It’s often thought that there’s no battle Superman can’t win, but Doctor Doom totally proved that it’s possible for Superman to lose. The Man of Steel stands for truth, justice, and a better tomorrow, but as it turns out, thanks to an ’80s crossover between Marvel and DC, this very code of ethics might be Superman’s one downfall. In this crossover comic, Superman encountered a villain he just couldn’t beat for more than a few reasons: Marvel’s Doctor Doom.

Superman and Spider-Man – originally published as 1981’s Marvel Treasury Edition #28 – by Jim Shooter, Marv Wolfman, and John Buscema, debuted as a sequel to 1976’s Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man. But what comic fans of the day learned about Superman was much more important. Up against Doctor Doom, Superman’s flaws were quickly exposed, as first Victor Von Doom created a dust version of Kryptonite that would have nearly killed Superman if it weren’t for Spider-Man’s intervention.

Then, just as Superman is finally about to get the upper hand, Doctor Doom flees back to Latverian soil and pleads diplomatic immunity. In this simple tactic, Superman’s true weakness is shown: his careful adherence to the laws of the world, which villains consistently break.

Superman Has a Lot of Weaknesses, Despite Being One of DC’s Most Powerful Characters

Superman’s Respect For Humanity’s Laws Saves Doctor Doom

Superman is often said to be the greatest hero of all time – or at least of the DC Universe. In a sea of villains and anti-heroes and companions like Batman constantly towing the killing line, Superman stands as a beacon of hope and the upholding of the laws of humanity. That’s exactly what he’s stood for in the eyes of fans for eighty-six years, ever since Superman’s debut in Action Comics #1 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

In an increasingly complicated world, where a villain isn’t just a purse-snatcher who receives jail time, Superman needs to evolve.

And yet, in an increasingly complicated world, where a villain isn’t just a purse-snatcher who receives jail time, Superman needs to evolve. Nowhere can this be seen more clearly than in Superman and Spider-Man, where the lines that Superman draws in the sand stop him from enacting his own justice. Never deeming himself a vigilante, Superman operates precisely within the law, and when Doctor Doom cites diplomatic immunity, the law forbids Superman from action. If every villain found such quick loopholes, Superman would be rendered entirely useless.

Superman’s Weakness to Kryptonite Makes Him a Liability

Doctor Doom Discovers His Weakness Immediately

While Marvel prepares for 2025’s rise of Emperor Doom, Superman sits outside, unable to bring him to justice. But it’s not just diplomatic immunity that’s stopping Superman from saving the day, considering Doctor Doom had concocted a version of Kryptonite that not even Lex Luthor could have invented. A keen scientist, Doctor Doom accomplished what no Superman villain has done over the years and nearly killed the Man of Steel – all in one issue.

Looking for another story that explores some of Superman’s weaknesses and strange lore gapes? Check out the current Action Comics story by Mark Waid and Clayton Henry, which begins with Action Comics #1070 and runs weekly until the end of 2024!

Compiled with Superman’s strict observance of the law, Superman’s Kryptonite weakness is still making him a liability over forty years later. If Spider-Man hadn’t been there for his DC friend, Marvel might have been the death of the Man of Tomorrow. While the issue of Superman’s rule-following can always be broken if he decides the law is hampering him too much, Kryptonite is a biological issue that continues to haunt him. And that’s not even counting his underrated weakness against magic.

Doctor Doom’s Magical Abilities Could Fell the Man of Steel

Superman Stands No Chance Against Victor Von Doom

Doctor Doom has a rich history in Marvel and holds some interesting powers, too. Regardless of his dictatorship of the country of Latveria or his brilliant scientific mind, Victor Von Doom is also an accomplished magician, enough so to become Marvel’s current Sorcerer Supreme. While he didn’t display such powers during the events of Superman and Spider-Man, if he had even used a lick of his magical prowess, the Man of Steel would have been brought so low that maybe not even Spider-Man could have saved him.

Famously, Superman has a secondary weakness: his insensitivity to magic. Many of his villains operate with such magical powers, leaving the Kryptonite to simpler villains who don’t want to work as hard to win. It seems there’s something innate in his Kryptonian DNA that reacts against magic, showing that his non-human side is the reason for his failure. And yet, his strict observance of human law also causes him to fail. On every side, it seems, Superman is buffeted by weakness.

As DC’s contemporary comics begin to threaten Superman’s perfect image, the evidence of his past failures haunts him. No villain is ever going to observe the law, and so, when it comes down to it, Superman’s one-sided respect towards rules is his biggest weakness. As long as Doctor Doom reigns on international soil, Superman can’t do anything about it. Unless he finally wants to break the law to save the world.

Superman and Spider-Man is available now from DC Comics.