| 1 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1539980538043112900&page=1#10 |
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| 5 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/supessubs3.png]] |
| 6 | [[caption-width-right:350:"It's a flock of birds! It's a squadron of planes!"[[note]]It's (L-R, top to bottom:) [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]], [[ComicBook/SquadronSupreme Hyperion]], [[VideoGame/CityOfHeroes Statesman]], [[Manga/MyHeroAcademia All Might]], and (Center) ComicBook/{{Superman}}![[/note]]]] |
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| 8 | %% Caption selected per above IP thread. Please do not replace or remove without discussion here: |
| 9 | %% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1404492079030138900 |
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| 11 | |
| 12 | ->''"This tabula rasa for reader's ideal self slowly became overwritten. This being born of motion became too solid. So writers over the years made dummy Supermen: reflections, dissections, parodies and perversions of Siegel and Shuster's Son of Krypton. In Creator/DCComics: ComicBook/{{Bizarro}}, [[Characters/JusticeLeagueOfAmericaCrimeSyndicate Ultraman]], [[ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman Eradicator]]. In Creator/{{Marvel|Comics}}: [[ComicBook/SquadronSupreme Hyperion]], [[ComicBook/AdamLegendOfTheBlueMarvel Blue Marvel]], ComicBook/TheSentry. In Creator/ImageComics: ComicBook/{{Supreme}}, [[ComicBook/{{Invincible}} Omniman]]. In Creator/{{Wildstorm}}: [[ComicBook/TheAuthority Apollo]], [[ComicBook/WildCATSWildStorm Mr. Majestic]]. Creator/MarkWaid's [[ComicBook/{{Irredeemable}} Plutonian]], Creator/GarthEnnis's [[ComicBook/TheBoys the Homelander]]. Creator/KurtBusiek's [[ComicBook/AstroCity Samaritan]]. All attempts to understand this ever-more archaic idea: where does that goodness come from?"'' |
| 13 | -->-- ''WebVideo/BrowsHeldHigh'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIKYRZc9A1M "Gods, the Übermensch, and the "Unrelatable" Nature of Superman"]] |
| 14 | |
| 15 | As the character [[TropeCodifier widely considered the first superhero]], ComicBook/{{Superman}} is a natural point for any writer of superhero fiction to start with. Consequently, pretty much every superhero universe, whether playing straight, parodying, or deconstructing, [[FountainOfExpies contains at least one character clearly intended to be a version of Superman]]. |
| 16 | |
| 17 | There are many reasons why this trope is so common in superhero fiction. Superman's iconography is easily recognizable and immediately implies a superhero setting. This makes it easy to twist and put the writer's own spin on it. Superman is also considered the starting point for superheroes, which means discussions of him can have more meaning. While doing an {{Expy}} of a character like ComicBook/{{Batman}} might come across as critiquing or celebrating only Batman, stories attempting to [[{{Deconstruction}} critique]] or [[{{Reconstruction}} celebrate]] the superhero genre can use Superman as a base and be reasonably certain their attitudes can translate across to other characters. Superman is also famously considered [[SuperpowerLottery one of the most powerful heroes]], giving the character and their actions a sense of [[JustForFun/SuperWeight weight]], whether as a hero or a villain. Superman's OlderThanTelevision status and idealistic nature make him an easy target for parody or deconstruction as the embodiment of "The Man". Conversely, often a Superman Substitute is created because a writer wants to write a Superman story, but doesn't want to deal with the trouble of negotiating with Creator/DCComics to handle one of their biggest characters without ExecutiveMeddling, and so creates a CaptainErsatz to write him anyway. |
| 18 | |
| 19 | Of course, the simplest one is because [[SmallReferencePools he's the only one the writer knows]]. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | This was particularly common in UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, as the runaway success of Superman meant that many companies were eager to FollowTheLeader. Plenty of early superheroes, most of whom are now forgotten, were functionally identical to the Golden Age Superman, with a throwaway origin to grant them their suspiciously similar powers and names like Dynaman or Super-American. The most famous of all was [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]], who actually outsold Superman at points, leading to one of the medium's most notorious lawsuits. Most modern takes on this trope tend to be more self-conscious, less trying to copy Superman and more trying to play with Superman as an archetype. |
| 22 | |
| 23 | These characters tend to include the following traits: |
| 24 | * They are TheCape, or [[BewareTheSuperman in darker takes]], are [[VillainWithGoodPublicity publicly regarded as such]]. In the latter case, they are also a CorruptedCharacterCopy of Superman. |
| 25 | * They have a FlyingBrick powerset with some extras, traditionally including SuperSenses and some form of EyeBeams (though more low-powered versions may go the Golden Age route and only have SuperStrength and SuperToughness). |
| 26 | * They are considered [[BigGood one of the most powerful and beloved heroes of their world]]. |
| 27 | * If they're part of a team, they will usually be the leader. |
| 28 | * They wear a costume similar to Superman's (chest symbol, cape, spandex, UnderwearOfPower, no mask). |
| 29 | * Their origin involves aliens, alien contact, or being the [[LastOfHisKind last of their kind]], and their powers involve [[LightEmUp light]] ([[ThePowerOfTheSun especially sunlight]]) or [[HeavyWorlder gravity]] as an explanation or power source. |
| 30 | * They have a SecretIdentity, or once had one, and are often ClarkKenting. |
| 31 | * They [[CaptainPatriotic identify heavily as American]], and even if they don't, their costume will be [[PrimaryColorChampion red, blue, and/or yellow]]. |
| 32 | * They have a SomethingPerson name, and/or a name that in some way includes a superlative. |
| 33 | * They are one of the older and more experienced superheroes and are often outright the first. (Some stories will even have them explicitly debut in the late '30s.) |
| 34 | * They have a KryptoniteFactor (which, in more parodic takes, often takes the form of an outright WeaksauceWeakness). |
| 35 | * Their supporting cast includes a MadScientist ArchEnemy, an IntrepidReporter love interest who often has a LovesMyAlterEgo triangular relationship with their heroic and civilian personae, a PluckyComicRelief male friend, a DistaffCounterpart who may or may not be related to him, and/or [[TheCowl a more ruthless]] but still heroic BadassNormal foil. If the writer is really pushing it, an unusually high proportion of the supporting cast might share the same AlliterativeName initials, in reference to the large number of "L. L." characters in the Superman mythos. |
| 36 | * May be either an AllLovingHero or a HopeBringer. [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs Or both.]] |
| 37 | |
| 38 | A common variant is to include elements of ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, typically by playing up the CaptainPatriotic elements and changing the origin to include SuperSerum, or Captain Marvel, by adding elements of [[SuperHeroGods magic or mythology]] or [[HenshinHero some kind of transformation]]. Expect this character to use lots of DynamicAkimbo posing, too (our page image being a fantastic example of such). |
| 39 | |
| 40 | Notably, DC themselves have acknowledged this at points, suggesting that every world in TheMultiverse has at least one of these on it (though some are farther than others). |
| 41 | |
| 42 | See also: BatmanParody, SpiderManSendup, HulkMashUp, CaptainPatriotic, WolverineWannabe, TheFantasticFaux, and WonderWomanWannabe for other superhero expies. |
| 43 | ---- |
| 44 | !!Examples: |
| 45 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 46 | |
| 47 | [[folder:Advertising]] |
| 48 | * ''Advertising/UFOKamenYakisoban'' has Yakisoban, a human alien who comes from a faraway planet, possesses supernatural abilities related to said planet, and has a younger female cousin who shares his powers. |
| 49 | [[/folder]] |
| 50 | |
| 51 | [[folder:Anime and Manga]] |
| 52 | * ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' has All Might, who is the BigGood, TheCape, and a PrimaryColorChampion. He can't fly, unlike most Superman Substitutes, but he can [[InASingleBound Super jump]], like the Golden Age Superman, and his power was passed down similar to [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] rather than alien heritage.[[note]]While he can't fly the normal way, he can still achieve NotQuiteFlight thanks to his SuperStrength being strong enough to create [[BlowYouAway powerful wind blasts]] that he can use to propel himself in the air by punching/kicking and then allowing the momentum of the air blast to carry him in the opposite direction.[[/note]] He also manages to be a CaptainPatriotic for America, despite being Japanese.[[note]]All Might began his hero career in the United States and achieved great fame there before returning home to Japan, and continues to hold great affection for America.[[/note]] He is also taken as TheParagon for all heroes to take guidance for being the strongest, most charismatic, most effective, and one of the longest serving heroes. Plus his status as "the Symbol of Peace" is very similar to Superman's status as "the Symbol of Hope". |
| 53 | * ''Manga/DoctorSlump'' features a parody of Superman, known as Suppaman[[note]][[DubNameChange a.k.a. Sourman]][[/note]]. However, Suppaman is portrayed as a HeroicWannabe that lacks superpowers and is an asshole to anyone he meets, even helping criminals to save his own hide. |
| 54 | * Mr. Lostman from ''Manga/{{Gamma}}'' is that world's version of Superman, with their similarities ranging from having SuperStrength and being the first [[TheCape Cape]] of the setting to [[spoiler:growing StrongerWithAge.]] There is also Mighty Blow, who is the resident expy of [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]], but borrows quite a few aspects (mainly the "truant space policeman" origin) from [[ComicBook/JustImagineStanLeeCreatingTheDCUniverse Stan Lee's take on Superman]]. |
| 55 | * ''Franchise/DragonBall'': |
| 56 | ** While Son Goku has long been compared to Superman, his actual origin is tied far more into that of [[MonkeyKingLite Sun Wukong]]. It wasn't until ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' that we learned he was an alien sent to Earth as a baby - from a planet that was blown up mere days later. The twist is that he was meant to wipe out human civilization, but thanks to a bump on the head and a good upbringing, he became a MartialPacifist and the Earth's greatest defender. |
| 57 | *** As of ''Dragon Ball Minus'' and ''Anime/DragonBallSuperBroly'', Goku becomes far closer to this. His parents Bardock and Gine, noticing there was something wrong with Frieza suddenly recalling all Saiyans to their homeworld, stole an attack ball and [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything sent the infant Goku to Earth for his safety]], as the planet had enough food for even [[BigEater a Saiyan's immense appetite]], [[HumanAlien its inhabitants looked like Saiyans without tails]] but [[PunyEarthlings weren't powerful enough to pose a threat to him]], and [[InsignificantLittleBluePlanet the planet had nothing appealing to get Frieza's lethal attention]]. However, they planned to retrieve him later if their suspicions were proven wrong and tell their older son Raditz (who was already safely off-planet) in case they were right. However, [[NiceJobBreakingItHero they forgot to tell him just]] ''[[NiceJobBreakingItHero why]]'' [[NiceJobBreakingItHero they had sent him there]], leading to Raditz assuming his brother had been sent to Earth on a planetary annihilation mission just like the one he was on-and becoming furious when he found out Goku had gone native. |
| 58 | *** Like Superman with ComicBook/LoisLane, Goku marries a dark-haired [[ActionGirl strong-spirited]] Earthling woman Chi-Chi. She gives birth to a sweet, largely non-violent boy Son Gohan, who, like [[Characters/SupermanJonathanSamuelKent Jonathan]], has HybridPower, displaying a greater potential than even his own father, but is also seen as a hybrid freak by the pure-blooded members of their respective species. |
| 59 | *** Comes full circle in as in a ShoutOut to ''Dragon Ball'', ''ComicBook/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}'' #25 illustrated by Jorge Jiménez has a moment directly inspired by the manga. When Superman has a HeroicSecondWind, the images of his father and son appear behind him as a clear reference to the Gohan/Goku Kamehameha from the Cell Saga. Jiménez later [[https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.cbr.com/justice-league-25-dragon-ball-z-kamehameha/amp/ confirmed]] the connection on Twitter. |
| 60 | ** Speaking of Gohan, he becomes a kind of Superman Substitute in the Buu Saga when he becomes Great Saiyaman. This hero persona has a red cape and tights and contrasts wildly with his soft-spoken introverted and nerdy bespectacled civilian identity. Like Supes, Gohan has to balance his hero life with his normal life and is suspected by his dark-haired outspoken LoveInterest Videl, before she like Lois learns the truth. Gohan’s HighSchool adventures are even somewhat similar to ''Series/{{Smallville}}''. Although there are a few differences as besides Gohan being half-alien while Superman is full alien, Great Saiyaman is more inspired by ''Franchise/KamenRider'' and {{Toku}} than western superheroes like Superman. |
| 61 | ** ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' saw fit to create a more direct Superman substitute with Jiren of the Universe 11 Pride Troopers. While nowhere near as friendly as most Supermen not made by Image, the guy's sheer power (rivalling or surpassing the Gods of Destruction), HeroicBuild, pseudo-EyeBeams, and membership in a hero team makes his status as such likely. This is especially true for his [[Manga/DragonBallSuper manga incarnation]], where he doesn't want to participate in the Tournament of Power because it will cost the existence of other universes while preventing him from keeping watch over his own universe for the duration of the tournament. |
| 62 | * ''WebComic/OnePunchMan'': |
| 63 | ** Saitama is the most obvious comparison, he’s got a cape, red boots, is strong and invulnerable to an [[ShowyInvincibleHero insanely ridiculous level]] much like [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] Superman and [[IamNotLeftHanded generally holds back his full strength]] and doesn't go looking for fights unless his friends and innocent people are threatened. There's some difference though as Saitama isn't an alien, [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower he got his abilities through training]], he's bald (similar to a [[ComicBook/LexLuthor certain Superman villain]]), he can't [[{{Flight}} fly]] ([[InASingleBound only jump super high]]), can't shoot EyeBeams and Saitama has a much more bitter and sardonic personality than Supes. He's also more violent to his enemies, being totally willing to kill [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin with a single punch]]. Then again, this AntiHero-like behaviour and being unable to fly or use crazy powers does make Saitama akin to [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] Superman. |
| 64 | *** Saitama serves more as a {{deconstruction}} of the Man of Steel, since [[BlessedWithSuck he's tired of being so powerful]] and becomes a superhero as a hobby rather than out of a genuine desire to help people. Though it is revealed Saitama does believe in TheCape. |
| 65 | ** Blast, Hero Association's most powerful hero (since they don't know about Saitama's strength) is another clear Superman analogue, especially in the webcomic where Blast has a Superman-like haircut, a cape, and tights, whilst in the manga, he has bulky armour with large shoulder pads and shades (though he does have an insignia on his chest like Superman and the shades make him look like Eradicator). Blast also has a civilian job like Superman and according to Fubuki has EyeBeams. There's several differences though: Blast's powers are even flashier than Superman's as he can perform dimensional travel, besides the usual extreme strength and toughness. He's also not a HopeBringer like Superman, bluntly telling Tatsumaki after rescuing her in a FlashBack not to expect anyone to save her, instilling Tatsumaki with the {{Jerkass}} behaviour that she has today. Like Saitama, Blast can be seen as a mild deconstruction of Superman. |
| 66 | * The ''Manga/SailorMoon'' manga has Sailor Venus debut as this, being at first the most powerful and experienced of the Sailor Senshi, TheCape and their role model, the most beloved hero in town even after disappearing for months and Sailor Moon taking over her job, the only one who could fly (at least until she taught the others how off-page), and, even after her identity was revealed, TheLeader of the team. This is somewhat {{Deconstructed}}, as the sheer effort of [[StepfordSmiler presenting herself as an invincible role model in spite of her]] DarkAndTroubledPast has taken a toll on her sanity and solidly tied her self-esteem to her role as a superhero. |
| 67 | * The ''Anime/ProjectAKo'' movie shows her parents to be [[LawyerFriendlyCameo Lawyer Friendly Cameos]] of Superman and ''ComicBook/WonderWoman''. |
| 68 | [[/folder]] |
| 69 | |
| 70 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 71 | [[AC:Creator/DCComics]]\ |
| 72 | Despite owning the character, DC has a surprising number of these in their main multiverse -- either by buying up other companies with Superman Substitutes, or creating them themselves. |
| 73 | * ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'': DC's Captain Marvel may be the TropeCodifier, as his creators, Fawcett Comics, were notoriously sued for it. In his case, he has the design and the powers, and was even smashing a car on the cover of his first appearance, but he's otherwise not that similar, being an ordinary boy empowered by a wizard. It's often stated that it was exactly this difference that led him to outsell Superman, as [[HenshinHero a boy who could become a hero]] [[EscapistCharacter struck a chord with readers]]. Captain Marvel's similarities led to a 12-year-long lawsuit as Superman's owners claimed Captain Marvel constituted copyright infringement. As he now exists in the same universe as Superman, he has gone through some DivergentCharacterEvolution, with writers playing up his nature as a KidHero whose power set is based on magic and the gods, which can complement Superman's weakness with the former. Longtime writer of the character, Otto Binder, also prominently wrote ''Superman'' in the 1960s, and brought in many elements that he'd used with ''Captain Marvel'' -- most obviously, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}. |
| 74 | * Slightly behind Captain Marvel, but older than most of the other examples below, is the primarily space-based hero [[CaptainSuperhero Captain Comet]]. With the powers of a man "[[EvolutionaryLevels born a hundred thousand years before his time]]", he's essentially [[PsychicPowers psychic]] Superman, and like Captain Marvel above DC has intentionally pit their two supermen against each other for the sake of comparing and contrasting their powers and personalities. Comet goes further than most in that he ''also'' comes from rural mid-west America and ''also'' has parents named John and Martha, something Grant Morrison's run on ''Action Comics'' played up. |
| 75 | * ''ComicBook/{{Icon}}'' is the Superman Substitute of Creator/MilestoneComics, being an alien FlyingBrick with a costume including a cape. He's also a black lawyer, who's somewhat out of touch with the struggles of the lower class and underprivileged. |
| 76 | * ComicBook/{{Captain Carrot|AndHisAmazingZooCrew}} fills this role in the Zoo Crew, though he's otherwise pretty unique, being a comic artist who [[PowerUpFood uses carrots to gain his powers]]. That, and he's a FunnyAnimal. |
| 77 | * After ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' was rebooted to remove references to Superman, [[ComicBook/{{Valor}} Mon-El]], a character who had once been Superman's adoptive brother, became one of these, filling the role of being the Legion's historical inspiration and gaining a counterpart to Supergirl. |
| 78 | ** DC later spun off an entire ''race'' of Supermen Substitutes in the form of Mon-El's people, the Daxamites. They played an integral role in the 1988 CrisisCrossover series ''[[ComicBook/InvasionDCComics Invasion!]]'', along with the 1982 Legion storyline ''ComicBook/TheGreatDarknessSaga''. In addition, Creator/AlanMoore's prophesied "Ultimate ComicBook/GreenLantern" was eventually revealed to be a Daxamite named Sodam Yat. Being a Daxamite means that Sodam Yat has all the powers of Superman combined with all the powers of a Green Lantern. |
| 79 | * Iron Munro was created because ''ComicBook/AllStarSquadron'' couldn't use Superman due to the Post-ComicBook/{{Crisis|OnInfiniteEarths}} changes that came from the DC Multiverse being done away with and the inhabitants of Earth-One (home of the Silver Age and Bronze Age characters), Earth-Two (home of the Golden Age characters), Earth-S (home of the Fawcett Comics characters) and Earth-Four (home of the Charlton Comics characters) now inhabiting the same universe, particularly the Justice Society now being the Justice League's predecessors in-universe as well as out-of-universe and the Golden Age incarnations of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman being among the characters erased from existence. [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute True to form]], he has the same powers as the Golden Age Superman (SuperStrength and invulnerability), he basically looks the same only wearing street clothes and with a streak of white in his hair, and he's stated to be the son of [[Literature/{{Gladiator}} Hugo Danner]]. Iron Munro is inspired by Aarn Munro, the character in the novel The Mightiest Machine by Creator/JohnWCampbell. |
| 80 | * ''ComicBook/MartianManhunter'' became derivative of Superman over time, with him possessing [[FlyingBrick the powers]], [[LastOfHisKind the origin]], [[KryptoniteFactor the weakness]], and {{the c|ape}}ostume. It's often rumored that he was an outright stand-in in early issues of ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica''. He has a number of twists to it, however: his powers include [[ComboPlatterPowers several others]] (particularly intangibility, telepathy, invisibility and shape-shifting), he came to Earth as an adult and therefore actually experienced the loss of his people (especially haunted by the loss of his wife and [[OutlivingOnesOffspring daughter]]), he was teleported to Earth by a scientist's experiment rather than arriving there in a rocket ship, his weakness is [[WeaksauceWeakness fire]], and he's [[HumanoidAlien clearly alien]] in appearance [[HumanAliens while Superman isn't]]. |
| 81 | * ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'' features an inversion of this trope, with several characters of the depicted worlds in TheMultiverse being [[CaptainErsatz clearly designed to resemble]] other Superman Substitutes, while also being alternate universe counterparts to Superman. These include Hyperius ([[ComicBook/SquadronSupreme Hyperion]]), Savior ([[ComicBook/AstroCity Samaritan]]), Supremo (ComicBook/{{Supreme}}), and Optiman ([[ComicBook/BigBangComics Ultiman]]). It also retroactively makes a number of other characters into their worlds' counterparts to Superman, including Earth-13's ComicBook/{{Etrigan}}, ComicBook/CaptainAtom of Earth-4, Super-Chief of [[ComicBook/JusticeRiders Earth-18]], and ComicBook/DoctorFate of [[TwoFistedTales Earth-20]]. |
| 82 | * In the ''Creator/TangentComics'' universe, every character is deliberately InNameOnly. The Earth's foremost hero is Adam Thompson, ComicBook/TheAtom, a man who manipulates gravity and density to give himself FlyingBrick powers and looks basically like Superman with muted colors. Ironically, the actual character going by "Superman" in that world is a KnightTemplar with an enhanced brain that grants him PsychicPowers (which, for even further irony, is [[MythologyGag pretty close to a very early concept of Superman]]). |
| 83 | * Dynaman in the {{Elseworld}}s tale ''ComicBook/TheGoldenAge'' was one created entirely by Tex Thompson by using [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers exposure to nuclear power to give him his Superman-like abilities]], including the ability to create explosive punches just with his fists alone (it was originally Dyna-Mite's own ability that was activated by pressing together his dyna-rings). It eventually turned out that [[spoiler:Dynaman was actually Adolf Hitler's brain [[BrainTransplant transplanted]] into Daneil Dunbar's body]], which, when the truth was exposed publicly, caused Dynaman to go berserk, forcing the gathering of superheroes to try stopping his rampage before he was ultimately killed. The story also has the aforementioned Captain Comet serving as the substitute for Silver Age Superman. |
| 84 | * Creator/{{Wildstorm}} features [[Characters/WildCATSMrMajestic Mr. Majestic]], [[ComicBook/{{Stormwatch}} the High]], and [[ComicBook/TheAuthority Apollo]], all of whom parallel Superman in various ways. Majestic has the alien origin and the role as a BigGood, The High has a late-'30s debut and an AllLovingHero attitude [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans gone sour]], and Apollo has the sun-fueled powerset and relationship with a vigilante. They've been stated several times to be in the same ballpark. Once the Wildstorm characters were brought into the DC universe proper, Apollo's status gets a direct acknowledgement that Apollo is in fact a huge Superman fanboy. |
| 85 | * In ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', Doctor Manhattan has an entirely different set of powers, origin, and personality, being primarily inspired by ComicBook/CaptainAtom. However, he's more or less an analogue to Superman in that his very existence challenges society, he plays a major international role, is backed and supported by the government, and likewise feels increasingly lonely and apart from humanity. The line of dialogue "the Superman exists and he is American" signifies who Manhattan is meant to represent. |
| 86 | * Mr Might of the Freedom Brigade is the Superman of Earth-12, having the expected powers and also a back story as Barb-Ell, son of Dumb-Ell of the planet Neon, who predicted the planet would explode, and, when nobody believed him, sent his only son to Earth. (The other Neonians were right.) However, his main significance is that he's the father of Awkwardman of the ''Comicbook/InferiorFive'', who is DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength combined with TheKlutz. |
| 87 | * The 2019 ''ComicBook/DialHForHero'' series has Miguel Montez assume a form based on Superman named Supermiguel. Near the end, he also uses the Y-Dial to become Reign of the Supermiguels, a quartet based on the four replacement Supermen who debuted in the aftermath of ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'' (with the changes of the Eradicator's equivalent being [[GenderFlip female]] and Steel's stand-in being mashed up with Cyborg as depicted in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo''). |
| 88 | |
| 89 | [[AC:Creator/MarvelComics]] |
| 90 | * ComicBook/TheMightyThor despite being based on a pre-existing [[Myth/NorseMythology Norse God]], generally fulfills this role neatly within the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. A FlyingBrick with a red cape and blue outfit, who technically isn’t human but a visitor from another world who falls in love with a human woman and is generally seen as the BigGood of Marvel’s heroes. The parallels are only heightened in Creator/JasonAaron’s run where Thor has a ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman''-esque sequence where [[AllLovingHero he helps people across the planet]], including visiting a man on DeathRow and offering him comfort. Naturally Thor is the one Supes fights in ''ComicBook/JLAAvengers''. Thor has even done the "[[https://64.media.tumblr.com/81f2ae0738670662f5def5524f029825/tumblr_nzuywtKMvk1rvm5qqo2_1280.jpg crush coal into diamond]]" trick [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/B3tdDIvFp7KDGgv5CfLS9Mw7DrlQlBBpFL1G5tf6arfWIuhCmsZp96C-3QGM1mlW6OeoXsbW4YEbzmnKyTZxsIkmD6ewsgBDuuHk0uS7eQigIZsFMfLmOmjik1zEM-08q6p9Ksqd0g=s0?rhlupa=MjAwMTo4MDAzOjE2MGU6MTMwMDpkMWEwOmExOWE6NjE2MDo1NWYw&rnvuka=TW96aWxsYS81LjAgKFdpbmRvd3MgTlQgMTAuMDsgV2luNjQ7IHg2NCkgQXBwbGVXZWJLaXQvNTM3LjM2IChLSFRNTCwgbGlrZSBHZWNrbykgQ2hyb21lLzEwMy4wLjAuMCBTYWZhcmkvNTM3LjM2 like the Man of Steel himself]]. |
| 91 | * ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'': The villain Count Nefaria possesses the right powers and costume, though he's otherwise a straightforward bad guy, with his powers basically being a way for [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny the Avengers to fight Superman]] without needing to negotiate anything. Superman even copies a few of his moves in ''ComicBook/JLAAvengers''. |
| 92 | * ''[[ComicBook/AdamLegendOfTheBlueMarvel Blue Marvel]]'' has the design, the powers, the weakness, and the personality. His problem? He's black, and [[UsefulNotes/TheSixties when he was active initially]], [[DeliberateValuesDissonance that wasn't a good thing for a hero to be]]. |
| 93 | * In ''ComicBook/TheAvengersJonathanHickman'', we are introduced to the Great Society of [[AlternateUniverse Earth-4290001]], led by Sun-God. Perhaps the most blatant example from Marvel, they have him going so far as to copy some of his signature poses, and even quoting him at points. He's even [[HoYay best friends]] with [[TheCowl the Batman expy "The Rider"]] and shares a similar background (though he's revealed to have been extrauniversal, implying he might be the last of ''his universe'' rather than just world). |
| 94 | * Robert Reynolds a.k.a. ''ComicBook/TheSentry'' is a {{deconstruction}}, with him possessing a similar costume, phenomenal powers... and [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity serious mental instabilities]]. It does not help that a lot of whether he's a straight substitute or a full-on deconstruction [[DependingOnTheWriter depends on what interpretation the writer prefers]]. The {{Retraux}} miniseries ''ComicBook/AgeOfTheSentry'' makes it even more obvious, with the wacky plots and good-natured attitude common to old ''Superman'' comics at the forefront. He even has a superdog! |
| 95 | ** Recently, the consensus is that the Sentry, Robert, and [[EnemyWithin the Void]] are all aspects of the same man, and when they merge, the result is a new version of the Sentry -- still a FlyingBrick with a LanternJawOfJustice out to protect Earth (now with added black hair, even), but [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver dressed in red and black]], with black hair, [[AntiHero a casual attitude to killing]], and the Void's LovecraftianSuperpower. |
| 96 | ** In ''ComicBook/MarvelZombies'', reportedly, the hero who crosses universes while infected with the zombie plague [[WhatCouldHaveBeen was originally intended to be]] Superman, the implication being that [[InferredHolocaust the DCU had been infected too]]. However, they couldn't make it subtle enough, so he was given a quick PaletteSwap and turned into Sentry (though [[https://i.imgur.com/NwlqJnH.jpg he still has Superman's spitcurl]]). In a DevelopmentGag, Sentry in the ''Film/ArmyOfDarkness'' crossover is shown with [[https://i.imgur.com/Knz0SVc.jpg a rip in his costume]] in the shape of Superman's S-symbol. |
| 97 | * The ''ComicBook/SquadronSupreme'' is an AlternateCompanyEquivalent for the ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'', with Hyperion serving as the team's counterpart to Superman, even having a civilian name that's alliterative (Mark Milton) and working for a newspaper company. Amusingly enough, his Lex Luthor equivalent Emil Burbank resents Hyperion for accidentally making him extremely hairy rather than bald. |
| 98 | ** His ''ComicBook/SupremePower'' counterpart is even more overtly a Superman analogue (right down to being rocketed to Earth as an infant from a dying alien planet and almost being adopted by a rural couple), though he's considerably DarkerAndEdgier, being more or less "What if Superman were raised by the government instead?". |
| 99 | * The Shi'ar Imperial Guard are a pastiche of the ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'', and by extension, so is their leader, Gladiator -- a FlyingBrick alien with a primary-colored caped costume whose real name (Kallark) is a portmanteau of "Kal Clark" and codenamed named after [[Literature/{{Gladiator}} a book that inspired Superman himself]]. He's not exactly the last of his kind (rather, his people are highly diminished) and are that way because he was ordered to slaughter them as part of a [[DeadlyGraduation twisted graduation ceremony]]. He also definitely falls on the GoodIsNotNice end of the scale. |
| 100 | * The ''ComicBook/MarvelKnightsSpiderMan'' storyline "Wild Blue Yonder" introduced Ethan Edwards/Virtue. The story basically shifts from AffectionateParody [[DeconReconSwitch to deconstruction to reconstruction]]. The two twists on the Superman formula are that he's ''deeply'' religious (believing that his powers are literally a gift from God) and has ''{{healing|Hands}}'' vision. His attempts at a secret identity are presented as absolutely useless; not only do the glasses not work, but he won't lie. When he discovers the Marvel U ''doesn't'' work like Silver Age DC, and also that he's actually a ''Skrull'', he goes full NinetiesAntiHero for a while as the Tiller (and is equally inept as that, coming across like a naïve farmboy ''trying'' to be ComicBook/ThePunisher), before getting talked down by Aunt May and eventually moving overseas, where he seemed to become a MessianicArchetype (with the final twist that the Super-Skrull genetic engineering he had [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane didn't include the healing powers]]). |
| 101 | ** In the ''ComicBook/IdentityCrisis1998'' storyline, Peter creates four identities to clear his name. One of them is Prodigy, who uses Spider-Man's iconic super strength and a bulletproof vest to be like the Golden Age Superman. He also had Superman's more altruistic and heroic sense of identity. Because of how super popular Prodigy was with the populace (even J. Jonah Jameson loved him!), Mary Jane tried to convince Peter to stick with it and Peter was tempted, but he ultimately returned to being Spider-Man. |
| 102 | * Like DC's Captain Comet above, the ''ComicBook/XMen'' villain [[Characters/MarvelComicsExodus Exodus]] is basically psychic Superman, and while he doesn't hew as closely to the archetype as the good captain, he does check off many of the boxes, albeit with a twist -- he's a FlyingBrick, but [[PsychoactivePowers only as long as he believes in himself]]; he's a team leader, but they're a team of super-villains; he's the LastOfHisKind, but "his kind" are crusader knights rather than aliens, and so on. Since he was, as noted, a crusader knight and the most powerful and most devoted of [[Characters/MarvelComicsMagneto Magneto]]'s Acolytes (when he says he's Magneto's heir "in spirit ''and'' power" he is not kidding, in either respect), this means he most certainly does ''[[KnightTemplar not]]'' have the personality. |
| 103 | * Marvelman, better known as ''ComicBook/{{Miracleman}}'' (whose rights are currently owned by Marvel), started out as a CaptainErsatz of Fawcett's Captain Marvel (himself an example) who was created as a result of the British publisher L. Miller & Son, Ltd. being unable to continue publishing ''Captain Marvel'' comics due to Fawcett being forced to cease publication after DC sued them. Creator/AlanMoore's run that revitalized the character noticeably made Miracleman's similarities to Captain Marvel's inspiration Superman more apparent, with him introducing a DistaffCounterpart and a Lois Lane {{Expy}}, [[TimeSkip aging up]] Mike Moran, and linking the character's origin to aliens. Add in the fact that Kid Miracleman is redesigned to be more like Captain Marvel, and the final battle ends up basically being a recreation of ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'''s ''Superduperman'' but PlayedForDrama. |
| 104 | * This list doesn't detail the number of parodies of Superman's origin like Wundarr the Aquarian. Rocketed to Earth as a baby, it turns out his father was wrong about the destruction of his planet, much to his disgrace. He was also never discovered by a kindly couple, instead aging into maturity in stasis on his rocket pod, emerging as an infant in an adult body. He was so naïve he mistook ''ComicBook/ManThing'' for his mother. |
| 105 | ** There were a handful of other infant launches given a BlackComedy twist, like the hopeful parents' escape pod crashing into a ship or someone like ComicBook/RocketRaccoon stealing it before they can put their child in there. |
| 106 | |
| 107 | [[AC:Other Comics]] |
| 108 | * The ''ComicBook/AmalgamUniverse''[='s=] equivalent is Super Soldier. A sickly Kansas farmboy named Clark Kent was given an experimental serum derived from the DNA of a dead alien infant found in a crashed lifepod. The serum gave him a host of superpowers, allowing him to turn the tide during World War II, fighting with an indestructible shield bearing the alien child's emblem. Or in other words, he's an amalgam of Superman proper and ComicBook/CaptainAmerica. |
| 109 | * ''ComicBook/WonderManFox'' (no, not [[ComicBook/WonderMan that one]]) might be [[TropeMaker the very first]], debuting just thirteen months after Superman. Despite his different origin (he was given his powers by a ring he got from a monk), he was strikingly similar, so much so that DC sued his publisher as soon as the book hit the stands. Wonder Man never got his second issue. |
| 110 | * [[https://britishcomics.fandom.com/wiki/Powerman Powerman]] ([[ComicBook/LukeCage no, not that one]]), a character created in Britain for the Nigerian market in the 1970s, sported a cape, UnderwearOfPower, a [[BroughtToYouByTheLetterS P-shaped symbol]] on his chest, and a FlyingBrick powerset, with his KryptoniteFactor being snakebites. In the late 1980s, his series was reprinted as ''Power Comics'' in Britain and the United States thanks to the popularity of artists Brian Bolland (of ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'') and Dave Gibbons (of ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}''), with the titular character's name being changed to "Powerbolt" to avoid confusion with [[ComicBook/LukeCage Marvel's Power Man]]. |
| 111 | * ComicBook/{{Supreme}} ([[RuleOfThree no, not tha- ...eh]]) started as a DarkerAndEdgier {{Expy}}, and under the pen of Creator/AlanMoore, became a CaptainErsatz of the Silver Age Superman, including more and more homages to Superman's supporting cast. Most notably was the inclusion of a ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes''-esque team called the League of Infinity, and his own [[DistaffCounterpart younger female sidekick]] (a la ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}) called Suprema. |
| 112 | * The titular character of ''ComicBook/{{Superior}}'' is one, with the added twist of being a kid who's turned into [[ShowWithinAShow an in-universe fictional character]]. |
| 113 | * The Plutonian from ''ComicBook/{{Irredeemable}}'' is a DeconstructedCharacterArchetype of the Man of Steel. The basic premise of the series is that he snaps from the pressure of heroism and becomes [[FallenHero the world's greatest villain]], with the exploration behind what led up to this. Twists include all his typical flying brick superpowers being derived from being a RealityWarper, and rather than being an [[GreenRocks extraterrestrial source]] of radiation his KryptoniteFactor is run-of-the-mill radiation that can be generated on Earth, but in an utterly ''immense'' dose. Like, enough to cause a global nuclear holocaust, all concentrated on him. |
| 114 | * The titular character of ''Axiom'', also by Creator/MarkWaid, is pretty much a condensed version of the Plutonian, and therefore by extension he's one of these. |
| 115 | * ''ComicBook/AstroCity'': |
| 116 | ** The first issue focuses on one of these, named Samaritan, who is [[SamaritanSyndrome so occupied by saving people that he frequently finds himself trying to make time to just fly for its own sake]]. Kurt Busiek is a little annoyed at people comparing Samaritan to Superman, though, noting that he has a lot of other elements in his mix (for instance, he's a time traveler, not an alien). |
| 117 | ** Atomicus is a more clear-cut one, with him being a thorough deconstruction of the LovesMyAlterEgo relationship that typified Silver Age Superman and Lois. |
| 118 | ** Supersonic seems to be the other Silver Age Superman equivalent -- aside from the name and the FlyingBrick powerset, in his prime back in the '60s, he shared that version of Superman's status as a GeniusBruiser who favored defeating his opponents through HollywoodScience and clever tactics over simple brute force (and his habit of messing with his love interest). Also much like Superman, he doesn't do that stuff anymore, though in his case, it's due to [[DentedIron old age and possible brain damage from his lifestyle]], hence [[OldSuperhero why he's retired]]. |
| 119 | ** The original Starbright is a pretty clear homage to the Silver Age ComicBook/{{Superboy}}, as a clean-cut all-American teen hero from a small town, with his nemesis being similar to Lex Luthor, a put-upon TeenGenius who doesn't understand that Starbright's heroism is sincere [[spoiler:until too late]]. |
| 120 | * ''ComicBook/BigBangComics'' is pretty much entirely comprised of various Expies of Silver Age heroes, and they therefore have Ultiman, a clear one for Superman. |
| 121 | * Creator/ECComics' ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'' had the legendary Harvey Kurtzmann parody ''Superduperman'' where Clark Bent pines for Lois Pain while his alter-ego fights Captain Marbles. The comic was a huge success and is considered not only a great spoof but one of the greatest comics in its own right. It was notable for shredding the sexist assumptions in LovesMyAlterEgo with Lois Pain ditching Bent after he reveals his identity by noting, "Once a creep, always a creep". |
| 122 | * ''ComicBook/MarshalLaw'''s first arc focuses on the Public Spirit, a DeconstructiveParody of Superman, whose all-American nature is steeped in [[{{Eagleland}} an ugly conservatism]]. Curiously, his powers are fueled by "pumping ions" and not true SuperStrength, and he takes steroids to give himself the muscular look. In the various sequels, it seems he also shares Superman's tendencies for spinoffs, including a 1940s one who operates as a failed ComicBook/CaptainAmerica and a "Junior" who resembles ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' Superboy. |
| 123 | * ''ComicBook/TheBoys'': |
| 124 | ** As a SpiritualSuccessor to ''Marshal Law'', it uses the equally scummy Homelander as its BigBad. He even has an identical backstory to Superman, though it's completely fake; he was created by a corporation. Unusually, he's one of the few heroes given any kind of FreudianExcuse. [[spoiler:He believes he's committed atrocities [[AlternateIdentityAmnesia that he can't remember doing and he's lost his mind]] when it was somebody else disguised as him -- his clone, who was created as a contingency to take out the Homelander if he started disobeying, and took steps to ensure this when the Homelander wasn't going to do so himself. He actually fills the role of Batman in the Justice League {{Expy}}]]. |
| 125 | ** Stormfront[[note]]Named after a notorious neo-Nazi webforum[[/note]] is another, Nazi-created version (and one of the covers shows him sitting on a cloud while sneering at the viewer, in a parody of a well-known ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'' cover), although the role he occupies is [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] of ComicBook/TheAvengers. His personality and political leanings get him an ass-kicking by [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo a Frenchman, a Brit, an American, and a Russian]]. |
| 126 | * ''ComicBook/BratPack'' has True-Man, a being of godlike power and Slumburg's only genuine hero. |
| 127 | * ''ComicBook/{{Invincible}}'' |
| 128 | ** The comic and the [[WesternAnimation/Invincible2021 animated show]] feature Nolan aka Omni-Man, the father of main character Mark, who looks like Superman with a mustache. He's a CorruptedCharacterCopy, as it turns out, and something of an ArchnemesisDad to Mark once Mark learns the truth about him [[spoiler:though he gets better]]. Omni-Man is essentially the answer to the question "What would Superman be like if he came from a society that had adopted fascistic[=/=]SocialDarwinist beliefs and was out to conquer the galaxy?". This ironically makes Omni-Man have more in common with [[Anime/DragonBallZ Goku or Vegeta]] and it was only after the fact Robert Kirkman was noted of the similarities, having never seen [=DBZ=]. |
| 129 | ** The main character, Mark a.k.a. Invincible, is a combination of this and SpiderManSendUp. [[spoiler:However, by the end of the comic, Mark does become more similar to the Silver Age Superman, as he has his own family and goes on space adventures.]] |
| 130 | * Prime, of ''ComicBook/TheUltraverse'', is more or less one, though with a bit of Captain Marvel in the mix. |
| 131 | * ''ComicBook/PS238'' has Atlas, whose son, Ron/"Captain Clarinet", is one of the more important characters. At first he's pretty standard: he's the SoleSurvivor of the doomed planet Argos, was raised on a farm, [[KryptoniteFactor is vulnerable to Argonite]] and is married to a journalist [[SignificantMonogram with L.L. initials]]. However, eventually [[spoiler:he and Ron's mom divorce]], and ''then'' we find out that [[spoiler:the government lied to him about his origin -- he's actually a HiddenBackupPrince to TheEmpire]]. |
| 132 | ** Among Earth-born metahumans, the [[FlyingBrick Flight, Invulnerability, and Super Strength (FISS) "package"]] is the single most common power set. Julie Finster is the 84th recorded FISS and she suffers from massive self-esteem issues. |
| 133 | * In some Disney comics, WesternAnimation/{{Goofy}} has a SuperPoweredAlterEgo called "Super Goof". He wears a blue cape and red overalls, and has pretty much the same set of powers as Superman, such as {{Flight}} and SuperStrength. The only major difference is that his powers come from eating [[PowerUpFood special peanuts called "Super Goobers"]]. |
| 134 | ** This is made even more evident in ''ComicBook/{{Ultraheroes}}'', where he's by far the most powerful of the team, with Paperinik [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast the Devilish Avenger]] fulfilling Batman's role and Emil Eagle as the MadScientist BigBad (a role reprised from previous Super Goof stories from Italy, in which he was an outright Lex Luthor {{Expy}}). |
| 135 | * ''ComicBook/TopTen'' has Atoman, who is the leader of a whole Ersatz ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica, [[spoiler:who are actually a pedophile ring]]. |
| 136 | * ''ComicBook/{{Powers}}'' has Super Shock, commonly acknowledged as one of the most powerful superheroes alive and TheParagon. Unfortunately, his major appearance is the volume where his isolation and disconnect from humanity results in him becoming a SuperSupremacist who decides to enforce to his own order on the world. And it turns out that as powerful as people had known he was, Super Shock and his teammates had been considerably downplaying his real power to avoid a worldwide panic... |
| 137 | * In ''ComicBook/TheShadowHero'', The Anchor of Justice is your typical Superman Substitute -- a Flying Brick with a [[TheCape kindly, modest personality]]. [[spoiler:And he's an alien, as well, although much less humanoid beneath his disguise than Kal-El.]] |
| 138 | * Clark Oppenheimer of ''ComicBook/TheTick'' is basically only saved from being a LawyerFriendlyCameo by a few ParodyNames and that we only ever see him in his... er... [[ClarkKenting disguise]]. This being ''The Tick'', Clark gets a pretty merciless parodying. |
| 139 | * The greatest hero on Earth [[VillainWorld prior to it being conquered]] in ''ComicBook/{{Empire}}'' was Endymion, who more or less ticks all the above boxes -- FlyingBrick, TheCape, PrimaryColorChampion, et cetera. He's a PosthumousCharacter to imply [[CrapsackWorld the lack of any hope in the world of the story]] [[spoiler:until it's revealed that he's still alive, and his blood is being harvested to make a FantasticDrug]]. |
| 140 | * ''ComicBook/ComicsGreatestWorld'' has Titan, a FlyingBrick who's part of the group of superheroes "Catalyst: Agent of Change" as their champion to guard [[ShiningCity Golden City]]. However, his SmugSuper attitude and HairTriggerTemper make him leave this group to "forge his own legend" and eventually makes a FaceHeelTurn becoming the villain of the ''Will to Power'' arc. |
| 141 | * ''ComicBook/TheUmbrellaAcademy'' has Scientific Man, who's an AffectionateParody and CompositeCharacter of both Superman and Doctor Manhattan from ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}''. Like Superman, he has a cape, tights, and EyeBeams, and like Manhattan, he has the blue glowy skin and even does the LevitatingLotusPosition while overlooking Hotel Oblivion on a barren planet. Unlike Superman and Doctor Manhattan, Scientific Man has a [[BewareTheSuperman villainous role]], being TheDreaded warden of the ExtranormalPrison and reveals upon breaking out that he considers mankind "a disease". Like Superman, Scientific Man has a [[KryptoniteFactor weakness]], as [[ShockAndAwe electricity]] will knock him out due to his hyper-conductive molecules. |
| 142 | * ''ComicBook/Dynamo5'' has Captain Dynamo, protector of the City, champion of the people, a wonderful husband... who is found to have been '''''EXTREMELY''''' unfaithful after his death, having had at ''least'' six kids. One of which with his arch-nemesis. |
| 143 | * Sunstar in ''ComicBook/SecondComing'' lands in all of the usual trappings of the trope; he's TheAce among superheroes, has FlyingBrick powers with laser vision, has his own kryptonite (solanite), is a {{Human Alien|s}} raised on Earth, et cetera. However, he isn't as flawless as Superman, having accidentally killed humans in robot suits thinking they were just robots and briefly took on a "WithGreatPowerComesGreatPerks" stance after a brief talk with God. |
| 144 | * In one ''Series/RedDwarf Smegazine'' strip, Ace Rimmer found himself in a superhero universe where his counterpart was Super-Ace, a FlyingBrick who desperately wanted to be the greatest superhero of his dimension... except that his WeaksauceWeakness was ''flesh'', and he lost consciousness every time someone touched him. |
| 145 | * ''ComicBook/{{Normalman}}'' is an {{inver|tedTrope}}sion, a non-superpowered child sent to a planet where EveryoneIsASuper. His bent friend Captain Everything is a more straight example but he's an idiot and has NewPowersAsThePlotDemands mentioned as his main power InUniverse. |
| 146 | * ''ComicBook/TheEndLeague'' has Astonishman, who fits pretty much all the classic notes: FlyingBrick, cape, powered by a celestial body (in his case, the earth's core), SomethingPerson name, "first" superhero held in high regard, IdealHero... uncommonly for the rather grim story, his issue is not that he's secretly corrupt or malevolent, but rather that he makes a small number of crucial mistakes which kick the world into ApocalypseHow mode, and has to deal with the catastrophic aftermath. |
| 147 | * ''ComicBook/JupitersLegacy'' has the Utopian, a FlyingBrick with [[TheCape a cape]], an emblem in an escutcheon, and who acts as the leader of the superhero community and is a champion of good and the American way. However, he holds onto his Code, a set of moral rules that are becoming more outdated as time goes on, far too strictly, and has unrealistically high moral standards for his fellow superheroes, especially his children. He also isn't an alien but rather was TouchedByVorlons along with five others during TheGreatDepression. |
| 148 | * ''ComicBook/ThePro'' has The Saint. He's quite a nice and well-meaning fellow, but since this is a Creator/GarthEnnis book, of course his ideology is going to get dragged through mud (ironically, Ennis exempts Superman himself from scorn when writing the Man of Steel). When the titular Pro (a hooker) tries to teach him what sex is... well she ended up fine, but a plane got shot out of the sky, forcing The Saint to save the passengers without his pants on. |
| 149 | * In ''ComicBook/BlackSummer'', John Horus, though not very similar to Superman power-wise (he can fly and has some SuperToughness, but his main power is a roving swarm of eye-shaped AttackDrones), is clearly meant to represent Superman within the world of the series. He's the leader of a seven-member team, he's fairly close to another member with a darker color scheme, he's a OneManArmy to the point of being able to survive a nuclear blast, and his main trait is his [[TheParagon unshakeable sense of morals and justice]]. The comic is, essentially, about what happens when someone with Superman's morality and level of strength ends up having to deal with the fact that the US government is full of criminals more malevolent than any supervillain: that is to say, he tries to overthrow it by force. |
| 150 | * Carter Crossover from ''ComicBook/TheCrossovers'' is Archetype, a FlyingBrick who fights a MadScientist and is a kind hearted and honourable hero, to the point that he won't tell his wife that he's a superhero since he considers a written contract not to a serious promise that he has to keep. There's also his predecessor Prototype, also known as Kent Lewis, and his thirteen year old clone Archetyke. The twist with Carter isn't that he's corrupt or a bad hero, even if he did accidently expose his secret identity to his ArchEnemy, but that he's LockedOutOfTheLoop to the fact that his wife is a vampire hunter, his daughter frequently travels to a fantasy realm to become a warrior princess, and his son is helping aliens invade the Earth |
| 151 | * The underground comic ''Wonder Wart-Hog'' has several elements clearly borrowed from Superman, including Wonder Wart-Hog being nicknamed the "Hog of Steel" and his status as a cape-wearing superhero with incredible strength and endurability who has a bespectacled nebbish working for a newspaper company as his secret identity. |
| 152 | [[/folder]] |
| 153 | |
| 154 | [[folder:Films -- Animation]] |
| 155 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'' was seen less as a Disney take on antiquity and more as an attempt to retell the story of Hercules in the style of Superman. In this version, he's a god BroughtDownToNormal ([[SuperStrength but not entirely]]), was raised by Muggle parents, had an awkward teenage year at the farm, goes to a temple and talks to his space-Dad... er God-Dad, and as an adult falls for a snarky civilized girl (Megara) who dresses in purple and the bad guy is a megalomaniacal huckster in the vein of Creator/GeneHackman's [[Film/SupermanFilmSeries Luthor]] ([[EverybodyHatesHades Hades]]). One of the more interesting twists is that Meg/"Lois" starts out as a PunchClockVillain until LoveRedeems. |
| 156 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1'' has Metaman, revealed in [[AllThereInTheManual the DVD extras]] to have very similar powers to Superman, along with a similar name and costume... with the unfortunate exception of not being immune [[CapeSnag to a broken neck]]. Mr. Incredible himself has a few clear nods, mostly in his costume, powers, and name, though he's overall closer to [[ComicBook/FantasticFour The Thing]] in his role in the family. |
| 157 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'' has Metro Man, defender of Metro City, who is more or less Superman with a few elements of Music/{{Elvis|Presley}}, complete with analogues to Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Lex Luthor. He's a bit of a SmugSuper in order to give more sympathy to the VillainProtagonist. [[spoiler:He's also a downplayed CorruptedCharacterCopy; Metro Man is basically what might happen if Superman went through a mid-life crisis.]] |
| 158 | * ''WesternAnimation/MarvelRisingSecretWarriors'' tweaks ComicBook/AmericaChavez's origin so that her parents put her into an Interdimensional teleporter to save her from their dying planet. In the comics, she left under her own power after her parents had died successfully saving the planet. |
| 159 | [[/folder]] |
| 160 | |
| 161 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 162 | * Neo from ''Film/TheMatrix'' and its sequels is celebrated for "doing the Superman thing", i.e. {{Flight}} and other powers. He's a MessianicArchetype who had a mild-mannered civilian identity, has a committed relationship with a confident dark-haired woman, and his main enemies are not so different from Brainiac and Luthor. |
| 163 | * PlayedForHorror in the film ''Film/BrightBurn''. Brandon shares an origin story with Superman (crash-landed on Earth as a baby and was adopted by [[{{Expy}} expies]] of the Kent family); however, when he discovers he's a superpowered alien from another world, he, ah...has a ''very'' different [[BewareTheSuperman reaction]] to it than what Superman had. |
| 164 | * ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'': |
| 165 | ** Film/{{Thor}} is considered the God of Thunder and beloved by many in the universe, and for a while was considered the strongest Avenger alongside the Hulk and eventually grows even stronger. He's also a FlyingBrick in ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' and ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar''. He's one of the first superheroes due to being a battle-capable warrior in Asgard for over 1000 years. |
| 166 | ** Vision, introduced in ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', is played as a Superman Substitute, [[AdaptationalBadass in contrast to]] his often-destroyed comics counterpart. In terms of personality, he's shown to be TheParagon and [[OnlyTheChosenMayWield worthy of using]] Mjölnir. In terms of powers, he's another Flying Brick (with the SuperToughness amplified due to his [[ArtificialHuman 3D-printed cells]] being laced with [[{{Unobtanium}} vibranium]]) with energy blasts from his forehead gem (a.k.a. the Mind Stone). |
| 167 | ** Film/{{Captain Marvel|2019}} is a female example, an enhanced human who received her powers from a SuperhumanTransfusion using [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens Kree]] blood. (At least, that's what she's told. [[spoiler:It's later revealed that, while she did indeed get a transfusion, her powers actually come from the Tesseract.]]) She is considered the strongest hero in the MCU, able to fly at the speed of light and fire [[EnergyWeapon photon blasts]]. She wears a largely [[PrimaryColorChampion red-and-blue]], spandex-appearing outfit with a ChestInsignia, and her main weakness comes from difficulty controlling her emotions. What's more, Superman's [[CaptainPatriotic connection to American patriotism]] also comes over, as she was once a human woman named Carol Danvers who had been a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, and switches her outfit's colors from Kree green to red and blue once she rediscovers her human past. |
| 168 | ** Ikaris, of the Film/{{Eternals}}, is a {{Human Alien|s}} FlyingBrick with eye beams whose outfit is [[BlueIsHeroic blue]] with gold accents. Despite Ajak being the leader, Ikaris frequently takes point in their clashes with the Deviants and is regarded by the other Eternals as the most powerful of the group. He's also (along with his fellow Eternals) one of the oldest superheroes in the setting, having arrived on Earth seven thousand years ago, predating even Thor. [[spoiler:That's not even getting into TheReveal that they'd been active for millions of years before ''that'']]. Phastos's son even compares him to Superman after meeting him for the first time, having seen him on TV, "wearing a cape and shooting lasers". [[spoiler:Unfortunately for his fellow Eternals, his [[KnightTemplar fanatical devotion to Arishem's will]] gives them cause to BewareTheSuperman.]] |
| 169 | -->'''Ikaris:''' ...I don't wear a cape. |
| 170 | * ''Film/{{Hancock}}'' is Superman if he were a reckless alcoholic who was hated by the public. Although deemed a superhero, he is one of the last survivors of [[Really700YearsOld a race of gods or angels]] rather than an alien. |
| 171 | * G-Girl from ''Film/MySuperExGirlfriend'' is a ClingyJealousGirl who got FlyingBrick powers from a MagicMeteor. |
| 172 | * Played straight in the Creator/ShawBrothers fantasy movie, ''Film/DescendantOfTheSun'', starring Derek Yee as the titular character, a prince who is a magic solar baby from a faraway planet sent to Earth by a benevolent god after his home planet's destruction and subsequently adopted by an old childless carpenter. This protagonist has superior martial art superpowers and skills, and his form of kryptonite are solar eclipses which strip him of his powers. There is also an EvilCounterpart for the protagonist, an {{Expy}} of Zod from the same planet as him. |
| 173 | * The Commander and Jetstream in ''Film/SkyHigh2005'' are together a {{decomposite|Character}} BattleCouple example. Considered the world's mightiest heroes, they are the parents of the protagonist Will Stronghold, who struggles to live up to their towering example (especially Commander's). They wear their [[CaptainPatriotic all-American patriotism]] on their sleeves, their outfits being colored in red, white, and blue and the Commander having once had a {{sidekick}} named the All-American Boy, who now goes by just Mr. Boy. Superman's powers are split between them, with the Commander getting the SuperStrength and Jetstream getting {{flight}}. [[spoiler:By the end of the film, it's shown that Will inherited both of his parents' powers, and will likely grow up into an example in his own right.]] |
| 174 | * The ''Franchise/UltraSeries'' reboot, ''Film/ShinUltraman'', throws in a unique twist to the titular character's resemblance to DC Comics' Superman (a trait more or less averted in previous incarnations, humans simply accepted there's an Ultraman protector helping them deal with {{kaiju}}, simply just because). While previous versions had subtle similarities, the Shin incarnation reconstructs Ultraman's premise where he's an alien who identifies with humanity and protects them from alien threats at all costs. Ultraman's role as mankind's protector is explicitly shown, despite not being raised by humans, starting from the sacrifice of a good human. Initially, Ultraman's interest in humanity is akin to a scientist studying a primitive civilization, but he eventually embraces altruism. Unlike Superman, who sometimes wishes for a normal life, Ultraman desires to fully experience being human, from vulnerabilities to strength of will. Despite different paths, both heroes share an unconditional love for humanity and embody hope and protection. |
| 175 | |
| 176 | |
| 177 | [[/folder]] |
| 178 | |
| 179 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 180 | * ''Literature/CaptainUnderpants'' of course is a hilarious AffectionateParody of Superman originally created by schoolboys George and Harold in an InUniverse comic where Captain Underpants was launched into space by his parents from his dying planet Underpantyworld and arrived on Earth. For fun and to escape punishment, George and Harold hypnotise their mean Principal [[DeanBitterman Mr Krupp]] into thinking he’s Captain Underpants, which quickly proves to be a bad idea when he goes out and fights crime for real to George and Harold’s horror since he’s just a regular guy wearing a curtain and underwear. Although by the third book, Captain Underpants does take Extra-Strength Super Power Juice and becomes a FlyingBrick for real. Unlike Superman, Captain Underpants' alter-ego Mr Krupp is a {{Jerkass}}, but in the AlternateUniverse Krupp is a NiceGuy like Clark Kent, unfortunately his hero persona Captain Underpants in this universe is a BewareTheSuperman baddie. |
| 181 | ** Captain Underpants also has a KryptoniteFactor in the fifth book... because George and Harold mistakingly ''gave him a weakness'': spray starch in one of their comics which becomes bad later when a villainess uses it on him and thanks to the placebo effect, it works. Forcing George and Harold to create a comic that says the power of Underpantyworld [[ItWasWithYouAllAlong was in him all along]] at which HesBack. |
| 182 | * Creator/AlanMoore's ''Illuminations'' devotes much of its time to ''What We Can Know About Thunderman'', the titular character of which is about as thinly-veiled a Superman clone as you'll ever find. It focuses not on the character, but rather his history as a fictional property, dealing with things like corporate buyouts, stolen credit, creator rights, and film adaptations of increasingly variable quality--all of which amount to an embellished version of Superman's real-world history [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed with the names changed]]. |
| 183 | * David Brinkley of ''Literature/{{Superfolks}}'' is a clear one, down to being vulnerable to "Cronkite". |
| 184 | * Ultragod in ''Literature/TheSupervillainySaga'' is the resident equivalent to Superman. His powers more closely resemble Green Lanterns even if he uses them to mostly replicate the standard Flying Brick power-set. He has a Supergirl equivalent in his daughter Ultragoddess, The Observatory as his Fortress of Solitude-esque base of operations, and a reporter wife named Polly Perkins. He's also African American, immortal, and a human astronomer empowered by aliens. |
| 185 | * In ''Literature/SuperheroesAnonymous'', the hero Blaze is a loose one. He has the FlyingBrick power set but also is able to shoot fire (but he becomes vulnerable to damage during this time). Gail Gadot, the world's equivalent to Lois Lane in being captured (to the point of being known as "Hostage Girl") is constantly rescued by him as well. Amusingly, most people in the setting believe she's dating his ClarkKenting secret identity. [[spoiler:She's not and is glad when Blaze finally reveals his feelings for her.]] |
| 186 | * ''Literature/SoonIWillBeInvincible'' has Corefire as the archenemy of Doctor Impossible. The world's greatest superhero ticks most of the usual boxes [[spoiler:including his ability to come back from the dead]]. This version of Superman gained his power in a lab explosion, however, and is implied to be a jerk. Doctor Impossible is an UnreliableNarrator, though. |
| 187 | * ''Literature/TheCloakSociety'' has Lone Star. While he has a bit of the boisterous personality in his first appearance, his DarkAndTroubledPast winds up getting more focus: years ago the titular supervillain team seemingly killed most of his superhero team,[[note]]They were actually sent to [[PhantomZone the Gloom]], but none of the heroes would realize this until the end of the first book[[/note]] and in a horrified fury, he broke his [[TechnicalPacifist no-kill rule]], wiping out most of Cloak's ruling members. [[WhatHaveIDone He's still haunted by this]], but [[BatmanGrabsAGun threatens to do it again]] when Cloak returns with the same weapon. |
| 188 | * ''Literature/{{Hero}}'' by Perry Moore has at least two of them; |
| 189 | ** Uberman has the powers and the role. |
| 190 | ** Justice has the powers derived from the sun, was sent to Earth as a baby from a destroyed planet, and was raised by a couple in Kansas. [[spoiler:Turns out he's trying to destroy the Earth.]] |
| 191 | ** Captain Victory deserves a mention, he had no powers but his secret identity was a Clark Kent expy. He worked as a journalist, [[ClarkKenting disguised his identity with unnecessary glasses]] and was one of Earth's first superheroes. |
| 192 | * Literature/TheReckonersTrilogy: The titular BigBad of the first book, Steelheart, is this of the CorruptedCharacterCopy variety. Steelheart is a [[NighInvulnerability Nigh-Invulnerable]] FlyingBrick [[ComboPlatterPowers with some other powers]], has a archetypical "heroic" appearance-namely [[TheCape a cape that leaves his face exposed]], LanternJawOfJustice and HeroicBuild- and is considered one of, if not ''the'', most powerful [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividuals epics]] in the world, as well as one of the first. Even his codename is similar to Supes secondary title as "the Man of Steel". The main difference is that Steelheart is evil, ruling over Chicago as its paranoid, mass-murdering tyrant. [[spoiler: Also similar to Superman, Steelheart has a KryptoniteFactor, but instead of a alien rock, it's people [[ImNotAfraidOfYou who do not fear him]].]] |
| 193 | * ''Literature/TatuAndPatu'': Hypercyberman the in-universe comic book superhero is beefy in a blue costume and red cape, [[FlyingBrick can fly and has super strength]], and [[KryptoniteFactor has a weakness to a rare element called "rubberium"]]. |
| 194 | * Literature/WhateleyUniverse: The first and most notable superhero in the setting (appearing circa 1930) was Harry Holbrook, The Chicago Champion, who believed himself to be the last Olympian (at least until he got a pair of {{Kid Sidekick}}s who shared his powers). Notably, the SuperheroOrigin story he created for himself was pure nonsense; he was in fact a {{Mutant}} with a variant of the Avatar power, which allowed him to absorb various spirits and use their powers, fusing them into what became known as the Champion Force. He even goes through some of the same stages which Superman did, as he initially could 'only' jump very far, before gaining the power of flight. Interestingly, the Champion of the series is a LegacyCharacter, as the original Champion was able to pass the Champion Force on to his protegé when he died. The current (as of 2006) Champion is the sixth, and there is always another Avatar waiting in the wings (a student at [[SuperheroSchool Whateley Academy]], selected for their sense of justice and honor) to take up the title when the current one falls. |
| 195 | * ''Literature/{{Worm}}'': |
| 196 | ** Scion is a FlyingBrick (among [[SuperpowerLottery many other powers]]) who's adored by all, seen as an icon for other {{Super Hero}}es to aspire to, and [[spoiler:is an alien who lost his family.]] |
| 197 | ** It has also been noted that the [[PowerTrio Triumvirate]] each have aspects of Superman: Alexandria is an aloof FlyingBrick, Legend has [[TheCape the personality]] and is the leader of the Protectorate (with his versatile laser blasts being compared to Superman's heat vision, cold breath, etc), and [[DiscardAndDraw Eidolon]] representing the Silver Age Superman's tendency to [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands randomly pick up new powers]]. (Eidolon is also the strongest superhero in the Protectorate — and, Scion excepted, the world.) |
| 198 | [[/folder]] |
| 199 | |
| 200 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 201 | * The Iraqi live-action comedy series "Akbar Chathab اكبر جذاب (Biggest Liar)" is about an old man named Hooby who tells his friends a made up story about how when he was young he had an adventure that parodies famous stories, one episode parodies Superman (as Super Hooby). |
| 202 | * ''Series/TheBoys2019'' has Homelander, the leader of (the secretly villainous) [[SuperTeam The Seven]]. |
| 203 | * ''Series/DoctorWho'''s 2016 ChristmasEpisode, "[[Recap/DoctorWho2016CSTheReturnOfDoctorMysterio The Return of Doctor Mysterio]]", is a tribute to superhero comics in general and Silver Age Superman in particular, in which the Doctor lands in New York in TheNineties and a boy named Grant Gordon swallows an AppliedPhlebotinum due to a misunderstanding. The wish-granting gemstone gives him superpowers like his comic book heroes. Twenty years later, Gordon became "The Ghost", a vigilante superhero with the abilities of flying, super strength, X-ray vision, and other Superman-like powers, and a Lois Lane-like LovesMyAlterEgo problem with the woman journalist for whom his civilian identity works as a nanny. |
| 204 | * A recurring sketch on ''Series/DonnyAndMarie'' has Donny as Captain Purple, whose chest insignia is a cluster of grapes. Marie appears at least once as a WonderWomanWannabe dressed in red. |
| 205 | * ''Series/JupitersLegacy'' has Sheldon a.k.a. The Utopian and to a lesser extent his brother Walter aka Brainwave. Both are granted flight and super strength and through Sheldon’s [[TheCape Superman-like ideals]] about never killing or interfering with political matters their superhero team Union of Justice successfully protects humanity [[LongLived for a century]]. Things start to go south when the next generation (including Sheldon’s own family) struggles to live up his to rigid expectations and high standards, culminating in the death of a villain at hands of Sheldon’s son Walter and triggers a public debate about whether The Utopian‘s ideals are still relevant in a DarkerAndEdgier era. |
| 206 | * ''Series/RedDwarf'': In "Recap/RedDwarfThePromisedLand", Rimmer [[{{Jerkass}} of all people]] becomes this (along with ComicBook/TheFlash) in his hero persona "The Mighty Light" after upgrading to Diamond Light. He becomes a ridiculously powerful stud with superpowers including flight, laser beams, and super strength and he even gets the trademark Superman-[[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eg3B070WkAATZFB.jpg hair flick.]] [[ButtMonkey Unfortunately for Rimmer]], the excessive power drains his Light Bee and he soon goes back to normal. [[spoiler:However, during the DarkestHour in the finale, Rimmer regains his Diamond Light form and pulls off a BigDamnHeroes, acting like TheCape in the process, although the Smeghead rears his head when Rimmer is begrudgingly forced to give up his powers to save Kryten.]] |
| 207 | * One sketch on ''Series/ShortRibbs'', "Superbilly", has Creator/BillyBarty spoofing George Reeves' portrayal from the 1950s ''Adventures of Superman'' TV series. Creator/PattyMaloney is a Lois Lane expy, who is abducted by a villain that resembles a cross between WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck and [[UsefulNotes/MuammarGaddafi a certain Libyan dictator]]. |
| 208 | * ''Series/TheThundermans'': Hank has the standard FlyingBrick and NighInvulnerability of Superman, an all-blue caped costume with a stylized letter T, and he's been called the world's greatest superhero many times. Personality wise, with his FormerlyFit BigEater habits, and reminiscing of his glory days, he's more in line with [[WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles Mr. Incredible]]. |
| 209 | * ''Series/TheTick2016'' has Superion, a cape-wielding superhero that can fly, has super strength, is extremely tough, shoots lasers out of his eyes, has a freeze breath, and is vulnerable to Big Bismuth. |
| 210 | * ''Series/ElChapulinColorado'' features the titular character's rival, Super Sam. It's mostly on appearance alone, however (having a very similar suit, [[CompositeCharacter albeit mixed with Uncle Sam's beard and hat]]), as Super Sam is an AntiHero who is mostly concerned about pretty girls or getting more money, though El Chapulín's is mostly annoyed by him because he doesn't understand his GratuitousEnglish and thus [[CallingMeALogarithm thinks he's insulting him]]. Interestingly, Superman himself is stated to exist in this show. |
| 211 | [[/folder]] |
| 212 | |
| 213 | [[folder:Podcasts]] |
| 214 | * ''Podcast/RedPandaAdventures'': |
| 215 | ** During World War II, Canada's military uses a formula called Royal Jelly, devised by reformed supervillain Doctor Bumblebee, to try and create super soldiers to use in the war effort. One of the results of this experimentation is the superhero Mr. Amazing, whom the Red Panda describes as an "ubermensch who converts power from the sun". He has the standard FlyingBrick powerset, fires energy beams, and his costume is described as having a stylized letter A on it. His big weakness is ultimately that his power is finite; because Royal Jelly's reactions have been varying degrees of unstable, the scientists who gave Mr. Amazing his abilities tried capping the power to keep them from going out of control. This means he only has so much power to draw from and, once it's used, he'll die. He does exactly that saving the Red Panda from a Nazi-made ubermensch. |
| 216 | ** Towards the end of the series, another Royal Jelly-made FlyingBrick is the Black Eagle. In his case, the scientists went for a slow burn. Giving him treatments designed so that his powers would emerge slowly over time, giving his body time to acclimate to them. This worked but took so long that the scientists deemed the experiment a failure and made the Eagle their company clerk for the remainder of the war. The Black Eagle's powers didn't emerge until the war was over and he'd gone home, at which point he started covertly helping his superhero idol the Red Panda before becoming his formal successor as Toronto's protector. In his civilian identity of [[spoiler:Harry Kelly, an agent of the Red Panda's since childhood]], he's a reporter for one of Toronto's biggest newspapers, has a female reporter rival with an alliterative name, and his highlight episode before the series GrandFinale is against a MadScientist in a power suit ranting about how all should BewareTheSuperman. That episode also describes him as [[ClarkKenting wearing glasses and said reporter rival calling him clumsy]]. |
| 217 | [[/folder]] |
| 218 | |
| 219 | [[folder:Puppet Shows]] |
| 220 | * On ''Series/SesameStreet'', Grover's superhero alter ego, Super Grover, is an obvious parody of Superman. As part of his outfit, [[BroughtToYouByTheLetterS he wears a lightning bolt with a letter G on his chest]]. |
| 221 | [[/folder]] |
| 222 | |
| 223 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 224 | * ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'': |
| 225 | ** The core book, and later the ''Meta-4'' setting, had Protonik, who fits most of the requirements (first superhero, TheCape, FlyingBrick, vision powers) with two twists. Firstly he started out as a CaptainPatriotic SuperSoldier, before later announcing he was a citizen of the world. Secondly, he was a ''Russian'' Captain Patriotic Super Soldier, during the Cold War. |
| 226 | ** The ''TabletopGame/FreedomCity'' setting has (or rather, ''had'') Mark Leeds, the Centurion, who fitted almost exactly, only with the addition of an Ancient Rome theme. The first superhero (debuting in, yes, 1938) and leader of the premier superhero teams of the Golden, Silver, and Dark Ages, he died in battle with the setting's Darkseid expy prior to the game's time period. Unlike Superman, he stayed that way. He has more recently been replaced by his daughter from an alternate timeline, Centuria, who's similar to ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}. |
| 227 | *** There's also his fellow hero Captain Thunder who has elements of [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] with parts of the origin story of [[ComicBook/GreenLantern Hal Jordan]]. |
| 228 | *** In the Lockdown sourcebook there's a disgraced African American hero called the Golden Marvel who was unfairly imprisoned. Not long after an eventual presidential pardon, he transferred his powers to his grandson, who became NGM, the New Golden Marvel and joined the teenage superhero team called the Next Gen. |
| 229 | ** The ''Paragons'' setting has Patriot, who is a CaptainPatriotic take on the concept, with a dark secret that [[DependingOnTheWriter the game master is free to define]]. There's also Luminary, an amnesiac hero with the typical FlyingBrick power set and the added twist of also having [[LightEmUp light-manipulation powers]]; after [[ShoutOut rescuing a]] [[Film/SupermanTheMovie passenger plane]], he was recruited as the leader and [[TheFace the poster boy]] of [[SuperTeam Vanguard Mission Team Alpha]]. |
| 230 | ** The ''TabletopGame/HaltEvilDoer'' setting has two. Anthony Atlas/Antaeus/Titan Man (the latter being the name the press gave him) was the 1940s non-flying brick with powers similar to the Golden Age Superman. Mikhail/Divinos is the "classic" Superman, except that he arrived on Earth as an adult, and as a result sometimes comes across as distant from humans, a bit more like the Martian Manhunter. |
| 231 | ** One of the default character archetypes in 3rd Edition is essentially a basic one of these, named the Paragon - a FlyingBrick whose outfit is a spandex suit and a cape, with the extra of being able to survive in space. |
| 232 | * ''TabletopGame/SilverAgeSentinels'' has the Sentinel, who is also a CaptainPatriotic type hero, similar to [[VideoGame/CityOfHeroes Statesman]] mentioned below. |
| 233 | * ''ICONS Superpowered Roleplaying'' has the CaptainPatriotic themed pastiche All-Star, and his sidekick All-American Girl who fulfills the same concepts as ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}. |
| 234 | * The card game ''TabletopGame/SentinelsOfTheMultiverse'' has Legacy serving the same basic role as Superman and his daughter, Young Legacy or Beacon, serving as the equivalent to ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}. |
| 235 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Aberrant}}'' has Caestus Pax, who along with the various other [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructive]] elements takes the concept in a somewhat darker direction, with fascist leanings and a tendency towards being kind of an [[{{Superdickery}} utter]] [[SmugSuper dick]]. |
| 236 | * Several of Brian Rogers's articles on superhero roleplaying in ''Pyramid'' Vol.2 feature worked examples of a Justice League expy led by Omniman. The article "A League of Your Own" introduces his supporting cast, including his sister Omnilass and his dog, Omnipup. The article "All Things to Everyone" uses his fictional history to track how superhero settings vary on two axes: Fantastic to Realistic and Adventure to Wonder. This reveals that Omniman has a similar origin to Supreme (ordinary kid affected by a meteor) and has him eventually learn the Startling Truth about the meteor and how his powers actually ''work''. |
| 237 | * The "Supertoon" setting in ''TabletopGame/{{Toon}}''s ''Tooniversal Tour Guide" has Ultrapig, the classic example of the Strong-Jawed Hero character type. |
| 238 | * [[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/228025/Powers-UnlimitedR-Three-for-Heroes-UnlimitedTM-2nd-Edition?src=also_purchased The cover]] for the ''TabletopGame/HeroesUnlimited'' book "Powers Unlimited 3" by Creator/PalladiumBooks features a clear Superman homage, though this character appears to generate energy blasts from his hands. |
| 239 | [[/folder]] |
| 240 | |
| 241 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 242 | * ''VideoGame/Caravaneer2'': The Man of Zinc is an obvious expy of ComicBook/{{Superman}}. According to [[AllHailTheGreatGodMickey the Church of the Man of Zinc]], he used his godlike powers to fight for good, gives moral lessons to mankind to be good and condemn evil deeds, and [[ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman died in his superhero duty to protect humanity, but returned]]. |
| 243 | * The most prominent hero of ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' is Statesman, who's usually described as a mix of Superman and ComicBook/CaptainAmerica. His actual origin is a bit closer to [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]], though. |
| 244 | ** Players could easily make their own supermen by creating either a Brute or Tanker (offensively and defensively focused characters, respectively, which shared power options) and giving them the defensive power Invulnerability and the offensive power Super Strength. As they leveled up, Power Pools gave the character the grab-bag of random powers. Options included Flight, Super Speed, Super Jumping, Energy Control (a non-specific "energy" that was contained/generated within the character and could form the iconic eye lasers), Earth Mastery, Artic Mastery, and Pyre Mastery |
| 245 | * Destroyman from ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'' is inspired by Superman as he has a cape and similar superpowers. |
| 246 | * Kamoshidaman is a blatant one in ''VideoGame/PersonaQ2NewCinemaLabyrinth''. However, he only ''looks'' like TheCape, and in reality, he's a VillainWithGoodPublicity much like his [[VideoGame/Persona5 real-world counterpart]], and he's an InUniverse DesignatedHero. |
| 247 | * Super Brainz of ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombiesGardenWarfare 2'' and ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombiesHeroes''. He just seems like a stock parody of TheCape at first, being a FlyingBrick with a mostly different powerset than Superman and totally different origins.[[note]]He was either created in a lab or shot with a super-empowering ray, [[MultipleChoicePast depending on which game he's in]].[[/note]] However, he has his own Fortress of Solitude and dons a [[ClarkKenting Clark Kent-esque]] disguise. |
| 248 | * Introduced in ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet'', the Pokémon Palafin is a dolphin styled after comic book superheroes in the vein of Superman (presumably as an allusion to real life accounts of dolphins rescuing people from drowning). [[TailfinWalking Standing on its tail on land]], it effects a HeroicBuild with a shield-shaped insignia on its chest, and uses water to form gloved fists over its flippers and a high cape collar around the back of its neck. It assumes the classic UpUpAndAway pose upon switching in and when attacking. Moreover, it evolves from Finizen (effectively its civilian identity) at level 38, likely a reference to Superman's first ''Action Comics'' appearance in 1938. |
| 249 | * Konami Man in ''VideoGame/RoadFighter'' shows up whenever a player drives to a certain point in the level without crashing. He is often mistaken by players for Superman and was perhaps inspired by him, but he eventually evolved into a superhero mascot character in his own right rather than just a mere Superman expy. |
| 250 | * ''VideoGame/{{Sunman}}'' was [[WhatCouldHaveBeen originally meant to ''be'' a Superman game]], but Creator/{{Sunsoft}} didn't have the license. As such, the title character became a Superman Substitute, with a few alterations (color scheme, a mask) to differentiate him from the Man of Steel. For some reason, he only uses the EyeBeams in one level. |
| 251 | [[/folder]] |
| 252 | |
| 253 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 254 | * In the superhero arc of ''Webcomic/ArthurKingOfTimeAndSpace'', Arthur is the leader of the Table of Justice as Kingman. He has some similarity to Billy Batson, getting his powers from the magic word "ACRONYM!", but beyond that, he's Clark all the way: he wears glasses in his secret identity; he works for the Daily Sword in Camelotopolis as a mild-mannered reporter (as does Guenevere, who strongly suspects Arthur and Kingman are one and the same); he has a [[AnimalSuperhero superpet]] (Cabal the Kingdog) and so on. |
| 255 | * Omegaman from ''Webcomic/EnnuiGo'' not only takes plenty of cues from the Man of Steel (i.e. His secret identity is a newspaper reporter, has his own version of Kryptonite called "Alphasite", started his hero career at a young age as "Kid Omega", etc.), but he even explicitly considers Superman to be an inspiration for his heroic career. |
| 256 | * ''Webcomic/{{Housepets}}'': Spot (Superdog) is a ShowWithinAShow series of comics penned by Peanut, about a FlyingBrick dog superhero in a red cape used to riff on Golden Age Superman comics. |
| 257 | * The first page of ''Webcomic/KongTower'' introduces Sergeant Omega, whose wavering competence due to lack of RequiredSecondaryPowers, KryptoniteIsEverywhere, and general [[IdiotBall stupidity]] is a recurring joke. |
| 258 | * ''Webcomic/LoveAndCapes'' focuses on the love between Abby Tennyson and one of these, named Crusader. |
| 259 | [[/folder]] |
| 260 | |
| 261 | [[folder:Web Video]] |
| 262 | * Season 3 of ''WebVideo/TheMonumentMythos'' has The Last Son Of Alcatraz, a mysterious entity who [[spoiler:escaped the previous universe's destruction]] and who came to the Nixonverse with otherworldly powers that heavily resemble the Man Of Steel's, including the ability to fly and SuperStrength. The video where he first appears in even uses old audio from the ''Radio/TheAdventuresOfSuperman'' radio show to describe him and his powers. Unlike Superman however, he uses his powers to interfere in UsefulNotes/TheKoreanWar where he lessens U.S. casualties and brings peace to Korea without bloodshed. [[spoiler:This pisses off the [[EvilStatesOfAmerica United States]] so badly that they ''nuke him'' and brainwash him into becoming their superweapon.]] |
| 263 | [[/folder]] |
| 264 | |
| 265 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 266 | * In ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'', Drake Mallard is meant to be a BatmanParody, but Gizmoduck, the publicly adored superhero who is seen as more powerful and capable and dresses in brighter costumes, is meant to be Superman's stand-in. Their dynamic resembles the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse version of World's Finest. |
| 267 | * ''WesternAnimation/MightyMouse'' is a pretty direct one, being basically "Superman as a FunnyAnimal". |
| 268 | * ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'''s Captain Hero is more or less Superman as a ComedicSociopath. |
| 269 | * ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': |
| 270 | ** The short known as "Super-Rabbit" is a spoof of the Fleischer Superman shorts, starring WesternAnimation/BugsBunny in an ill-fitting Superman costume, getting his powers from specially treated carrots. When his carrots fall into the hands of his enemies, he decides to become "[[TheRealHeroes a real superman]]" - [[WartimeCartoon a U.S. Marine.]] |
| 271 | ** Another short, titled "WesternAnimation/StuporDuck", has WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck in the role of Cluck Trent, a reporter who becomes Stupor Duck in order to stop Aardvark Ratnik from threatening the world. However, Ratnik is simply a fictional villain from a soap opera Trent's boss was watching and that Trent mistook as being real. HilarityEnsues. |
| 272 | ** In "Fast and Furry-ous," director Chuck Jones described the coyote wearing a superhero outfit as animator Ken Harris in a Batman costume. |
| 273 | ** ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow'' revived the idea of Bugs Bunny playing the role of a Superman parody with an episode also called "Super Rabbit". Said episode combined various elements from the comics, ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'' and its [[Film/SupermanII first sequel]], and ''Film/ManOfSteel''. In it, Bugs as Super Rabbit fought a few other fellow Looney Tunes playing the roles of various Superman villains. |
| 274 | * ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'': |
| 275 | ** The episode "[=SuperBabs=]" had Babs Bunny as the titular character fighting Montana Max in the role of '[[ComicBook/LexLuthor Wex Wuthor]]'. |
| 276 | ** In "The Just-Us League of Supertoons", Batduck (Plucky Duck) and Decoy (Hamton J. Pig) tried to join the eponymous league, which featured Buster Bunny as Superbun. |
| 277 | * Captain Sunshine of ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'' is a mix of several heroes, but he's clearly intended to be Superman at first glance, with his sunlight-fueled powers, brightly colored caped costume, and [[ClarkKenting obvious secret identity]]. In a bit of a GeniusBonus, his secret identity is a newscaster, something Clark Kent became for a few years in the 1980s after writers decided that his being a reporter [[TheArtifact was a bit dated]] (and [[StatusQuoIsGod changed back from it]] after they realized how badly it would stretch the limits of ClarkKenting). |
| 278 | * In ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleRascals'' episode "The Zero Hero", Darla's favorite superhero, Captain Muscles, appears to pastiche George Reeves' portrayal of Superman, the main differences being that he has blond hair and an M insignia on his chest. |
| 279 | * In the ''WesternAnimation/MartinMorning'' episode "[[MartinMorningS01E03SuperMartin Super Martin]]", Martin [[JustWokeUpThatWay wakes up as]] a muscular caped superhero with the powers of {{flight}} and SuperStrength and [[BroughtToYouByTheLetterS his initial on the front of]] his red, yellow, and blue costume. |
| 280 | * Titanium Rex from ''WesternAnimation/{{Supermansion}}'' is essentially a geriatric Superman past his prime, sharing not only the same role as the resident leader of the local SuperTeam, but even a similar backstory of being an outsider (though Rex came from an [[HollowEarth underground empire]] as an adult rather than from space as an infant). |
| 281 | * ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'': Major Man from the episode "[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS1E7MajorCompetitionMrMojosRising Major Competition]]", who wins over the people of Townsville and appears to make the girls redundant. However, it turns out that he [[EngineeredHeroics deliberately causes problems so he can fix them]], and when faced with a threat he ''didn't'' create, he's totally helpless. |
| 282 | * Mighty Man from the forgotten Mighty Man and Yukk series. His identity is Bruce Wayne-like but he has the power of flight, strength, and many other powers. |
| 283 | * Ultimos, a minor character in the ''Franchise/Ben10'' series, has all of the major trappings, powers, and attitudes of a Superman stand-in. His weakness is a compound that can be found in chocolate, which will weaken him severely if he consumes it. |
| 284 | * "Superkatt" was a 1949 Columbia cartoon about a cat who whips up a superhero get-up and id to fool a mouse he's chasing. |
| 285 | * Ralph Bakshi created ''WesternAnimation/TheMightyHeroes'' for Terrytoons and CBS. Strongman was the most direct of the heroes as the others had individual idiosyncrasies that matched their brands. |
| 286 | * WesternAnimation/CaptainSturdy is a very clear Superman pastiche, with the short "The Originals" even revealing that he's held onto the shrunken city of Maldor until he can restore its citizens to normal size, a nod to Superman having the bottled city of Kandor as one of the few remnants of his home planet Krypton in his possession. |
| 287 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'': |
| 288 | ** The Crimson Chin is a combined parody of both Superman and Batman in that he combines multiple aspects of both characters and one from Spider-Man in his origin of being bitten by a Radioactive person. The most notable attributes borrowed from Superman include [[ClarkKenting relying on little more than a pair of glasses to protect his secret identity]], working at a news company with "Daily" in its name, and at one point wondering if his powers not working is because of some "Chintonite" being nearby. The ''Magazine/NickelodeonMagazine'' comic story ''Untold Tales from the Big Superhero Wish'' even reveals that the Chin originally had a similar origin of being sent to Earth as an infant from a dying alien planet before a lawsuit (in-universe) necessitated changing his origin to what was established in the cartoon. |
| 289 | ** "Power Pals" has Timmy Turner wish he had "super friends", which summons a pastiche of the Justice League as depicted in ''WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}}''. The Superman ersatz is named Super Sam, who essentially looks like Superman with the blue parts of the costume colored white and his S-insignia replaced by a medallion with two S's on it, one of which is reversed. Supes' heat vision is also parodied by Super Sam having the power of "sweet vision", which he uses to make an ice cream cone appear in a little girl's hand. |
| 290 | ** "Chip off the Old Chip" shows Timmy Turner becoming a superhero in a red and blue costume with a cape and black hair in a spit curl during the music video sequence of Chip Skylark's song "Find Your Voice". |
| 291 | ** Flappy Bob's origin in "WesternAnimation/SchoolsOutTheMusical" is a nod to Superman. When their train was about to go off a cliff, they put baby Bob into a rocket which landed in a field. |
| 292 | ** "WesternAnimation/{{Wishology}}" gives us Turbo Thunder. TheChosenOne who was sent into space as a child when his homeworld became a SacrificialPlanet to The Darkness. |
| 293 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' episode "Captain Steel Saves the Day" reveals that Ray Stantz' favorite superhero is Captain Steel, who has a considerable number of similarities to Superman, such as wearing a blue, red, and yellow costume with a cape, having most of his powers and his archenemy Dr. Destructo being a [[BaldOfEvil balding]] MadScientist with yellow PoweredArmor similar to what Lex Luthor wore in the comics at the time. |
| 294 | * The ''WesternAnimation/GarbagePailKidsCartoon'' had a movie parody segment titled "Supernerd", consisting of a spoof of ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'' where a bespectacled and acne-ridden geek with the secret identity of Nat Nerd has to thwart his nemesis Lex Lumpy's scheme of using a giant robot resembling Elvis Presley to steal candy, eventually succeeding by telling on Lumpy to his mother. |
| 295 | * ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003'' has Silver Sentry, the Superman {{expy}} based in New York City, and a special friend and occasional partner of Michelangelo. |
| 296 | * In ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', Major Glory is TheCape and leader of the Justice Friends. He has Superman's general set of powers, but is also a CompositeCharacter of the Man of Steel and ComicBook/CaptainAmerica. |
| 297 | * ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': The two-part episode "Legends" has the Justice League enter another dimension where they assist a hero team called the Justice Guild, who are pastiches of the Justice League's Golden Age precursors the Justice Society. One member of the Guild is Tom Turbine, who, in addition to being a CompositeCharacter of Hourman and the Golden Age Atom Al Pratt, takes a bit after Golden Age Superman due to being a well-built man with chiseled features and a spit curl as well as having a T insignia on his chest like Superman does an S insignia. He even has a similar power set of being very strong and able to jump very high, when Superman in the comics only had flight, ice breath and other powers later on (some of which were [[RetCanon incorporated into the comics canon after use in adaptations]]). |
| 298 | [[/folder]] |
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