Theories abound as to the identity of Supernova, 52’s mysterious Metropolis marvel.  With just over a month to go before the big unmasking, some frontrunners include former JLA mascot Lucas “Snapper” Carr, former Leaguer Ray “Atom” Palmer, the time-master known as Rip Hunter, an alternate-timestream version of Booster Gold, or some combination thereof. 

In 52 #31, Ralph Dibny confronts Supernova, stating that he knows the other’s secret.  Supernova accepts this at face value, not questioning Ralph’s detective skills.  Along with Supernova not wanting to be seen with Ralph, and not wanting Ralph to say his real name, this indicates that the two have a shared history.  Ralph’s assertion that one device could account for all of Supernova’s powers also goes unchallenged.  Moreover, Superman’s extended absence from Metropolis was “the key” to his deduction, according to Ralph, “or one of two keys, if you want to be cute about it.”  Finally, Supernova’s lack of familiarity with the current Wonder Girl — who maintained that Supernova was her late boyfriend Superboy — suggests that he is also relatively unfamiliar with the current Teen Titans lineup (or its predecessor Young Justice).

Snapper, Booster, and Ray Palmer all have connections to Ralph through the Justice League, and some speculation holds that “Rip Hunter” is a pseudonym for Michael Carter, Booster’s real name, or Daniel Carter, Booster’s present-day ancestor.  Snapper-Nova’s powers might come from his old Star-Tsar supervillain costume; future technology would explain Booster-Nova’s powers; and an augmented version of the Atom’s white-dwarf-derived devices would do the same for Palmer-Nova. Additionally, they all know (or are at least within a couple of degrees of) a Leaguer from the New Gods — Mister Miracle, Orion, Big Barda, or Lightray.  Any of these could provide our Supernova with a Mother Box, an all-purpose sentient computer that could do the augmenting or might well be the “one device” Ralph spoke of. 

In fact, Lightray would make a good Supernova candidate.  Superman’s absence might otherwise have invited Intergang back into Metropolis, so Lightray-Nova is there to make sure Intergang stays out.  Lightray’s powers aren’t too far off from Supernova’s, and his Mother Box could account for Supernova’s teleportation abilities (a toned-down Boom Tube) and interference with electronic devices (including shutting down a satellite from long distance).  Scott Free (who trained Shilo Norman as Mister Miracle) would have to make his Mother Box work harder to give him Supernova-style powers, but “the key” would fit perfectly with a super-escape artist.  “Two keys” might also refer to two people posing as Supernova, so two New Gods might be a possibility as well.

That said, however, I am sure my New Gods speculation is wrong.  Back in the heady days of “Hush,” when I expected more out of Jeph Loeb, my fairly educated guess held that Professor Hugo Strange was behind the plot to destroy Batman.  It made sense, it accounted for what seemed like an obvious red herring, and it kept the number of people who knew Batman’s secret identity to a minimum.  Indeed, while Lightray and/or Scott might want to remain anonymous for some political reason related to the New Genesis/Apokolips conflict, no one immediately associates the New Gods with the Elongated Man (or even the Justice League) the way they would Booster Gold or the Atom. 

Accordingly, my pick for Supernova is a character who’s worked with Superman both in the Justice League and on a solo basis, who’s instantly recognizable the world over, who’s dealt with Darkseid regularly, and whose own powers are so formidable that were he to use them for full-time crimefighting, the crooks wouldn’t know what hit them:

Santa Claus.

Supernova flies?  Santa can too, by adapting whatever makes his reindeer go or just using his own brand of high-tech trickery from the elves’ workshop (or, again, a Mother Box).  Breaking into the Batcave would also be no problem for someone who B&Es millions of times in one night.  Coincidentally, Santa’s team-up with Superman came after the Man of Steel was felled by the Toyman’s white-dwarf-star-based trap … and white dwarf stars can end their lives how…? 

But Santa’s not buff! you say.  Not necessarily — Santa’s not buff for Christmas.  Remember Skinny Santa from “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and Mrs. Claus encouraging him to “eat, Papa, eat?”

Fine … but Cassie thought Supernova was Kon-El.  Simple:  that was her fondest wish, and we all know that Santa’s in the wish-fulfillment game.  She saw and heard what she wanted to.

So what about “the key?”  What about Luthor’s Kryptonite gauntlet in the Batcave?  Wouldn’t Santa know Cassie?  Santa knows everybody!  Well, it’s not the most perfect guess; and besides, who’s so invested in the mystery of Supernova that he can’t have a little fun with it?  Of course Supernova’s not Santa Claus.  Santa’s a real person, and Supernova’s just a guy in a comic book.

Still, Santa and Supernova share one important trait:  that air of mystery.  The older we get, the more we poke holes in our fantasies.  Physics is no friend to either Santa or superpowers; neither is economics nor law, nor even the logistics of going to the bathroom.  That’s why I like little flights of fancy like NORAD’s Santa Tracker* — they allow us to suspend disbelief for just a little longer, and live in a world where Santa can exist without reservation or question.  Uncertainty separates faith from dogma, after all; and what is Christmas about if not the mystery of faith?

That’s not to say I won’t continue to watch for Supernova clues.  I might even go over some back issues if the holidays will let me.  My nose doesn’t twitch like Ralph’s, but a good mystery like this one can engage in a way that makes the solution almost an afterthought.

Happy Holidays, blogosphere!

 

[* By the way, NORAD Santa-tracker satellites sit in geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above the Earth ... sound familiar?]

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