NEXT TIME SPOILER THREAD

[u/__Pin__]

Keep all discussion here

[u/TheRealFakeNTCG]

Well at least it’s not Sentry vs Superman

[u/Busy-Occasion2425 → u/TheRealFakeNTCG]

This isn't Clark?

Can you explain what makes this different from Superman? Not that familiar with Prime

[u/Scarecrow640 → u/Busy-Occasion2425]

Superboy Prime is basically one of the rather Meta Comic Characters, being very fourth wall themed due to originating as a comic reader who then entered the DC universe, and kind of going insane, but nowadays he’s gotten way better and is no longer a villain.

[u/Similar_Paramedic957 → u/Scarecrow640]

Very modern take man. Its just superman from a world with no other heroes and the existence of comics within those

[u/IntelligentHotel8333 → u/Busy-Occasion2425]

Fan meta characters who came from a world where dc character are comics who got transported to dc prime earth around the 2000’s who got the experience of being isekaied to his head to much and become the cornerstone of 2 decades worth of problems and other stuff happening in universe until he recently had epiphanies last year in an attempt to make up for the stuff he done over the years. Other fun fact, the originator of dc infamous retcon punch which did lead into Jason Todd getting revived

[u/Wrathful-Gyaos → u/Busy-Occasion2425]

It's has more depth and both roll each other off better. Basically, Superman deconstruction clone vs Superman deconstruction version, as opposed to just Superman vs Superman rip-off

here's their full connections

[u/StewartPot → u/Wrathful-Gyaos]

good to see they picked a mu with substance

[u/SeaworthinessSame392 → u/Busy-Occasion2425]

I think the other explanations leave out a bit of context.

In the original Pre-Crisis era, there was an Earth in the DC Multiverse called Earth-Prime. Which was basically our one. Where all of the superheroes were just comic book characters published by DC Comics. I think the in-universe explanation was that the comic writers were made subconsciously aware of the other superpowered Earths through psychic dreams.

During Crisis on Infinite Earths though, there was a twist on that concept. They figured that even if Earth-Prime didn't have superheroes, its cosmology should still mirror the rest of the DC Multiverse. Which would mean there was a Krypton out there. And from that they figured, what if there was a Kal-El sent to Earth in that universe? Except that he grew up in a world where his other selves' adventures had created a fictional mythos well known to pop culture. So basically he's a Clark Kent who grew up as a comic book fan. And was teased a bit in his youth for sharing the name of Superman, and even kind of looking a bit like him.

He sort of embraced that a bit during a Halloween night when he dressed up as Superboy. What he didn't realize though was that the Halloween coincided with the Crisis on Infinite Earths event. And culminated with him discovering he really was a Kryptonian, and meeting the Earth 1 and Earth 2 versions of himself. After his Earth was destroyed, Prime would choose to stay behind and help Earth 2 Clark defeat the Anti-Monitor instead of fleeing to the new combined Earth. The two of them, along with Earth 2 Lois, and Earth 3 Alexander Luthor Jr. went to a paradise pocket dimension. From which they viewed the development of the New Earth.

20 years later though, there was a sequel series called Infinite Crisis. Which was partly intended as a kind of meta commentary on the darkening of DC's stories. And it depicts those four survivors as becoming horrified by what became of the New Earth. With Lois seemingly starting to wither and die as a result of what was happening on it. Leading to Alexander convincing Prime and Earth 2 Clark to assist him in restarting everything to create a perfect Earth. Earth 2 Clark was eventually convinced by his main counterpart and Wonder Woman that he was making a mistake. But Prime underwent a mental breakdown from a combination of Alexander's manipulations, his own loneliness from losing his home Earth, and the bloodshed he accidentally caused by not knowing his own strength (I think it was a kind of dark meta joke about how in the Silver Age you'd see S-tiers harmlessly knock out weaker characters with "love taps"). And became the heavyweight villain in the final act.

In the years following, Prime was a multiversal pariah. As he kept doubling down, and sank further and further the more hated he became. Though it was shown in Blackest Night that deep down he felt a of of remorse. Especially for having killed Earth 2 Clark. And while it was put of for a while, his character arc finally continued in Death Metal when he made his big return. He finally decided to let his dreams go and do the selfless thing. Rejecting an offer to be given his ideal dream world, and give the heroes a chance to stop the Darkest Knight.

Prime made another return in the recent DC arcs. While I was worried they'd have him regress, they seem to be sticking to his character arc of trying to be a better person.

[u/DestinyHasArrived101 → u/Busy-Occasion2425]

It is its Clark Kent from another universe

[u/Similar_Paramedic957 → u/Busy-Occasion2425]

It is clark from a different verse