WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Superman: Villains #1, from Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Greg Rucka, Jody Houser, Steve Lieber, Mike Perkins, Bryan Hitch and Eduardo Pansica, on sale now.
For decades, Superman has had some of the nastiest villains in the DC Universe. From the likes of Lex Luthor to Zod to Doomsday, his rogues gallery is full of sinister villains who can push the whole Justice League heroes to its limits.
However, certain enemies do pose a more cerebral threat, and one such villain is been Toyman. And in Superman: Villains #1, Toyman turns back on his criminal life in the wake of Superman publicly revealing his identity. As he walks this road, he targets DC's most sinister secret society and Superman's recent sparring partner, Leviathan.
As the Toyman, Winslow Schott has menaced Superman since Don Cameron and Ed Dobrotka introduced him in 1943's Action Comics #64. However, this story finds the Toyman locked in an existential crisis about his true purpose in the wake of Superman's identity reveal. In his lair, he recalls the multiple times he's been taken down by Kal-El, and he just can't believe Superman was really the intrepid reporter Clark Kent. Schott has been thwarted time and time again by Superman in comics and cartoons. But as his A.I. toys try to figure out what's the matter with him and cheer him up, Winslow has an epiphany.
He recalls one time Superman arrested him, remembering that he said that the hero wasn't better than him, something to which Superman agreed. The Man of Steel knew Winslow was meant for greatness, but the villain thought back then Superman was being patronizing and condescending. It's only now as he sees Clark desperately and genuinely wants to make the world a better place, he understands the Kryptonian was telling the truth. Clark saw a hero in him and he decides to turn himself in. And so, Toyman vows to someday become a heroic figure and live up to his new idol's expectations.
After surrendering, standing trial and going to prison, King Faraday recently approached the likes of Green Arrow, Talia al Ghul and such to form a new Checkmate, and he offers Toyman the same deal here. Faraday wants him to come aboard as the leader of their tech side and make a tangible change. He says Toyman can even fake his death for a truly fresh start, but he's ultimately focused on bringing down Leviathan. The secret society has taken over Markovia, and with Talia wanting the organization destroyed for stealing her concept, Kingsley has most of the soldiers he needs for the job.
Winslow's mind is exactly what the organization needs, and Kingsley offers him a legit, government-sanctioned deal that's more above-board than Amanda Waller's actions with the Suicide Squad. Considering how much trouble Leviathan has caused Superman recently, this could be the perfect way for the ex-villain to pay Superman back.
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