With his gigantic muscles and Kryptonian physique, it takes a lot to makeSupermanlook like a weakling, but after a huge upgrade, an iconicBatmanvillain is now doing exactly that. Towering over the Man of Steel, this iconic villain has gone from a Gotham problem to one on the same worldwide level as Superman.
Even Superman may not be strong enough to bring down this upgraded villain…
In solicit information for the upcomingAbsolute Superman #11, Rafa Sandoval’s art showsRa’s al Ghul towering over Superman,showcasing the gigantic, muscular redesign the villain has undergonein DC’s new continuity.
Cover Artist:
Rafa Sandoval
THE RAGE OF SUPERMAN! For five years, he’s been on the run, hounded across our planet, and treated like a criminal… yet his only crime was being born somewhere else. Now Superman’s rage threatens to engulf the world at the urging of Ra’s al Ghul. And the only ones who can save the day… are Kal-El’s dead parents.
However, that’s not the only change Ra’s has undergone, with a new codename and criminal empire in this new timeline where evil reigns supreme and classic heroes are challenged like never before.
Ra’s al Ghul Is a Giant In DC’s Absolute Universe
In 2024,DC launched its new Absolute Universe-a new reality corrupted by Darkseid’s evil, where heroes are stripped of every advantage they’ve ever had, from Batman’s fortune to Superman’s human upbringing in Kansas. At the same time, DC’s villains have been super-charged. The Joker is now a billionaire and Bane a writhing abomination of superhuman muscle.
However, Ra’s al Ghul’s transformation has been particularly unique, as he leaves Batman behind to pose a new kind of challenge to this world’s Superman. In the Absolute Universe,Ra’s is the leader of the Lazarus Corporation, now going by the codename ‘the God’s Head,‘an inversion of his mainstream ‘the Demon’s Head’ nickname. Rather than being a shadowy cult leader, the Absolute Ra’s al Ghul is one of the richest men in the world, essentially building Metropolis thanks to his immortal lifespan. Now, he’s become fixated on capturing Superman.
In response, Superman has joined the ragtaggroup known as the Omega Men, who are dedicated to bringing down Ra’s al Ghul. However, as Rafa Sandoval’s art shows,even Superman may not be strong enough to bring down this upgraded villain. Ra’s al Ghul has already shown what appears to be superhuman strength and pain-resistance, but if he really pushes himself, it isn’t clear how extreme his powers could become.
It’s rare thatanyonetowers over Superman, but in the Absolute Universe, the villains have all the advantages, and even a shadowy assassin can become a worldwide power broker. Fans will see howSupermanfaces off against this classicBatmanvillain in upcoming issues, hopefully leading up to a physical confrontation between the two powerhouses.
Absolute Superman #11is coming September 3 from DC Comics.
Superman
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.
Batman
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.
