Absolute Comics: DC's Ultimate Universe? New52 Superman?

[StarSpangledMan]

I've seen a couple of pitches floating around that I like.

https://twitter.com/FitMarshmellow/s...93797406208365

Fuck it, that Ultimate Wizard Magazine tweet got me inspired. Here's my pitch for Ultimate Superman. What's the big difference between him and Prime Earth? Well, he wasn't raised by the Kents. No, no. He was raised by the Els, who found refuge on Earth after Krypton's demise.

The big idea is to tweak the Superman premise to really hone in on the immigrant/refugee narrative. He will be representative of the second generation immigrant, raised at home with his original culture, but socialized through his new culture.

This is a Kal who speaks Kryptonese at home, but can never have the perfect accent. A Kal who indulges in Kryptonian cuisine, but is ashamed to prefer Earth cuisine. A Kal whose life can only be described as dealing with an itch he can never seem to scratch.

Kal El (his human name is Caleb Elliot) also shares many similarities to his Prime Earth counterpart. He and his family lived out his childhood years in Smallville. He had a crush on the girl next door, Lana Kent. His best friend was an outcast like him, Lex Luthor.

Krypton in this universe is advanced scientifically in a lot of ways, but socially regressed in a lot of other ways. A commitment to caste systems and class divides were what destroyed Krypton, embroiling it in a massive planetary civil war.

A planetary civil war that started a chain reaction that would eventually lead to the destruction of the planet. That doesn't mean Krypton is some tainted culture, though. God no, Krypton was a beautiful place, with so much potential and wonderful people.

But Jor El, who was only a worker-class in the science guild, could not convince the powers that be of the disaster to come. His word was simply not worth that much. So, he built a ship for his son to escape in. However, with a month to spare, he was able to build another ship.

5 years later, they found their son at an orphanage in Smallville, looked after by the Kents, who helped ease their process of integration. The Els are not the scientific superior intellects as portrayed in other media. While yes, Jor-El is a super genius by Earth standards and Lara Lor-Van (a former member of the Military Guild before embroiling herself into the arts) also has an intellect higher than the average human, they are not so far above us where they see Earth as an ant farm. They are truly just from a different culture and environment.

And well, Jor El and Lara's last memories of Krypton were of a society hell-bent on self destruction. So both of them are very open to the idea of integrating into Earth culture.
They live out their days quietly and peacefully in Smallville, trying their best not to arouse suspicion and raise their son as both a Kryptonian and a Human. But all this does is make Kal feel ever more isolated.

Kal was raised by his parents to recognize himself as a Kryptonian, but was always told to never fully embrace that identity. That they are Human now. That lie doesn't last long when one day, Kal flies away in a tantrum.

It seems being raised under Earth's yellow sun gave way to Kal manifesting a whole host of super abilities, while his parents at most seemed to never get sick anymore. Kal was now always reminded of how alien he was to both his human classmates and his Kryptonian parents.

The Big Picture for this pitch is that Caleb learns to embrace this new third culture brewing in him--reconnecting with his Kryptonian heritage while not being afraid to use that and participate in Human culture. He won't let Earth fall into self destruction like his home planet.

He won't let his father's hang-ups on the fruitlessness of standing up to the powers that be get in his way. With the help of his mother, who always encouraged his curiosity, and his rival at the household paper, Lois Chaudhari, he learns to accept himself.

Eventually leading to an identity reveal. This is a Kal who won't hide behind performances and segment his identity in his confusion. He will create the ultimate Kal, the one truest to himself.
His suit here is heavily inspired by Jor-El's silver age design. He's basically dressed in Kryptonian fashion, with some human flourishes (gloves and boots).

Some other details. Lex and the Els form a very strong connection during Kal's childhood. Lex worked with Jor and Kal in Jor's secret science lab. Lex and Kal were practically brothers. Lex begins to put it together that the Els are from somewhere out of this world.

Jor is adamant in never revealing the truth to him, in fear of risking their ability to assimilate into Earth society. Kal wants to reveal himself to his best friend, of course. But before any rebellious actions can be taken... Lex is involved in an accident with Kryptonite.

Lex assumes Kal sabotaged him purposefully, out of jealousy of him and Jor's relationship. Lex leaves the Els behind and starts his journey into becoming the greatest criminal mastermind in the world.

He vows that if even the outcasts wouldn't accept him, he will make the entire world bend the knee to him.