeguard, it ended up being a disastrous mistake.
In Tower of Babel, Ra’s al Ghul stole Batman’s contingency plans, including the Kryptonite
ring and used them to incapacitate the Justice League. Later, in Injustice: Gods Among Us,
Batman used the Kryptonite to challenge Superman after he became a dictator.
Superman’s decision to hand over a weapon that could kill him was meant to be a precaution,
but in reality, it became one of the most dangerous tools in the wrong hands.
- Surrendering to Darkseid (Which Led to His
Brainwashing)
Superman has a strong moral compass, but sometimes his noble instincts can lead to disaster.
In Superman: The Animated Series, he voluntarily surrendered to Darkseid to save Earth,
only to be brainwashed and turned into a weapon for Apokolips.
Darkseid erased Superman’s memories and convinced him that he was his adopted son.
Under Darkseid’s control, Superman helped conquer entire worlds and was sent back to Earth
to destroy it. It took a brutal battle and the strength of his friends to break him free.
This mistake nearly cost Earth everything, showing that even Superman, when manipulated
can become the very thing he fights against.
- Destroying the Fortress of Solitude (Along
with Priceless Kryptonian Knowledge)
Superman’s Fortress of Solitude is more than just his home. It’s a vault of knowledge from
Krypton, containing history, technology, and wisdom that could benefit all of humanity.
However, on multiple occasions, Superman has chosen to destroy it rather than let it fall into
the wrong hands.
One of the most infamous instances occurred in Superman II, when he willingly gave up his
powers to live as a human with Lois Lane. When Zod invaded, Superman had to return to the
Fortress but ultimately had to destroy it to stop his enemies from accessing its secrets.
While understandable in the heat of battle, these losses have set back both Superman and
Earth, erasing Kryptonian advancements that could have shaped the future.
