Superman Reverses Krypton's Tragic Fate as His People Have Become the DC Universe's Dominant Race

Warning: Spoilers for Action Comics #1079

Since Superman's debut, he's been considered one of the few remaining Kryptonians in DC lore as a result of Krypton's destruction. However, in a surprising turn of events, Kryptonians have now risen up and overtaken the universe thanks to a misstep from Superman. Now, the Man of Steel's people have circumvented their former erasure to become DC's most dominant species.

Mark Waid, Michael Shelfer, Matt Herms, and Dave Sharpe's "Phantoms" story arc continues in Action Comics #1079. The Kryptonian prisoners of the Phantom Zone have broken free after Superman accidentally released them near Earth's sun, which has amplified their powers to his god-tier level and allowed them to lay waste to the planet.

Superman and his family of heroes manage to capture most of the prisoners, only to realize that many of them have slipped away. As it turns out, these evil Kryptonians have spread across the stars, and the DC Universe faces the ultimate threat as a result of Superman's mistake.

Kryptonians Officially Take Over the DC Universe, Reversing Their Original Demise

Rather Than Being Extinct, Superman's Race Has Spread Across the Stars

The Kryptonians initially run rampant on Earth when they absorb energy from the yellow sun, defeating the Justice League with no hopes of being thwarted. Then, Doctor Light uses her light powers to create a red sun prison to contain and de-power the escaped Kryptonian convicts. This method proves effective, but as Superman learns, there are some Phantom Zone prisoners who have managed to evade custody. According to Batman, these Kryptonians have conquered planets throughout the universe, from Rann to Tamaran.

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The Kryptonians' space takeover marks a massive change in the status quo of Superman's people. Krypton was destroyed long ago in DC's history, which means the Kryptonians have been all but extinct for decades, barring exceptions such as Superman and his allies. Though many still remained within the Phantom Zone, they didn't have access to the world beyond. Here, Kryptonians' underdog status has been flipped on its head. After years of imprisonment under the nightmarish conditions of the Phantom Zone, the survivors of Krypton have gone from a dwindling population to an overpowering force that's taking the universe by storm.

Superman Faces Off Against His Fellow Kryptonians in a Devastating Twist

Only Superman Can End the Kryptonians' Universal Reign of Terror

As various planets are overrun with criminal Kryptonians, it's up to Superman to put a stop to their rampage. The threat Superman faces comes with a layer of melancholy, due to the shared Kryptonian heritage between himself and the Phantom Zone prisoners he's up against. Despite the dark deeds of those who have been sentenced to the Zone for their crimes, Superman nonetheless harbors a kinship with them as a fellow Kryptonian. Now, just as the Kryptonians have finally risen up, Superman must strike them down and strip their powers to restore the status quo - reinstating the tragic fate of his people.

Action Comics #1079 is available now from DC Comics.