History ComicBook / TheOzEffect

"The Oz Effect" is a five-issue story arc that was published in October and November 2017 in the pages of ''ComicBook/ActionComics'', written by longtime ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' writer Dan Jurgens under the ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' saga. It served as the climax of Superman's conflict with the mysterious Mr. Oz.

Ever since his introduction in the last phase of the ''ComicBook/{{New 52}}'', Oz has been stalking Superman and his family for an unknown purpose. Oz is aware of every crucial moment in Superman's life, even his [[ComicBook/SupermanReborn cosmic rebirth]] in the new DC Universe, and has been kidnapping people from across the world to keep his own involvement hidden, including [[ComicBook/{{Robin}} Tim Drake]], [[ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman Doomsday]] and the new villain [[ComicBook/SupermanRebirth Prophecy]]. Now, Oz's identity and plans stand revealed, forcing Superman to confront everything he believes in to stop him.

** In the epilogue, Batman mentions his encounter with the ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} Batman, which happened during ''ComicBook/TheButton''.

* DespairEventHorizon: ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' #988 shows that [[spoiler:Jor-El]] was already on the precipice while still on [[spoiler:Krypton due to high personages on Krypton -- including his own father -- destroying his plans to save the Kryptonian race.]] [[spoiler:Doctor Manhattan's likely intervention]] and exile to [[{{Bulungi}} possibly Mogadishu on Earth]] and [[CrapsackWorld what he experienced there]] merely gave him the last little shove he needed to full-on despair. Now he's trying to drag [[spoiler:his son]] over the same event horizon.

* MythologyGag: The cover of ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' #989 references the cover of ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'' #10.

** ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' #989 shows [[spoiler:an aged Jor-El hovering over an exploding Krypton.]]

* TwoLinesNoWaiting: This story runs concurrently with the ''ComicBook/DetectiveComicsRebirth'' storyline "A Lonely Place of Living", in which Tim Drake [[spoiler:and the Titans of Tomorrow Tim Drake]] attempts to escape from Oz's base.

* CerebusRetcon: [[spoiler:An often joke is about how Jor-El failed to have any backup plans so that he and Lara could survive along with their son. This story arc explains that Jor-El indeed had a plan to evacuate the Krypton population with large spacecrafts, weeks before the disaster happened and he pleaded with the Science Council. His father-in-law refused to allow the project to go forward, believing the plan to be a destined failure due to the Council's already teetering faith in Jor-El, and destroyed the plans. Jor-El was then forced to plead with the Council to heed his warnings, only to be rejected and only having time to build a rocket for Kal-El.]]

* KickTheSonOfABitch: Again, Mr. Oz.
** He rips Metallo's Kryptonite heart out while claiming he is "freeing" him with the implication that he's only doing it because Metallo is powered by Kryptonite. Worst of all for Metallo is that he is being held prisoner and cannot move so he has to watch what is essentialy his heart being ripped out before his very eyes unable to do anything.
** His worst action so far has to be depowering Cyborg Superman (New 52 version) while the latter is being held in water, causing the Cyborg to drown. [[spoiler: The reason it is so bad is that Cyborg Superman or rather Zor-El is his own brother.]]

* TragicVillain: [[spoiler:Oz, aka Jor-El, is revealed to be this in the end. Instead of dying in Krypton with his wife, he is saved by Dr. Manhattan, who subtly and continuously brainwashes him for more than 30 years, making him believe humanity is evil and that Jor-El was wrong to send his son to Earth. By the time Superman is able to reason with him, Jor-El realizes what he has done and begs his son to save his family before Dr. Manhattan separates him from his son again.]]

* WalkingSpoiler: Mr. Oz is [[spoiler:Jor-El]].

* DespairEventHorizon: ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' #988 shows that [[spoiler:Jor-El]] was already on the precipice while still on [[spoiler:Krypton due to high personages on Krypton -- including his own father -- destroying his plans to save the Kryptonian race]]. [[spoiler:Doctor Manhattan's likely intervention]] and exile to [[{{Bulungi}} possibly Mogadishu on Earth]] and [[CrapsackWorld what he experienced there]] merely gave him the last little shove he needed to full-on despair. Now he's trying to drag [[spoiler:his son]] over the same event horizon.

* {{Reconstruction}}: [[spoiler:An often joke is about how Jor-El failed to have any backup plans so that he and Lara could survive along with their son. This story arc explains that Jor-El indeed had a plan to evacuate the Krypton population with large spacecrafts, weeks before the disaster happened and he pleaded with the Science Council. His father-in-law refused to allow the project to go forward, believing the plan to be a destined failure due to the Council's already teetering faith in Jor-El, and destroyed the plans. Jor-El was then forced to plead with the Council to heed his warnings, only to be rejected and only having time to build a rocket for Kal-El.]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Jor-El''': It was never as simple as the Science Council rejecting my research. Countless wrongs contributed to our destruction.]]

''The Oz Effect'' is a five-issue story arc that was published in October and November 2017 in the pages of ''ComicBook/ActionComics'', written by longtime ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' writer Dan Jurgens under the ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' saga. It served as the climax of Superman's conflict with the mysterious Mr. Oz.

''The Oz Effect'' is a five-issue story arc that will be published in 2017 in ''ComicBook/ActionComics'', written by longtime ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' writer Dan Jurgens under the ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' saga. It will be the climax of Superman's conflict with the mysterious Mr. Oz.

* ManOfKryptonite: [[spoiler:Caught in the explosion of Krypton before he was rescued, Jor-El has a bit of Kryptonite lodged into his head, allowing him to fire bursts of "Kryptonite Vision" from his left eye.]]

* CallBack: When he and Mr. Oz are fighting in Oz's base, Superman discovers Mxyzptlk's room, which was mentioned in ''ComicBook/SupermanReborn''.

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Despite Superman managing to save Jor-El from his mental influence, he is unable to stop Dr Manhattan from taking him and is left with the knowledge that "something" terrible is going to happen soon. The final scene is him solemnly telling his son that, in wake of all the tragedies that have occurred, he has to get back to work.]]

* MoreThanMindControl: [[spoiler: Turns out Jor-El was under his staffs mental influence.]]

* MyBelovedSmother: [[spoiler:Jor-El turns out to be an-almost {{Yandere}} male version of this as he's trying to keep everything and everyone who could ever harm his beloved Kal-El and try to spirit him away from Earth and Manhattan's grasp and when Superman keeps refusing, he tries to bring him to heel by shooting him with Kryptonite.]]

* SelectiveObliviousness: Mr. Oz, AKA [[spoiler:Jor-El]], is a firm believer of HumansAreTheRealMonsters due to seeing the handywork of Kassim's militant group first hand and thus declares that all of humanity doesn't deserve Superman. "All of humanity" includes the selfless family who tended to his injuries and fed him for a significant amount of time at no benefit to themselves while they also suffered under Kassim's rule and had a shortage of food and supplies, only shooing him away out of fear of reprisal rather than any sort of malice. He has also ignored how there are many humans who ''aren't'' bastards, including the majority of the Justice League and their associates, medical workers (like the the doctor he arranged to be murdered by a militant group similar to the one he suffered under), and good cops like Maggie Sawyer (who defended a thief who ran away with medical supplies from being attacked by an angry mob instigated by Oz's mind control chips) despite spying on Earth for an indeterminate amount of time. Granted, he does acknowledge the people who ''have'' helped him and he is willing to make minor exceptions to his mentality for Lois Lane and Jon Kent (who's only half-human), but his absolutism is still notable.

* {{Utopia}}: [[spoiler:Jor-El]] has created, or is in the process of creating, a world called Bliss, inhabited by superpowered beings that don't have to hide behind masks or secret identities. A place where everyone can be truthful and honest without fear. When [[spoiler:Jor-El]] tells Jon his family is invited to join him, Jon says Lois wouldn't be allowed to join because she has no superpowers. [[spoiler:Jor-El]] replies she has a superpower of her own: her mind.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Superman is finally able to get through to Jor-El, who realizes that he's been manipulated by Dr. Manhattan to be this way. However, Manhattan takes him away once he spots him and sends Superman back to the Fortress. Reunited with his family, he can hear the news reports of the world falling apart. However, he finds his HeroicResolve once more and flies off, telling Jon he's going "back to work."]]