Warning: spoilers ahead for Crime Syndicate #5!
Crime Syndicate - set in the alternate reality of Earth-3, where DC's greatest heroes are Earth's mightiest villains - is offering some incredible insights into what makes heroes like Superman who they are, as the Kryptonian villain Ultraman reveals the crucial differences that sent him down the path of evil. Of course, Ultraman thinks of himself as a hero, if not a saint, to the point that he believes he's worthy of ruling over everyone else. This is entirely different from Superman, who is an actual hero and a great person, but it reveals that these qualities stem from his upbringing.
In Crime Syndicate #5 by Andy Schmidt, Bryan Hitch, Kieran McKeown, Dexter Vines, and Alex Sinclair, Ultraman proves that he's a truly pathetic individual - brutish in battle, misogynistic to his teammates, and obsessed with his own self image. While Superwoman has stated that she wants to sire an heir with Ultraman, he makes a point of hurrying the process, observing, "Look, princess, I'm doin' YOU the favor." But how did an individual who shares most of Superman's abilities and much of his background turn out so different to the Man of Steel?
In Crime Syndicate #1, it was revealed that the foundational event that corrupted Ultraman was being adopted by duplicitous farmers who kept him isolated and afraid in order to better take advantage of his unique powers. Eventually discovering his alien origins, Ultraman fled his family and announced himself to the world, but the damage was done, and he grew into a sleazy, arrogant "hero" who sees anyone who depends on his protection as a "freeloader."
Bullied by his schoolmates and isolated from larger society, Ultraman has always been lonely. Despite the extreme power that he holds, Ultraman lacks any real connection to anyone, and he is without any societal experience, effectively raising himself from a young age. What's been most notable about Crime Syndicate's depiction of Earth-3 is that its villains aren't inherently evil, but were rather corrupted by their life experiences. Because of this, Ultraman isn't just a Superman who's bad to the bone, but one who experienced the life necessary to turn him into an emotionally fragile bully. In turn, this helps to cement the idea that Kal-El isn't magically heroic, but simply experienced the parental love and care he needed to develop into an empathetic and dignified person.
What makes Ultraman pathetic is his lack of human decency. He only cares for himself. His interactions with Superwoman reveal an achingly lonely person unequipped to make real connections, and his brutal actions towards his enemies make it clear how lucky the denizens of Earth-0 are that their Kryptonian protector didn't turn out the same way. Ultraman is a version of Superman raised by people who didn't teach him to feel love and respect for his adopted world, showing just how much of the Man of Steel's heroism can be laid at the door of Jonathan and Martha Kent.
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