Since the beginning of Geoff Johns' run on Superman with John Romita Jr. through to the blockbuster Rebirth event of the DCU, the question has been asked.
Who is Mr. Oz?
He seems to exist outside of time. He can view everything everywhere. He speaks cryptically of teaching Clark Kent important lessons in his life. He has some power. But he is hardly omnipotent. We recently saw him using henchmen to try to capture Doomsday. He seemed to need Doomsday as an energy source. He has popped in and out of the story as needed.
But who is he?
I initially guessed that it was actually a manifestation of Geoff Johns himself, a metatextual commentary on what was going on in DC Comics.
Then the Rebirth comic occurred, showing that the Watchmen were now a part of the official DCU. The easy answer seemed to be that Mr. Oz was Ozymandias. He had a penchant for looking at many screens, reading the events as they unfold. His workers are adorned with a symbol consistent with a Nostalgia perfume bottle.
But it seemed too easy. So I didn't agree.
I then hit upon the idea that Mr. Oz was short for Mr. John Osterman. Maybe he is a de-powered Dr. Manhatten. We know Manhatten has a big role in Rebirth, darkening the DCU. Perhaps it drained him? Perhaps, he forced Osterman to come to the surface, a way to humanize himself? I was sold on this idea.
But that didn't explain the 'lessons' taught (unless he meant the lessons learned from the New 52). And it also seemed too easy. Maybe because it seems like Mr. Oz is more Superman-centric than the company-wide Watchmen storyline.
So I have a new theory.
