#chronovore

Damn someone asked me who should be a time travel foe for Superman to contrast him being the "Man of Tomorrow" and I totally forgot about the Chronovore!

Not the kind of foe who Superman can verbally spar with, but certainly the kind of opponent that presents a huge challenge for Superman to deal with. It's ability to eat and manipulate time ends up resulting in Jonathan Kent's death, and I can already imagine all sorts of potential tragedies that might emerge every time this beast crosses Superman's path. People dying before their time is the obvious route, but imagine a flash of inspiration that would have led a scientist to a major breakthrough never happens now, because the Chronovore ate the time when that would have occurred. Or a chance meeting between two people which would have made them lifelong friends or lovers is gone. Perhaps someone was destined to get superpowers and become a great hero themselves, but that never comes to pass because the Chronovore alters the timeline. Tragedies like that, which really explore how much every second matters, could make for powerful storytelling.

All-Star Superman

Volume: 1 #6

Funeral in Smallville

Writers: Grant Morrison

Pencils: Frank Quitely

Inks: Jamie Grant

Covers: Frank Quitely, Jamie Grant

Featuring: Superman, Jonathan Kent, Krypto, Lana Lang, Martha Kent, Pete Ross, Chronovore, Superman Squad

All Star Superman

#6