Why Superman's Most Powerful Villain Will Probably Never Be In The Movies
DC Studios
With James Gunn's "Superman" proving to be a hit, the DC Universe is expanding. The movie's portrayal of a vast world where superheroes battle extradimensional threats is a refreshing change. It sets the stage for a DC Universe that embraces unique concepts and characters, as hinted at in "Creature Commandos" and the teased return of Mister Mxyzptlk in "Peacemaker" season 2.
The sequel's confirmed villain, Brainiac, signals a shift towards more unconventional, comic-book-y characters. However, there's a character who might never grace the big screen: Superboy-Prime, Superman's most formidable villain with a complex origin story.
Superboy-Prime's introduction in 1985's "DC Comics Presents" during the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event marked the arrival of Earth-Prime, the "real world" of the DC multiverse. Here, Superman is a fictional hero, and DC is just a comic book company. We meet a 15-year-old fanboy, Clark Kent, who discovers he's from Krypton and possesses superpowers. This character becomes one of the strongest and most meta in mainstream comics, capable of punching holes in reality and the time stream, and breaking the fourth wall with a less-than-friendly attitude.
A commentary on fandom
Initially, Superboy-Prime was a hero who survived the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" alongside Superman, Lois Lane, and Alexander Luthor. However, this seemingly idyllic ending was short-lived. The dimension they entered turned into a torturous prison, driving Superboy-Prime mad and transforming him into a villain who orchestrated the events of "Infinite Crisis."
As a villain, Superboy-Prime embodies toxic fandom. He resents changes made to the DC heroes he adored, becoming a sadistic figure who commits genocides and joins the Sinestro Corps. While this meta commentary on toxic fandom isn't inherently flawed, its success in a movie relies on oversimplifying the character's complex backstory, erasing the tragedy that makes him compelling.
Superboy-Prime's original concept was to be the opposite of a toxic fan, representing the original Superboy and a farewell to that era as DC moved on post-"Crisis on Infinite Earths." He also symbolized the fans' last adventure with their beloved heroes, a fan power fantasy that turned sour, creating a supervillain like no other.
A Superboy-Prime movie needs to go beyond Syndrome from "The Incredibles." It should be a pure fan service, a literal fan power fantasy that eventually turns sour, giving birth to a unique supervillain. While it could be a compelling villain, it would require significant changes and simplifications to make the character accessible to a general audience in a single movie.
