DC Announces New Superpower For Its Most Underrated Powerhouse

Published Oct 13, 2026, 5:04 PM EDT Jared is a writer, editor, and Communications Studies graduate who loves popular nerd culture (almost anything to do with Marvel, DC, Star Wars, or The Lord of the Rings) and the interactive storytelling medium. Jared's first console was the PS1, wherein he fell for Spider-Man, Spyro the Dragon, and Crash Bandicoot. Sign in to your ScreenRant account 1000 years after Superboy’s DC era, the dawn of a new Legion of Super-Heroes has begun in Legion of Super-Heroes #1, an original, ongoing comic book series from writer Joshua Williamson, artist Hayden Sherman, colorist Tamra Bonvillain, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Here, the United Planets have declared it illegal to use superpowers in efforts to fight crime since the Great Disaster. Legion of Super-Heroes’ Matter-Eater Lad, a Bismollian named Tenzil Kem who works with Brainiac 1 of 5 as a pair of private investigators, is easily one of the most creative of the bunch. He first uses his power to hilariously interrupt Brainiac 1 of 5 and take a bite out of a safe/vault door made of valorium, the “densest metal ever created,” and soon thereafter to ‘CHOMP’ and ‘BITE’ his way through Persuaders who’ve come to apprehend Brainiac 1 of 5. In issue #2, Matter-Eater Lad’s latest display of superhuman matter ingestion and digestion is teased as being even more ludicrous. Matter-Eater Lad Is The Best There Is At What He Does… Preview pages for Legion of Super-Heroes #2 reveal that Matter-Eater Lad will munch on a Persuader’s helmet, terrifying the science-police enforcer within, before chewing on a handful of assorted dangerous chemicals and preparing to perform a “trick” he “learned from a friend on Shwar.” The preview ends before we get to see what this trick is, but Brainiac 1 of 5 warns the Persuaders not to underestimate Tenzil, who is likely to spew or belch whatever volatile chemical cocktail has been conjured in his mouth at their enemies, one of which has wings—Dawnstar, perhaps? Legion of Super-Heroes could easily dismiss or mock Matter-Eater Lad for having the most absurd power, but it doesn’t seem interested in making a mockery of him. Rather, while Matter-Eater Lad’s matter-consuming ability may often be wielded for the reader’s amusement, it is clearly extremely valuable in unexpected situations, and makes Tenzin highly unique. … And What Matter-Eater Lad Does Is Eat Matter Legion of Super-Heroes #1 had a lot of futuristic sci-fi worldbuilding to stuff into 48 pages. Some characters’ abilities aren’t all that zany, such as Mekt, Garth, and Ayla Ranzz gaining lightning powers after being attacked by lightning beasts on Korbal. That said, Matter-Eater Lad is one DC character who doesn’t have to fret about having a fun power. The solicitation for Legion of Super-Heroes #2 reads as follows: JOSHUA WILLIAMSON AND HAYDEN SHERMAN CRAFT THE NEW FUTURE OF THE DCU! The new future of the DC Universe continues as the Persuaders are hot on the trail of RJ Brande’s murderer. Will Brainiac 1 of 5 and Matter-Eater Lad solve the case before they’re forced to join the ranks of the enemy? Lightning Lad takes on a new trainer in his quest to be a superhero... but what happens when he learns that in order to be a great superhero, you must have a great super-villain?! Witness the unexpected creation of a new kind of Legion... and be prepared to get shocked! Legion of Super-Heroes #2 is scheduled to be released on October 14, 2026. First Film Man of Steel First TV Show Peacemaker Cast Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Cara Delevingne, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Zachary Levi, Dwayne Johnson, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett, Rosie Perez, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong, Ewan McGregor, Idris Elba, John Cena, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Xolo Mariduena Created by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson Character(s) Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Shazam, Darkseid, Amanda Waller, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Deadshot, Deathstroke, Black Canary, Black Adam Movie(s) Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, Shazam!, Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, Zack Snyder's Justice League, The Suicide Squad, Black Adam, Shazam! The Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, Superman, The Brave and the Bold The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.