The Injustice universe gives DC’s heroes a choice between fighting for freedom with Batman or kneeling before Superman. This dark timeline sees Superman becoming a murderous tyrant after being tricked by the Joker into killing Lois Lane and their unborn child. In doing so, the Joker created a Superman who will stop at nothing to ‘protect’ the planet – even if it means slaughtering some familiar faces.
DC’s 2013 fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us depicted the final battle between Batman’s insurgency and Superman’s regime, but the full story was actually told in the 2013-2016 Injustice comic series by Tom Taylor, Brian Buccelato, and various artists. DC repeated this marriage of comics and games with 2017’s Injustice 2 sequel game, and the Injustice 2 comics also written by Tom Taylor with art by Bruno Redondo, Juan Albarran, Daniel Sampere, Mike S. Miller, and Xermanico. The comic series detail Superman’s master plan to cleanse the world of evil by disbanding the Justice League and creating the One Earth Regime, killing anyone who stands against him. But while the heroic deaths in these series are often discussed, plenty of villains also met disturbing ends. Here’s every villain who Superman’s regime killed in its attempt to ‘save’ the world.
15 The Joker Underground – Burned Alive by Superman
Superman Slaughters His Subjects
In the fifth year of Superman’s regime, the Joker’s legacy returns in a new form. The Joker Underground is a terrorist organization, using guns and explosives to fight against Superman’s regime – their role as ‘villains’ is questionable as they’re fighting for freedom, though even Batman’s insurgency finds fault with their methods and their veneration of the man who annihilated Metropolis.
Batman’s insurgency investigate the Gotham faction of the group, who have assembled under Jason Bard. In Buccellato, Bruno Redondo, and Juan Albarran’s Injustice: Year 5 #8, Harley Quinn and Batwoman invite the Joker Underground into an alliance with the Insurgency, but only if they’re prepared to disarm and use more peaceful methods to get their way. Sadly, the alliance never happens, as after hearing that the group are using Joker as a symbol of heroic resistance, Superman crashes their meeting and burns them alive. It was a major moment in Superman’s fall, as his rage at Joker being treated as a hero prompted him to murder non-powered citizens in a moment where no lives were at risk.
14 Steve Trevor – Beheaded by Wonder Woman
The Death That Really Changed the Timeline
While Steve Trevor dies before the founding of Superman’s regime, he is integral to its creation. In Injustice 2 Annual #1: Wonder Woman of War (Kate Perkins, Tom Taylor, Marco Santucci, Jamal Campbell, and David Yardin), fans learn Wonder Woman’s origin in this world, and it gets dark. In the Injustice timeline, Steve Trevor is a Nazi agent, betraying Wonder Woman and killing an Amazon guard in order to steal her lasso. Diana beheads Steve with the lasso, and goes on to be a far more brutal and pessimistic hero.
Throughout Injustice, whenever Superman considers scaling back his mission, Wonder Woman pushes him on. She’s the ultimate true believer in the One Earth Regime, and it all begins with Steve Trevor’s terrible betrayal and Diana’s lethal response.
13 Victor Zsasz – Gutted by Damian Wayne’s Nightwing
Damian Avenges Alfred Pennyworth
The man obsessed with “making a mark” finally gets a taste of what his victims go through. Zsasz killed Alfred Pennyworth on Superman’s orders, but Regime loyalist Damian Wayne (who has adopted Nightwing’s mantle after killing Dick Grayson) doesn’t know that his superior made the decision. In Injustice: Year Five #18 (Buccellato, Mike S. Miller), Damian Wayne arrives at the Regime’s supermax prison to stage a private meeting with the man who killed his father figure. Damian’s revenge is complete as he tortures and kills Victor Zsasz with a knife in his prison cell.
12 The Joker – Impaled by Superman
Superman’s Reign of Terror Begins
The death that began Superman’s descent into tyranny. In Injustice: Year One #1 by Tom Taylor, Axel Giménez, Mike S. Miller and Jheremy Raapack, the Joker uses Scarecrow’s fear toxin to brainwash Superman into killing his pregnant wife, Lois Lane. But the clown also rigs Lois’ heartbeat to a nuclear bomb in Metropolis that detonates when she passes away. With a little push from Wonder Woman, Superman breaks his one rule by killing the Joker right in front of Batman. All it takes is one bad day, and Superman’s actions prove that Joker will always have the last laugh.
11 Lex Luthor – Neck Snapped by Superman
Lex Becomes a Martyr for Batman’s Insurgency
Lex Luthor’s death forever changed the Injustice narrative. In 2017’s Injustice: Ground Zero #10 by Christopher Sebela, Jheremy Raapack, Daniel Sampere, and Miguel Mendonça, Harley Quinn narrates the events of the Injustice: Gods Among Us video game story. Quinn details the story of Lex Luthor, a member of Superman’s Regime secretly working for Batman’s Insurgency, who gave his life to save her from the Joker and stop Superman. Before Lex can weaken Superman with a Kryptonite laser, Shazam interferes and an enraged Superman kills Lex for betraying him. Unfortunately for Superman, Lex’s death was broadcast worldwide, causing the world to turn on the High Councilor and side more with Batman’s Insurgency.
10 The Rogues – Executed by Wonder Woman
The Rogues Side with Batman
Joining Batman’s insurgency during the fifth year of Superman’s regime, Flash’s former villains were reluctant allies of the Dark Knight. Captain Cold appears as a playable character in Injustice 2, and mentions that the other Rogues were hunted down one by one, with his sister Golden Glider publicly executed by Wonder Woman. This horrifying loss caused Cold to abandon the Rogues’ moral code, and dedicate himself to killing those he considers responsible as a member of Gorilla Grodd’s Society.
9 King Shark – Impaled by Flash
Flash Betrays the Regime
While Flash stood by Injustice‘s Superman after he lost his family, he always had doubts about the One Earth Regime. These doubts turned to action in Injustice Year 5 #14 (Buccellato, Tom Derenick, Rex Lokus, Wes Abbott), when the Regime’s enforcers (including former supervillains King Shark and Girder) are dispatched to silence rogue journalist Iris West. Responding in a panic, Flash throws a broom at a charging King Shark, accidentally causing his death.
8 Gorilla Grodd – Stabbed by Aquaman
Grodd’s Death Comes in the Actual Games
Grodd’s death takes place in the Injustice 2 videogame. The player can fight Grodd as either Black Adam or Aquaman, but it’s Regime ally Aquaman who stabs him to death in the following cinematic. In the Injustice comics, Grodd is the leader of the Society – an alliance of villains who arise after the fall of Superman’s regime.
7 Parasite – Thrown into the Sun by Superman
Superman Is Done Facing the Same Villains Again and Again
One of Superman’s classic foes wasn’t safe from the High Councilor. Parasite is a supervillain who has the ability to absorb and consume all manner of energy and power. In Injustice: Year Five #2 by Brian Buccellato, Tom Derenick, Rex Lokus, J. Nanjan and Mike S. Miller, Parasite is locked in battle with Hal Jordan’s Yellow Lantern. The former Green Lantern is having trouble taking down the monster with his fear ring, until Superman jumps in to save him. The High Councilor makes short work of Parasite and kills him by throwing him into the sun, where he can’t regenerate.
6 Bizarro – Neck snapped by Doomsday
Superman Finds a Use for His One-Time Killer
Bizzaro, an imperfect Superman clone created by Lex Luthor, was made to eventually replace the evil Superman as Earth’s protector. The clone escapes from his prison in Luthor’s lab and is eventually found and attacked by Doomsday. However, the villain isn’t acting on his own. Doomsday had returned to Earth to kill Superman, but the Regime subdued him and had Lex brainwash the monster to do their bidding. In Injustice: Year Five #10 by Brian Buccellato, Bruno Redondo, Wes Abbott, J. Nanjan and Mike S. Miller, after seeing the destruction Bizzaro was causing, Lex had no choice but to kill his own creation by using Doomsday to beat him and snap his neck.
5 Klarion the Witch Boy – Incinerated by Sinestro
Sinestro Is Superman’s Most Shocking Recruit
One of the most powerful wizards in DC met his end at the hands of the Regime. Klarion the Witch Boy and his pet cat Teekl are experts in the world of dark magic and demonology. Usually a dastardly and childish troublemaker, Klarion actually helped Batman’s Insurgency figure out a way to use dark magic to stop Superman. In Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three #17 by Brian Buccellato, Rex Lokus, Bruno Redondo, Wes Abbott and Xermanico, this former villain is taken down by a sneaky energy blast from Sinestro, who had just allied with the Regime and become one of Superman’s most trusted enforcers.
4 Kalibak – Skull Crushed by Superman
Darkseid’s Son Learns Earth Has Changed
This New God bit off a little more than he could chew against an angry Superman. Kalibak the son of Darkseid lives only to serve and be loved by his father by conquering worlds in his name. In Injustice: Year One #8 by Tom Taylor and Mike S. Miller, upon hearing of Superman’s demand for a worldwide ceasefire, Kalibak makes a trip to Earth to challenge the Man of Steel. However, after killing innocents and mocking Kal-El’s pacifist nature, the son of Darkseid is shocked to see Superman has changed. Superman vaporizes Kalibak’s Parademons and finally crushes Kalibak’s skull with ease.
3 Despero – Neck Snapped by Sinestro
Sinestro Kills Despero To ‘Earn’ Superman’s Trust
Another magical entity is killed by the master manipulator, Sinestro. The three-eyed space demon Despero has been a constant thorn in the Justice League’s side since his debut in the 1960’s Justice League of America #1. This planetary conqueror has magical powers, can withstand any attack from the Justice League, and even has abilities such as telekinesis, body possession and mind control.
Despero comes to Earth in Injustice: Year Two #8 by Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, Rex Lokus, and Xermanico, just as Sinestro is trying to earn Superman’s trust. Indeed, it’s Sinestro who draws Despero to Earth, then uses his powers to make it look like the villain is about to kill him. Sinestro murders Despero in front of Superman’s Green Lantern allies, Hal Jordan and John Stewart, and worms his way into the Man of Steel’s good graces thanks to his ‘restraint’ under threat.
2 Amazo – Destroyed by Supergirl
The Last Daughter of Krypton Proves Herself to the One Earth Regime.
The ultimate weapon against the Justice League finds its way to the Injustice continuity. After the fall of the Regime, the remnants including Wonder Woman and Black Adam find themselves up against the insurgency and a new enemy: Amazo. This unstoppable android created by Professor Ivo has all of the powers and skills of every Justice League member. Thanks to Ra’s Al Ghul, Amazo is unleashed onto the world and eventually kills Ivo’s family. After Ivo weakens Amazo’s defenses, Supergirl arrives and completely destroys the android in Injustice 2 #24 by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo. Diana and Adam would later recruit Supergirl to their cause to save her cousin, Kal-El, from his Red Kryptonite prison and retake his place as Earth’s ruler.
1 The Regime Kills Brainiac
Injustice 2’s ‘Bad’ Ending Sees Superman’s Regime Return
In the Injustice 2 videogame, Batman is forced to work alongside former dictator Superman against the greater threat of Brainiac. At the end of the game, players get the choice of who to side with – the regime heroes or the insurgency. While the insurgency use Brainiac to try and restore his collection of stolen worlds, Superman executes him and takes control of his tech, brainwashing Batman and resuming his brutal reign. While Batman’s ending is considered the canonical version by fans, there haven’t yet been any stories set after the game, meaning that for players who opted for Superman, Brainiac’s death results in the glorious return of Injustice‘s One Earth Regime.
