Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League - Superman # 1 2022 NM-

Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League - Superman #1 is a 2022 DC Comics one-shot tie-in. It explores the psychological "paradise" created for Clark Kent after the primary Justice League team was seemingly killed by Pariah and the Great Darkness during the Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths event.

The Core Plot: A Dream of Fatherhood

Written by Tom King with art by Chris Burnham, the main story focuses on Clark Kent trapped inside a pocket dimension tailored by Pariah to be his absolute perfect dream life.

• The Premise: In the real continuity, Clark missed out on watching his son, Jon Kent, grow up normally because Jon was rapidly aged up while traveling in deep space with his grandfather, Jor-El.
• The Illusion: The pocket world grants Clark his deepest desire: a quiet reality where he gets to experience all of Jon's childhood milestones. He watches Jon navigate childhood bullies (like a young Orion), get his first car, and wear a custom Robin-like costume as they protect Earth together.
• The Catch: As Jon grows up, he realizes this world is fundamentally flawed. In this paradise, an older, weary Superman has completely isolated himself from the rest of the cosmos, ignoring interstellar tragedies and genocides committed by Darkseid just to focus entirely on Earth and his family. Jon ultimately decides he must leave his father's protective bubble to save the wider universe. Clark eventually realizes the perfection is artificial—a beautiful prison keeping him compliant.

The Backup Story: Aquaman's Paradise

Written by Brandon Thomas with art by Fico Ossio, the issue features a secondary story focusing on Aquaman (Arthur Curry) trapped in his own customized dream realm:

• Arthur's paradise manifests as a vibrant celebration where his human father and Atlantean mother are alive and happily renewing their vows.
• The world gathers his entire family, his adult daughter Andy, and all of his closest sidekicks together in harmony—even turning his arch-nemesis, Black Manta, into a trusted family friend. Like Clark, Arthur is forced to confront the fact that this ideal sanctuary is an illusion meant to drain his energy.