Warning! Spoilers ahead for Titans United #5
In a new preview for DC's Titans United, Conner Kent's Superboy is back on Earth with restored powers and a brand new suit. However, it's only because he's seemingly been brainwashed into killing his fellow Titans. Consisting of the team seen in the HBO Max Titans series, the latest issue makes it looks as though the heroes are going to have their hands full fighting the Kryptonian clone along with Starfire's sister Blackfire.
In previous issues of Titans United, Superboy's powers have been failing him, resulting in him largely being sidelined. Meanwhile the rest of the Titans have been uncovering a secret plot and massive conspiracy involving sleeper metahumans who could be activated at a moments notice. Furthermore, Starfire's darker sister Blackfire has made her involvement known, kidnapping Conner who was unable to resist, no longer having the strength he usually does as a Superman clone.
Now, the new preview for Titans United #5 from writer Cavan Scott and artist Jonas Trindade reveals that Conner will be experimented on by Blackfire, seemingly restoring and perhaps even amplifying his powers. He's also wearing a new armored suit while calling himself Black Zero, having been transformed as Blackfire's new agent as he fights the rest of the Titans during her invasion of Earth. Here are the preview pages and synopsis for the upcoming issue:
TITANS UNITED #5 - Black Zero strikes! Superboy has turned on the Titans as Tamaranean forces move to invade Earth. As Donna Troy falls to Conner's newly restored powers, Raven tries desperately to reach the friend and ally they once knew.
Now that Conner has become Blackfire's newest champion and has his powers back, it certainly looks as though he's been manipulated into killing her former teammates. However, he probably doesn't need much encouragement to take out Jason Todd's Red Hood, whom he really didn't like before being kidnapped. In any case, Conner has certainly become the Titans' next biggest threat before they face Blackfire herself.
Seeing as how this series mimics the team roster seen on HBO Max's Titans, it's interesting to see Superboy and Blackfire being so connected just as they were in latest season of the live-action series. As a result, perhaps Superboy isn't as brainwashed as his former team might assume and truly wants to serve her? Fans will have to wait and see when the full issue of Titans United releases on January 11th.