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In Superman and the Authority, the Man of Steel turns to a powerful antihero who bears more than a striking resemblance to an X-Men powerhouse.
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Superman and the Authority #1, on sale now from DC Comics.
Superman is rebuilding the Authority, and the telepathic antihero Manchester Black is his first recruity. This makes an end of an evolution that has seen Black, who was initially created as a member of violent Authority analogue team The Elite, go from villain to ally at a time Superman desperately needs one.
It’s a trajectory that’s reminiscent of a character created by Superman and the Authority writer Grant Morrison. Manchester Black is following in the footsteps of an X-Men villain turned trusted member of the team, Quentin Quire, who is also known as Kid Omega.
In this issue, Superman takes Manchester Black to the Fortress of Solitude and admits that he needs him to make one last desperate play to save the world before his powers fully give out, setting the sun on his superhero career. While Black is initially resistant, he ultimately helps Superman fight a group of attackers from the Phantom Zone and agrees to help Superman recruit other DC and WildStorm heroes and antiheroes to make a new version of the Authority.
Everything about how Black is introduced in Superman and the Authority #1, by Morrison, Mikel Janin, Jordie Bellaire, and Steve Wands, is reminiscent of Kid Omega. His psychic powers, dismissive attitude towards traditional superheroes and pastel-colored hair are all similar to the young X-Man.
Quire his first appearance in New X-Men #135, by Morrison, Frank Quitely, Tim Townsend and Chris Chuckry. After being introduced as a prized pupil of Professor Xavier, Quire quickly becomes an enfant terrible. Under the influence of sentient bacteria Sublime, Quire and his Omega Gang start a riot at the Xavier Academy. It ended with Quire’s apparent death. Like any X-Man worth their salt, he got better and went on to find an unlikely mentor in Wolverine, cementing himself as one of the most prominent X-Men of his generation and one of Marvel’s most powerful mutants.
Black’s story isn’t completely analogous to Quire’s, given that it’s taken place over multiple DC continuities. After being defeated by Superman in his first appearance, in Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke and Lee Bermejo’s Action Comics #775, Black vowed revenge. Following a disastrous mission to free Doomsday with the Suicide Squad, he made his move.
In the “Ending Battle” crossover, Black learned Superman’s secret identity and sent dozens of supervillains after everyone in Clark Kent’s life. With Superman occupied, it appeared that Black killed Lois Lane. It turned out to be an illusion, broken when Superman refused to stoop to his level and kill Black in retaliation.
Black made his DC Rebirth debut in Superman #23, by Peter Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, and Doug Mahnke. Combining his rivalry with Superman with his interest in teen heroes, Black brainwashed Superman’s son Jon into working alongside him. After being defeated, his consciousness was trapped in a dairy cow.
The Manchester Black of Superman and the Authority appears to be yet another version of the character, who wields his psychic powers in his own body. He has the same relationship, and disdain for, Superman as his predecessor. Like Quire, he has a jaded view of traditional superheroes he’s not shy about sharing. He also chooses to fight with them when it’s time to pick a side. Black aided the weakened Superman when he was fighting a losing battle against Phantom Zone escapees.
Despite their posturing and anti-establishment streaks; the actions of Black and Quire indicate that both ultimately want to do the right thing, even inspiration forced them to reckon with that idea. Quire only enrolled in the Institute as part of a deal Wolverine made with Captain America to keep him out of jail. Meanwhile, Superman rescued Black from the authorities in his native London.
While Quire eventually earned his second chance and became the seasoned hero he still is in X-Force today, Black is just starting down that path and will have that chance as part of Superman’s team, assuming he can stomach prolonged exposure to the Man of Steel.
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