Rebooting the DC Universe: Superman

Over and over I've seen reboot after reboot of the DC Universe, from comics to tv to movies... Some of these reboots I enjoy, others not so much. The DCU has a vast supply of history to pull from and merge together, to create one very cool universe.

I'd like to begin this series with Superman. I would keep the majority of Superman's origin in tact. I think Superman is better if Ma and Pa Kent are still alive when he reaches his destiny. Ma and Pa should be drawn to be younger than in previous incarnations. I think early to mid 30's when they find Kal-El would be perfect.

Krypton was actually destroyed by a massive ship of their own creation. Jor-El created the Brainiac system to act as the collection of all Kryptonian intelligence and history. While at the same time General Zod who was at the time close friends with Jor-El and just so happens to be a Kryptonian supremest similar to Hitler before the Nazis, creates what becomes known as the Eradicator. The Eradicator is a Kryptonian weapon with artificial intelligence. It was constructed to work with the Brainiac and protect Krypton. Zod rises to power of an army of Kryptonian supremacists. He believes that Kryptonians should move through space conquering planet after planet of inferior species. Faora is Zod's wife and Ursa is Zod's right hand. Ursa's back story is that she's one of the few Kryptonians who is bi-sexual. She's extremely militaristic and a master of all forms of Kryptonian combat. Non is a military scientist loyal to Zod. Zod programs the Brainiac/ Eradicator ship to destroy Krypton if anything ever happens to him.

Jor-El discovers Zod's plans of galactic conquest and provides proof to the science counsel. Zod and his loyalists are found guilty of crimes against Krypton and sentenced to banishment in the Phantom Zone. In this version of the DCU, the Phantom Zone is not another dimension, but rather a desolate planet in a galaxy on the edge of the universe. The planet is the only one in this galaxy and revolves around a blue sun. The blue sun affects terrestrial life in a similar way as a yellow sun to Kryptonians. The blue sun transforms terrestrial life into immortal beings incapable of feeling cold, starving, needing sleep, etc. It does not however provide them with powers like a yellow sun. They become trapped on the planetary waist land for years and years, never knowing one day from the next because the planet may move around the blue sun but the planet in and of itself does not turn so it's constantly facing the sun.

Eventually after Krypton's destruction, the ship comes for Zod and his loyalists. It places them into a deep hyper sleep in order to rejuvenate them. When the ship reaches Earth's Solar System a group of astronauts are sent to explore it, lead by Hank Henshaw. Upon boarding the ship, the astronauts are are destroyed with the exception of Henshaw. The Brainiac then transforms Henshaw's DNA from human to Kryptonian while at the same time converts part of his body into Kryptonian technology and transfers a copy of the Eradicator program into Henshaw's brain. It's this event that transforms him into a Kryptian war machine.

While Zod and his loyalists are still in hyper sleep, the Brainiac constructs a robotic body for itself (designed to look similar to the Brainiac on Super friends). Brainiac then plans to ready Earth for the coming of Zod. In order to do so, it makes contact with Lex Luthor and begins manipulating Luthor in order to ready the planet. Luthor however is far too brilliant to be manipulated and manipulates the Brainiac in return. Luthor and Brainiac share technology and information, which is how Luthor is able to create Metallo using Kryptonian technology and kryptonite and at the same time alters the DNA of others on his pay role to create a force that is able to battle the Kryptonians even Superman; some of which are Plastique, Livewire, Parasite, an unstable Superman Clone known as Bizarro and finally a Superman clone which also contains his human dna known as Nuclearman. Nuclearman becomes the prototype for the eventual creation of Superboy.

Eventually, Zod and his forces awaken and plan to attack and conquer Earth. The Eradicator program realizes the flaw in the Brainiac's plan and transports itself into Superman's Fortress of Solitude. Secretly working with in the fortress without Superman knowing, the Eradicator manages to create a clone of Superman but altering the dna so that he could project energy blasts from his hands rather than eyes. By making this alteration to the dna, it leaves the clone far weaker possessing on the powers of flight, super strength, invulnerability, and hand energy blasts. The alteration also leaves the clone's eyes light sensitive, forcing him to wear a visor. The Eradicator then transfers it's program into the clone and is forced to wear a solar suit as the clone absorbs far less solar energy and depletes it quickly when his powers are in use. Finally, the Eradicator reveals itself to Superman and explains the coming of Zod.

The Brainiac discovers the Eradicators betrayal and begins work on a new Kryptonian weapon to take it's place. Using forced Evolution of Zod and Faora's baby, the ultimate weapon is forged as Doomsday is born and kept under lock and key deep within the ship.