Everyone wants to be superman when they're growing up. He's the most powerful hero we've ever seen and he's always the symbol for everything that's right. In comics there are sometimes people gifted with the power of Superman who don't initially wish to embrace it. One of those people is Val-Zod the son of Zod or Earth 2's Superman.
Val-Zod was young when he became an orphan on the planet Krypton. His parents were executed when General Zod's plans were revealed. He was left alone and didn't have many friends. One of those friends was Kara Zor-El, but we know her as Powergirl. He and Kara got along because she was also a foster child being raised by the parents of Kal-El, who was Superman. When the planet of Krypton was destroyed all three were sent to Earth.
By the time Val arrived Clark had become Superman, but died in the great war. Kara had become Powergirl but during the Great War she was transported to the main Earth universe. That left Val. But, Val was found by the Terry Sloan, Earth 2's Mr. Terrific. Because of this he was placed deep in an underground shelter blocked off from the outside world with them never knowing of his existence. Val had been educated in his pod that violence was never the answer. On top of that, he had also developed agoraphobia through his trip.
When what appeared to be a brain washed Superman attempted to take over the world for Darkseid the Wonders, Earth 2's Justice League, sought out Val. They had heard legends but didn't know if it was true. When they found him, he offered them tea and refused to accompany them. Val explained he wasn't locked up as a prisoner but because he feared the outside. Despite usually being a cruel and manipulative man Batman II, Thomas Wayne, convinced Val the world needed him and sometimes violence was needed. Additionally Lois Lane, who was now Red Tornado, explained that fear was natural. Lois was also afraid because her brain had recently been placed in an android body.
They convince Val to leave and as Lois teaches him to fly and explains his new powers they're attacked by Kal and a hoard of parademons. They manage to flee when Alan Scott, Green Lantern, arrived and rescued them all. They go to an abandoned Batcave, however they're attacked there as well. Lois sacrifices her self so that they can flee to Amazonia, Earth 2 Themyscira, serving as a united world government task force base.
There Batman yells at Val and Dr. Impossible, Jimmy Olson, tells Val not to blame himself. Jimmy asks why Val keeps clutching his hoodie over his chest. Val reveals the House of El symbol, the classic "S" and Jimmy is surprised when Val removes his other clothes to display he has a full suit with a cape and everything. Val didn't want to show anyone because it was the same symbol he saw Superman wearing. As he was explaining they were sucked into a boom tube by Dr. Fate.
After speaking with Dr. Fate Val decided that he had to fight Superman if he wanted to save the world. During the fight Val attempted to reason with Superman who couldn't remember who Val was. Superman was also angered because Val was wearing his "Symbol." Initially Val tried to talk it out but realized his only option was to fight back. Superman began to crack, fall apart and wasn't able to keep up with Val as the fight went on. This worried both Val and Kal-El because bodies don't usually crumble. It was then they realized that Superman really was dead and Val had been fighting a clone. The Clone tells Val that he's the real Superman as he crumbles. Val then accepts the name of Superman and a place in The Wonders.
The Wonders used this moment to take down the remaining forces of Darkseid and reclaim The Earth. Val, Batman and Lois were investigating fire pits when they realized they were attacked by two people. Later it was revealed to be Kara and Helena Wayne who were sent to Earth 1. They had managed to return to Earth 2 using technology left behind by Michael Holt, Earth 1's Mr. Terrific, when he traveled to Earth 2.
The group was attacked by Darkseid's Fury of War after she emerged from one of the fire pits but managed to defeat her. They decided to destroy the fire pit from the inside out but we're distracted by a distress call from a local lab.
When theyou arrived at the lab the group found the workers being attacked by mutated creatures immune to almost all harm. Val ans Kars combined their power to destroy them with the force of a nuclear bomb. After saving the lab workers Val took the opportunity to build suits for Helena and Thomas that could survive the fire pits.
Inside the fire pits they learned it was a cloning facility where DaSaad was making clones of Superman. The real Superman was located in the back of the lab after Thomas sacrificed himself to defeat DaSaad.
The real Superman had been left powerless from the constant cloning. He decided to sacrifice himself as well to destroy the cloning facility. Val and Kara buried Kal as the world celebrated the destruction of the fire pits. Finally leaving Val as the one true Superman.
You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet. You can also check out his playthrough of Sleeping Dogs or Skyrim
Tags:
Black Superheroes
