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Superman just learned how far Mongul’s cruel reach extends, and it proves this is one fight he can ever win.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Action Comics #1039 by Philip Kennedy Johnson, Riccardo Federici, Lee Loughridge, and Dave Sharpe, on sale now from DC Comics.
Clark Kent’s Superman left Earth behind to free the slaves on the violent satellite planet known as Warworld. A one-on-one fight with Warworld’s ruler, Mongul, was a tough enough challenge for the Man of Steel at the best of times. Unfortunately, he’s not at his best anymore and this is no simple fight. He’s trying to take down this powerful dictator’s entire empire and the culture of fear he’s created in his infamous world. The Justice League wouldn’t help DC’s greatest hero, nor would the United Planets, which he helped to found. Even though Superman formed a new team specifically for this task, it’s become clear why everyone refused to help him before; he can’t win.
He may have already suffered a crushing defeat at the hand of Mongul and his minions in the previous issues but the futility of Superman’s latest crusade was just made clear in Action Comics #1039. Now a slave on Warworld, the Man of Steel has learned that a lot of what he knew about Mongul and his people was wrong. The real history was much longer and bloodier and proved that this new mission of his wasn’t just a fight against Mongul. It’s a fight against an entire culture.
Mongul was one of many Monguls who had spread terror across the universe for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years. This was much longer than Superman initially thought and he didn’t realize just how bloody their history was until he saw it first hand, up close and personal. The Warzoons, Warworld’s elite warriors, found planets rich in resources and stripped them bare. They then enslaved the indigenous species and put them in their arena’s until they all eventually died in battle. The Warzoons then celebrated their genocide of an entire species, believing it made them the dominant species. Obviously, this was just a conceited way to justify their cruelty but it showed the depths of the Monguls’ cruelty.
Superman didn’t know how many years this had been going on or how many planets and species had been subjected to this inhumane treatment. This was more than just one villain. This was a culture of genocide that had been going on for countless generations. Even if Superman can stop Mongul, he can’t necessarily stop the Warzoons. What about all the descendants of those who participated in and believed in this way of life? It’s more than likely that they believe in it too and will start it up again if Mongul and the Warzoons are defeated once and for all.
Superman believed he was freeing a single planet but it’s become clear now that Mongul’s place in the universe, although hated and feared, has become firmly established. It’s why the United Planets wouldn’t help the Man of Steel. They knew Mongul might come for them next if they did. When this is something that’s been going on for longer than anyone can remember then it’s hard to believe anyone can stop it.
Mongul and his ancestors have inspired a culture of fear that will exist long after they’re gone. Superman mentioned that he thinks Mongul and the Warzoons continue this cruelty because they believe that same cruelty will inevitably be their future. Right now, that’s wishful thinking. The Man of Steel has failed to dismantle Mongul’s regime once already. Even if he manages to defeat him, it’s likely that someone just as bad will take his place and continue this legacy.
Nevertheless, Superman will never give up. There’s nothing that Mongul can do to destroy his hope, which is something even the people of Warworld have realized. In this issue alone, he promised a fallen fighter that he would scour the universe to find a single one of his kind. It’s an impossible task but still, Superman will do it. The universe may have accepted the Monguls’ legacy but Superman never will.
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