Warning! Contains Spoilers For Superman #22!
DC Comicsjust reintroduced its version of Marvel’s Silver Surfer, known as Radiant, in the latest issue ofSuperman– a return thirty years in the making, hinting that the publisher could have big things in store for the character. While Radiant has a long DC history, this marks his first interaction with the Man of Steel, and it comes at a pivotal moment.
Superman#22 – written by Joshua Williamson, with art by Dan Mora – takes the current storyline to the next level,revealing more about “the Aftermath,“an army made up of all the different races who had their worldsdestroyed by the brutal Doomsday.
While Superman is undecided about handing Doomsday over to the Aftermath, their leader has a perfectly valid reason for revenge – andthis issue reveals that leader to be Radiant, who watched Doomsday brutally destroy his world thirty years ago.
Radiant was first introduced in 1994’sSuperman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey. Radiant is notable in DC lore because he was actually the first character to beat Doomsday. When Doomsday crash-landed on the planet of Calaton, he went on a rampage, slaughtering everyone. Witnessing this brutal attack, the Calaton elders fused together to create the being known as Radiant.Radiant defeats Doomsday, seemingly killing the immortal monster. If Radiant had incinerated Doomsday’s body, that would have been the end of Doomsday right there.
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Unfortunately, as per Calaton tradition, instead, the surviving Calatonians dressed Doomsday in their traditional burial garb, then fired his corpse out into space. That’s how Doomsday eventually made his way to Earth. While it seems like Calaton managed to get off easier thanmost planets that Doomsday attacked, they wouldn’t be spared forever. Doomsday would return to Calaton decades later and once again attack the planet, but this time Radiant wasn’t strong enough to defeat him. Instead, Radiant was brutally killed by Doomsday, but his legacy lived on.
Radiant Is Set For A Rematch With Doomsday, Decades In The Making
Radiant First Appearance:Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey– Written By Dan Jurgens; Art By Brett Breeding, Published in 1994 By DC Comics
Few characters in the DC Universehave managed to kill Doomsday, and before Superman even managed to pull it off, there was Radiant. Radiant killed Doomsday, and he did it easily, yet the subsequent rematch didn’t go his way. Now,Radiant’s reappearance inSuperman#22 sets the stage for a definitive third boutbetween these massively powerful characters. It has been decades since they last fought, and Radiant seems pretty confident that he now knows a way to either kill Doomsday or keep him sealed away forever.
Before DC Comics gives fans “Radiant vs. Doomsday III,” a battle with Superman is likely to be in the cards.
While Superman is adamant that Doomsdayremains on Earth while they figure out a way to contain him, Radiant isn’t going to be an easy opponent to defeat. Radiant already beat Doomsday once, easily, something that Superman had to lay down his life to achieve. While a confrontation with Radiant isn’t something anyone wants, the fact Radiant and Superman disagree on Doomsday’s fate is likely going to lead them to blows. In other words, beforeDC Comicsgives fans “Radiant vs. Doomsday III,” a battle withSupermanis likely to be in the cards.
