Warning:Â There are major spoilers ahead for Action Comics #987, which is on sale today!
Over two years ago, Mr. Oz was introduced as one of the key villains manipulating the life of Superman. After DC Universe: Rebirth #1, it was widely assumed that Mr. Oz was actually Ozymandias, from the Watchmen universe. But in today’s issue of Action Comics, Mr. Oz is revealed as a major character from Superman’s mythology, and his arrival calls into question nearly everything we know about the Man of Steel.
After setting up numerous global emergencies that even Superman couldn’t handle by himself, Mr. Oz transported himself and the Man of Steel to the Fortress of Solitude, where he pulled back his cloak and outed himself as Jor-El, Superman’s Kryptonian father.
Right away, this flies in the face of everything that we’ve been told about Jor-El for years. Mr. Oz clearly has no love for humanity, while Jor-El entrusted the people of Earth to raise his only child. Mr. Oz has also been collecting some of Superman’s greatest villains, like Doomsday and Mr. Mxyzptlk. But if Mr. Oz truly is who he says he is, then why would he kidnap Batman’s adopted son and former Robin, Tim Drake? And how is he aware of Doctor Manhattan’s manipulations of the DC timeline?
The next issue of Action Comics promises the secret origin of Mr. Oz, but we have our doubts about this revelation. It would be easier to believe that someone has assumed the identity of Jor-El rather than accept that Superman’s father is secretly one of his enemies. We’ll see how this one plays out in the months ahead before we pass judgment on it.
What do you think about Mr. Oz as Jor-El? Enter the Phantom Zone and share your thoughts below!
Images: DC Comics
