Superman's New Sidekick Is Literally the Last Person Anyone Would Expect

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Superman #22!Unexpected circumstances have Superman fighting side-by-side with the last villain anyone expected. Things have been rapidly changing in Clark's world, and things have only gotten weirder ever since an old villain returned to lay waste to Metropolis. But now Superman is trying to save the future, and he's got no choice but to fight alongside a classic villain.

In Superman #22 by Joshua Williamson and Dan Mora, the Aftermath, a collection of aliens harmed by Doomsday in the past, come to Metropolis and demand Doomsday be handed over to them. When Superman refuses, fearing that they will kill him and bring Doomsday back stronger, the Aftermath's leader, Radiant, heads out to kill Doomsday.

Superman and Doomsday Fighting the Aftermath DC

Radiant attacks Doomsday's holding cell, freeing the monster and making Superman more furious than ever. In the throes of his Red-K induced rage, Superman works alongside Doomsday to fight back against the Aftermath to prevent them from killing his foe and making Doomsday more powerful.

Superman and Doomsday are Officially Working Together

The Man of Steel is Partnering with the Beast That Once Killed Him

Comic book art: Doomsday smashing his way out of hell. — Doomsday smashing his way out of hell.

After being trapped in the underworld for months on end, Doomsday finally escaped and made his return to the Earth where he faced off against Superman and Superwoman. During the battle, Superman was approached by the Time-Trapper, who revealed himself to be a future version of Doomsday, who has died and evolved so many times he's on the brink of godhood. The Time-Trapper asked Superman to kill him one more time to achieve his most powerful form, but the Man of Steel refused, resolving to imprison the present Doomsday and make sure he's never killed again to stop his hyper-evolution.

While it's not the most defined partnership, Superman has no choice but to work alongside his version of Doomsday. If he allows the Aftermath to kill the monster, then Doomsday is just going to keep growing more and more powerful, keeping him on the course that eventually sees him become the Time-Trapper one day. That being said, this is a risky gambit. Sure, the combined efforts of Superman and Doomsday could stop the Aftermath, but once they're dealt with, what's Superman's plan to handle a freed Doomsday? Worse, what if Superman's Red-K anger spell accidentally has him kill Doomsday himself?

In Trying to Stop the Future, Superman Might Make It Happen

Will Superman's Team-Up Protect the Future or Stop it?

Comic book art: Doomsday grins while in flames.

Superman obviously doesn't want to let Doomsday get any more powerful than he is. But Clark also isn't thinking straight thanks to his anger clouding his judgment. He might think that fighting the Aftermath with Doomsday is a good short-term solution, but in his rage, he might wind up turning his anger on Doomsday himself, killing him and helping the leviathan continue his evolutionary path to becoming the Time-Trapper. It's a rough situation Superman's in and with the hand he's been dealt, he might not be able to stop his new ally from becoming even more powerful than ever.

Superman #22 is available now from DC Comics.