What If Superman Stayed Evil in the Justice League War?

The war against Steppenwolf in the 2017 film The Justice League saw Superman as the only one capable of defeating the notorious villain. But what if he had stayed evil? Would he have managed to take down the rest of the Justice League?

After the Conflict: A Scenario of Doom

If Superman had stayed evil, the consequences could have been dire. Instead of working alongside Batman and the rest of the Justice League, he might have turned on his allies and ruthlessly attacked them. For instance, he could have killed Batman and the other League members, leaving the others to face the daunting task of separating the Mother Boxes without Superman's aid.

('What if Superman stayed evil in the Justice League War? - He would have killed Batman and the rest of the Justice League, but would still save the day...')

Superman's actions would have allowed Darkseid to use him as a pawn for world domination. This scenario would likely have escalated into a prolonged conflict where Batman would devise a plan to free Superman from the mind control. However, if this plan failed, and Superman killed Batman, Darkseid would likely emerge victorious.

From Hero to Villain

To understand the scenario of Superman staying evil, we can look at his character development in the Injustice franchise. In this alternate universe, Superman becomes a villain after being manipulated by the Joker into killing his wife Lois and destroying Metropolis. Over time, he becomes a brutal and fascist tyrant, obsessed with eliminating crime and at all costs.

Despite his altercations, in the Injustice: Gods Among Us video game and comic series, he is the deuteragonist-turned-final antagonist. In Injustice 2, he holds a more central role, being the overarching antagonist of the comic series of the same name. Additionally, he plays a leading role in the 2021 animated film of the same series.

Character Details and Powers

Real Name: Kal-El

Earth Names: Clark Kent, Superman

Other Names: The Man of Steel, The Last Son of Krypton (Fake Superman by Bizarro, High Councilor by Victor Zsasz)

Status: Alive

Species: Kryptonian

Gender: Male

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 235 lbs (107 kg)

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Black

Family: Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van

Power Level: Power User

Arch-nemesis: Bruce Wayne/Batman, the Joker

Origin: Action Comics 1 (June 1938)

Initial Appearance: Injustice: Gods Among Us

Voices: George Newbern, Justin Hartley (Animated Film)

Games: Injustice: Gods Among Us, Injustice 2

Analysis and Conclusion

In a scenario where Superman stayed evil, he would have faced significant challenges. Killing Batman and the rest of the Justice League would have allowed Darkseid to use him as a tool for world domination. However, if Batman orchestrated a plan to free Superman from mind control, he might once again take on the role of a heroic protector. Nevertheless, this scenario would likely result in a world fraught with darkness and tyranny, where order and peace are shattered by the tyranny of a once-great hero turned villain.

('Metropolis and Gotham I’ll flatten them. Set an example. Then I’m finding the dimension these duplicates came from. They’ll pay for interfering.') - Superman, villainous breakdown in Injustice