Superman to be Sadder and Potentially Deadlier on ‘Earth 2′

DC wrapped up their week of Earth 2 teases today with Jim Lee's design for the alternate earth version of Superman, and some quotes from the May-launching book's writer James Robinson and editor Will Moss. In keeping with the previous teases, it seems like the Earth 2 version of the character will be darker, angstier and perhaps more likely to employ lethal force.Robinson had this to say of this version of Superman at The Source:

Mourning the death of his beloved, Superman carries both a sadness in his heart along with the weight of Earth 2's welfare upon on [sic] his shoulders, while never showing this and seeming to all that he is the world's peerless champion.

Earth 2 editor Pat McCallum weighed in with similar emphasis on how this version of the character might deal with his less-than-ideal circumstances:

What would you have to do to teach Superman to kill? He's endured the loss of his home world, and now the Last Son of Krypton must weather the death of his soul mate of Lois Lane. Just how far can you bend the Man of Steel before he breaks?

I don't know, but McCallum sure seems to be implying we'll find out.

If Superman does "break" and learn to kill, then Earth 2's Trinity will be a pretty deadly trio. McCallum previously asked "Who will Batman kill to save his own daughter?" and Wonder Woman wields a sword and will be "determined to avenge her sisters...at whatever cost."

As for this Superman's super-costume, it's a little remarkable that it's so much closer to the "classic" Superman costume than the New 52 redesign. The "S" shield's a little bigger, and triangular-shaped instead of a pentagon, and the font is more stylized, but he's not rocking any armor or a high collar. He's sans trunks, but the colors of the trunks and belt show up in the wide, belt-like object around his waist area (If you squint really hard, it kind of looks like he's wearing tiny, high-cut red undies).

[Via The Source]