Another Evil Superman Is Set To Join DC's Extensive Roster
My Adventures With Superman season 2 brought Supergirl into the story, and with it a new and interesting take on the character. However, Supergirl is being brainwashed by Brainiac in this iteration. While Supergirl is trying to break free from Brainiac, the show leaves Superman in a dire situation.
My Adventures With Superman season 2 opens the door to a storyline where Superman potentially turns evil. This could happen across several episodes as Supergirl has been portrayed as a villain. In this scenario, Superman would be brainwashed, maybe even without realizing what is happening. Since season 3 of the show has been confirmed, this would be a perfect time to explore the Evil Superman trope.
My Adventures With Superman Season 2 Sets Up A Tragic Man Of Steel Twist
The second season of My Adventures With Superman ends with Superman seemingly being corrupted by Brainiac. Although the Dc hero was able to ward off Brainiac's attempts to turn him into his soldier, he ends up unconscious because of a red sun omega field.
It looks like Superman is on the same path as Supergirl, now vulnerable to Brainiac's brainwashing. Even the villain says, "I don't need your cooperation" to Superman before he passes out, suggesting he's going to take control of the vulnerable hero. While there have been several variations of the evil Superman story, this story offers a fresh take. It could also lead to a redemption arc for Supergirl, by allowing her to help Superman break free from the control.
Supergirl's My Adventures With Superman Villain Story Shows Why Evil Superman Happens So Often
Supergirl's debut in the show immediately sets up a contrast between her and Clark. It highlights the reasons why Dc keeps re-using the evil Superman story. Kara's villain turn shows the strengths of the trope by demonstrating the dichotomy between Superman's inherent good nature against the absolute destruction his strength could bring if he didn't have those qualities. In the same vein, seeing Clark fall to darkness that clashes against his principles best shows the heroism Superman embodies and how much the world needs him.
Of course, Kara's evil turn isn't due to her nature as a person, but is shown to be the work of Brainiac, who has brainwashed her. By the end of episode 6, Kara realizes all these things, but seemingly too late to stop Brainiac from replicating her torment with her cousin. The impact and drama of this storyline show why stories like these can work and why DC loves to re-use them.
Why Evil Superman Is So Much More Common In DC Shows & Movies
DC keeps falling back on the Evil Superman trope for several reasons. Firstly, it's a striking narrative choice that could bring another interesting aspect to the character if done correctly. Seeing the ideal DC hero succumb to the darkness inside of him or not be in control of his immense power while adding an extra layer of dramatic heft to the story is something that can work. It's also easy to explore the ramifications of it through the smaller story arcs that story-of-the-week television provides.
As shown through various different shows and movies, the concept of an Evil Superman is quite a popular trope. It's one that has led to fan favorite characters even outside of Superman, like Homelander from The Boys and Omni-Man in Invincible. Time will tell if James Gunn's take on the character will ever touch upon the trope, or if his universe will try to steer completely clear of concepts closer to Snyder's sensibilities altogether, which is what it seems like so far.
The Concept Of An Evil Superman Has A Lot Of Layers
It's unlikely that DC will ever truly do away with different takes on an evil Superman, especially with it most likely coming in some capacity to My Adventures With Superman, which has been a relatively light-hearted take on the character so far. At this time, it feels like a staple of the character in the modern age, which doesn't have to be a bad thing either. It's just another aspect of the character to explore and prop up the Heroism that he embodies even further.
Evil Superman is a staple in modern age DC, and it's a trope that's here to stay. The trope has its merits - it allows writers to explore new dimensions of the character and explore the consequences of his immense power. It's definitely one to watch out for in future DC projects.
