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And I’m not just talking about Superman’s variants from books like Dark Knights of Steel or Red Son, either. I’m talking about the deeper dives, the kind that, while more or less popular with comic fans, didn’t exactly strike a chord with the larger population. Like Just Imagine’s Superman, a version of the hero who was reimagined by comic legend, Stan Lee. Or Milkman Man, a powerful, imperfect copy of Superman that looks like he stepped out of the 1940s. Read on to discover 5 interesting Superman variants that you have almost certainly never heard of before.
5. Harvey Dent
No, not Batman’s enemy Two-Face. Like everyone else in the Tangent Universe, all he has in common with his counterpart is his name. And that extends to his alter ego as well. Instead of being a Kryptonian with amazing physical powers, Dent’s Superman is a telepath, the strongest one on his world, in fact. Dent’s powers come from a government experiment to create enhanced humans, which ended up turning him into the smartest and most powerful person alive. Sadly, though he tried to be a hero, this Superman took control of the world to save it from itself.
4. Milkman Man
Don’t let that retro charm fool you. Milkman Man might look somehow even more wholesome than the real Man of Steel, but this guy is an absolute terror. Milkman Man was created by Retconn, who used an impossible being, modeled him after Superman, and used him as its lead enforcer during the incredibly bizarre “Milk Wars” event. Milkman Man has all of Superman’s powers, but with none of the charm or compassion that drives the genuine article. Thankfully, he was defeated before he could ever be a permanent threat to the DC Universe.
3. Stan Lee’s Superman
Everyone knows that Stan Lee left his mark on Marvel Comics, but what about the distinguished competition? Well, fans got to find out what it would have been like if Lee created the Man of Tomorrow in the Just Imagine series. This version of Superman, known as Salden, is still an alien who comes to Earth, but as an adult lawman chasing an old enemy. After discovering he’s far faster, stronger, and tougher on Earth than on his own planet, Salden makes the new world his home. Though he’s not as powerful as Superman, he’s got the same heart.
