The following contains spoilers for Earth-Prime #4, on sale now from DC Comics.
The Arrowverse's version of a classic Superman villain gets a major power-up in DC's Earth-Prime #4.
Earth-Prime #4 comes from writers James Robinson and Paula Sevenbergen, artist Jerry Ordway, colorist John Kalisz and letterer Tom Napolitano. The issue, which takes place within Arrowverse continuity and follows Stargirl on a standalone adventure, sees the return of Needle, a former antagonist who has since had a change of heart.
After Stargirl, Pat Duggan and Needle defend themselves from a bear attack, Earth-Prime #4 ends with Needle being greeted by the villainous Magog. Magog says that he's not here to harm Needle; rather he's there to see if the former antagonist would be interested in some sort of sinister partnership and joining a team of villains he's assembling. "I come from a different time and place," Magog tells Needle. "Earth, but not this one, a different now, and a new tomorrow. But in that same world there are super-powered heroes who I see as a blight on what my world might be."
While intrigued, Needle refuses the offer and tells Magog he doesn't want to go down the same, dark path he once traveled down. "Mostly I fear...I would disappoint the memory of my dear wife, and for that alone, my answer is no," Needle tells him. The character also shoots a couple of his titular needles at Magog, which don't do any kind of noticeable damage, before the two part ways.
After Needle leaves, Magog tells himself that he'll get by just fine without him as he has a way to absorb Needle's powers. "I would have preferred you, of course," Magog says. "The real you, I mean. As you say, you've lived a life, and that experience cannot be replicated. Your powers, on the other hand...can be cloned with this one Needle alone. This new you would need to be conditioned, of course. Educated. Taught how to be the soldier I need. But you'll obey without question. So perhaps it's for the best how things ended here."
Magog first appeared in 1996's Kingdom Come #1 by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. In DC's Earth-Prime Arrowverse series, Magog has been operating behind the scenes and collecting villains for an overarching plot that will be fully revealed in the series finale, Earth-Prime #6: Hero's Twilight.
Earth-Prime #4 features cover art by Kim Jacinto and variant cover art by Matt Sayles. The issue is on sale now from DC.
Source: DC