Superman’s City Gets Its Own Batman with New Anti-Hero Character

DC reveals the existence of Marilyn Moonlight, the so-called “Spirit of Metropolis,” in the March 2023 solicitations. Is she Metropolis’s new Batman?

Warning: Potential SPOILERS for Superman #2Metropolis might be far less grim than Gotham City, but at last Superman’s home turf might be getting its own Batman-like character. DC reveals the existence of Marilyn Moonlight, the so-called “Spirit of Metropolis,” in the March 2023 solicitations.

This new Metropolis character gets the spotlight in the solicit for March’s Superman #2, which introduces Marilyn Moonlight for the first time. The summary describes her as both an “antihero” and “the Spirit of Metropolis,” someone who seemingly only “operates at night.” Though readers don’t yet know much more about the character, the solict also includes two new covers featuring DC’s newest antihero. One spotlights her sleek black-and-white costume design, while the other shows Superman in her mysterious clutches, forcing fans to ask whether Marilyn Moonlight will be “friend or foe to the Man of Steel.” The full solicitation reads as follows:

SUPERMAN
#2

• Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
• Art and cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
• Variant covers by TONY S. DANIEL, GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ, JONBOY MEYERS, and NATHAN SZERDY
• 1:25 variant cover by JUANJO LOPEZ
• 1:50 variant cover by RAHZZAH
• 1:100 foil variant cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
• $4.99 US | 32 pages | $5.99 US (card stock)
• ON SALE 3/21/23
• NIGHT OF THE PARASITE!
• Superman is overwhelmed as Parasite’s new powers are unleashed! Can Superman stop all of Metropolis from being consumed by the power-hungry Parasite or will he need Lex Luthor’s help to save the day? Introducing a new antihero—Marilyn Moonlight, the Spirit of Metropolis—who only operates at night! Is she friend or foe to the Man of Steel?! And how does she connect to Metropolis’s secret past?

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The introduction of this new character comes at the very beginning of a new era for Superman and the other denizens of Metropolis, hero and villain alike. After returning for Warworld after a successful revolution, Clark Kent is taking the Superman title back from his son Jon, who will be starring in his own miniseries aptly titled Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent. Meanwhile, the main Superman book is getting a new tone along with its new creative team. DC has promised a brighter tone for Superman and Metropolis, which makes the introduction of this darkly-dressed antihero even more striking.

Is Metropolis Finally Getting Its Own Batman?

Metropolis is often seen as the light to Gotham City’s darkness. While Superman is the city’s primary champion, its other heroes also stand, often mask-less, in the light of day, battling brawlers, aliens, and corrupt CEOs. Meanwhile, Batman and his family of vigilantes operate almost exclusively at night, taking down themed mobsters and mad scientists. Marilyn Moonlight, with her “antihero” status as Metropolis’s nighttime protector, might just be the City of Tomorrow’s answer to Batman.

As the solicit itself states, readers don’t yet know if this new character will be Superman’s ally or enemy. Only time will tell—but it will certainly be interesting to see an antihero like Marilyn Moonlight explore Metropolis’s dark side. Whether she’ll be as competent as Batman—or as friendly with Superman as Batman—is definitely yet to be seen.

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Check out Superman #2, available March 2023 from DC Comics!