23 Years Ago, One Superman Story Debunked Injustice’s Entire Plot

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Since 2013, Injustice has become a hugely popular series within the DC Comics universe. It began as a fighting game and has since grown to include a sequel (with another one potentially on the way), several comic books, and an animated movie. The story is set in a different reality where Superman becomes a ruthless dictator, and Batman leads the fight against him. This dramatic turn happens after the Joker manipulates Superman into accidentally killing Lois Lane and setting off a nuclear bomb in Metropolis. Interestingly, DC Comics explored a similar theme back in 2002, showcasing why Superman is considered one of the world’s greatest heroes.

The graphic novel Superman: Ending Battle is a gritty story that tests Superman like never before. He races to find out who knows his secret identity and is orchestrating attacks on him and everyone he cares about. It’s revealed that the villain is Manchester Black, a character who mocks the idea of anti-heroes, and possesses strong telekinetic and telepathic powers – he was previously a major villain in the popular comic What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way? The story takes a shocking turn when Superman discovers Lois Lane dead, and his reaction in that moment truly defines who he is as a hero.

Manchester Black Tried the Same Plot as the Joker, and Failed

Manchester Black’s plan and reasons for acting are strikingly similar to those of the Joker in the Injustice comic series. In Injustice, the Joker uses fear toxin to manipulate Superman into accidentally killing Lois Lane and their unborn child, which then sets off a nuclear explosion in Metropolis. The Joker’s goal was to deeply traumatize Superman, hoping the seemingly perfect hero would kill him in a rage, thus ruining Superman’s morality. In the story arc Ending Battle, Black is motivated by similar ideas: he strongly dislikes Superman’s refusal to kill and believes everyone has a dark side. Like the Joker, Black murders Lois in an attempt to force Superman to break his moral code and kill him as an act of revenge.

In a heartbreaking turn of events in Injustice, Superman was tricked by the Joker and tragically killed him. The subsequent story, Ending Battle, initially hinted that Superman would continue down a similar dark path. We see Superman grieving over Lois’s body as Black taunts him, and suddenly, Superman explodes in anger, attacking Black. After a fierce fight, Superman appears to obliterate Black with his heat vision. It seems the normally virtuous Superman has finally succumbed to his rage and killed his wife’s murderer. However, in a surprising reveal, the entire battle was a figment of Superman’s imagination – Black was never actually harmed.

Returning to the real world, Superman, staying true to his principles, refuses to let Lois’s memory be tarnished by giving into anger or killing Black. Black is shocked by Superman’s refusal to fight back, demanding to know why he won’t even strike him after he murdered Lois. Seeing he can’t break Superman’s resolve, Black confesses the truth: Lois wasn’t actually killed – her death was an illusion. Overjoyed, Superman embraces his wife. Realizing he attempted to corrupt a truly good person, Black, consumed by guilt, takes his own life.

The “Ending Battle” story shows that the Joker’s plan in Injustice actually could have worked, considering who Superman truly is. But more importantly, it demonstrates what makes Superman such a great hero: he always stays true to his values and represents the best in people, even when facing terrible challenges and loss.

Injustice Doesn’t Understand Superman

The comic book series Injustice heavily influenced the popular trope of an evil Superman, which became common in comics, movies, TV shows, and video games in the late 2010s. Before Injustice, Superman was seen as a fundamentally good hero, but the series introduced the idea that he could become a ruthless killer with just one push. It also arguably weakens Superman’s character by suggesting he’s only interesting when he’s villainous, implying that evil is more captivating than complex morality. What makes the Injustice version particularly shocking is how quickly Superman transforms into a cruel tyrant, willing to commit terrible acts. He takes over the world, destroys cities like Gotham and a rebuilt Metropolis, and even brutally murders Shazam, who is essentially a child.

The film Ending Battle clearly shows Superman is a character with deep feelings and strong instincts, but his strong moral compass prevents him from being consumed by rage, even when facing devastating loss like Lois Lane’s death. The idea that one tragedy could turn Superman into a villain is a simplistic and inaccurate portrayal of his character, reducing him to a mere force of strength. What truly makes Superman special is his unwavering belief in the value and freedom of every life, despite his incredible power.

As a huge movie fan, I’ve always connected with Superman on a really deep level. He’s essentially an immigrant trying to do good, and he doesn’t just have powers, he actively tries to inspire us to be better people too. What really gets me is how human he is, despite being an alien. He wrestles with the same tough moral questions we all do. It’s a far cry from that grim take in Injustice, where he just becomes a one-note villain after killing the Joker. In the main Superman stories, he’s a fully fleshed-out character. He has dark thoughts – remember when he almost killed Black when he thought Lois was gone? – but he chooses to be a hero anyway, pushing himself to do the right thing for everyone else.

Superman has stayed popular for over 80 years because, even though he’s incredibly powerful, he’s deeply relatable and represents the best in humanity. He’s not perfect, but he consistently tries to do what’s right and help others. The story Injustice misses this point, suggesting Superman is only believable if he lets sadness and power change him for the worse. This idea promotes a pessimistic view – that people can’t overcome their flaws and are naturally inclined towards negativity. In a world often filled with such thinking, Superman should stand as a symbol of hope, someone we can all look up to.

The story ‘Injustice’ harms Superman’s image, reinforcing negative ideas about both him and people in general. However, ‘Ending Battle’ truly understands what makes Superman a hero. It demonstrates that he’s strongest and most inspiring when he rises above the world’s negativity and refuses to be used by it.

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2025-12-15 21:13