Ever wondered why you probably won't see Superman's most formidable foe on the big screen? With James Gunn's 'Superman' already making waves, the DC Universe is ripe for expansion. The movie's strength lies in its portrayal of a world where superheroes and extraordinary events are commonplace. This approach allows filmmakers to dive into the DC Universe without lengthy explanations, embracing the unique and often bizarre aspects of comic book storytelling. Gunn and Peter Safran have successfully carved out a distinct space for the DC Universe, showcasing unconventional characters and concepts, like the 'Creature Commandos' and teases for Mister Mxyzptlk. Brainiac's confirmation as the villain in the 'Superman' sequel suggests a willingness to explore the more eccentric, comic-book-inspired characters. But here's where it gets controversial...
Unfortunately, some characters may never make it to the movies. One such character is Superboy-Prime, Superman's most powerful adversary, whose origin story is as complex as it is unusual.
Superboy-Prime debuted in the 1985 comic 'DC Comics Presents' during the 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' crossover event. This introduced Earth-Prime, the 'real world' of the DC multiverse, where Superman is a fictional comic book character. Here, we meet Clark Kent, a teenage Superman fan teased for sharing a name with his hero. However, this Clark discovers he, too, is Kryptonian and possesses superpowers. He becomes one of the most potent and meta characters in comics, capable of tearing through reality and the time stream, often breaking the fourth wall, but with a darker attitude.
A Commentary on Fandom
Superboy-Prime initially begins as a hero, surviving 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' alongside Superman and Lois Lane of Earth-2, and Alexander Luthor of Earth-3. They end up in another dimension, seemingly living happily. However, this dimension turns into a prison, driving Superboy-Prime mad and transforming him into a villain, orchestrating the events of 'Infinite Crisis.'
As a villain, Superboy-Prime embodies toxic fandom. He is a character who becomes embittered by the changes to the DC heroes he once loved, evolving into a sadistic villain responsible for multiple genocides and joining the Sinestro Corps. The idea of a Superman villain representing toxic fandom isn't inherently bad, and it could be intriguing in the hands of a director like Gunn. But this is where the problem arises...To make the character work in a movie, his motivations and backstory would likely need to be oversimplified, diminishing the character's tragic elements.
Superboy-Prime was originally designed to be the opposite of a toxic fan. He was a representation of the original Superboy, a farewell to that era of the character as DC moved away from Superboy in the post-Crisis reboot, similar to how Earth-2 Kal-L received a send-off in 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' as a goodbye to the Golden Age era of Superman.
Superboy-Prime also represented the readers themselves, the fans' final adventure with the heroes they grew up with, getting to step into the pages of a comic book and become heroes like Superman. By having Superboy-Prime survive the crisis and go away with Kal-L, it was a recognition of the fans' importance.
And this is the part most people miss...A Superboy-Prime story on the big screen needs to be more than just a Syndrome from 'The Incredibles.' It must begin as a pure homage to fan service, a literal fan power fantasy that ultimately turns sour, creating a supervillain unlike any other. Could it work as a movie villain? Maybe, but only with significant changes and simplifications to make the character accessible to a general audience in a single movie. What do you think? Do you agree that Superboy-Prime's complexity makes him unsuitable for a movie adaptation, or do you think a talented filmmaker could do him justice? Share your thoughts in the comments!
