Best and Worst Alternate Versions of Superheroes

[kirk55555]

Sorry, I guess I should have been clearer, I was talking about stuff that was specifically written as an alternate universe version of the characters, so things like Marvel Noir, Red Son, Bombshells, Marvel 1602 and DC's Earth One GNs and All-Star series.
So the DCEU Superman wouldn't count since he's that universe's main version.

Well, to be a bit pedantic, every character is the generally the main version of the character in their universe. You're not allowed to use the red Son Superman under your rules, because he is the main superman of his universe. Also, I think that unfairly disqualifies radically different versions of heroes, like the New 52 versions of some characters I'd mentioned. Maybe you should have said "Superheroes from universes outside of and of the mainstream universes" or something like that, and to that much more restrictive question my Batman, Wonder Woman and Hulk picks still count, but I'll stand by my other ones as well.

 

[O_Kav]

I liked the way they handled the origins of Jay Garrick and Alan Scott in the "rebooted" Earth-2. An actual "Mercurian" Flash feels more badass than just some random accident in a lab. And I prefer the whole mashup of Green Lantern and Swamp Thing mythos to explain Scott's powers in relation to the many retcons they did to explain the simultaneous existence of Prime Earth Scott and the Green Lantern Corps...

Doctor Fate and Hawkgirl having linked origins sounds cool too. Far better than the boring Arrowverse origin for Kendra.

If one day they decide to bring the Justice Society to the DCEU, I hope it's either complete new version more loyal to the Golden Age roots of the JSA or it's kinda based on the N52 Earth-2. However, I hope they don't do the later too much. N52 Earth-2 went downhill after some of the first issues. Besides, I still can't conciliate mixing up Darkseid and Golden Age characters. Better than the 80s/90s retcons to the JSA, though.

 

[JD]

Well, to be a bit pedantic, every character is the generally the main version of the character in their universe. You're not allowed to use the red Son Superman under your rules, because he is the main superman of his universe. Also, I think that unfairly disqualifies radically different versions of heroes, like the New 52 versions of some characters I'd mentioned. Maybe you should have said "Superheroes from universes outside of and of the mainstream universes" or something like that, and to that much more restrictive question my Batman, Wonder Woman and Hulk picks still count, but I'll stand by my other ones as well.

Red Son counts because the whole thing based around an alternate, what if kind of scenario.
I will admit the New52 is kind of borderline, since some of them were very different from how the characters are usually portrayed, but they aren't actually intended to be alternate versions.
Like I said in this thread was inspired by me getting DC Bombshells, Marvel 1602, and Old Man Logan, so those are the kinds of stories I'm talking about.

I enjoyed an Elseworlds book called "Speeding Bullets" where Kal-El landed in Gotham City and was raised by the Waynes. So, when the Joker (who also happens to be Lex Luthor) kills Thomas and Martha, young Bruce fries him with his heat vision and becomes Batman. It was a pretty cool story.

I am intrigued..... damn, it's not on Comixology.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

I am intrigued..... damn, it's not on Comixology.

Yeah, it's called Superman: Speeding Bullets. And I screwed up. It's still Joe Chill that kills Thomas and Martha Wayne, but Lex Luthor becomes the Joker.

 

[borgboy]

Grant Morrison's All Star Superman is a fun, weird modern take on Silver Age Superman sensibilities.

 

[JD]

I loved All-Star Superman.

Yeah, it's called Superman: Speeding Bullets. And I screwed up. It's still Joe Chill that kills Thomas and Martha Wayne, but Lex Luthor becomes the Joker.

I tried it as Batman not Superman, but still no luck with Superman. Is it in any trades?

 

[Turd Ferguson]

I don't think so. It was just a one-off book I bought a long time ago at a comic store. I'm wanting to think it was about 20 years ago

 

[Booji]

Best: Doom 2099

Worst: The Dark Knight Returns

 

[theenglish]

I liked the way they handled the origins of Jay Garrick and Alan Scott in the "rebooted" Earth-2. An actual "Mercurian" Flash feels more badass than just some random accident in a lab. And I prefer the whole mashup of Green Lantern and Swamp Thing mythos to explain Scott's powers in relation to the many retcons they did to explain the simultaneous existence of Prime Earth Scott and the Green Lantern Corps...

Doctor Fate and Hawkgirl having linked origins sounds cool too. Far better than the boring Arrowverse origin for Kendra.

If one day they decide to bring the Justice Society to the DCEU, I hope it's either complete new version more loyal to the Golden Age roots of the JSA or it's kinda based on the N52 Earth-2. However, I hope they don't do the later too much. N52 Earth-2 went downhill after some of the first issues. Besides, I still can't conciliate mixing up Darkseid and Golden Age characters. Better than the 80s/90s retcons to the JSA, though.

Earth 2 started off as one of the best things about the New 52--a truly new version of our characters. I wish DC would all those characters to co-exist in the multiverse with the original JSA though because I've been a fan of those Earth 2 characters since the seventies.

 

[O_Kav]

Earth 2 started off as one of the best things about the New 52--a truly new version of our characters. I wish DC would all those characters to co-exist in the multiverse with the original JSA though because I've been a fan of those Earth 2 characters since the seventies.

I remember they introduced Johnny Thunder in Rebirth, but I don't know if they continued that plot. And Golden Age Jay Garrick is back to the main continuity. I think they are setting up for the original JSA to be in the Prime Earth. That would be amazing.

Not only the JSA, but I hope they bring more details from Earth Two to the main continuity too. Even concepts that were created after the 60s, like Bruce having a daughter. I can't stand Damian Wayne. Maybe having Helena as his actual sister would help balance things a bit and even make his character evolve.