Warning: Spoilers for Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Crisis On Infinite Earths #1!
In Tales of the Dark Multiverse: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 by Steve Orlando, Mike Perkins, Andy Troy, and ALW's Troy Peteri, Earth is under attack by Surtur, the executioner of existence. And the Asgardian giant is putting his title to good use. As the few remaining members of the All-Star Squadron drop like flies in their feeble attempt to save their planet, Superman flees the carnage, leaving Power Girl to face the fire lord alone.
Of course, Kal-L didn't leave out of cowardice, but at Power Girl's request. If it had been up to him, he'd have stayed and most likely perished among his fallen comrades in a futile effort to bring Surtur to his knees, especially as he'd just witnessed Wonder Woman disintegrate before his very eyes within a violent expulsion of flames that could even scorch Superman's skin. But in showing Superman running from a fight that he knows will claim more lives, DC reveals the only reason Clark Kent would run out on a fight.
Unfortunately, it is not just this Earth that faces peril the likes of which few have seen. Calamity is befalling the entirety of the DC Comics Multiverse as a result of the Batman Who Laughs' conquests in Dark Nights: Death Metal. Luckily for the inhabitants of this reality, they have Power Girl, who understands that Superman is more than just a blunt tool whose best contribution to their world's survival is smashing their enemies into dust. Power Girl knows that he is their beacon of hope. Even if New Earth could produce a more powerful hero, no victory could truly be achieved without the Man of Steel.
Accepting the logic that he has the unique ability to keep hope alive, Superman runs and soon reaches the Justice Society as they begin staging a counter attack against the raging Surtur and his legion. It is only fitting then that the so-called beacon of hope is the hero who later proclaims their new name to the fiery executioner: the Justice Society of Earth. And thus ensues a battle more fierce than the first, mostly on account of the rage fueling the surviving heroes as they face the creature who has slain their comrades. It's shocking to see Superman run from a fight, but knowing he is uniquely suited to engineer a fightback that will save countless lives is enough to force Superman to turn tail and leave his loved ones to perish. The surprising moment reminds readers that Superman isn't special because he's strong, but because he represents ceaseless hope.
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January 06, 2021 at 04:58AM
