Warning! Spoilers ahead for Future State Superman: Worlds of War #1 from Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Mikel Janín
In the latest addition to DC's new Superman of Metropolis and the rest of the world. The majority of the planet doesn't know where the first Superman went, leaving a void in their lives and motivating many to perceive Kal-El as a god to be worshipped. However, many have come to wrong conclusions about Superman in the DC Universe's future, believing that it was purely his powers that made him super and nothing more. By the end of Future State Superman: Worlds of War #1, the Man of Steel proves that argument to be very much false.
Due to the first Superman's absence, Clark Kent's hometown of Smallville has essentially been turned into the real life Roswell near Area 51. Smallville has been dubbed as a new Krypton, featuring a plethora of Superman-themed tourist attractions and merchandise in order to capitalize on the nostalgia. However, an entire church has been formed, known as the Church of Krypton, where people have gathered together in remembrance of Superman's actions, placing him on a pedestal as some kind of god. One woman does try to contradict these notions by saying that none of their beliefs would be what Clark would want, but she's countered with the belief that the only reason Superman was super was because of his powers and that's why he always won.
However, even if it's unknown to the assembled masses in Smallville, Superman is right in the middle of wrecking that entire argument in Future State Superman: Worlds of War #1 from writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson with art by Mikel Janín. This is because the issue ends with Superman on Mongul's hellish planet of War World, seemingly forced to fight in one of his gladiatorial pits...without his powers. However, Superman isn't giving up, determined to fight and protect others in the arena from the more vicious contenders.
While Mongul and the people featured in Smallville may see Superman as nothing without his powers, it seems as though the Man of Steel is about to prove that theres's still a whole lot left when said powers are taken away. He still has a warrior spirit and the heart of a hero with sword and shield in hand, ready to die for the beings who are unable to protect themselves. That's what being Superman is all about. Just like the woman says in the issue, Superman isn't Superman because of what he can do, Superman is Superman because of who he is and the underlying character at his core.
All in all, the next issue seems to promise a bloody brawl for Clark Kent, though hopefully more details will be revealed as to how Superman got into this situation in the first place. While it's unfortunate Superman is unable to return to Earth, it doesn't look like he's going to stop fighting for truth and justice any time soon as Future State continues from DC Comics.
