Sunshine Superman is an alternate version of Superman from a parallel world. While the original Superman is a Kryptonian who happens to resemble one of Earth's caucasian Americans, Sunshine Superman is a Kryptonian who happens to resemble one of Earth's African Americans, including sporting an afro. His costume mostly parallels that of Earth 1 Superman, but his trunks and boots are yellow instead of red and his shield is sun-shaped with a yellow "S" symbol on a red background; he appears to be the tallest of all of DC's Superman parallels, though within what would be normal height parameters for an Earth human. Sunshine Superman is (or was) a member of the Love Syndicate of Dreamworld, alongside other heroes such as Speed Freak and Magic Lantern, two parallel versions of the Flash and Green Lantern. All three of them bear a picaresque resemblance to the public face of the United States counter-culture of the 1960s and 1970s.

Sunshine Superman's world was destroyed by the Crisis, and he and the rest of his teammates were erased from the continuity, until the Psycho-Pirate began reviving many heroes and villains destroyed during the Crisis. During this encounter, Sunshine Superman expressed worry that if he disappeared again, no one would remember him.

During the second Crisis, Sunshine Superman was one of many alternate Supermen that had been recreated by Alexander Luthor Jr., although his appearance was not on panel. A newer version had been established as living in one of the new, 52 Earths created after the Second Crisis, only now the colors of his shield were reversed. He was a member of the Supermen of the Multiverse during the Final Crisis.