Derek Powell (UE-43)

"I'm already dead."

- Derek Powell's last words to Superman

Derek Powell was a Subjekt of Morgan Edge's X-Kryptonite experiments from New Carthage.

Experimented
In 2020, Derek Powell was offered a better work by Morgan Edge and went missing for months. He was then experimented with X-Kryptonite, allowing his body to be possessed by a Kryptonian and gained their powers.

Fighting Superman
In fall 2020, Powell's mother asked for Smallville Gazette's assistance. Later, Powell returned to Sharon and the two went to the Gazette's office. However, both Lois Lane and Chrissy Beppo felt suspicious on Powell's sudden reappearance. After causing a fire in the community center with his heat vision during the Harvest Fest, Powell escaped through the back door and went to Leslie Larr's building for assistance. After exposing to the Eradicator, Powell gained more control over his powers and was attacked by Superman. Powell then told Leslie to secure the asset and fought Superman. During the chase, Powell destroyed a barn and the fire was put out by Superman. Powell and Superman's chase then caught the attention from Captain Luthor, with the latter shooting them with a rocket launcher, hitting them both to crash on the ground. As Superman attempted to help him, Powell claims he was already dead and committed suicide using his heat vision on himself.

Powers

 * X-Kryptonite Mutations: After exposed to X-Kryptonite, Powell gained limited Kryptonian powers.
 * Heat Vision: Powell was able to use heat vision to start a fire in the community center.
 * Superhuman Strength: Powell was capable of fighting Superman hand-to-hand alone.
 * Flight: Powell was shown to fly at a high speed, surpassing that of Superman.
 * Superhuman Durability: Despite being hit with a rocket launcher, Powell was shown to have no major injuries.
 * Superhuman Speed: Powell was shown to vibrate at superhuman speed before his suicide.

Abilities

 * Hand-to-Hand Combat: Powell was able to fight Superman hand-to-hand alone.

Former Weaknesses

 * Power Instability: Prior to exposing himself to the Eradicator for the second time, Powell was unable to control his powers and started having headaches.