The Cleric

The Cleric is a mysterious ancient holy man who appears in Superman's world, most notably as the original keeper of the Eradicator — a powerful Kryptonian artifact — which he safeguarded on Earth for centuries before his fateful encounter with the Man of Steel.

Few characters make their mark in just a handful of appearances, but The Cleric — debuting in the landmark Action Comics Annual #2 in 1989, brought to life by the extraordinary creative trio of Jerry Ordway, George Pérez, and Mike Mignola — is one of them. Emerging at the height of the Copper Age, this DC figure carved out a place in Superman's world across Adventures of Superman, Superman, and Action Comics Annual, sharing pages with Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and even Bruce Wayne. With two of those eight catalog appearances recognized as key collector issues, The Cleric punches well above their weight in terms of significance. A rare, atmospheric presence in the Man of Steel's corner of the DC Universe, this is exactly the kind of deep-cut character that rewards the curious fan willing to dig into late-'80s Superman mythology.