Warning: This article contains spoilers for Superman & Lois season 4, episode 3.Superman & Lois season 4 has set up four different replacements for Superman following his death in the DC series. The two-episode long Superman & Lois season 4 premiere managed to start the final leg of the show off with a bang, killing off Superman, having Doomsday rip out his heart, and then having Lex Luthor stomp on that heart and crush it when his son Jordan went to try and recover the missing organ. This sheer level of drama made it clear the show wasn’t taking anything lightly, nor was it going to bring the Man of Steel back without making its characters fight for it.

Though General Lane’s sacrifice in Superman & Lois season 4, episode 3, looks like it could now bring back Clark via giving him a substitute heart, the hologram of Superman’s mother makes it clear that this process will not be a quick one, if it even works at all. As such, there still seems to be plenty of time before the hero returns in the live-action Superman show – putting all the more pressure on the four characters who the show has set up as his replacements for at least the time being.

Steel & Starlight Have Stepped In To Replace The Void Left By Superman’s Death In Superman & Lois

John Henry Irons & His Daughter Have Stepped Up To The Plate In Season 4

With Superman unable to continue assisting the Department of Defense in protecting others from harm due to his passing, the group looks to find someone to replace him. John Henry Irons and his daughter Natalie Lois Irons are chosen for this role, as their technologically advanced suits of armor have previously proved able to hold up in big conflicts, with both playing a key part in the efforts to stop Ally Allston from destroying the universe via merging it with the Inverse World.

Steel and Starlight’s suits appear to have similar capabilities, though Steel has more battle practice, which has been shown to have made him a proficient user of an energy hammer – a skill that has come in handy in fights as far back as Superman & Lois season 1. However, it’s also worth noting Starlight’s own suit appears to be a little more advanced than the original Steel armor, meaning this upgraded suit also offers its own unique advantages.

Unfortunately, though, even the dual forces of Steel and Starlight together don’t seem to compare exactly to Superman’s own power level. In Superman & Lois season 4, episode 3, Doomsday is able to take down both heroes handily without seemingly exerting any of the same effort he had to use to defeat the Man of Steel, and this likely doesn’t come as a surprise to viewers, given Steel has previously been shown to struggle more fighting against the various villains of Superman & Lois than Superman himself.

Jordan Kent’s Training Will Hopefully Pay Off In Season 4

Having spent most of Superman & Lois training to be like Superman – with this undertaking being something that Clark repeatedly suggested would have him take Superman’s place when he was no longer around – Jordan Kent is arguably the most direct successor to Superman following his death. He’s also the character most able to fill in for his currently deceased father, given he spent seasons of the show learning how to be a superhero directly from the Man of Steel himself.

Jordan has slowly trained his entire skillset – which appears almost identical to his dad’s, though weaker for at least the time being in many regards – consistently, and appears to have gained a much stronger control of his powers compared to the show’s early scenes of him unleashing his heat vision unwillingly when his emotions got too intense. Superboy has managed to hold his own against his Kryptonian uncle Tal-Rho in season 2, faced off against the Intergang in season 3, and seemingly isn’t as weak as his father to Green Kryptonite due to his half-human heritage, which all suggest promising things.

However, it’s worth noting that Jordan also has weaknesses that have consistently made him appear weaker than Superman & Lois‘ Superman – though the main difference between them appears to be how much longer Clark has had to hone his powers, especially since his initial powers also came in years before Jordan’s own. Crucially, Jordan is shown to be far more impulsive than his father, which proves to be an issue for him as a hero in season 4 when he falls into one of Lex Luthor’s traps in the show’s premiere despite being warned because of his strong emotions.

Jonathan Kent’s Powers Are A Major Change For Superman & Lois

Jonathan Kent’s New Powers Could Change Everything For Superman & Lois

One of the most surprising moments of Superman & Lois season 4 saw Jonathan Kent finally get his own powers after seasons of Superman’s other son being a seemingly otherwise ordinary human. Jonathan’s powers came in notably later than Jordan’s, but he appears to have had an easier time with learning to control them, shown swiftly after developing them in episode 3 flying around and enjoying abilities he’d previously thought only his brother and father would ever have.

Given the newfound nature of Jonathan Kent’s powers, little has been shown about the strength of his abilities compared to his brother or the Kent’s enemies. However, given the initial reveal focuses so much on the speed with which he learns to handle his powers – and on General Lane suggesting he’s a better candidate than Jordan for them – it’s likely there will be some way in which Jonathan’s powers pale to Jordan and thus likely Superman’s own, either in the lack of training he’s had, or in the strength of some aspects specifically.

Whatever the case is, it’s fascinating to see how Superman & Lois has crafted several replacements for Superman following his death – even if Superman himself still seems to safely be the strongest hero of the roster. Ultimately, this only makes his impending revival seem more likely to come to fruition, and to do so when the Superman & Lois cast need Clark Kent to return the most.

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