Cyborg Superman

[Kara Zor El]

I'm posting this in connection with Supernova and us folks trying to guess who he may be.

How many of you guessed that the Cyborg Superman was Hank Henshaw, how many even remenered or new who he was?

Where any of you dissapointed when he suddenly shot The Last Son Of Krypton in the back? I was?
I really liked him and he intigued me a lot. He new Clark's name. Farm on Kansas etc. And seemed the most powerful of the four imposters.
What they have done with him since is ruin him really.
They took the Superman identity off him for a start. He works best as an imposter Superman. And even though his cover was blown he should have kepts the costume just to rub it in Superman's face everytime the clashed.

Could Supernova just be some old one story character like Hank?

[phantom1592]

I remember that while I never "liked" the character. His "internal dialogue" made him HAVE to be the real Superman. Something about looking at Doomsday and thinking how they never bothered to was "HIS" blood of him.


Of course I never knew who Henshaw was before hand so the disappointmen was multiplied.

[Jack Zodiac]

He's still wearing Clark's face and spitcurl, and Superman's emblem. However, I like what they've done with him since then, because the last thing DC needs is even more "imposter" Supermen running around. The last time I saw him before his most recent appearance, Hal pushed him into the Source Wall. I don't know how or when he ripped himself or had himself ripped out of it, but now he's controlling the Manhunters in an uncharted sector of space to overthrow the Green Lantern Corps.

[phantom1592]

He's still wearing Clark's face and spitcurl, and Superman's emblem. However, I like what they've done with him since then, because the last thing DC needs is even more "imposter" Supermen running around. The last time I saw him before his most recent appearance, Hal pushed him into the Source Wall. I don't know how or when he ripped himself or had himself ripped out of it, but now he's controlling the Manhunters in an uncharted sector of space to overthrow the Green Lantern Corps.

I kind of like him in the Superman suit, or even his newer variation. The All red thing he had got pretty old fast. He's supposed to be a combination of Kryptonian metal and DNA, he has the right to "present" himself as kryptonian. At least as a reminder of how tough he's supposed to be.

[J. Robb]

I like him as the "Cyborg Superman" as well, not just "Cyborg". But he works best when his appearances are rare and surprising.

I think an interesting story idea for him would be Henshaw to decide to be a "hero" on Earth. Many often say Superman has the power to change the world, but chooses not to. What if Henshaw decides to go ahead and "fix" things? Heck, some people would cheer him.

(Not the most original story, I know, but not many are these days. ;) )

[Jack Zodiac]

Meh. I'd rather watch Black Adam play the global hero than Hank Henshaw. I think the most interesting thing his character could do is orchestrate one last attack on Superman that would make Brainiac look like Johnny 5, and then have him die off during it and let his character go out on a dangerous high note.

[J. Robb]

Meh. I'd rather watch Black Adam play the global hero than Hank Henshaw.
Well, Black Adam seems to be an ongoing story. My Hensaw idea was just for one story, I wouldn't want him hanging around all the time either.

[Matt]

For me, Henshaw was a poke at all the cyborg, kill-the-villain type characters that were around in large numbers at the time of the 'Reign of the Supermen' storyline. You know who I mean, they usually had blood or death in their names.

He's not really a character I can take very seriously for some reason; but most likely because he's there to be almost a carictature of the above mentioned stereotype.

[Blight]

Well I say I probably be the best Cyborg Superman fan there is, and I say that Henshaw was great villain save for the fact that by Trial of Superman it was getting repetive of him to always try and bring back War World.

It was nice and refreshing the way that when he came back from the Source Wall he wasn't trying the same old trick and instead live a human life again.

Course Superman prevented it once more and that was an interesting angle I wish was followed instead of what they followed with the whole Red/Blue, Kandor, Phantom Zone, and.. *grumbles* Bunny.

Though given the downaward turn Henshaw had after Final Night I guess it's for the best that Geoff chose to ignore the events after Final Night with Henshaw.

The thing I always loved about the Cyborg Superman was that even with all that power he had, the man was a bastard. That if he saw an opening he take it, like he did with the Last Son, numerous times on Superman, and blasting Hal Jordan when in the shadows in the latest tale.

Henshaw is the master of the cheap shot. And until Superboy Prime came along, the Cyborg Superman was the best or should I say most evil of the dark dopplegangers of Superman.

Sure some have done some evil acts, but blowing up Coast City in Superman's name and the domino effect of creating a bigger menace in Parallax, then almost taking Apoklips from Darkseid and then destroying who knows how many worlds all the time wearing the face of Superman.

That's gotta hurt the MoS in the pride catagory even more now if he ever finds out now the Cyborg Superman has an army of Manhunters willing to cleanse the galaxy of all life and bring a machine-like purity to it.

[Kara Zor El]

Imagine if he teams up with Superboy Prime. The blood will flow.

I don't like the red outfit at all. And I agree with some of you that he should be in the Superman outfit. Or at least Kryptonian. I don't want to see him all the time but he is a very powerful Superman Villian and Dc vilian and I think he still has great potential.

And hey Blight! Do you have the Cyborg Superman Action Figure?

[KnOwMaN]

He's still wearing Clark's face and spitcurl, and Superman's emblem. However, I like what they've done with him since then, because the last thing DC needs is even more "imposter" Supermen running around. The last time I saw him before his most recent appearance, Hal pushed him into the Source Wall. I don't know how or when he ripped himself or had himself ripped out of it, but now he's controlling the Manhunters in an uncharted sector of space to overthrow the Green Lantern Corps.

I don't recall Hal ever push it to the source wall. I do know he turned Cyborg into energies and absorbed him when Hal was still Parallax at the source wall. That event took place at Final Night. But I am not sure how Cyborg return after this.

[Matt]

Henshaw escaped the Source Wall when Superman Blue visited the Wall - Henshaw was able to electronically jump from the Wall into the circuitry that was in Superman's containment suit.

[Blight]

Imagine if he teams up with Superboy Prime. The blood will flow.

I don't like the red outfit at all. And I agree with some of you that he should be in the Superman outfit. Or at least Kryptonian. I don't want to see him all the time but he is a very powerful Superman Villian and Dc vilian and I think he still has great potential.

And hey Blight! Do you have the Cyborg Superman Action Figure?


It's the only thing I regret I don't have yet. :(

But I do have the video game he appeared in :D Plus a Dan Jurgens autographed issue where he first appeared in it.

[Lonewalker]

I personally like the direction they took with Cyborg Superman now. In fact, I’m obsessed with it. He looks badass and doesn’t even need hair gel. Top that. :p

[Blight]

I personally like the direction they took with Cyborg Superman now. In fact, I’m obsessed with it. He looks badass and doesn’t even need hair gel. Top that. :p


I'm so obbessed with the Cyborg Superman I made an Appreciation thread of Henshaw at Newsarama that is near 1000 posts :p I've teased Kurt Busiek into trying somehow someway of him writing the Cyborg which he refuses since he's not fond of the character.. but one day someone will convince him how cool the character is. Oh yes.. somehow some way I'll turn him to liking the character. Oh, I've whored this picture who knows how many times on Newsrama I think I brainwashed them into voting it for cover of the week. :D

http://www.newsarama.com/general/GeoffJohns/GL_Cv12_LayersMerged.jpg

[KnOwMaN]

I find Cyborg is a more interesting villain fighting Green Lantern than Superman. :)

[Kara Zor El]

It's the only thing I regret I don't have yet. :(

But I do have the video game he appeared in :D Plus a Dan Jurgens autographed issue where he first appeared in it.

I do but I bow down to your obvious top fanness. I'll be his second biggest fan. Keep trying to convince them to bring him back with a bang. It'd be great if he sprung Superboy Prime out of his prison, and they teamed up.

[PatrickG]

I liked it the two or three times he's pulled shapeshifting stunts.

I'd like to see him have a run-in with Brainiac or Ultraman, though.

[Kara Zor El]

I liked it the two or three times he's pulled shapeshifting stunts.
Yeah he's real scary when he can come at you from anyware.


I'd like to see him have a run-in with Brainiac or Ultraman, though.
That would be cool. It would be interesting to have Cyborg Superman go up against the whole of the Crime Sydicate. Maybe have him go over to the Anti-Matter Universe and try and take over.

[Blight]

I do but I bow down to your obvious top fanness. I'll be his second biggest fan. Keep trying to convince them to bring him back with a bang. It'd be great if he sprung Superboy Prime out of his prison, and they teamed up.


Early on in IC, I had a Cyborg Superman theory that he was the one who blew up the Watchtower and given Mongul appeared shortly afterward. It was a good theory.

Though Geoff has already given me the bang with GL #11-12 with the Cyborg Superman's return and now being leader of the Manhunters :D I'm quite hopeful that soon after Sinestro the Cyborg Superman will be #2 Rogue of GLs particularly Hal besides pestering the Man of Steel once more with his new found power.

The only problem with the team up is the fact that Henshaw could only lie and cheat to get Superboy-Prime on his side for so long. After all, Prime is just so darn reckless as evident in the final issue of IC. It take a lot of coaxing for the two to ever agree and help each other.

[Kara Zor El]

Early on in IC, I had a Cyborg Superman theory that he was the one who blew up the Watchtower and given Mongul appeared shortly afterward. It was a good theory.

Though Geoff has already given me the bang with GL #11-12 with the Cyborg Superman's return and now being leader of the Manhunters :D I'm quite hopeful that soon after Sinestro the Cyborg Superman will be #2 Rogue of GLs particularly Hal besides pestering the Man of Steel once more with his new found power.

The only problem with the team up is the fact that Henshaw could only lie and cheat to get Superboy-Prime on his side for so long. After all, Prime is just so darn reckless as evident in the final issue of IC. It take a lot of coaxing for the two to ever agree and help each other.

True enough. Cyborg would have to have something up his sleave that would control Superboy Prime. Like pretending he could get his parents back for him or something like that.

[PatrickG]

True enough. Cyborg would have to have something up his sleave that would control Superboy Prime. Like pretending he could get his parents back for him or something like that.

I think that's the problem with Henshaw.

Most of Superman's enemies are capable of teaming up with eachother without a doublecross.

Even Luthor, slimy as he is, could bankroll a villain or group of villains -- or even personally lead them -- without doublecrossing them any more than it takes to cover his own tail.

Cyborg is trickier. And while his status quo in GL works, for him to be a Superman villain I think he needs to be more than a match for Superman.

Instead, his powers make him a physical match and his cyborg stuff just allows him to compensate some for Superman's connections.

Whereas Zod or Brainiac or Luthor can team up for the greater good. And by good I mean evil.

Heck, almost all of Superman's enemies could conceivably form a team without any crippling doublecrosses just as Batman's could.

[Blight]

I think that's the problem with Henshaw.

Most of Superman's enemies are capable of teaming up with eachother without a doublecross.

Even Luthor, slimy as he is, could bankroll a villain or group of villains -- or even personally lead them -- without doublecrossing them any more than it takes to cover his own tail.

Cyborg is trickier. And while his status quo in GL works, for him to be a Superman villain I think he needs to be more than a match for Superman.

Instead, his powers make him a physical match and his cyborg stuff just allows him to compensate some for Superman's connections.

Whereas Zod or Brainiac or Luthor can team up for the greater good. And by good I mean evil.

Heck, almost all of Superman's enemies could conceivably form a team without any crippling doublecrosses just as Batman's could.

But also the problem with Prime, since he tried his own thing and finally was beaten when seperated from Alex. It did work twice though when the Cyborg Superman teamed up with Mongul (Reign) and Doomsday (Hunter/Prey). In both cases Henshaw showed he had somewhat control over his partners.

[Kara Zor El]

They could always enhance Henshaws abillity to control. make it a new power he has somehow gained during his space travels. It could be such a strong power that he decides to go and take over the anti matter universe then with the Crime syndicate under his control comes back and takes control of Superboy Prime and then they take out the corps and head for Earth to destroy the JLA and take over.

[Blight]

They could always enhance Henshaws abillity to control. make it a new power he has somehow gained during his space travels. It could be such a strong power that he decides to go and take over the anti matter universe then with the Crime syndicate under his control comes back and takes control of Superboy Prime and then they take out the corps and head for Earth to destroy the JLA and take over.


Cyborg Superman unheralded warlord of two universes? :eek: *faints*

[Kara Zor El]

Cyborg Superman unheralded warlord of two universes? :eek: *faints*
He heh. The Crime Syndicate world has all of those monitors in the streets. All that Big Brother technology could be used by the Cyborg to great effect. He could be everywhere at once. He could watch all of the Syndicates moves for months and then - wham bam thankyou mam - ultimate takeover.

[Cayman]

That character's always bugged me.

I have trouble with asymmetrical characters, I guess. :p

Cay

[David Atkins]

True enough. Cyborg would have to have something up his sleave that would control Superboy Prime. Like pretending he could get his parents back for him or something like that.

And the Cyborg's true purpose for involving Superboy-Prime at all, of course, would be to procure some of his DNA in order to upgrade his biological parts. :eek:

[Kara Zor El]

And the Cyborg's true purpose for involving Superboy-Prime at all, of course, would be to procure some of his DNA in order to upgrade his biological parts. :eek:

Now you're getting kinky!!!:p

[Syphre Zero]

And the Cyborg's true purpose for involving Superboy-Prime at all, of course, would be to procure some of his DNA in order to upgrade his biological parts. :eek:Maybe that would serve the Cyborg's purposes better than trying to coerce Superboy-Prime into working alongside him. We've seen from Reign Of The Supermen that the Cyborg is capable of assimilating organic beings and assuming control of them; imagine how dangerous the mind and technology of Hank Henshaw would be wrapped around the body of Superboy-Prime.

There's your next Crisis, DC. The Cyborg slips past the Green Lanterns, gives Superboy-Prime an anal probe, and takes his new Kryptonian host out for a spin. Worlds will live, worlds will die, and Superman's PR image will once again take a complete nose-dive.

[Blight]

Maybe that would serve the Cyborg's purposes better than trying to coerce Superboy-Prime into working alongside him. We've seen from Reign Of The Supermen that the Cyborg is capable of assimilating organic beings and assuming control of them; imagine how dangerous the mind and technology of Hank Henshaw would be wrapped around the body of Superboy-Prime.

There's your next Crisis, DC. The Cyborg slips past the Green Lanterns, gives Superboy-Prime an anal probe, and takes his new Kryptonian host out for a spin. Worlds will live, worlds will die, and Superman's PR image will once again take a complete nose-dive.


Oh Geoff please make this happen. :evilsmile

[Kara Zor El]

Oh Geoff please make this happen. :evilsmile

I will second that. :evilsmile :evilsmile

[mr_evilweed]

Feh, that's awful! That would reduce Sboy Prime who's the most disillusioned superhero in the universe to the level of a puppet!

[Blight]

Feh, that's awful! That would reduce Sboy Prime who's the most disillusioned superhero in the universe to the level of a puppet!

Well it wouldn't be the first time. And he be useful. :evilsmile

[Joe Acro]

I always loved Cyborg Superman for a few reasons: he was a decent match for Superman (if Supes wasn't being written god-like), he was like Ultron in that you really couldn't kill him, and he wore red armor. I don't really know about all the Phantom Zone stuff that happened with him, whether it's been explained how he escaped and whether he was ever truly sent back (which is where Wikipedia leaves me), but the last time I remember seeing him before this recent GL story arc is in a Manchester Black-centered Superman story where Supes has to fight a fair number of enemies, including Silver Banshee and Cyborg Superman. Cybor Superman was seemingly destroyed. In a blimp. Over the ocean. With no noticeable technology in the area. Is this no longer in continuity? If so, why? In either case, how does Hank end up on a Manhunter planet?

[brundlefly]

I like Hank Henshaw since he's a physical match for Superman, on top of his cyborg components providing him with an added edge. Thankfully Johns is rehabbing him a little in GL, giving him a cohesive plan and letting him go up against Hal and the Corps. It seemed for a while there that Cyborg Supes would show up for one issue just to get trounced and "destroyed," only to show up somewhere else later as though it had never happened. Kind of like Stryfe in the X-Men post X-Cutioners Song. The cycle of random attack-seeming death-unexplained resurrection can get really tiresome and just makes people sick of the character, since no thought is going into his appearances and he comes of as a simple "villain of the month."

[Blight]

I always loved Cyborg Superman for a few reasons: he was a decent match for Superman (if Supes wasn't being written god-like), he was like Ultron in that you really couldn't kill him, and he wore red armor. I don't really know about all the Phantom Zone stuff that happened with him, whether it's been explained how he escaped and whether he was ever truly sent back (which is where Wikipedia leaves me), but the last time I remember seeing him before this recent GL story arc is in a Manchester Black-centered Superman story where Supes has to fight a fair number of enemies, including Silver Banshee and Cyborg Superman. Cybor Superman was seemingly destroyed. In a blimp. Over the ocean. With no noticeable technology in the area. Is this no longer in continuity? If so, why? In either case, how does Hank end up on a Manhunter planet?


Pretty much it sounds like in GL#12 Geoff ignores everything involving the Cyborg Superman post the Final Night One-Shot. Henshaw specifically states that after their encounter in the Final Night One-Shot, the Cyborg Superman sent a signal that was picked up by the Manhunters who found him. However, it could also be said that how could he have had when he was stuck in the Source Wall. Which suggests that at the very least the appearance he made in Genesis counts when Superman encounters him and after that is when he encounters the Manhunters.

So I take it then every Cyborg Superman appearance has been wiped clean.

I like Hank Henshaw since he's a physical match for Superman, on top of his cyborg components providing him with an added edge. Thankfully Johns is rehabbing him a little in GL, giving him a cohesive plan and letting him go up against Hal and the Corps. It seemed for a while there that Cyborg Supes would show up for one issue just to get trounced and "destroyed," only to show up somewhere else later as though it had never happened. Kind of like Stryfe in the X-Men post X-Cutioners Song. The cycle of random attack-seeming death-unexplained resurrection can get really tiresome and just makes people sick of the character, since no thought is going into his appearances and he comes of as a simple "villain of the month."

Well that's the thing that made him a little one-note. That he always kept wanting to make a new War World. Every big appearance he was in:

Reign
Hunter/Prey
Trial of Superman
Green Lantern/Silver Surfer


Every time he mentioned wanting to start a new War World to conquer. I'm glad Geoff gave him a new goal since it seems he already has an army more greater than War World could ever provide. The Cyborg Superman Appreciation Thread (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=57297&highlight=%22Cyborg+Superman%22):evilsmile

[Kara Zor El]

Feh, that's awful! That would reduce Sboy Prime who's the most disillusioned superhero in the universe to the level of a puppet!
Hang on he was Alexander Luthors puppet all the way through Infinite Crisis. He has real puppet potential still.

I agree with the others that he shouldn't just pop up as villain of the month. He's bigger and badder than that and so he should always be part of a big story in which he is the ultimate threat.
I'm glad he's up against the Lanterns now.
I don't know if any of you guys play or are aware of Heroclix but they still haven't made a Cyborg Superman heroclix. Which bugs me to high heaven and back. He's going to be one formiddable clix when they get round to it.:eek:

[Blight]

Why is that out of curiousity?

[PatrickG]

Henshaw can inhabit more than one body at a time. All the post-Reign appearances were based on the Henshaw probe that was attached to Doomsday which is a different "branch" than the one Superman destroyed at the end of Reign. Didn't mean there weren't more of him out there.

[Joe Acro]

Why is that out of curiousity?
Why is what out of continuity?

[Kara Zor El]

Why is what out of continuity?
He said Curiosity, as a question to me.

Why is that out of curiousity?

Because of Cyborg Superman's powers. That will make him a very powerful Heroclix. He should be one of the highest point peices.

Anyway it's great to see so many fans of Hank here.

I'd love to see an animated version pop up in Justice League Unlimited.

[PatrickG]

I'd love to see an animated version pop up in Justice League Unlimited.

Unlikely since JLU is over... But maybe in the "Superman versus Doomsday" DVD which has its own continuity and is a loose adaptation of the "Death" story. I suspect the art will be based on Dan Jurgens' art (probably with fewer details to make it more animation friendly) since the direct-to-DVD movies are supposed to mirror the art of the comics they're based on. I definitely would love it if they worked Steel, Superboy and Henshaw in. (Eradicator might be a bit much, all things considered.)

Granted, if they did work everyone in... I'd expect it to be Cadmus that created Doomsday and Superboy... and Henshaw and Irons might get cast as former co-workers who did R&D at the project.

[Blight]

Yeah but since Timm is directing it won't he use his animation style then?

[Kara Zor El]

I hope they do get the Eradicator in there.

[Blight]

I hope they do get the Eradicator in there.

Yeah me too after all someone has to be the Cyborg's whippin boy. :evilsmile