Superman | Superman and Magic

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"Magic, ghosts and ghouls. Follies of a weak soul. And tricks of flim-flam artists too lazy to take acting lessons." - Dr. Thirteen, The Gang's All Here

Magic exists in the world of Superman. Like Kryptonite, magic can harm, even kill the Man of Steel. Most of the general public only sees Superman take on super-powered criminals, gangsters, and Lex Luthor armed to the gills with Kryptonite, but he rarely took on magicians in any medium aside from Mr. Mxyzptlk or a random no-name villain on another show.

I'll get to Mxy in a minute.

The purest magic is wielded by the homo magi, a race of humans that are born with the ability to conjure up spells, crafts, and other hexes. There is another magic that is more demonic. It's more chimerical, devious, and wicked. Of course, there's also magic of the absurd that is other-dimensionally wielded by a few and feared ball all true magicks.

A pair of Intergang's members are connected to the so-called bad magic. Whisper A'Daire and Kyle Abbot are both immortal beings thanks in part to their recruitment within the League of Assassins as well as their chimerical traits. Whisper is a therianthrope, a shape-shifter with the ability to transform into a snake-like being. Kyle is a lycanthrope, a true werewolf.

They're don't control magic moves or spellcasting elements, so their abilities doesn't harm Superman much. But he will hurt after ever incarnation. While they are currently aligned on the side of evil, they're not completely comfortable associating with the other agents of Intergang, especially its leader, Boss Dark Side.

Traci Thirteen's abilities are pure and good, though Dr. Tim Thirteen, her father, would disagree. Abandoned by her birth father, she has embraced her mother's homo magi lineage. She recognizes the powers of the magic community and often scoffs at pretenders.

Traci's not really impressed with most of the superheroic noise of Metropolis, though she senses something special about Superman, as if she has encountered his exploits in another life on another plane. She knows that there are other dimensions and has often traveled through them. She and Mr. Mxyzptlk are the only ones aware of the "fourth wall," but keeps it to herself.

Traci is curious and slightly afraid of Mxy. He exudes this cutesy appearance as an impish being, who has been mostly harmless, just irksome. She knows and realizes Mxyzptlk is one of the most powerful beings in any dimension. However, he's mostly stupid, so, no real worries for now.

"This story ends after the 52nd chapter, Superman. If we're lucky. It could go on longer. It could get cut off by forces beyond our control. The truth is many great stories ended before their time. It's all up to kismet herself." - Traci Thirteen, Truth

The Dark Side of Darkseid

"Believe what you want, Luthor, but I've seen power you've never imagined nor have the capacity to imagine. And even if you did, you'd become a quivering glob of flesh." - Boss Dark Side, World's Finest

Aside from Lex Luthor, the villain most closely associated with Superman is the despotic lord of Apokolips, Darkseid. He's a powerful, cruel, godlike being that has impacted the lives of the DC Universe for almost 40 years. He's one of the few bad guys to stand toe-to-toe power-wise with the Man of Steel, but instead of bringing him out right away, this series will gradually introduce the character. However, there's a twist that owes a lot to the recent comic stories that should be shown in animation.

In the first season, Mannheim talks about the big boss of Intergang, although none of the members have ever seen him or even believe he exists. They do know that Lex Luthor is a financial backer of the team, but the true power comes from the big boss.

When he is revealed to the viewers, he is not in his usual Darkseid guise. He is tall, muscular, and in a tailored suit. His skin isn't the traditional gray, but rather an olive complexion. The omega Greek letter is his trademark, as they're on his tie clip and his cufflinks. His eyes are obscured by a pair of gray sunglasses, and he refuses to take them off for anybody.

He adopts the name Boss Dark Side and a persona of a Greek-American club owner. Boss Dark Side's a calm individual, most of the time, speaking with a quiet, yet deep voice. He is a ladies' man. In his personal entourage, Boss Dark Side is accompanied by Shina, Harriet, Tina, and Ms. Goodness, a woman who makes sure her girls are taken care of. Dark Side's partners and constant guides include his son Calvin Bach, his weapons master Mr. Marquis, and his personal assistant Grace. These persona are human in origin, although their abilities and strengths are intact.

When Superman dies, the first glimmer of Boss Dark Side's abilities and true nature are present. He takes a piece of the doomsday creature's bone extrusions and disintegrates the body as proof of his power. In Season 3, he all but kills Livewire and Parasite who have become power-hungry and paralyzed Superman, who sees the act first hand. Their memories of the incident are wiped clean by has assistant Grace. When his true form is revealed, Darkseid also reveals his other Elite members, Kalibak, Desaad, Amazing Grace, Lashina, Mad Harriet, Guilotina, and Mother Goodness (instead of her Granny Goodness persona, I'm making this "den mother" much younger than other media interpretations of her. When this revelation occurs, it begins Superman's biggest challenge. The rise of the new Apokolips order will bring out the best in the Man of Steel.

Next: Girl Power!/About 22 and 42