The following article contains spoilers from Superman #4, on sale now from DC Comics.
Superman’s newest foes have certainly made it clear they are extremely dangerous. Their very first attack nearly destroyed the city, and forced Superman to ally with Lex Luthor just to stop it. However, their second attack makes it clear that Doctors Pharm and Graft are using a method to attack the Man of Steel that is far more personal to him. In Superman #4 (by Joshua Williamson, Jamal Campbell, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and VC’s Ariana Maher) it is revealed that they are using kryptonian science to enhance Superman’s foes.
This makes the attack incredibly specific to Superman, on both a physical and cultural level. Quite frankly, the doctors have turned the worst parts of Krypton’s legacy against Superman, and as these things already caused him harm before, their experimentation only makes things more dangerous. It is also proof that these villains are not above making deep cuts to destroy their enemies. Their success thus far means Superman will need all the help he can get to stop them.
Superman’s New Foes Are Using Personal Weapons Against Him
After the incident with Parasite, it was revealed that his powers were mutated as a result of exposure to kryptonite radiation, something that shouldn’t be possible ordinarily. While kryptonite affects kryptonians, it can affect humans too, provided they have consistent exposure to the mineral’s radiation. What Doctor Pharm has done is enhance said radiation, and then combine it with various kryptonite variations to test out their effects. This resulted in the enhancement of Parasite’s abilities, and now, the neutralization of Silver Banshee’s power.
That isn’t the end of their experimentation though. The brothers have also looked into other areas of kryptonian science, the latest being the Phantom Zone. Using the zone’s unique state of existence, they have fused a number of phantoms into Silver Banshee to enhance her scream abilities. While all this is terrifying, it is important to remember that thus far this has only been two attacks. In all likelihood, the brothers have more schemes down the road, and if the pattern holds, then they will likely employ more kryptonian science to attack Superman.
Superman’s Kryptonian Past is Threatning His Future
The major takeaway from this, aside from the brothers’ brilliance, is that they are not above making a deep cut against the Man of Steel. They know that by utilizing these technologies they are effectively making a dig at krypton’s legacy, and in a twisted bit of irony using the planet’s past to try and wipe out what is left of its future. Superman will likely note this at some point, coming to understand that the doctors are just as much attacking his culture as they are his city.
He understands just how the doctors are accomplishing their attacks, but Krypton’s dark past is more than just the irradiated remains of the planet, and its extradimensional prison. Krypton has many skeletons in the closet, and Doctors Pharm and Graft have already proven adept at exploiting that to create weapons to use against the Man of Steel. Look no further than how Parasite’s mutation nearly overwhelmed Superman and his entire family, not to mention how Silver Banshee was giving Superman a run for his money. If they can do that with kryptonian science, then this is just the beginning, and Superman will need every advantage he can just to survive.
