#ComicBytes: Alternate (and darker) versions of Superman fans should know
Being one of the most popular heroes, Superman's grace and powers are unparalleled. He evokes a feeling of hope and even though he is so powerful, Superman is arguably the most positive superhero ever created. There are, however, darker versions of him that have featured in various stories time and again. Read on to know the alternate versions that you (probably) didn't know.
Darkseid is DC Universe's prime antagonist who craves nothing but destruction. Most of the time, it is Superman who foils his plans. But what if the Kryptonian hero worked for Darkseid? This scenario was imagined in Superman: Dark Side where Superman's pod lands on Apokolips, Darkseid's home planet. He then ends up devoting himself completely to the villain's ideals, becoming a truly evil Superman.
The hero-turned-Nazi trope has been explored in various comics storylines from time to time. Even the most patriotic of them all- Captain America became a Hydra agent at one point. Superman, in an alternate history, ended up in Nazi Germany where Hitler won the war. He grew up as Overman who wore a collared outfit and had a lover known as Overgirl.
There is a Crime Syndicate of America on Earth-3 where lives a twisted version of Kal-El: Ultraman. He is a member of the syndicate and is the polar opposite of Superman. While Superman becomes weak when he comes near Kryptonite, Ultraman gains new powers from the substance! He has murdered multiple people and even Gods but exhibits weakness to sunlight.
The game Injustice: Gods Among Us and its sequel have one of the best storylines in the DC Universe. While not canon, the story features a completely evil and tyrannical version of Superman. Joker drugs him and he ends up killing a pregnant Lois. The guilt and anger turn him into a new evil ruler of a world that Batman is trying to protect.
In Superman: Speeding Bullets' very interesting storyline, Superman and Batman were merged. Thomas and Martha Wayne adopted this universe's Kal-El and named him Bruce. When Bruce's parents died, he gave in to his dark impulses and became a violent and overpowered being, who had no qualms about burning other people. Notably, the story had Lex Luthor turn into 'Batman's' prime antagonist, Joker.
