The Composite Superman is a

supervillain A supervillain, supervillainess or supercriminal is a major antagonist and variant of the villainous stock character who possesses Superpower (ability), superpowers. The character type is sometimes found in comic books and is often the primary ...

, an enemy of

Superman Superman is a superhero created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, which first appeared in the comic book ''Action Comics'' Action Comics 1, #1, published in the United States on April 18, 1938.The copyright date of ''Action Comics ...

and

Batman Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...

. There have been several versions of the character; the original version first appeared in ''

World's Finest Comics ''World's Finest Comics'' is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1941 to 1986. The series was initially titled ''World's Best Comics'' for its first issue; issue #2 (Summer 1941) switched to the more familiar name. Michael ...

'' #142 (June 1964) and was created by

Edmond Hamilton Edmond Moore Hamilton (October 21, 1904 – February 1, 1977) was an American writer of science fiction during the mid-twentieth century. He is known for writing most of the Captain Future stories. Early life Born in Youngstown, Ohio, he ...

and

Curt Swan Douglas Curtis Swan (February 17, 1920 – June 17, 1996) was an American comics artist. The artist most associated with Superman during the period fans call the Bronze Age of Comic Books, Swan produced hundreds of covers and stories from the 195 ...

Fictional character biography

Joseph Meach

Joseph Meach is a former diver who Superman employs at the Superman Museum after saving his life from a failed dive. However, Meach continues to resent Superman and battles him after a freak accident where he is struck by lightning and gains the combined powers of the

Legion of Super-Heroes The Legion of Super-Heroes is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino, the Legion is a group of superpowered beings living in the 30th and 31st centuries of t ...

. Meach attempts to reveal Superman and Batman's secret identities, but his powers fade before he can do so. After regaining his powers from the alien villain Xan, Meach battles Superman and Batman before sacrificing himself to save them.

Xan

Xan later escapes prison and travels back in time to recreate the event that gave Meach his powers, taking the name Amalgamax. Superman, Batman, and the Legion defeat Amalgamax by making him believe that he has the same disease that killed his father.

Composite

A third incarnation of Composite Superman appears in ''Superman/Batman Annual'' #3. This version is a clone created by

Professor Ivo Anthony Ivo is a supervillain in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is a mad scientist who is the creator of the android villain Amazo and, along with villainous scientist T. O. Morrow, the co-creator of the android Tomorrow Woman. As ...

in an attempt to replicate the

Justice League The Justice League, or Justice League of America (JLA), is a group of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The team first appeared in ''The Brave and the Bold'' #28 (March 1960). Writer Gardner Fox conceived the ...

's powers. However, he becomes unstable after being unable to solve every crime at once and commits suicide.

Composite Man

A fourth incarnation of Composite Superman appears following '' Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!'', which reboots the Legion's continuity. This version is a Durlan and a member of the

Dark Circle The Dark Circle is a criminal organization appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes. They first appeared in 1968, created by Jim Shooter as a criminal organization founded by five members and ...

. He battles the Legion of Super-Heroes before

Saturn Girl Saturn Girl (Imra Ardeen) is a superheroine appearing in comics published by DC Comics. A talented telepath from the 30th century, Saturn Girl is a founding member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Imra's "Saturn Girl" title refers to her homeworld ...

shuts down his mind, leaving him

catatonic Catatonia is a complex syndrome most commonly seen in people with underlying mood disorders, such as major depressive disorder, or psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia. People with catatonia exhibit abnormal movement and behaviors, wh ...

Powers and abilities

Joseph Meach

The Joseph Meach incarnation of Composite Man possesses all of Superman's powers, as well as those of

Supergirl Supergirl is the name of several fictional superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original, current, and most well known Supergirl is Supergirl (Kara Zor-El), Kara Zor-El, the cousin of superhero Superman. Th ...

, Mon-El,

Ultra Boy Ultra Boy (Jo Nah) is a superhero appearing in DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. He gained his powers after being eaten by a whale-like beast in space and being exposed to large amounts ...

, and the members of the Legion of Super-Heroes. * Growth ( Colossal Boy) * Shrinking ( Shrinking Violet) * Triplicate cloning ( Triplicate Girl) * Electrokinesis (

Lightning Lad Garth Ranzz, also known as Live Wire and Lightning Lad, is a superhero appearing in media published by DC Comics, usually those featuring the Legion of Superheroes, a 30th and 31st century group of which he is a founding member. He has the supe ...

) * Fire generation (

Sun Boy Sun Boy (Dirk Morgna) is a superhero appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. He has the ability to generate internal solar energy to whatever degree he wishes, ...

) * The ability to make things super-lightweight ( Light Lass) * The ability to make things super-heavy (

Star Boy Thom Kallor is a character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. The character has also been known as Star Boy and Starman. Kallor as Star Boy has appeared in various media outside ...

) * Matter consumption ( Matter-Eater Lad) * Invisibility (

Invisible Kid Invisible Kid is the name of two superheroes in the DC Comics universe, both of whom are members of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. Publication history The first Invisible Kid debuted alongside Chameleon Boy and Colos ...

) * Inflation (

Bouncing Boy Bouncing Boy (Charles Foster "Chuck" Taine) is a superhero appearing in American comic books by DC Comics, usually as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Born on Earth, Bouncing Boy has the power to inflate like a giant ball and bounce around ...

) * Elasticity ( Elastic Lad) * Shapeshifting ( Chameleon Boy) * Telepathy (

) * 12th-level intelligence (

Brainiac 5 Brainiac 5 (Querl Dox) is a superhero appearing in comics published by DC Comics. He is from the planet Colu and is a long-standing member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. Brainiac 5 has been substantially adapted int ...

) * Magnetic manipulation (

Cosmic Boy Cosmic Boy (Rokk Krinn) is a superhero appearing in comics published by DC Comics. He is from the 31st century, and is a founding member and original leader of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Cosmic Boy has appeared in various media outside comics, p ...

) * X-ray vision (

) * Elemental transmutation (

Element Lad Element Lad (Jan Arrah) is a superhero appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. A native of the planet Trom, he has the power to transmute chemical elements. ...

) * Intangibility (

Phantom Girl Phantom Girl (Tinya Wazzo) is a superhero appearing in books published by DC Comics, and is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. In post-'' Zero Hour'' continuity, she is known as Apparition. She has the power to ...

)

Composite

Professor Ivo's version of the character possesses the powers of Superman, Batman,

Atom Atoms are the basic particles of the chemical elements. An atom consists of a atomic nucleus, nucleus of protons and generally neutrons, surrounded by an electromagnetically bound swarm of electrons. The chemical elements are distinguished fr ...

Elongated Man Elongated Man (Randolph William "Ralph" Dibny) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in ''The Flash'' #112 (February 25, 1960). The character made his live-action debut on The CW's live-actio ...

, and Red Tornado.

Other versions

* Crayd'l / Composite Superboy, a nanotech computer who possesses Robin and

Superboy Superboy is an identity used by several fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. These characters have been featured in several eponymous comic series, in addition to ''Adventure Comics'' and other series ...

's abilities, appears in '' Impulse'' #56. * A

DC Animated Universe The DC Animated Universe (DCAU, also referred to as the Timmverse or Diniverse by fans) is a Shared universe, shared fictional universe based on DC Comics properties and media franchise produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It began with ''Batman ...

-inspired incarnation of Composite Superman appears in '' Superman and Batman: World's Funnest''. * A mecha based on Composite Superman appears in ''

Superman/Batman ''Superman/Batman'' is a monthly American comic book series published by DC Comics that features the publisher's two most popular superheroes: Superman and Batman. ''Superman/Batman'' premiered in August 2003, an update of the previous series, ' ...

'' #6. * An original incarnation of Composite Superman formed from the fusion of several alternate universe counterparts of Batman and Superman appears in ''Superman/Batman'' #25. * The Joseph Meach incarnation of Composite Superman makes a cameo appearance in '' The Kingdom: Planet Krypton'' #1.

In other media

Television

* The Composite Superman makes a cameo appearance in the ''

Justice League Unlimited ''Justice League Unlimited'' (''JLU'') is an American superhero animated series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation with DC Comics in season 3 and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Universe, and ...

'' episode "The Greatest Story Never Told", voiced by Susan Eisenberg. This version is an amalgamation of Batman, Superman, and

Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superheroine who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in ''All Star Comics'' Introducing Wonder Woman, #8, published October 21, 1941, with her first feature in ''Sensation Comic ...

created by

Mordru Mordru, also known as Mordru the Merciless, is a supervillain featured in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Jim Shooter and artist Curt Swan, Mordru made his first appearance in ''Adventure Comics'' #369 (June 1968). ...

. * The Composite Santa Claus, a character based on Composite Superman, appears in ''

Robot Chicken ''Robot Chicken'' is an American adult animation, adult stop motion, stop-motion animated sketch comedy television series created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich for Cartoon Network's nighttime programming block Adult Swim. The twelve-minute ...

'', voiced by

Christian Slater Christian Michael Leonard Slater (born August 18, 1969) is an American actor. He made his film debut with a leading role in '' The Legend of Billie Jean'' (1985) and gained wider recognition for his breakout role as Jason "J.D." Dean, a sociopath ...

. * The Composite Superman appears in '' Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship'', voiced by

Jonathan Banks Jonathan Ray Banks (born January 31, 1947) is an American actor. He played FBI Special Agent Frank McPike in the television series '' Wiseguy'' (1987–1990). For his role, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supportin ...

Film

A mecha based on Composite Superman appears in '' Superman/Batman: Public Enemies''.

Video games

* The Joseph Meach incarnation of the Composite Superman appears as a character summon in '' Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure''. * The Joseph Meach incarnation of the Composite Superman appears as a playable character in '' Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham'', voiced by

Travis Willingham Travis Willingham is an American voice actor known for his character portrayals in video games and English anime Dubbing, dubs. His notable roles include Roy Mustang in the ''Fullmetal Alchemist'' franchise, Cleo in ''Glass Fleet'', Ginko in ''L ...

Merchandise

* An

action figure An action figure is a poseable character model figure made most commonly of plastic, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, military, video game, television program, or sport; fictional or historical. These figures are usually ...

of Composite Superman was produced by DC Direct and released in 2005. A second version, based on the character's appearance in ''Superman/Batman: Vengeance'' issue #5, was released in 2008. * Beast Kingdom displayed a planned Composite Superman action figure during the 2024 Shanghai Toy Licensing Expo.

References

External links

Fictional character biography

Joseph Meach

Xan

Composite

Composite Man

Powers and abilities

Joseph Meach

Composite

Other versions

In other media

Television

Film

Video games

Merchandise

See also

References

External links