Warning: contains spoilers for Action Comics #1040!
DC's goes up against the master of Warworld, Mongul.
Superman has departed the Earth and has left his son, Jonathan Kent, in charge of protecting the planet. While Jonathan takes on a new name as Earth's official Superman (seen in the Tom Taylor-penned Superman: Son of Kal-El series), Clark Kent has found himself on Warworld, without allies or even his powers. Beneath the ground of Warworld sits red solar furnaces, which effectively remove Superman's powers. By all s, he is no stronger than a human.
Mongul is greeted by two siblings; like all the citizens of Warworld, they practically worship him and desire nothing less than to become warriors in the arena: Warzoon. A cruel Mongul demands that the siblings prove their worth by fighting to the death: "Slay your brother, as I slew mine." When the siblings hesitate at the command, Mongul decides to kill them both, but Superman comes to their rescue. Though he eventually manages to saves the siblings through his efforts, he doesn't attack Mongul with the intent to kill, providing Mongul for a chance to defeat Superman and wound him grievously. Surprisingly, instead of celebrating Mongul, the crowd begins to chant, "Bahle'na Gahl...Bahle'na Gahl..."
Superman learns the chant means "Unblooded sword" - originally intended as a grave insult on a combat-obsessed planet like Warworld, shouted when a warrior isn't able to land a single blow. But Superman its "I kind of like it." Indeed he would; Superman, like many other Marvel and DC heroes, has sworn a solemn oath never to kill. But Unblooded Sword perhaps means more to him: Superman is seen by many as a living weapon (especially writers who continually turn him evil at the slightest provocation). But Superman is, by his nature, not a violent person, and will only rely on violence when there is no other option to resolve a conflict. In chanting this previously disrespectful nickname, it seems Warworld is beginning to agree.
Superman remains on Warworld, powerless in more ways than one. Weakened by the planet's alien energies, he poses little physical challenge to Mongul and his allies, but the despotic villain is now afraid of turning Kal-El into a martyr. Hopefully, Superman will continue living up to his new insulting name and perhaps turn it into a title to be ired.
