Ultraman: Superman’s Dark Reflection
Soon to appear in the new Superman movie, Ultraman isn’t an alien from a Japanese TV show. He’s Superman’s evil doppelgänger.
In the multiverse of DC Comics, everything is possible. Including the chilling counterpoint to the Man of Steel. Ultraman has all Superman’s powers and none of Superman’s goodness. On the Earth inhabited by Ultraman, right is wrong and evil is good. Ultraman is more than just a twisted mirror of Superman; he’s the ruthless, tyrannical leader of the Crime Syndicate, a team of villains that serve as malevolent counterparts to the Justice League. With his immense power and cruel moral code, Ultraman is a terrifying villain, embodying the nightmare of what Superman could have become without his Kansas upbringing or unwavering sense of justice.
First Appearance
Ultraman has been around for longer than you might think. First appearing in 1964, he represents the widening scope of DC comics interest in different versions of well known characters. After Earth-One and as Earth-Two contained the Gold and Silver Age superheroes, Earth-Three is the home of the villainous alternatives to DC’s superheroes. Initially involved in the “Crisis on Earth-Three” saga, Ultraman became a mainstay of future Crisis storylines, appearing in Crisis on Infinite Earths, Infinite Crisis and Final Crisis.
Living in the parallel universe of Earth-Three, Ultraman is a dictator and the most powerful member of the Crime Syndicate of America. Consisting of Ultraman (Superman), Owlman (Batman), Superwoman (Wonder Woman), Johnny Quick (The Flash), and Power Ring (Green Lantern), the Crime Syndicate of America are a criminal organisation (as the name suggestions). In later stories the Syndicate rule the world, allowing governments to operate at their discretion.
A Twisted Superman
From the beginning, Ultraman was portrayed as the ultimate perversion of Superman’s ideals. While Superman’s strength stems from Earth’s yellow sun, Ultraman gains new powers every time he's exposed to Kryptonite, a clever inversion of his heroic counterpart’s weakness. In most versions of Ultraman’s origin, he is a Kryptonian like Superman, but his morality is shaped by a brutal upbringing and corrupt environment. His version of Krypton was a violent, fascist society, and upon arriving on Earth-Three, he quickly asserta dominance rather than seeking to protect its people.
In some versions, his rocket didn’t land in Kansas, but was instead recovered by criminals or abusive caretakers, solidifying his descent into tyranny. Ultraman believes in strength as the only form of justice. Unlike Superman, who believes in lifting others up, Ultraman believes in crushing those beneath him. This makes him not only dangerous but ideologically opposed to everything Superman represents.
The Crime Syndicate
As leader of the Crime Syndicate, Ultraman rules Earth-Three through fear and violence. Each member of the Syndicate is an inversion of a Justice League hero, and together they form a despotic ruling class. Ultraman’s relationship with his teammates—particularly Superwoman—adds layers of intrigue and dysfunction to the group.
Superwoman, a cruel version of Wonder Woman, is often depicted as Ultraman’s lover, though she frequently betrays him, sometimes conspiring with Owlman. This love triangle creates ongoing tension and makes the Crime Syndicate less a united front and more a volatile cabal of superpowered egos.
In the Forever Evil storyline, written by Geoff Johns, the Crime Syndicate invades Prime Earth after their own world is destroyed. Ultraman emerges as a central figure in the event, showcasing his brutal tactics—blocking out the sun to weaken Superman and crushing Kryptonite to increase his own power. His dictatorship over Earth’s villains is short-lived, however, as betrayals within the Syndicate and opposition from Lex Luthor and Batman bring him down.
The Nightmare of What Could Be
Where Superman inspires hope, Ultraman rules with fear. Where Superman believes in the good of humanity, Ultraman believes humanity must be controlled. But Ultraman is more than just “evil Superman.” He is a dark exploration of power unchecked, morality inverted, and heroism corrupted. Whether he’s ruling Metropolis with an iron fist, battling Superman across dimensions, or leading a cabal of tyrants in the Crime Syndicate, Ultraman remains a symbol of what Superman could become—if he ever stopped caring about truth, justice, and the hope he inspires.