DC Comics is starting a new chapter called the Next Level, and with it comes a new Superman to protect the DC Universe. Fans of the DC K.O. comic know that heroes and villains have been battling in a tournament as a final attempt to stop Darkseid. The goal was for the winner to become King Omega, a powerful being who could improve the entire DC Universe. However, in the fourth issue, Superman was defeated during the tournament’s semi-finals.
We still don’t know exactly what happened in DC K.O. #5, but it seems unlikely DC would leave its universe unprotected for long. Recent announcements reveal that Superboy-Prime, a character once known for causing trouble, will be taking over the main Superman comic. He’ll essentially be the DC Universe’s Superman while the original is missing. This raises several questions: who is Superboy-Prime, why is he taking on this responsibility, and can he be relied on to do the right thing?
Superboy-Prime: From Hero to Villain and Back to Hero
Superboy-Prime originally appeared during the large-scale event called Crisis on Infinite Earths. He comes from Earth-Prime, a world similar to our own, and unique because it doesn’t have any superheroes except for him – he’s their version of Superman. He fought alongside the heroes against the Anti-Monitor during the Crisis, and even though his Earth was destroyed, he found safety with other survivors in a peaceful dimension. Unfortunately, this marked the start of his descent into becoming a villain.
A lifelong comic book enthusiast, Prime became disillusioned as the heroes he loved became more flawed and less inspiring. This led him down a villainous path, where he enjoyed opposing those he once idolized. He clashed with heroes for years before briefly stepping away, only to reappear during the Rebirth era. Surprisingly, after a long period of being a villain, Superboy-Prime ultimately joined the side of good during Dark Nights: Death Metal, even sacrificing himself to defeat the villainous Batman Who Laughs.
Late last year, Superboy-Prime reappeared and helped Superman rescue the Legion of Super-Heroes. However, they faced a very powerful enemy group connected to Darkseid, which forced Superboy-Prime to come back to the present-day DC Universe. As a battle unfolded in DC K.O., Prime teamed up with Lois Lane to get a crucial message to the Time Trapper. They managed to do so in Superman #35, but discovered that Superman, Clark Kent, had died in the process. Although Lois and the Kent family still hope Clark will return, Lois introduces Superboy-Prime to Jonathan and Martha Kent, allowing him to get to know them.
Superboy-Prime is Ready to Become the Hero He Was Meant to Be
If you started reading comics around the same time I did, you probably know Superboy-Prime best as a bad guy. And honestly, he was a really fun one. The idea of a Superman-level character who’s also a frustrated fan constantly complaining online was a funny and unique take on a villain back in the mid to late 2000s. However, that’s how most people remember him, so when he came back last year, a lot of us questioned whether he could actually be a reliable replacement for Superman while the Man of Steel was away.
It’s worth noting that DC Comics has done a good job recently showing that despite his anger and bad behavior, Superboy-Prime is still fundamentally Clark Kent. He genuinely wants to be a hero and do the right thing. He’s always looked up to DC’s heroes and believes he can improve himself. His latest storyline suggests he’s not beyond redemption and has the potential to be a force for good, like his heroic counterpart.
It remains to be seen if the DC Universe’s heroes will accept him, and characters like the Green Lanterns certainly have concerns about Superboy-Prime acting freely. However, Superboy-Prime seems to be entering a new phase. Now that Superman is gone, he isn’t trying to show off or stay hidden – he’s genuinely trying to take on the role of a hero, doing what he believes Superman would do. While he might approach things with a bit of a strong personality, I believe the DC Universe is safe with Superboy-Prime stepping in as Superman’s replacement.
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2026-02-28 20:13