Warning! SPOILERS for Superman and Lois season 2, episode 10.
After a season full of teasing, the Bizarro World of first appearance of Bizarro Superman. While earlier episodes of Superman and Lois season 2 had alluded to just how different this alternate dimension was, the hints undersold just how divergent this reality was from the familiar Arrowverse.
The concept of Bizarro World first appeared in Action Comics #263 in April 1960, when the Bizarro Superman used the same strange ray which created him and a bizarre clone of Lois Lane to populate a dead planet with more Bizarro clones. This concept was later modified for the modern DC Comics multiverse, with Bizarro Superman now being the guardian of the twisted Earth-29 in an alternate universe. The Arrowverse Bizarro World is based on the modern comics, being formally known as Inverse World and located in another reality.
The Superman and Lois episode "Bizarros in a Bizarro World" followed Superman as he journeyed to Inverse World in pursuit of cult leader Ally Allston. While the episode continued the main story of Superman and Lois season 2 and the hunt for two pendants that could give god-like powers to the people who merged them, it also included a number of flashbacks detailing the history of Bizarro Superman and his family. These flashbacks highlighted the many ways in which Bizarro World and Earth-Prime were different from one another.
Kryptonite Has The Opposite Effects
Upon emerging through the portal to Bizzaro World, Superman found himself in the Shuster Mines of that Earth. surrounded by Green Kryptonite. This was the exact opposite of the Shuster Mines on Earth-Prime, whose deepest caverns under Smallville were full of X-Kryptonite. The effects of the Kryptonite variants were also reversed, with X-Kryptonite weakening the Kryptonians of Bizarro World while Green Kryptonite enhanced their abilities and gave powers to ordinary humans.
Curiously, the Green Kryptonite of Bizarro World didn't seem to have any effect on Superman. This could be a nod to the comics, where the Kryptonite of one Earth could not be used against the Kryptonians of alternate realities. However, this would seemingly conflict with how Bizzaro Superman was killed with the X-Kryptonite of Earth-Prime. It's easiest to presume that the cavern was big enough that Superman was able to keep his distance from Arrowverse's Green Kryptonite and made his escape before it overwhelmed him.
The Cosmology of Bizzaro World
Shortly after Superman arrived in the Inverse World, it was made apparent that this world had drastically different physical laws than the universe of Earth-Prime. As Superman flew above the Bizarro Earth to get his bearings, he realized that not only was the sun of Inverse World red but that it was also a perfect cube. He then looked down and realized that Bizarro Earth was also cube-shaped rather than spherical, just like in the classic Superman comics depicting Bizarro World.
The Bizarro Fortress of Solitude Is A Museum
Recalling that Bizarro Superman had gone to the site of his Fortress of Solitude on Earth-Prime seeking shelter, Superman decided to check the same location on Bizarro World. Not only was the Bizarro Superman's Fortress still intact and maintained by a hologram of his mother, Lara Lor-Van, but it had been turned into a museum detailing Bizarro Superman's life. The hologramatic displays contained a number of Easter eggs from the Superman comics, including a model of the Bottle City of Kandor and the giant arrow-shaped key Superman once used to lock the Fortress of Solitude.
A Different Super Son Inherited Bizarro Superman's Powers
Superman is ed by the Bizarro World version of Jonathan Kent, Jon-El, who disassembles the Lara hologram and says they have to get moving. Superman is astonished to learn that, in this reality, it was Bizarro Jonathan who inherited his powers rather than the Bizarro Jordan. Jon-El's costume is another comic book Easter egg, based on the design of the 1990's Superboy, Conner Kent.
Bizarro Ally Allston Is Much More Powerful
Upon reaching the Smallville farm, Jon-El explained how the Ally Allston of Bizzaro World was much more successful than her Earth-Prime counterpart. A television broadcast showed how Allston had taken control of Bizarro World's media and how her cult had acquired over four billion followers. Later, Bizarro Lois Lane discussed how Allston's empire had recruited "political agitators, ex-military,(and) people with powers" in her rise to the top.
Bizarro Superman Was A Celebrity With No Secret Identity
Perhaps the biggest difference between Bizarro Superman and his Earth-Prime counterpart is that the Kal-El of Bizarro World reveled in his celebrity status. The flashbacks show how Bizarro Superman frequented gala events and walked the red carpet at awards shows. It seems that Bizarro Superman did not benefit from the wholesome upbringing that Jonathan and Martha Kent gave Clark Kent and that he never developed Superman's humility as a result.
Hair Apparent
One of the subtler differences of Bizarro World was that everyone had different hairstyles than their Earth-Prime counterparts. For example, Jordan Kent of Earth-Prime had curly hair he let grow long, while Jordan El of Bizarro World had straight hair in an emo style. Lois Lane's hair also acted as an Easter egg, with actress Elizabeth Tulloch donning a series of wigs resembling various hairstyles actress Margot Kidder had when she played Lois Lane in the Superman movies.
The Father/Son Conflict
Bizarro Superman also had a troubled relationship with his son, but for the opposite reason Clark Kent had problems with his version of Jonathan. The story of Superman and Lois season 2 found a wedge growing between Clark and Jonathan, as Jon felt left-out as his father and brother bonded while honing Jordan's awakening superpowers. In Bizarro World, Jon-El came to resent Kal-El for only seeing him as an extension of himself and an heir apparent to the Superman brand rather than as an individual who could accomplish great things on his own.
Bizarro Superman's Drug Problem Ended His Marriage
Beyond coming into conflict with his superpowered son, Bizarro Superman was also revealed to have separated from his version of Lois Lane. While Bizarro Lois was annoyed by her husband's continually broken promises to cut back on public appearances to focus on their family, the final straw was Lois' discovery that Kal-El had been using Kryptonite to boost his powers, in the same way Earthlings on Earth-Prime used X-Kryptonite as a performance enhancer. The segment focused on Bizarro Lois Lane opened with a flashback to the explosive argument that ended their marriage.
General Lane Never Trusted Bizarro Superman
After leaving her husband, Bizarro Lois Lane went to stay with her father, General Sam Lane, who was quick to remind her that he had never trusted Kal-El. This is quite the contrast from Earth-Prime, where Sam Lane was an ally of Superman who respected his desire to operate independently of the US Military. Ironically, the Bizarro General Lane is much more like his comic book counterpart, who was a violent xenophobe who didn't trust Superman.
Bizarro Chrissy Beppo Runs A Much Bigger Newspaper
On Earth-Prime, Chrissy Beppo managed Smallville's independent newspaper, The Smallville Gazette. Apart from having a different punky black-and-red hairdo, Bizarro Chrissy Beppo is also revealed to command a much larger staff as the editor-in-chief of The Daily Smallville Deadline. This staff apparently includes the Bizarro version of reporter James Olsen, whom Beppo called regarding "that Luthor piece" before she encountered the Earth-Prime version of Lt. General Mitch Anderson in Superman and Lois season 2, episode 10, "Bizarros in a Bizarro World."
Jerry Seinfeld Is The President of Bizarro World
One of the more random revelations regarding Bizarro World is that comedian Jerry Seinfeld apparently gave up comedy to go into politics and was eventually elected President of the United States. He is also said to be good friends with Bizarro Superman and one of Jon-El's complaints about his father is that he spent more time going on trips with President Seinfeld than spending time with his family up until Jon-El manifested his powers. Beyond being a shout-out to one of Superman's most famous fans, the line is also a reference to a series of short films based around Superman and Jerry Seinfeld being best friends, directed by Barry Levinson as part of an advertising campaign for American Express.
Bizarro Tal-Rho and Bizarro Kal-El Were Truly Brothers
While the circumstances of Bizarro Tal-Rho's upbringing are not revealed, it is apparent that he avoided the abusive life than his Earth-Prime counterpart endured and had a much more positive view of humanity as a result. He also had a much better relationship with his version of Kal-El, enjoying true brotherly love and respect for his half-brother. This version of Tal-Rho was also apparently a respected superhero and celebrity, who was identified as the World's Most Eligible Bachelor in Person Magazine. The two brothers were shown to be the best of friends until Bizarro Tal-Rho ed Ally Allston's cult, though he later sought redemption for turning on his brother by helping Superman to escape back to Earth-Prime.
Bizarro Lana Lang Was A Waitress Before Becoming Bizarro Tal-Rho's Wife
The Lana Lang of Earth-Prime worked at a bank in Smallville before being elected Mayor. Her Bizarro counterpart was shown in earlier episodes of Superman and Lois, somehow possessing the powers of a Kryptonian. More of her background is revealed in a flashback to shortly after Bizarro Superman bought the abandoned Kent farm as a remote getaway from his celebrity life. Lana was the flirtatious waitress who served Kal-El and Tal-Rho as they celebrated the news that Lois was pregnant. She and Tal-Rho hit it off and were married, though it has yet to be revealed just how she was given the power to become a Superwoman and match her husband.
New episodes of Superman & Lois release Tuesdays on the CW.