One of the most pivotal characters in the Infinite Crisis storyline is, predictably, Superman. But this isn’t your father’s Superman . . . though he might be your grandfather’s.

While I’m sure there will be plenty of articles in the coming weeks explaining the Infinite Crisis storyline, I’ll give you a quick background on Earth 2. The DC Universe we know began as Earth 1, and its Golden Age began with an infant Kal-El plummeting to Earth in a rural Kansas wheat field. He became Clark Kent, intrepid news reporter for the Daily Planet. But the DC Universe is not that simple. There was a multiverse of different Earths, each with a slightly (or in some cases, drastically) different path of history. On a similar but unique Earth 2, an infant Kal-L was sent by famed Kryptonian scientist Jor-L into the heavens after he discovered that his home world was about to explode. Found by John and Mary Kent (as opposed to Jonathan and Martha Kent), baby Kal-L also became Clark Kent, but this time, he worked for the Daily Star paper in Metropolis.

Earth 2 was also the original home of the Justice Society of America, a pre–World War II version of the Justice League of America. Superman was a part of the Justice Society and remained so until the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline, when all the Earths in the multiverse, save one, were destroyed by the Anti-Monitor. But just before the multiverse was destroyed, Alexander Luthor (of Earth 3) was able to transport Superman (Earth 2), Lois Lane (Earth 2), and Superboy (Earth Prime) to a secluded pocket universe. Now, Superman of Earth 2 is back, and he’s very likely to be the most powerful version of the Man of Steel yet.

Superman, Earth 2 combines four major JSA themes: ally, effects keying off of exhaustion, attacking and defending up the curve, and the version Earth 2. If you want to see a card that is likely to be in every build of a JSA deck, you’ve come to the right place.

Ally of My Ally

It’s only fitting that the JSA members work well with their JLA counterparts; in fact, you’ll find that they’re one of the strongest team combinations we’ve ever had. Superman doubles every power-up when characters are exhausted, which is basically every attack. Where previously you depended on cards like Hawkman ◊ Katar Hol, Thanagarian Enforcer; Booster Gold; and Connor Hawke ◊ Green Arrow, the JSA gives you even more powerful ATK and DEF modifiers. It often happened in testing that a power-up gave in excess of +5 ATK / +5 DEF!

When the Chips are Down . . .

The JSA excels when the chips are down, and they exemplify this by gaining bonuses while exhausted or in combat with characters of greater cost. Even though Vs. System has natural ways of exhausting its characters (through attacking and reinforcement), the JSA expands on this by having many of its characters trigger effects on exhaustion or exhaust to pay costs. Superman is just one of the lynchpins of this strategy, especially when he boosts. Which leads us to . . .

Another World

You might think that the version Earth 2 is merely flavor for this character, but you’d be wrong. There are a number of characters with this version and a few cards that interact with it. Lead Designer Justin Gary wanted to capture the “otherworldly” nature of these characters, so they work together to form an impressive sub-team inside an already impressive team. Superman’s boost cost affects himself, so he is a terrific alternate 7-drop, and he is even helped by his own ally power when he is in combat up the curve. There are even cards that allow Earth 2 characters to fight beside their Earth 1 counterparts, but that’s for another preview.

Superman: Drafts of Steel

With Superman a common, one of the most likely places you’ll see him is in your deck at the Sneak Preview. This card is one of the best 6-drops you can play in any team in Infinite Crisis. Covering turns 6 and 7 with relative ease, you’ll always be glad to see him on your side of the board.