How Strong Is New 52 Animated Superman Domain_10

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) may be the highest-grossing franchise in theaters, DC has made a name for themselves with their direct-to-video animated films. They have produced well over 39 films, many adapted from comic book titles of the same name.

As part of DC's Trinity, Superman is featured in many of the direct-to-video adaptations. However, instead of the usual boy scout, the Man of Steel is depicted in several different iterations like a Soviet superweapon, a ruthless tyrant, and even a clone of himself. These alternate versions have kept the character fresh and new as he changes with the times and stays as relevant today as he did back in 1938.

10 Superman: Red Son (2020)

DC Comics are popular for their many Elseworld stories, the most famous being Mark Millar's miniseries, Superman: Red Son. The story asks the question, "What if Superman had been raised in the Soviet Union?" where Superman's rocket lands in Ukraine. Instead of his traditional values of "truth, justice, and the American Way," Superman fights for Stalin and stands as the champion for the common worker.

This awesome rendition was turned into its own DC Animated Movie and has Jason Isaacs voicing a Superman with the Soviet hammer and sickle symbol on his chest instead of the usual "S". This movie does great justice to the comic and perfectly explores this popular alternate version of the Man of Steel.

9 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (2013)

Frank Miller, is one of the most popular comic book creators with many of his works being turned into movies like 300 and Sin City. In addition two of his DC Comics stories were made into original animated movies; Batman: Year One and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. The latter was made into a two-part film. The first focuses on Batman's return to fighting crime with Carrie Kelley's Robin as the two take down the Mutants gang.

The second part has President Ronald Reagan sending Superman to end Batman's vigilante activities. This version of Superman works as a government operative and is portrayed as much heftier than usual. In the climactic ending Batman takes on Superman in his exo-frame suit and with the help of Robin and Green Arrow is able to fend off the Man of Steel until Batman seemingly dies of a heart attack.

8 Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)

While DC's Earth-1 is lucky to have the Justice League, Earth-3 is unfortunately home to the Crime Syndicate led by Ultraman, an evil version of the Man of Steel.

Instead of an "S" on his chest and vulnerability to green kryptonite, Ultraman has a "U" and is weakened by blue kryptonite. He sports a stereotypical Mafioso accent and leads the syndicate like a gang which consists of its own alternate versions like Superwoman, Owlman, Power Ring, and Johnny Quick.

7 Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013)

At the start of the film, Barry Allen's Flash runs back in time and stops his mom from being murdered. This creates a time-boom having ripple effects across the DC Universe leaving what is known as the Flashpoint Universe.

In this timeline, Bruce Wayne died in Crime Alley and his father Thomas Wayne became the Batman, in addition, Kal-El's rocket landed in Metropolis instead of Smallville where he is captured by the U.S. Government. Kal-El is placed in an underground bunker and due to the lack of sunlight is shown as a frail and pale version of himself. This version further proves the luck of Kal-El when he was taken in by the Kents, leading to the Superman who became a symbol of Justice.

6 Justice League: Gods and Monsters (2015)

One of the only DC Animated Movies that was a completely original concept was Justice League: Gods and Monsters. The Elseworld-style story focused on an alternate version of DC's Trinity including a New God, Becca as Wonder Woman, Dr. Kirk Langstrom a.k.a. Man-Bat as Batman, and General Zod's son as Superman. This version of Superman crash-landed in Mexico and was raised by a family of hardworking migrant farmers who named him Hernan Guerra.

Having seen first hand the plight of undocumented immigrants face in the U.S., this version of Superman is more aggressive and has a strong resentment of authority. At the end of the film, Hernan learns that his father, General Zod, was responsible for the destruction of Krypton and decides to turn over a new leaf and become closer to the Superman that fans know and love. This universe was supposed to have a continuing series that would have gotten more stories of this interesting take on the classic character but sadly it got canceled.

5 Justice League: War (2014) - Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

Just as the Flashpoint storyline ushered in DC's New 52 reboot, so to the Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox movie introduced fans to the official DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU). This film continuity spanned 15 films culminating in the epic Justice League Dark: Apokolips War. Superman was introduced as an arrogant hero often seen flirting with Wonder Woman. This continuity had a double film retelling of the famous Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen storylines, with plot points changed to fit the universe.

In the final film, Superman is shown wounded by Darkseid, who burned a kryptonite "S" symbol into his chest leaving him forever scarred. Though the heroes ultimately win, the cost is too great and the universe ends the way it began, with The Flash running into the speed force to change the past.

4 Reign of the Supermen (2019) - Superboy (Conner Kent)

After Superman dies at the hands of Doomsday in The Death of Superman, the crime rate increases in Metropolis. Four Supermen show up to fill the void, the most prolific being the Lex Luthor sponsored Superman clone, Superboy.

In fact, Superboy is a hybrid of both the Man of Steel and Lex Luthor. After freeing himself from the grips of Lex, Superboy ends the film living on the Kent Farm in Smallville, taking on the alter-ego Conner Kent and eventually becoming a member of the Teen Titans.

3 Reign of the Supermen (2019) - Steel (John Henry Irons)

Another one of these Supermen is John Henry Irons, who is introduced in The Death of Superman as a S.T.A.R. Labs scientist. After hearing of Superman's death he creates an exo-suit and goes by the name Steel.

He fights alongside Superman and Superboy in the Reign of the Supermen against Cyborg Superman. He may not share Superman's extraterrestrial origins, but he was able to keep up with the best of them.

2 Reign of the Supermen (2019) - Cyborg Superman (Hank Henshaw)

Hank Henshaw is an astronaut whose shuttle is destroyed by the asteroid carrying Doomsday. Henshaw is found by Darkseid and his consciousness is turned into a cyborg looking Superman body.

While brainwashed, Henshaw gains trust with the people of Metropolis who allow him to create an army of drones and open a boom tube to Apokolips. Ultimately, his plan is foiled by the original Superman who destroyed Henshaw's consciousness inside the cyborg.

1 Justice League Vs. The Fatal Five (2019)

Justice League vs. The Fatal Five is the 34th DC Animated Original Movie and one of the few to be connected to the DC Animated Universe (DCAU). This universe connects several series including Superman: The Animated Series, Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League Unlimited, Static Shock, and more.

While this movie isn't officially in the timeline, executive producer, Bruce Timm as well as the acclaimed Watchtower Database YouTube channel, considers the film to be canon. This version of Superman has been voiced by George Newbern across the DCAU and to many is the definitive version of the Man of Steel.

NEXT: Justice League Unlimited: 5 Relationships Fans Loved (& 5 They Hated)

Next 10 DC Characters That Batman Keeps Losing To

About The Author

Coby Greif (49 Articles Published)

Coby Greif is a writer for CBR and a longtime fan of comic book heroes, anime, movies, & more. Give him a follow on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. While Coby's not an official member of the Justice League or Team Urameshi, he'll gladly fight to save the world from the likes of Demons and Darkseid.

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How Strong Is New 52 Animated Superman Domain_10

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