DC’s Deadliest Version of Superman is About to Become a God

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Superman is DC Comics’ original and most iconic superhero, first appearing in 1938 and consistently saving the world. He represents the ideal of someone with limitless power always choosing to help others. Because he’s so popular and powerful, many writers have explored the idea of an evil version of Superman. Over the years, we’ve seen countless dark reflections of him – from alternate reality villains like Ultraman and flawed duplicates like Bizarro, to completely new characters like Omni-Man and Homelander. Honestly, this trope feels overdone at this point.

As a huge Superman fan, I’ve seen a lot of dark takes on the character, but DC just keeps exploring these ‘evil Superman’ ideas. And honestly, they’ve created a really terrifying one with Pyrrhos the Red. He’s the son of Superman and the sorceress Circe – she basically used Superman’s life force to create him. So, he’s got all of Superman’s powers plus Circe’s incredible magic. But that’s not enough for him; he wants to be a full-blown god! We got a glimpse of his plan in Adventures of Superman: Book of El #8, and it’s pretty frightening.

The Plan to Attain Unlimited Power

The story began with Superman and his twin children unexpectedly traveling a thousand years into the future, thanks to the villain Kryl-Ux. This enemy had gained power by absorbing a piece of Olgrun, a very ancient and powerful god. Without Superman to stop him, Kryl-Ux took over most of the universe, leaving Earth devastated. Luckily, because Osul wasn’t present at first, the other powerful Aspects remained inactive, stopping Kryl-Ux from becoming completely invincible. However, when Osul finally arrived, he ended up right with Pyrrhos the Red.

Pyrrhos kidnapped the boy, intending to steal the Fire of Olgrun—a powerful energy source—and add it to his own abilities. He believed this would make him invincible, even against formidable opponents like Kryl-Ux, and allow him to rule the universe. Pyrrhos didn’t need the help of other godlike beings; this single addition would be enough to make him nearly unstoppable, and combining it with all of them would mean destruction for reality itself. He knew taking the Fire of Olgrun would kill the boy, Osul, but Pyrrhos was willing to make that sacrifice. However, Rowan and Ronan Kent, descendants of Superman, arrived to rescue Osul, only to be easily dismissed by Pyrrhos. Now, only Brainiac-3 remains as a potential obstacle to Pyrrhos’s ambition to become a true god.

A King On the Path to Godhood

Pyrrhos, often called the Red King, has repeatedly demonstrated incredible power. In one possible future, he conquered almost the entire universe, even defeating worlds like Apokalips and New Genesis. He led armies of Doomsday and easily defeated the United Planets. What makes Pyrrhos truly dangerous is his belief that he’s a hero, and the rightful successor to Superman. He deeply admired his father and strives to be the man Pyrrhos believed him to be, but his vision has been corrupted by Circe.

Pyrrhos, like other members of the House of El, wants to save the universe, but his approach is to control it completely. He’s a perfectionist who firmly believes he’s always right, which makes him even more dangerous than a typical villain. While most villains can be reasoned with or opposed, Pyrrhos’s unwavering self-righteousness allows him to rally powerful followers. He isn’t simply an evil Superman; he’s a twisted version of everything Superman stands for, taking the hero’s strengths and turning them into something corrupt. He’s incredibly dangerous, and if he were to become a god, he would undoubtedly rule as a tyrant.

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2026-05-09 19:17