Byrne Robotics: Question for Mr. Byrne - Gladiator’s confidence

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Topic: Question for Mr. Byrne - Gladiator’s confidence

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Adaildo da Silva Lima
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Joined: 13 February 2026
Location: Brazil
Posts: 9

Posted: 20 May 2026 at 5:17pm \| IP Logged \| 1	post reply

Hi Mr. Byrne,

In FF #249, Gladiator's confidence breaks when he sees his
own powers failing — causing him to doubt himself.

Would direct emotional pressure — like being told he's
worthless or a failure — have the same effect?
Thank you.

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John Byrne
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Grumpy Old Guy

Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 136208

Posted: 20 May 2026 at 5:45pm \| IP Logged \| 2	post reply

Simple answer: no.

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James Johnson
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Joined: 16 March 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 2384

Posted: 21 May 2026 at 3:43pm \| IP Logged \| 3	post reply

Thank doG.

That would be worse than wood as a weakness.....

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Adaildo da Silva Lima
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Joined: 13 February 2026
Location: Brazil
Posts: 9

Posted: 23 May 2026 at 2:30pm \| IP Logged \| 4	post reply

Mr. Byrne, if Gladiator is essentially like Superman pre-
Crisis, when his confidence breaks and he doubts himself,
how weak does he become?

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John Byrne
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Grumpy Old Guy

Joined: 11 May 2005
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Posted: 23 May 2026 at 2:47pm \| IP Logged \| 5	post reply

Beats me!! ;-)

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Brian Hughes
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Joined: 15 June 2015
Location: United States
Posts: 424

Posted: 23 May 2026 at 6:51pm \| IP Logged \| 6	post reply

Adailso,

This was covered indirectly a few times during the era of JB's run on Superman. Marv Wolfman and Jerry Ordway showed in The Adventures of Superman 430 just how Superman can seem weaker when he is mentally and emotionally overwhelmed. JB did something along those lines in his Legends crossover, Action 586, As Superman's mind was not right, this time with amnesia, his powers did not funtion at full strength.

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John Byrne
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Grumpy Old Guy

Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 136208

Posted: 23 May 2026 at 7:08pm \| IP Logged \| 7	post reply

Is anything I did with Gladiator still there?

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