James Gunn’sSupermanpresents an extremely similar plot twist toThe Boys, but DC’s original clone story came almost half a century before. Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’The Boyswas born as a satire of both Marvel and DC. However, some ideas that were later made mainstream by Amazon’sThe Boysseries have preceded their corresponding DC adaptation.
Parallel to the success of Amazon’sThe Boys, Warner Bros. reboots the DC Universe to explore an interconnected franchise more faithful to the source material.James Gunn’sSupermanintroduces a variety of characters and concepts that hadn’t had the chance to shine. Krypto, Metamorpho, and a fresh take on Ultraman all make their debut in the DCU’s first movie.
James Gunn’s Superman Pulls Off A Similar Twist To The Boys' Black Noir Origin
Ultraman & Black Noir’s Similarities Go Beyond Their All-Black Costumes
James Gunn’sSupermannot only introducesan irrecognizable version of DC’s Ultraman, but also transforms the villain into a suspiciously accurate mirror toThe Boys' comic-book Black Noir.Instead of an evil, alternate-universe Man of Steel, the DCU’s Ultraman is a silent, black-clad clone of Superman whose unmasking is presented as a shocking twist.Like Black noir, Ultraman is created to replace the world’s most popular superhuman.
Both James Gunn’sSupermanand Amazon’sThe Boysmake significant changes to Ultraman and Black Noir, respectively. The DCU’s Ultraman is a remote-controlled clone with little to no consciousness of his own. Meanwhile,Amazon’s Black Noir isn’t a Homelander clone designed to kill him, but a different Supe called Earving, with a direct successor to the mantle, Black Noir II.
The DCU’s Ultraman resembles Black Noir down to the smallest details.The Boys' original Black Noir was designed specifically to kill and replace Homelander, and he also possesses Kryptonian-level super-strength, heat vision and flight. Similarly to how Lex Luthor remote-controls Ultraman in James Gunn’sSuperman, Vought CEO Stan Edgar guides Black Noir’s actions inThe Boys.
Homelander’s Black Noir Clone Twist Is Partly Inspired By DC’s Bizarro
DC’s Bizarro Popularized The Concept Of A Hero’s Evil Mirror
Bizarro made his comic debut in 1958’sSuperboy #68as a tragic clone of Superman with distorted logic and speech. As Superman’s dark mirror,Bizarro’s existence challenged Superman’s heroism, since his actions often unintentionally cause harm despite good intentions. Over time, Bizarro evolved from a simple parody into a sympathetic character with his own moral code and internal struggles, distinct from Superman’s.
Meanwhile,Black Noir debuted forty-eight years after Bizarro, in 2006’sThe Boys #65. Initially a silent, loyal member of The Seven, Black Noir’s identity twist reframed all his previous appearances and retroactively portrayed him as a villain’s villain. As Homelander’s dark reflection, Black Noir represents the terrifying consequences of cloning an already evil godlike power, enhanced and pressured into wreaking havoc.
The TV show’s version of Black Noir goes one step beyond his Superman roots and gives the masked Supe a tree nut allergy, which resembles Superman’s Kryptonite weakness.
While both Bizarro and Black Noir serve as dark mirrors of their respective heroes, Bizarro preceded Black Noir by nearly half a century.The DCU’s Ultraman may be oddly similar to The Boys' Black Noir, but Black Noir derived inspiration from the character archetype Bizarro helped popularize in DC’s early Silver Age.
Superman’s Ultraman Plot Twist Will Likely Be Revisited In Future DCU Movies
The DCU’s Ultraman Leaves The Door Open For An Eventual Return
Although the DCU’s Ultraman may resembleThe Boys' Black Noir a lot inSuperman, that may not last too long. The fact that Ultraman is a Superman clone designed by Lex Luthor and sent through a cube-themed black hole to an unknown destination suggests Ultraman will eventually become Bizarro.Eventually, Ultraman may return sporting gray skin and a mirrored Superman costume.
Black Noir’s comic book unmasking is quite different from Ultraman’s. Homelander’s clone really wanted to destroy the patriotic hero out of his own volition, and he committed even worse crimes than the ones he was meant to do before revealing his true identity.Black Noir also met a definitive fate after killing Homelander, without a chance to redefine his identity.
The DC Universe’s Ultraman Might Leave His Black Noir Similarities Behind Soon
The DCU’s Ultraman Will Likely Evolve Past His Black Noir Parallels Soon
DC Studios could bring backSuperman’s Ultraman as an upgraded villain. Possible transformations include an adaptation of Cyborg Superman,the powerful Superboy Prime, or even a more comic-accurate Ultraman. However,the DCU’s Ultraman is more likely to develop a consciousness of his own, populate Bizarro World, have a rematch with Superman, and possibly redeem himself as an anti-hero.
In DC lore, Bizarro has had a Bizarro Fortress of Solitude, a blue Bizarro Kryptonite, and a Bizarro Justice League.
Bizarro has undergone significant changes over the decades.Superman’s clone has gone from a comedic villain to a tragic antagonist to a complex antihero. For instance, the 2015Bizarrominiseries focuses on his nature as a misunderstood but kindhearted hero wanting to do good despite his limitations.
In recent years, Bizarro has continued to lean toward heroism. A notable heroic turn came during 2016’sRed Hood and the Outlawsseries, where he formed a strong bond with Jason Todd and Artemis and even became their intellectual equal. If the most popular theories aboutSuperman’s Ultraman DCU future are accurate, he would certainly overcome his parallels toThe Boys' Black Noir soon.
