Warning! Spoilers ahead for Superman #1!Thanks to Lex Luthor's newest media crusade, Superman's DC Animated Universe adventures have taken on a new role in his canon. With Clark Kent being handed the keys to LexCorp, he's discovering the new role his cartoon is now playing.
In Superman #1 by Joshua Williamson and Jamal Campbell, the Man of Steel discovers from Mercy Graves that with Lex in prison, he’s officially handing over control of LexCorp to Superman. Now dubbed ‘SuperCorp’, Mery tells Superman that everything in the building is to help Superman keep Metropolis safe. Graves even plays an introductory video that emulates the style of the DCAU.
Naturally, of course, Lex's agenda is driven by his ego - in the words of Joshua Williamson "he believes that he can fix Superman — he can make a better Superman... Lex saying, ‘Here’s my toys; this is how they make you better.'" In doing so, Lex actually changes Superman’s canon, drawing from the DCAU for inspiration and giving certain elements new life in Superman’s continuity. Mercy walks Superman through the building and shows off an impressive array of tools now at Superman’s disposal. In the nerve center of the building, Graves reveals that Superman even has a new set of armors to help him for various missions. Many of the armors seem to be styled after suits Clark wore at various points in DCAU programs such as Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League.
Superman's New Armors Are DCAU Easter Eggs
It’s a curious gift that Superman’s nemesis has given him. But fans of the DCAU are almost certain to recognize the many suits featured in the hero's new armory. In the display in Superman's lab, fans can easily notice several callbacks to Superman: The Animated Series such as his underwater suit, his space suit and his special Anti-Kryptonite suit. There's also a costume similar to the one he wears in the future in Batman Beyond's timeline. The display also has references to other parts of Superman's extended mythos such as a DCEU Kryptonian suit as well as his Mother Box-designed costume from Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey.
Seeing so many references to Superman’s animated adventures and other non-canonical stories does raise a few questions. Are all these costumes featured at SuperCorp actual costumes Clark has worn at various points in his history, or are they all just fun little winks and nods to Superman’s past? The existence of the Hunter/Prey costume seems to imply the former, but the other suits are a bit questionable. However, between the armor display and Lex's introductory video, Superman: The Animated Series has found a new, if uncertain, place in Superman's current continuity.
Superman's Cartoon Adventures are Officially DC Canon
It’s always a treat to see elements pulled from wider parts of the franchise and made part of Superman’s actual continuity. Seeing a familiar art style like one based off the DCAU or costumes plucked directly out of the animated shows is a great way to engage with readers who got their start with the character through his extended adventures in other media. While the role these armors play in Clark’s new direction is unknown for now, it’s safe to say that in one way or another, Superman’s animated adventures are 100% canon in the DC Universe.
Source: AIPTComics
