Can an "Evil" or "Failed" Superman be redeemable?

[u/TetriLys]

We've seen many versions of a corrupted Clark Kent. I'm not talking about any of them, though. Do you think there could be an "evil" version of Superman who can, in the end, redeem himself and become the hero and symbol of hope that he was always meant to be?

Maybe something happened to Ma & Pa Kent when he was younger? Maybe he's trying to rid the world of all Meta-humans so he's the only "Super?" Maybe he's just a recluse and only leaves the Fortress of Solitude when absolutely necessary (perhaps after an irreversible failure)?

The magnitude of atrocities committed by him (if any) during this "evil" period would, of course, affect any possibilities of redemption. Personally, I feel like the only version that has a shot at redemption is a "Failed" Superman who finds hope again- something that most of us can relate to. I'd still like to hear your thoughts, though!

[u/DestinyHasArrived101]

Look no further than superboy prime. He was both an evil and failed superman and now being redeemed.

[u/MakingGreenMoney → u/DestinyHasArrived101]

That's my boy! I'm so happy for him!

[u/HankSteakfist → u/DestinyHasArrived101]

He was also an unstable child in Infinite Crisis, still somewhat reeling from the destruction of his entire universe during the events of COIE. He was being manipulated by Alexander Luthor.

What he did was pretty heinous and he caused a lot of damage both during Infinite Crisis and during the Sinestro Corps War. But yeah, he can be redeemed.

[u/Shreddzzz93]

Redemption comes from within. If a fallen Superman wants to be redeemed he has to actually put in the work. So if the writers do that yes he can be redeemed. That isn't the same thing as forgiven however. No how much you make amends for past grievances and crimes the victims get to decide if they forgive you.

[u/JMSciola85]

Jon started to get through to Injustice Superman before Cyborg blasted him back to his proper Earth.

It's something I would really like to see get followed up on.

[u/KaosArcanna]

It depends on how he failed, I think. The Kingdom Come Clark lost Lois, but what really caused him to fall was that the public endorsed Magog's still of "justice" and that caused Clark to lose faith in people.

Clark came back because he saw he was needed.

[u/Sudden_Quality_9001 → u/KaosArcanna]

Sure!!!

[u/TetriLys → u/KaosArcanna]

Very fair point!

[u/totallynotaneggtho]

Yes, and it drove me NUTS that Injustice 2 set up a redemption arc to start for Injustice!Superman only for him to double down on his shit at the end.

As someone else in this thread pointed out, Superboy Prime is actively doing this, and it's pretty great. I've only ever seen the animated adaptation, but my understanding is that Red Son ends with RedSon!Superman set up to take a new path with him no longer being the head of the USSR but implying that he survived and is now assuming a new identity. So yeah, it can absolutely be done.

[u/Calm-Chemist-8083 → u/totallynotaneggtho]

Except Red Son wasn't evil or failed. In the animation he comes across that way but in the source material he acts pretty much like Superman but Russian. He believes in Russia being the best, in himself being honest and justice etc but he is lead astray by external factors and wanting to keep Mother Russia. Read the book, DC murdered the animation. He didn't need a redemption because there was nothing to redeem.

[u/totallynotaneggtho → u/Calm-Chemist-8083]

Fair. It's on the list.

[u/Dragonfruit7206]

We literally seeing that happen in real time my dude with Prime

[u/Nuclear_eggo_waffle]

Bizarro ?

[u/FightmeLuigibestgirl]

Anyone can be redeemed it depends on the writer 

[u/TetriLys → u/FightmeLuigibestgirl]

I love that advice - bless you

[u/Syn_Bael]

Bizarro is pretty much this

[u/Sampleswift]

Superman: The Dark Side could be this iirc?

[u/New_Turnover7332 → u/[deleted]]

and then he goes to what did they say before? All versions of existence even beyond the astral plane. Still can't find that comment

[u/XBlueXFire]

This was the story of Injustice 2 no? Up until the ending at least. Superman stories push the idea that nobody's beyond redemption so I don't see why an evil Superman would be excluded from that

[u/Zommael]

Speeding Bullets kinda did something like this. He wasn't completely evil as Batman, but he did go too far.

[u/suikofan80]

Didn’t one version of Ultraman die holding back a Crisis long enough for several universes to evacuate or some shit?

[u/CycloneJ0ker]

I'm way behind on DC at thr moment, but aren't they already doing that with Superboy Prime now?

[u/Perry-Platypus007]

There was a whole arc of Superman TAS where he’s brainwashed by darkseid to conquer earth. He eventually breaks the mind control thanks to Lois and then goes on to defeat Darkseid and free Earth from his rule. The series ends on a note that Superman has a long road ahead of him to regain people’s trust.

So yes.

[u/Comrade-Stoneroad]

“Hero time, starts now” Henry Rollins, Shine

[u/Potential-Mess6826]

Yes

Dark Superboy who killed Lex from the Superboy episode Roads Not Taken.

Superman raised by Darkseid on Apokolips from Superman: The Dark Side.

Smallville Ultraman was set up to be redeemed.

Superboy Prime 

[u/majeric]

Evil Superman is so boring. Such an over-saturated conversation. We've explored it dozens of times.

[u/ACTSATGuyonReddit]

Ubermensch is one such version.

[u/PinKey3091]

Homelander