Superman in Marvel
Chapter 8: The Suit of a Hero
SHIELD's Frustration
"Sir, we lost him."
The SHIELD agent's voice was tense as he looked at the radar screen. A few moments ago, they had been tracking Ethan Carter's movements across Antarctica, his heat signature distinct even in the frozen wasteland.
Then—nothing.
It was like he had vanished into thin air.
Nick Fury stood at the command station, arms crossed, jaw tight. "You don't just lose a guy in the middle of a goddamn frozen desert."
Agent Hill shook her head. "It's not our equipment. It's something else. The moment he entered a certain perimeter, our satellites lost all visual. Sensors stopped picking up anything. It's like that area doesn't even exist."
Fury frowned. "A cloaking field?"
"Something more advanced than anything we've ever seen."
Fury's single eye narrowed. "Stay on him. The second he steps out of that blackout zone, I want eyes on him."
Hill nodded. "Understood."
Fury turned back toward the screen, staring at the blank spot where Ethan had disappeared.
"Just what the hell are you hiding, kid?"
Inside the Ship
Ethan Carter stood in the center of the Kryptonian vessel, staring at his reflection.
For the first time, he truly looked Kryptonian.
The room around him was unlike anything on Earth. The walls pulsed with a faint blue glow, lined with ancient symbols he was just beginning to understand. Holographic displays flickered with data from a lost world.
And in front of him, resting inside a crystalline chamber, was his suit.
It was beautiful.
Not just a piece of clothing, but something more. A symbol.
Deep blue fabric, smooth yet impossibly strong. A high collar, regal yet functional. A flowing red cape, slightly heavier than it should have been, as if laced with unseen energy.
And on the chest—
The S.
Ethan reached out, running his fingers over the emblem.
It wasn't an "S." Not really. He had known that even before stepping foot in this ship. It was the symbol of the House of El. A crest that once stood for hope.
He clenched his fists.
For years, he had feared the power inside him. Held himself back. Lived in guilt, believing that Krypton had died because of him.
But standing here, in the heart of his heritage, surrounded by the last remnants of his people—he didn't feel like a burden anymore.
He felt worthy.
The Message Left for Him
A soft hum filled the room. The holographic interface activated again.
Ethan turned as the projection of Jor-El flickered back into existence.
"This suit was designed for you, my son." Jor-El's voice was calm, proud. "Forged from Kryptonian nanoweave, it will protect you from forces beyond even your own strength. It will adapt to you, becoming as much a part of you as your own skin."
The image of Lara appeared beside him. "But more than that, it is a symbol. A reminder of who you are."
Ethan exhaled, pressing his fingers to his temple. "I'm not sure I even know who I am."
Jor-El smiled slightly. "You will, in time."
Lara stepped forward, looking at him with soft eyes. "Kal-EL… Whatever name you choose, you have the power to be a force of good in this universe."
The message flickered.
Jor-El's voice became serious. "You may think yourself alone, but the universe is vast. There are others who will seek you out—some as allies, others as enemies."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
Jor-El continued. "You must decide what you will be. Whether you will embrace the power you have been given… or hide from it."
Lara's image softened. "No matter what, we love you, my son."
The holograms faded.
Ethan stood there for a long moment.
Then, he turned back to the suit.
Becoming More
He took a deep breath and reached for it.
The moment his fingers touched the fabric, it responded—shifting, moving, molding itself onto his body. It wasn't heavy, despite its durability. It felt… right.
The cape settled across his shoulders.
The emblem on his chest shone faintly under the ship's soft blue light.
Ethan looked at his reflection again.
He had always seen himself as just a farm kid with too much power. Someone pretending to be normal. Someone hiding.
But now, for the first time in his life, he saw something else.
A protector.
A Kryptonian.
A Superman.
He clenched his fists, his resolve hardening.
The world would notice him soon.
SHIELD was already watching.
And whatever came next…
He would be ready.