Warning: Spoilers for Wonder Woman #10

Jonathan Kent, Superman’s son, is almost a carbon copy of his father. He’s so much like his father that his friend, Batman’s son Damian Wayne, has a theory that Jon isn’t actually Lois and Clark’s biological son, but is a clone from a time when Clark Kent had a strange, obscure power: the ability to shoot a miniature Superman out of his fingers.

In 1958’s Superman #125 by Jerry Coleman, Wayne Boring, and Stan Kaye, “Superman’s New Power” finds Superman investigating a small, unfamiliar spaceship, and touching it almost strikes him like Kryptonite. While his body is still near invulnerable, he can no longer fly, hit hard, or use heat or x-ray vision. However, his hands and fingers keep glowing and tingling, and pointing them at criminals still scares them enough to surrender.

The discovery is that his powers seem to have been transferred – to a tiny Superman who is shot out of the real Superman’s fingers. This tiny duplicate is identical to Clark and has all the original Superman’s powers, using them to take down the baddies.

Superman’s Weirdest “Mini-Superman” Power Is Officially DCU Canon

“World’s Finest Part 7” by Tom King, Belén Ortega, Tamra Bonvillain, and Clayton Cowles

Damian Wayne has a theory: Jon Kent is actually one of Superman’s old “fingerman” clones. Damian and Jon’s relationship is one of friendly antagonism, especially in this back-up story by Tom King and Belén Ortega from Wonder Woman #10. As the sons of Batman and Superman, they’re growing up together under their fathers’ shadows and will likely spend their adulthoods together. In these “World’s Finest” stories, Damian loves teasing Jon about what the “S” on the Superman suit stands for, and some of his sillier superpowers (in this issue, calling freeze breath “cold breath,” though “freeze breath” is already a little bit silly).

During this teasing, Damian brings up the time that Superman shot these miniature clones out of his hands, which does seem to be the one time that Jon feels insulted. That Damian knows about this obscure power suggests that this odd Golden Age story is canon, and Batman told his son about it (possibly one of the few times Batman had a good laugh). Clark may have also told his own son about it, if one of Jon’s developing Superman powers would be shooting his own tiny clones from his fingers. Thus far, it seems he hasn’t had to deal with it.

What If Superman Jonathan Kent Really Is a “Fingerman”?

Superman’s Powers Remain Mysterious

With that in mind, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that Damian’s theory is true. The original tiny clones happened during a time when Superman didn’t have his powers. Jon is frequently seen wearing his Superman suit, ready to save citizens in danger at any second. It’s possible that he’s already so well-trained because the original Superman is losing his own powers (as he was before the recent Warworld Saga), and Jon will have to become the one and only Superman sometime soon. His parents wouldn’t want to burden Jon with the knowledge that he is a clone and the reason his father can no longer be a hero.

This theory, of course, probably isn’t true. But given how silly the original Superman story is — and the knowledge that it’s canon in the World’s Finest timeline — it makes for a fun thought experiment. It’s much more likely that Damian Wayne knows how to push Jon Kent’s buttons, and he knew that this insult would really get to him. Young Lizzie Prince, daughter of Wonder Woman, thinks of the two like her older brothers, and they fight like they’re family every day. Jon won’t be changing his name to “Fingerman,” and Superman’s weird power isn’t likely to make a comeback anytime soon.

Wonder Woman #10 is available now from DC Comics.