The Man of Steel is faster, stronger and more resilient than most opponents, but in one conflict with Deathstroke, the assassin made Superman look dumber. While Supes has a few weaknesses, outsmarting him may just be the best method of getting the job done.
Slade Wilson is a master strategist. As the assassin Deathstroke, he wields that strategy in tandem with heightened strength and abilities, supreme combat expertise and quality tech to operate as one of the most ruthless and efficient hitmen in the DC Universe. That reputation attracts the attention of the U.S. government who attempt to appeal to Superman’s sense of justice. Slade’s ex-wife Adeline Kane, acting on behalf of the government urges “Mr. El” to bring Deathstroke in. Superman doesn’t appreciate being used as a government tool, but knowing Wilson is contracted to eliminate a cartel boss, agrees to help.
In Deathstroke #8, Superman attempts to stop the assassination but gets played for a fool by Deathstroke in a way that should embarrass him forever. The two encounter each other on an aircraft carrier owned by Alisante, a murderous leader of a drug cartel and Deathstroke’s target. Slade’s ability strategize enables him to hang with the Kryptonian. The Ikon suit Wilson’s armor is made from absorbs kinetic energy that Deathstroke can wield. He goads Superman into loading up the armor with punches, then disorients him with a gravity field so full of force that the hero bleeds. Slade then leads Superman on a goose chase around the ship, taking advantage of the lead shielding. When Supes finally locates him, Slade unleashes a flurry of Kryptonite bullets, causing Superman to take cover and hide. Except they weren’t Kryptonite, Deathstroke melted down glow sticks with fluorescent green dye and drenched his bullets in them, providing the Man of Steel with one of his most humiliating moments.
In the end, Superman apprehends Deathstroke, but the green bullet fake-out allowed the assassin all the time he needed to locate and execute Alisante. For a hero that values life as much as Superman does, this result has to be considered an absolute failure. The fact that all Deathstroke needed to defeat a foe with super strength and speed, invulnerability, flight, heat vision and enhanced senses was glow sticks just illustrates how dangerous and resourceful he is.
As powerful as Superman is, most people consider his weaknesses to be limited to Kryptonite and magic, but frequently out-thinking him is the best option. Even his friend Batman knows this. In Batman: Hush, the Dark Knight takes on a Poison Ivy-controlled Superman and executes a strategy similar to Slade’s distract and stall techniques. Batman’s lies and tricks to lure Superman into punching a powerline and uses Metropolis’ entire electrical grid to stun his Justice League teammate, buying himself time to help Superman break free of Ivy’s influence. The “Last Son of Krypton” may be faster than a speeding bullet, but the way his friends and foes fool him can occasionally make Superman look dumber than a pile of bricks.