Bizarro
Me am Bizarro! Me am not Superman! Me am worst hero!
Abilities
- •Inverse Superman powers — freeze vision instead of heat vision, flame breath instead of freeze breath
- •Superhuman strength rivaling Superman's — can trade blows with the Man of Steel
- •Near-invulnerability — resistant to most forms of damage
- •Flight — can fly at incredible speeds
- •Vulnerable to blue kryptonite instead of green kryptonite
- •Backward logic — says and does the opposite of what he means
- •Has created Bizarro World (Htrae) — a cube-shaped planet populated by Bizarro duplicates
- •Multiple versions exist — clones, duplicator rays, and Lex Luthor experiments
- •Despite his confusion, possesses a childlike desire to be heroic
Powers & Abilities
Biography
Bizarro is the imperfect duplicate of Superman — a being who looks like a cracked, chalk-white version of the Man of Steel and possesses all of his powers, but inverted. His heat vision freezes. His freeze breath burns. His X-ray vision can only see through lead. He says the opposite of what he means, does the opposite of what he intends, and lives in a world where ugly is beautiful, crime is rewarded, and the worst hero is the greatest. He is at once one of DC's funniest characters and one of its most tragic.
The original Bizarro was created in 1958 when a duplicator ray produced an imperfect copy of Superboy. The creature was rejected and feared, and sacrificed itself tragically. The more famous adult version appeared in 1959 when Lex Luthor used the same ray on Superman, creating a being with Superman's power but a fractured, childlike mind. Bizarro eventually created Bizarro World — Htrae (“Earth” spelled backward), a cube-shaped planet populated by Bizarro duplicates of Superman, Lois Lane, and other DC characters, governed by the Bizarro Code: do everything the opposite of how it's done on Earth.
What makes Bizarro endure is that he's not really a villain. He desperately wants to be Superman — to be heroic, to save people, to be loved — but his reversed nature means that every attempt at good causes harm. When he tries to save someone, he endangers them. When he tries to build, he destroys. He is a funhouse mirror of Superman's perfection, and the humor of his stories masks a genuine sadness: Bizarro is a being who can never be what he wants to be.
Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman delivered the most philosophically rich Bizarro story ever, exploring Htrae as a place of genuine alternate civilization. Joe Kelly's Action Comics run wrote Bizarro as genuinely heartbreaking. Scott Lobdell's Red Hood and the Outlaws reimagined Bizarro as a member of the “Dark Trinity” alongside Jason Todd and Artemis, giving him his most significant team role ever. Through every era and reinvention, Bizarro remains one of comics' most unique creations — a character who is simultaneously a joke, a tragedy, and a mirror that shows us what Superman would be without everything that makes him Superman.
First Appearances & Silver Age
Superboy #68
1958First appearance of Bizarro — a duplicator ray creates an imperfect copy of Superboy. The tragic, chalk-white creature is rejected by the world. Otto Binder and George Papp create one of DC's most iconic characters.
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Action Comics #254
1959First adult Bizarro — Lex Luthor creates an imperfect duplicate of Superman. This is the Bizarro that most readers know. The adult version becomes a recurring Silver Age fixture.
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Action Comics #255
1959First appearance of Bizarro Lois Lane — Bizarro creates his own imperfect Lois to have a companion. The Bizarro family begins to form.
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Action Comics #263
1960First appearance of Bizarro World (Htrae) — Bizarro creates a cube-shaped planet populated entirely by Bizarro duplicates. Everything is the opposite of Earth. A Silver Age masterpiece of absurdity.
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Action Comics #264
1960Bizarro World expands — the Bizarro Code is established: "Us do opposite of all Earthly things! Us hate beauty! Us love ugliness!" The rules of Htrae are set.
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Silver Age Bizarro World
Adventure Comics #285
1961Bizarro World stories begin in Adventure Comics — Tales of the Bizarro World becomes a backup feature. The series explores the absurd inverse society on Htrae.
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Adventure Comics #286
1961Tales of the Bizarro World continues — the feature runs from #285-299. Each issue explores the backward logic of Bizarro society with dark humor and philosophical wit.
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Adventure Comics #290
1962Bizarro World spotlight — the series reaches its creative peak. The inverse world concept becomes a vehicle for social satire and surreal comedy.
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Superman #140
1961Bizarro and the Blue Kryptonite — the substance that is deadly to Bizarro (while green kryptonite is harmless to him) is established. The inverse vulnerability.
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Action Comics #285
1961Bizarro Supergirl appears — the Bizarro duplicator creates an imperfect Supergirl. The Bizarro family and supporting cast continues to grow.
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Bronze Age Bizarro
Superman #306
1976Bronze Age Bizarro return — the character is reimagined for the more serious Bronze Age era. Bizarro becomes more tragic and less comedic.
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DC Comics Presents #1
1978Bizarro in DC Comics Presents — Superman's team-up title features encounters with his imperfect duplicate. A significant Bronze Age Bizarro appearance.
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DC Comics Presents #71
1984Bizarro spotlight — a memorable DC Comics Presents issue featuring the backward Superman. The character's tragic nature is explored.
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Superman #379
1983Bizarro in the pre-Crisis era — one of the last major Bizarro appearances before Crisis on Infinite Earths reshapes DC continuity.
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Post-Crisis Bizarro
Man of Steel #5
1986Post-Crisis Bizarro origin — John Byrne reinvents Bizarro as a failed Luthor clone experiment. The duplicator ray origin is replaced by genetic science. A key modern reinvention.
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Adventures of Superman #438
1988Post-Crisis Bizarro return — the Luthor clone version of Bizarro continues to appear. His tragic nature is amplified in the modern era.
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Superman vol. 2 #87
1994Bizarro returns after the Death of Superman era — the imperfect duplicate resurfaces in the post-Reign of the Supermen continuity.
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Action Comics #785
2001Joe Kelly's Bizarro — one of the most acclaimed modern Bizarro stories. Kelly writes Bizarro with genuine heart, exploring the tragedy of a being who wants to be Superman but can't.
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Superman/Batman #20-25
2005Bizarro World epic — Jeph Loeb sends Superman and Batman to Bizarro World. Ed McGuinness draws the most visually dynamic Bizarro stories of the modern era.
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Bizarro in Major Events
Infinite Crisis #1
2005Bizarro in Infinite Crisis — the imperfect duplicate is part of the Secret Society during DC's biggest crossover of the 2000s. Geoff Johns and Phil Jimenez.
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Forever Evil #1
2013Bizarro in Forever Evil — Geoff Johns and David Finch's villain event features Bizarro. Lex Luthor creates a new Bizarro clone as his weapon against the Crime Syndicate.
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Forever Evil #7
2014Bizarro's sacrifice — Luthor's Bizarro clone sacrifices himself to help defeat the Crime Syndicate. A surprisingly emotional death for the imperfect Superman.
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Final Crisis #1
2008Bizarro in Final Crisis — Grant Morrison's cosmic epic includes Bizarro among DC's vast cast. Darkseid's assault on reality affects every corner of the DCU.
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Bizarro & Lex Luthor
Action Comics #254
1959Luthor creates adult Bizarro — Lex's duplicator ray creates the imperfect Superman. Their creator-creation dynamic runs through the character's entire history.
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Man of Steel #5
1986Post-Crisis Luthor clone — Byrne's reinvention makes Bizarro a Luthor experiment gone wrong. Science replaces Silver Age magic.
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Forever Evil #1-7
2013Luthor builds a new Bizarro — during the Crime Syndicate's invasion, Lex creates a Bizarro clone as his personal weapon. Their relationship becomes almost paternal.
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Action Comics #841-842
2006Luthor and Bizarro — their complicated relationship is explored in depth. Luthor views Bizarro as his greatest failure and won't stop trying to perfect the formula.
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The New 52
Action Comics vol. 2 #23.1: Bizarro
2013Villains Month Bizarro one-shot — 3D lenticular cover. Sholly Fisch writes a modern Bizarro story. Highly collectible variant.
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Superman vol. 3 #23.1: Bizarro
2013Second Villains Month Bizarro — another lenticular variant featuring the imperfect duplicate. DC published two Bizarro one-shots due to character demand.
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Forever Evil #1
2013New 52 Bizarro — Luthor's Bizarro clone is the heart of the Forever Evil event. His sacrifice becomes one of the most emotional moments of the New 52.
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Superman vol. 3 #23.3: H'El
2013Bizarro ties to H'El saga — the New 52 Superman mythos connects Bizarro to the broader Kryptonian clone mythology.
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Bizarro Solo & Spotlight
Bizarro #1
2015Bizarro solo miniseries — Heath Corson and Gustavo Duarte send Bizarro and Jimmy Olsen on a cross-country road trip. Hilarious, heartwarming, and utterly unique. A critical darling.
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Bizarro #6
2015Bizarro miniseries finale — the road trip concludes with genuine emotional payoff. Bizarro and Jimmy's friendship is one of the most unexpectedly touching stories in modern DC.
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Bizarro Comics #1
2001Bizarro Comics anthology — an experimental anthology featuring indie and alternative cartoonists telling Bizarro stories. Features work from creators outside the mainstream DC house style.
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Bizarro World TPB
2005Bizarro World anthology — a second collection of alternative-style Bizarro stories. Features acclaimed indie creators interpreting DC characters through a Bizarro lens.
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All-Star Superman #7-8
2007Grant Morrison's Bizarro — in All-Star Superman, Bizarro creates an entire Bizarro Justice League on Htrae. Morrison and Frank Quitely deliver the most philosophically rich Bizarro ever.
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Rebirth & Modern Era
Red Hood and the Outlaws vol. 2 #1
2016Bizarro joins the Outlaws — Scott Lobdell puts Bizarro on a team with Red Hood (Jason Todd) and Artemis. The "Dark Trinity" mirrors Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. A fan-favorite modern reinvention.
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Red Hood and the Outlaws vol. 2 #6
2017Bizarro spotlight — his relationship with Jason Todd deepens. The series explores what happens when Bizarro becomes intelligent after Luthor experimentation.
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Red Hood and the Outlaws vol. 2 #25
2018Landmark Outlaws issue — the Dark Trinity's bond reaches its peak. Bizarro, Red Hood, and Artemis face their greatest challenge together.
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Superman vol. 5 #42
2018Bizarro in Rebirth Superman — Patrick Gleason and Peter Tomasi feature Bizarro in their acclaimed Superman run. The character fits naturally in the family-oriented era.
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Action Comics #1051
2023Modern Bizarro appearance — the character continues to appear in the Superman titles as DC moves into a new era of storytelling.
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Bizarro vs. Superman
Superboy #68
1958The original — a duplicator ray creates an imperfect Superboy who tragically sacrifices himself. The first of many Bizarro stories built on tragedy.
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Action Comics #254
1959Adult Bizarro vs. Superman — Luthor's creation confronts the real Man of Steel. The rivalry that defines both characters begins.
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Superman/Batman #20-25
2005Bizarro World epic — Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness send Superman and Batman to Htrae. Visually stunning and narratively inventive.
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All-Star Superman #7-8
2007Morrison and Quitely's Bizarro — Superman visits Htrae and confronts a Bizarro Justice League. The most sophisticated take on the concept ever published.
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Action Comics #785
2001Joe Kelly's Bizarro heartbreak — Bizarro tries to be a hero and fails. The most emotionally devastating Bizarro story ever. Kelly proves Bizarro is more than comedy.
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Collector Highlights
Superboy #68
1958The holy grail — first appearance of Bizarro. A major Silver Age DC key. High-grade copies are extremely valuable and highly sought after.
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Action Comics #254
1959First adult Bizarro — the version most fans recognize. A cornerstone Silver Age Superman key.
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Action Comics #263
1960First Bizarro World — the cube-shaped planet Htrae debuts. A unique and significant Silver Age key.
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Adventure Comics #285
1961First Tales of the Bizarro World — the backup feature begins. A fun Silver Age collectible.
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All-Star Superman #7
2007Morrison and Quitely's Bizarro — the definitive modern take. A modern classic that belongs in every Superman collection.
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Bizarro #1 (2015)
2015Bizarro solo miniseries — the critically acclaimed road trip with Jimmy Olsen. A hidden gem for modern collectors.
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