Summary
There are very few villains who can defeatSuperman, but one villain has a nearly perfect record for beating him:Eclipso. While Superman has regularly gone up against enemies who are absurdly powerful, even the Man of Steel has difficulty facing off against someone who commands divine power. Now, as Superman battles Eclipso once more, the entire DC Universe might be under threat.
Batman and Superman will soon finish dealing witha powerful villain from the fifth dimension, but now it seems that an upcoming adventure inBatman / Superman: World’s Finest#31 by Mark Waid and Adrián Gutiérrez will see them facing an even more powerful enemy, and it’s onewho’s beaten Superman before: Eclipso.
September 18th, 2024
Dan Mora
Variant Covers:
Ian Churchill, Edwin Galmon, Marco D’Alfonso, Nicola Scott, José Luis García-López & Joe Prado
DARKNESS FALLS! Eclipso, master of light and shadow, has risen to plague the World’s Finest team of Superman and Batman! Powered like never before, Eclipso threatens to plunge the Earth into a state of eternal night–and eternal despair!
The solicitation states thatEclipso will be returning to plunge the Earth into a state of eternal darkness.Eclipso has god-like power, and he’s gone up against Superman several times. With Eclipso’s terrifying ability to control the minds of others, Superman has become a rampaging villain under his influence.
“Possessed? You Mean Infected”: DC’s Dark Villain Eclipso Returns with a Twisted Spin on His Powers
Over 60 years, Eclipso has evolved from a goofy villain into a dark god, and now his fearsome powers get a new spin.
Eclipso Has Taken Control of Superman’s Mind in the Past
Eclipso is one of the most dangerous villains in the DC Universe. He has enough physical strength to beat Superman into submission, and he’s capable of firing powerful blasts of energy. The other issue is thatSuperman gains his power from the sun, and typically, when Eclipso appears, the sun is eclipsed. This means thatSuperman would eventually run out of power when facing Eclipso. But these feats, while dangerous, are not what make Eclipso a true threat. Eclipso’s biggest and most terrifying ability is one he’s used on Superman before: the power to unlock someone’s darkest thoughts and make them act on them.
Eclipo’s ability to corrupt people is his most powerful, and very few stories choose not to make use of it.
One of the biggest threats the Earth faces isSuperman or the League turning evil, and Eclipso has the power to make both happen — easily. There have been several stories, most notablyinSuicide Squad vs. Justice League,where Eclipso took over practically the entire Justice League. While it’s unclear if this upcoming story will go down the same path, it’s certainly a possibility. Eclipo’s ability to corrupt people is his most powerful, and very few stories choose not to make use of it. Considering how earlyWorld’s Finesttakes place in the DC timeline,it’s possible this issue will feature the first instance of Batman vs. Superman.
Eclipso Can Easily Corrupt Superman - Will It Happen Again?
If Eclipso does take control of Superman in issue #31, readers might see the very first time that Batman had to come up with a contingency plan for the Man of Steel. Eclipso, with his powers to corrupt and bring out the worst in people, would make a perfect excuse to make these two iconic heroes fight. Another option would beEclipsousing his powers to bring out Batman’s darkest impulses, makingSupermanneed to stop his friend Anything is possible with such a dangerous foe.
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest#31is available September 18th, 2024 from DC Comics!
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
