There are many people who still don’t see Superman as funny, either because maybe they see him as being too powerful or too straight. I also saw him that way when he was much younger. But the truth is that I didn’t know him that well – and that’s why the 1990s mistreated the hero a lot, precisely in the period that I started to follow him better. And after Big Stars: Superman e doomsday clocka Battleworld Saga it is perhaps the most important hero arc of recent decades.
Before we get into the most important aspects of this epic that rescued and updated the hero, it is necessary to understand a little the context in which it was published. Between the 1990s and 2020s, DC tried to attract new readers with several changes across its lineup, but for the most part, publications were very confusing and cluttered. And the publisher took a while to understand that, in order to align all its publications, it is first necessary to get the base of all its creations right: Superman.
Big Stars: Superman, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, led the way, with a love letter to Kal-El’s entire trajectory, but in a definitive plot about the hero that is not part of the official chronology. then came doomsday clockwith Geoff Johns and Gary Frank bringing love, hope and legacy back to DC after the failure of the new 52the reboot that ended the marriages, children and allies of the same caste of heroes — in the plot, Doctor Manhattan discovers that, in all the Earths of the Multiverse, there is always an alien adopted by kind humans who becomes a symbol of hope.
Already Battleworld Saga, everything that Morrison and Johns highlighted in Superman was reaffirmed, in an update of the hero that came to present all his brilliance to a new generation of readers, without leaving aside the classic elements celebrated by the old guard of fans. What’s more, it was from there that Kal-El began to evolve in all aspects, both in his mindset about what it is to be a superhero and in the development of new skills.
After that, the hero returned to Earth with incredible powers, such as teleportation and gravitational control, among others. He also became a guardian of the entire galaxy, not just his adopted home, in addition to having changed his thinking about intervening in more mundane problems — the hero was often asked about not doing much to help with issues such as hunger, misery , political conflicts, among other things.
Previously, Superman felt that humanity should be able to solve its own problems, without the intervention of the Justice League. Now, he has become a more proactive hero, more connected with Earth’s population. He, for example, created a foundation to monitor everyday problems and accelerate research and innovation, based on a project that is led by human heroes. Despite considering himself one of us, Clark had to understand that a lot of people don’t trust a super powerful alien, so he gave the keys to his science park to Steel, the alias of Henry Irons.
The Path to Battleworld
It all starts after the event future state, a soft reboot of DC Comics to showcase the legacy of its icons. One of the successors is Jon Kent, son of Clark and Lois who went to the future to train his powers with the Legion of Super-Heroes, just like his father did. Jon discovers that in the 30th century his father is captured by the villain Mongul and dies in Battleworld as a gladiator, in a period not far from the current present.
Though Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes have groomed Jon to be Earth’s Superman, he says he’s not ready to play that role just yet. In the prelude of Battleworld Sagathe Mongul everyone knew is dying and will be replaced by a son no one knew existed.
Meanwhile, Batman and the Atom, after a biological analysis on Clark, discover that he is weakened due to alien radioactive poisoning. As if that weren’t enough, Superman must deal with an extraterrestrial ship that crash-lands on Earth with a trio of Felosians, an ancient and forgotten race from Krypton that can manifest superpowers when energized by a mysterious material called Genesis.
And it is because of this fragment that we already see writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson shine with his characterization of each member of the Justice League and, especially, Superman.
Treta em Atlântida and trip to Mundo Bélico
As the Felosian ship falls into Aquaman’s domain, the Atlantean people collect the fragment of Genesis that came along with the aliens. Also, undersea warriors keep outsiders in custody. Meanwhile, the United States government claims the Genesis stone for the country, and so begins a conflict with the Atlanteans.
The Justice League intervenes, but Aquaman says he can’t help, while Batman demands a solution from Arthur, who turns his back on Batman. Superman, who is normally diplomatic and more calm, makes the decision to guard the Genesis Stone and take the Felosians to the Fortress of Solitude. This provokes a conflict with Aquaman, the United States government and the Justice League itself, who cordially expel Clark from the group.
Many people no longer trust Kal-El because he is an alien, and his friction with the Atlanteans and the US government makes his presence in the Justice League unfeasible at that time. Clark, then, decides to fulfill a promise to a Felosian from the trio that fell to Earth: to free the others who stayed on Battleworld as Mongul’s slaves.
And then, we already see how the sense of justice, freedom and hope guides all of Clark’s decisions. The Felosian he promised this to was sent with the trio to kill Superman and his family. But he manages to change her mind, explaining basic concepts to people who have lived too long in the twisted, fear-based, violence-based culture of the Mongul regime in Battleworld.
Superman’s Epic Journey in Battleworld
As he cannot count on the Justice League, Superman asks the Authority group for help, who leaves with the hero for Battleworld. It’s difficult to summarize everything that happened to all of them, especially Clark, in a few words, and it all starts with the defeat of Superman, who was already weakened and without powers on the planet of Mongul, due to an installation capable of irradiating the red sun energy.
Thus, Clark is enslaved in a world that feeds on hate, violence, aggression and death. But Superman shows once again that his greatest power is his humanity. Even without powers, beaten, arrested and humiliated, he slowly transforms everyone around him, showing that every life matters. What kindness, respect, generosity, compassion, resilience and courage can transform poverty of spirit and evil into hope.
How does he do it? Clark does not kill any opponents and only tames the creatures in his battles as a gladiator; he turns the other cheek to those who judge, mistreat and ignore him; listens to each of the people around him, ponders, respects, changes his mind when necessary; he recognizes the value of each one and helps everyone, either with words of inspiration or with attitudes that value life, justice and truth. And, of course, he also does this with his wits and battle experience.
Gradually, the people who did not see the distorted values that Mongul distilled in his regime, begin to understand the situation experienced by so many people over a long time. The population starts cheering for Superman in gladiator battles and becomes Clark’s allies in several plans, including finding a rock created by ancient gods that is capable of energizing its holder with divine power.
At the height of the plot, Superman manages to overcome several challenges to obtain the rock, which, in fact, was Mongul’s true objective — the villain needed Clark, who was perhaps the only one capable of facing the tests and riddles to convince the guardian. of the artifact that he is worthy and wise enough to achieve this.
And then we see Clark’s selfless heart and incorruptible character shine again: even with immense power in his hands, with the ability to turn the tables on Mongul, he uses the energy gained to resurrect a Felosian boy who died at the villain’s hands. . Mongul is incredulous, and does not understand why Superman would give up something so valuable in exchange for the life of an “irrelevant” boy. “Every life matters,” says the Man of Steel.
In the end, after much time on Battleworld, Clark leads his new allies and the Authority’s people in plans executed simultaneously on three fronts. The strategy succeeds, and a Genesis generator is activated to re-energize the Man of Steel and the Felosians. At this point in history, Superman, even though he was powerless and enslaved, had already dealt a defeat to Mongul by patiently undermining the villain’s influence over the population. To top it off, with all his strength back, he doesn’t even need much effort to take down the villain in physical combat. Battleworld is freed from the dictator’s clutches. By this time, all of the slaves understand Superman’s moral compass and are guided by it to build more dignified lives for all. And, once again, the Man of Steel becomes a symbol of hope for everyone around him.
Return to Earth at the conclusion of a spectacular saga
After the 24 editions that make up the Battleworld Saga, Superman returns to Earth more powerful than ever. His training with the gladiators, his learning from other cultures and the period he spent under the red sun, as well as the absorption of energy from a Genesis source, give Clark an unprecedented power, as well as new abilities. “Space and time are concepts that no longer make sense to me”, says the Man of Steel himself.
Superman also adopts two Felosians, who leave with him for Earth. And, in return, Phillip Kennedy Johnson leaves several interesting subplots open to be explored, such as the fact that the alien children cause jealousy in Jon Kent, who sees them being treated like he never was, since he was still a child for the future to train with the Legion of Super-Heroes; in addition to friction with Aquaman and the United States government, among others.
Although there are many similarities with the saga Planet Hulkincluding artwork painted by Riccardo Federici that recalls European science fiction comics by Metal Hurlánt, the Battleworld Saga entertains and excites by bringing well-resolved and interesting characters, in a plot with each piece well tied together. There is one or two poorer things, such as the development and members of the parallel adventure for the conquest of the stone of the Elder Gods.
But, in general, the Battleworld Saga it pays homage to classic Superman elements and to details created by Geoff Johns and Grant Morrison, who helped Phillip Kennedy Johnson write the screenplay.
If you don’t know how thrilling it is to see an outsider love their adopted home even though they know they’ll never be one of us; if you don’t understand that no punch or heat vision can be as powerful as altruism; if you don’t see how Superman has a source of light of his own to inspire all the creatures around him; so this is your chance to learn to love the last child of Krypton.
A Battleworld Saga proves once again what Superman’s greatest power is, something that is mesmerizing, infectious and irresistible: it’s his humanity.
