Worlds Without a Justice League: Superman<\/em> one-shot. However, there are a lot of strange things going on in the world around him. The same is true for Aquaman, who stars in a backup story.<\/p>\nI doubt anyone truly believed that the League really died in the story that kicked off Dark Crisis<\/em>. It\u2019s common knowledge at this point that Pariah has captured the members of the League in worlds that fulfill their deepest desires. Presumably, it\u2019s that wish-fulfillment element that keeps them from attempting to escape the worlds that Pariah has built for them.<\/p>\nThe main story featuring Superman is written by Tom King, who has written a rather similar story in his Mister Miracle series. In that story, Scott Free appears to also be living in a simulated reality that keeps him similarly trapped. And Superman has also gone through a similar story in Alan Moore\u2019s classic story \u201cFor the Man Who Has Everything\u201d.<\/p>\n
I find that the granted wish that keeps Superman trapped is quite believable as something that would tempt someone as strong-willed as the Man of Steel. In 2019, DC made the major misstep of allowing Brian Michael Bendis to instantly age up Clark\u2019s son Jon from 10 years old to 17, which essentially robbed Superman and Lois of seeing their son grow from a child into the man he currently is.<\/p>\n
In this reality, Clark gets those years that Bendis stole from him and, as Jon sets off to lead his own life, Superman tells his wife:<\/p>\n
\nI wouldn\u2019t trade\u00a0any<\/strong>\u00a0of it. Not a\u00a0single<\/strong>\u00a0second. For\u2026 I was\u00a0there<\/strong>, Lois. I was\u00a0here<\/strong>. I saw him. I got to\u00a0see<\/strong>\u00a0him grow into the man he\u00a0had<\/strong>\u00a0to be. I didn\u2019t miss it this time. No, no, no, not for anything. I wouldn\u2019t trade\u00a0this<\/strong>\u2026 for\u00a0anything<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nThis shows how badly and deeply Superman wants this life in which he got to see his son grow up. but it\u2019s also somewhat troubling. There\u2019s a clear implication that Superman knows this life isn\u2019t real, yet he emphatically states his refusal to give this false world up.<\/p>\n
However, we know that at his core, Superman knows he is needed outside this dream world, and he knows that these versions of Jon and Lois aren\u2019t his real family, no matter how much he wants them to be, he knows he will eventually return to his \u201creal\u201d family.<\/p>\n
There are some other interesting differences in the world Pariah created for Clark, and the costumes Chris Burnham has beautifully depicted offer some interesting insights into these differences. Clark\u2019s is clearly patterned after the Golden-Age Superman costume, so combining this with the white hair on Clark\u2019s temples makes him look like the original, Pre-Crisis On Infinite Earths<\/em> Earth-Two Superman in his Silver and Bronze Age appearances.<\/p>\nCould showing him in a costume from a simpler time be hinting at Superman\u2019s desire for a simpler life? The story tells us that past events have kept Clark within the bounds of Earth\u2019s solar system, and there\u2019s no indication of other heroes on Earth. On the whole, Superman\u2019s dream world leaves him with less to do, and consequently more time to spend with his family.<\/p>\n
Jon\u2019s uniform is quite intriguing, as it\u2019s essentially a Robin costume with an S-shield in place of Robin\u2019s R-symbol. Could it be that Clark on some level is jealous of Bruce\u2019s father-son relationship with the various Robins? I think that might be so, especially when it comes to Bruce\u2019s relationship with Dick Grayson. Bruce got to see Dick mature and grow into one of the DCU\u2019s foremost heroes, while Clark missed that with Jon.<\/p>\n
There is a darker side to this idyllic world; Darkseid and his forces are running rampant on the universe outside the solar system, which Clark has retreated to. Superman knows the wider universe needs him, but he\u2019s afraid to defy Darkseid. Jon sets off to do exactly that and dons his father\u2019s costume to set out to fight the ruler of Apokolips.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s another thing that Clark deeply longs for. He\u2019s not just content to see his son grown into a man, but he wants to see Jon surpass him. He doesn\u2019t want to be the conquering hero, he just wants to be the proud father of that hero.<\/p>\n
The Aquaman story is similar, but the wish-fulfilment element seems rather less nuanced than in the main story. Basically, Aquaman\u2019s ideal life involves him surrounded by friends and family and we see them all gathered at a vow-renewal ceremony for Arthur\u2019s parents.<\/p>\n
This appears to be set a good few years in the future, as his daughter is now grown up and calling herself Aquawoman. Arthur appears to be on friendly terms with Black Manta, which I suspect this reveals Aquaman\u2019s desire that his recent truce with Manta will eventually develop into a true alliance and friendship between the two.<\/p>\n
I also have to say that I quite liked how the title \u201cAquaman Has Everything\u201d gives a nod to the aforementioned Alan Moore classic Superman story \u201cFor the Man Who Has Everything\u201d. That was a nice touch.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the less nuanced wish-fulfillment fantasy explains why Arthur is aware that this world isn\u2019t real. He states this clearly, as well as his desire to escape this false reality. He addresses Pariah directly:<\/p>\n
\nMaybe one day it\u2019ll all be real\u2026 like it was meant<\/strong>\u00a0to be. But it\u2019s\u00a0not<\/strong>\u00a0real. Not yet. I don\u2019t have everything yet. I don\u2019t yet have my hands around your throat. You think you\u2019ve\u00a0beaten<\/strong>\u00a0us\u2013but better than you have tried, and in the end, you\u00a0all<\/strong>\u00a0learn\u2026Not even\u00a0death<\/strong>\u00a0will hold us. I\u2019ve been dead before, and I\u2019ve come\u00a0back<\/strong>. Soon\u2026we\u2019ll see if you can say the same.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nThis bit is truly chilling as Brandon Thomas clearly understands what a menacing badass Aquaman can be. I would love to see Thomas get a chance to tackle an Aquaman project in the future, or perhaps the main Aquaman title. He really seems to get the character.<\/p>\n
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Writer:\u00a0Tom King<\/strong>