Penultiman: Comics’ Lamest Superhero is Basically Reverse-Superman

First, the name of Ahoy’s hero is Penultiman, a portmanteau that contains a portion of the word penultimate, which means “last but one in a series of things; second last.” Meanwhile, the name of DC’s hero contains the word  “super,” the definition of which includes descriptions such as “higher,” “more than,” “extra,” “exceeding” and the like. These contrast greatly with anything that has anything to do with “last” and all that it entails.

Second, Penultiman is removed from his home world (and time) to live on Earth in the present day. But his displacement isn’t the result of a loving effort to protect and ensure his continual existence as was the case with Superman. Basically, Penultiman’s people shunned him because he is devolved. Sure, their law states that a devolved creature cannot mingle with their kind, thus requiring them to transport him back in time to a period when their species was not as evolved as they are now, but Penultiman’s people obviously think he’s repulsive (one even pukes after noticing he has “sex characteristics”). They also openly laugh at the idea that he could live in a world where he is not regarded as stupid. At least his “parent” cares for and wants him to stay, right? Kind of. His parent wanted to keep him in hiding for their own selfish reasons rather than trying to find him a better life.

In what undoubtedly embellishes this tragic image, Penultiman’s people end up calling him back to help them defeat a new threat that is plaguing their era. Penultiman excitedly accepts their request and saves their world from destruction in an effort to prove his worth, only to be banished once again as his services are no longer required.

Third, Penultiman tries to mingle in the human world by adopting an alternate identity, Agent Cruz, who works at the FBI, similarly to how Clark Kent works at the Daily Planet. Penultiman’s alter ego, however, is not respected by his peers or his boss. They openly despise him and give Penultiman additional work when he asks for time off. Meanwhile, his colleagues laugh and joke at his failures. Clark undoubtedly has his fair share of struggles in the office, but nothing to the degree that Penultiman’s Agent Cruz endures on a daily basis.

Fourth, Superman doesn’t have a robot sidekick (though, he has had his fair share of sidekicks, just not robotic ones). Meanwhile, Penultiman has what he refers to as a biomechanical understudy named Antepenultiman. Ironically, Antepenultiman does a better job being Penultiman and Agent Cruz than Penultiman does. When Penultiman returns to his era to save his people, he puts Antepenultiman in charge. And when he returns, Antepenultiman was able to convince one of his nemeses to give up a life of crime, which Penultiman had  tried to do earlier and failed.

Fifth, it’s because of these numerous failures and tribulations, as well as his inability to make anyone respect him, that Penultiman suffers from a severe case of self-loathing. Antepenultiman summarizes it best when he asks Penultiman, “Why do you despise yourself?” Superman may have some issues of his own, but the last thing he does is despise himself.

About The Author