With a wild new codename, DC just reinvented one of Batman‘s most iconic villains – now as a serious threat to Superman. DC’s new Absolute Universe has totally reinvented some major characters, turning Joker into an evil billionaire and Mister Freeze into a literal monster. Now, it’s the turn of Batman’s big-screen mentor and recurring villain, with a rebirth worthy of the Man of Steel.
In a preview of Absolute Superman #8 – from Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, Ulises Arreola and Becca Carey – fans are treated to a diabolical monologue by the Absolute Ra’s al Ghul. Fighting off Omega Men assassins, Ra’s unveils his new codename as “the God’s head.”
In DC’s mainstream lore, Ra’s al Ghul is an undying assassin whose name declares him “the Demon’s Head.” It seems that while the Absolute Ra’s al Ghul did once go by that name in DC’s new timeline, he considers himself a reborn entity, renaming himself after some major delusions of grandeur, while also hugely bulking up from his traditional design.
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Ra’s al Ghul Goes from Demon to God
And Now He’s Superman’s Problem
For months, Absolute Superman has been teasing the leader of the mysterious Lazarus Corporation – a corrupt billionaire with links to the Absolute Universe’s version of Brainiac. In Absolute Superman #6, Ra’s al Ghul emerged, revealed as the villain who has been pursuing Superman since he first arrived on Earth, considering himself the ‘father’ of the powerful alien hero. It’s a smart reboot of the villain, whose mainstream ‘Lazarus Pits’ are used to grant him functional immortality – now, it seems Absolute Superman is going all-in on the Biblical inspiration behind the character’s supernaturally long life.
In DC’s mainstream, Ra’s al Ghul is the leader of the League of Shadows – an assassin cult dedicated to environmental terrorism (since Ra’s al Ghul’s quasi-immortality means he’ll be around to see the consequences of environmental collapse.) The father of Batman’s love interest and villain Talia al Ghul – and the grandfather to Bruce and Talia’s son Damian Wayne – Ra’s has a major personal connection to the Dark Knight, even training him in Christopher Nolan’s 2005 movie Batman Begins, where he’s played by Liam Neeson.
However, this is the Absolute Universe – a new reality warped by Darkseid’s evil so that DC’s villains are empowered like never before. In this timeline, Ra’s al Ghul isn’t a shadowy leader of assassins, but one of the richest men in the world, seemingly dedicating his riches to a twisted concept of legacy. Now, the villain’s madness is directed squarely at Superman, who will have to ally with the mysterious Omega Men in order to strike back.
The Absolute Universe has been one surprise after another, but turning Batman villain Ra’s al Ghul into Superman‘s nemesis – complete with a “God’s Head” rebrand – is one of the biggest yet, setting up a totally new challenge for this version of the Man of Steel.
Absolute Superman #8 is coming June 4 from DC Comics.
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- Alias
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Bruce Wayne
- FIRST APP
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Detective Comics #27 (1939)
- Created By
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Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- Franchise
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D.C.
- Race
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Human
- First Appearance
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Detective Comics
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
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- Alias
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Kal-El, Clark Kent, Jonathan Kent
- Created By
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Joe Shuster, Jerry Siegel
- Franchise
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D.C.
- Race
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Kryptonian
- First Appearance
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Action Comics
- Alliance
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Justice League, Superman Family
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
