DC Comics has officially removed an iconic Superman power from its canon. A new comic book issue has confirmed, once and for all, that the Man of Steel cannot travel at tremendous speed to reverse time. This move retcons the memorable moment from the 1978 Superman movie when Christopher Reeve‘s Clark Kent flies around Earth backwards to turn back time.
DC Comics’ decision to pull this iconic feat from its canon is part of an ongoing effort to clean up past inconsistencies in its lore and provide clarifications wherever needed. Thus, DC has finally addressed whether Superman can achieve time travel through speed in the Batman / Superman: World’s Finest 2026 Annual #1 issue.
At one point in this issue, we see Batman, Superman, and Flash trapped in a Faraday cage. Brainstorming an idea for how to escape, Barry suggests that Clark tries spinning fast in a circle to turn back time, a not-so-subtle reference to the iconic moment from the 1978 Superman movie.
However, in the comic book, Clark shuts down the idea as ludicrous, saying, “How does THAT make any sense?” Batman further chimes in with a quip, saying, “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” The dismissal from the superheroes firmly rejects the cinematic moment from the DC canon while taking a lighthearted jab at the idea.
How Christopher Reeve’s Superman made time reversal an iconic movie moment
Although it is no longer a part of the DC Comics canon, Superman’s time reversal sequence in the 1978 movie remains an iconic moment in cinematic history. It was the first film to introduce Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent to the world, arguably the most iconic live-action portrayal of the superhero on screen. The film also boasted a stellar cast including Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor and Marlon Brando as Jor-El.
However, the unforgettable sequence from the movie comes right at the end after Lois Lane dies in an earthquake. Enraged that he couldn’t reach her in time to save her, Superman begins accelerating around the Earth at incredible speed till he turns back time to prevent Lois’ death.
The scene became an instant classic and a defining moment in Reeve’s legacy and the history of superhero movies.
