We Were All Rooting for Superboy-Prime But He May Have Just Delivered a Massive Betrayal

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In a captivating turn of events, the comic book series Superman is thrilling fans with its current narrative titled “Legion of Darkseid”. This storyline can be traced back to DC All-In #1, a 2024 one-shot issue that introduced the Absolute DC Universe and set the course for the mainline DC Earth. In this inaugural issue, the Darkseid Legion made their debut, reappearing in July’s Superman #28 to assault Superman. This confrontation prompted the Time Trapper, currently known as the modern Doomsday (a villain from the Legion whose true identity frequently changes due to timeline alterations), to transport Superman to a separate universe to enlist the strongest backup Superman can find – Superboy-Prime. The relationships between Superman, Prime, and the Legion have been marked by violence throughout their shared history.

Superboy-Prime is one of DC Comics’ most intricate characters. Originating from Earth-Prime, the pre-“Crisis” version of our Earth, he first appeared in the groundbreaking crossover story “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” where he fought alongside heroes against the Anti-Monitor. However, his return in the 2005 sequel, “Infinite Crisis,” saw him transformed into a villain due to the hardships he endured. Over time, Prime has committed some despicable acts, but he eventually earned redemption in “Dark Knights: Death Metal.”

However, Superman #29 concludes with an unexpected twist as it appears Prime may have betrayed Superman. But is this the final chapter? Has Prime switched allegiances once more? Let’s delve deeper into the story.

Can Superman Trust Superboy-Prime?

On his own Earth, Superboy-Prime grew up engrossed in comics featuring Superman. His admiration for Superman stemmed from their shared name, unaware that he too was a Kryptonian until the Man of Steel appeared on his world during the cataclysmic event known as “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” where he helped save it from impending destruction. Upon learning about his powers and future heroics, Superboy-Prime eventually joined forces with other heroes in a quest to combat the Anti-Monitor.

In many interpretations, Superboy-Prime symbolized an earlier version of Superman, specifically Superboy, who was integral to Superman’s overall narrative – both being significant aspects of the original Superman and his first variant from Earth-Two. Following their victory against the Anti-Monitor, Superboy-Prime, along with Earth-Two Superman, Earth-Three Alexander Luthor, and Earth-Two Lois Lane, were whisked away to a utopian dimension. Finding the post-“Crisis” DC Universe disheartening, Luthor and Superboy-Prime made it their mission to restore things to how they once were, marking the beginning of Superboy-Prime’s transformation into a villain. Over time, he has demonstrated a propensity for violence by eliminating various secondary superheroes (mainly lesser-known members of the Teen Titans), and his moral compass remains unpredictable.

In Superman #29, readers are subtly reminded that Superboy-Prime was raised on comics from before the Crisis in DC Comics. His idols were the supreme heroes, and he aspired to emulate them. Contrary to his portrayal in Infinite Crisis where he appeared villainous, Superboy-Prime’s actions were driven by a desire to restore a simpler, morally clear universe where heroes never faced hardships. This was a crucial step towards his redemption.

By the events of Superman #28, Superboy-Prime had returned to his simple life as Clark Kent, engrossed in comic books once more. This portrayal seemed to be a stark contrast to previous depictions of Superboy-Prime, making his later betrayal of Superman at the end of Superman #29 all the more shocking. Interestingly, Superboy-Prime harbors disdain for any iteration of the Legion of Superheroes, which makes his alliance with an evil version of the team against Superman seem ill-fitting.

Will Superboy-Prime Ensure Darkseid’s Victory?

Initially, the audience was taken aback when Superboy-Prime reappeared. Previously, he had vowed to emulate the heroic figures he admired as a child and managed to assist the heroes in their fight against the maniacal Batman Who Laughs. Despite his past transgressions, it seemed that he proved himself capable of redemption. Although there was speculation that Superboy-Prime might betray Superman, his return still came as a surprise. Yet, I’m convinced that Superboy-Prime has not actually betrayed Superman.

People were surprised when Superboy-Prime showed up again because he had become a hero in the past and helped fight against a bad Batman. Even though people thought he might betray Superman, it was still unexpected. However, I don’t think he actually betrayed Superman yet.

In issue #29 of Superman, readers were introduced to the aftermath of the Legion War, where the Darkseid Legion emerged victorious, eliminating most other Legions. The mini-series “Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds” further revealed a deep-seated animosity between Superboy-Prime and any incarnation of the Legion of Superheroes. Given Superboy-Prime’s history, it’s unlikely he would ally with the Darkseid Legion, especially considering his dislike for characters he grew up with being portrayed in a darker, grittier manner. The Darkseid Legion embodies this very darkness, leading me to suspect that Superboy-Prime is using this apparent alliance as a deception to mislead the Darkseid Legion. While it may seem like Superboy-Prime has turned against Superman, I believe this is merely an illusion.

Superman #29 is on sale now.

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2025-08-29 02:16