Comments that the DCU’sSupermanis “weak” have been common since the film’s first trailer was announced, but I believe this only proves that James Gunn understands the character. Naturally, these comments are only one of many waysJames Gunn’sSupermanmovieis being judged pre-release. This is not to say this judgment is a negative thing, either, as the first installment in theDCU’s planned Chapter One: Gods and Monstersis certainly going to face pressure from audiences - and the studio - to get things right.
Based on the view count for the trailers of theupcoming DC movie, it seems as though most of the attentionSupermanis receiving is positive. Many are looking forward to the movie as the summer cinema season gets underway, although one thing is being noted among audiences. Interestingly, I find it challenging to categorize this observation as either negative or positive, even after watchingSuperman’s official trailer, yet it remains prevalent nonetheless. Since even the teaser trailer, some people have claimed the titular hero ofSupermanlooks “weak,” though I think this only proves Gunn understands the Son of Krypton.
The DCU’s Superman Trailers Have Led To Comments That The Hero Looks “Weak”
Superman Is Facing A Lot Of Enemies In The DCU
Firstly, I will explore the main ways audiences have dubbed the DCU’s Superman “weak.” The first footage fromSupermanthat spawned this discussion was the opening of the film’s teaser trailer.This scene showed Superman crashing to the ground near the Fortress of Solitude, bloodied and beaten, before having to call Krypto to take him home. This scene led many to wonder how Superman could be left in such a helpless state, given that he is usually nigh-on invulnerable against most enemy attacks.
A few months after this, DC Studios released a special look at theSupermanmovie expanding on that scene.The special look revealed Krypto excitedly jumping on Clark as he lay in this bloodied state, causing more pain to the Man of Steel. Then, the robots who reside in the Fortress of Solitude concentrate the sun on Superman’s body to heal his multiple broken bones and wounds, causing the hero to scream in pain as his body fixes itself.
Finally, the official trailer forSupermanshowed the hero in some more slightly vulnerable positions. One involved him being seemingly subdued by Ultraman and the Engineer,two ofSuperman’s villains, while another showed him crashing to the ground and being helped up by a civilian. Via these many scenes,the DCU’s Superman has been labeled as weaker than past iterations,though I think this is unequivocally for the better where the character’s depiction is concerned.
The DCU’s Superman’s “Weakness” Makes A Lot Of Sense For The DC Hero
It Proves Gunn Understands His Character
Superman looking weak in James Gunn’s movieshould only be taken as a positive, as it means the hero will be depicted exactly as he should be: as a human.Of course, Superman is genetically not human and is a Kryptonian, with his genetic advancements granting him incredible powers upon being exposed to the Earth’s sun. However, one of the greatest aspects of Superman is that he was raised as Clark Kent, a human boy, and understands exactly what it means to live among the people of Earth as one of them.
Therefore, Superman being shown as “weak” exemplifies this perfectly.This is not to say the DCU’s Superman has no strength, as he is seen withstanding explosions, fire blasts, punching through Lex Luthor’s glass prisons, and so on. However, in showing Superman’s “weaker” moments, James Gunn is showing the hero at his most human.
It is these moments of vulnerability where he needs other humans to help him up and push him forward that typify the hope in humanity that Superman stands for…
Humans all have the ability to be knocked down, but what makes Superman the hero he is known to be is the ability to get back up and keep fighting.His immense powers help with that, but it is these moments of vulnerability where he needs other humans to help him up and push him forward that typify the hope in humanity that Superman stands for. Be it a random civilian, Lois Lane, or Ma and Pa Kent, Superman being human is perfect and, in showing this repeatedly, James Gunn proves he truly understands who Superman is as a character.
Superman Is No Longer An Unrelatable God
On a personal level, I am glad to see James Gunn’sSupermandepicting the hero in this way, as it fixes one of the few small issues I had with the DCEU’s iteration.Firstly, I will say that I loveMan of Steeland, whileBatman v Supermandid not work for me as much, I also greatly enjoyedZack Snyder’s Justice League. Henry Cavill was a great Superman and arguably deserved better than the treatment he was given, but it was simply the tone of the character I was not overly fond of, especially in comparison to the vibe the DCU’sSupermanis providing.
For me, I felt the DCEU delved too deeply into Superman’s godly side, as opposed to his more human elements.
Clark Kent was fine in theDCEU’s movie timeline,but I felt he had a lack of personable approachability, driven primarily by Snyder’s focus on how immeasurably powerful and god-like Superman was.Batman v Superman, my least favorite of the three aforementioned films, made this the most prevalent by depicting Superman as a being who saved humans, yes, but who was almost above them.
Even just from the DCU’s trailers forSuperman, Corenswet’s hero seems to be much more, well, human.Rather than being above humans, the DCU’s Superman feels as though he is one of them, which the more vulnerable scenes involving his character sum up. Admittedly, this all boils down to the tone one prefers from Superman. Some prefer the DCEU’s more gritty, realistic version, and that is fine, but I personally prefer this more approachable, personality-driven, human Superman, and the moments of weakness he shows in the DCU only make this even better.
Some Superman Comics Support The DCU’s Depiction Of Superman
The last element that supports my argument that the DCU’s depiction of Superman is excellent is the source material.DC Comics has always made hope synonymous with Superman, with the DCU extending this into live-action. A lengthyReddit post on the Superman subredditproves this, with comic readers posting their favorite wholesome moments involving the character.
Be it scenes of Superman saving people, saving cats from trees, or even just talking about his inner struggles with regular people, Superman has always been one to look out for humans. The latter scenario, found inSuperman: Blanket Badguy Summer Special #1,is perhaps the best of these, as Superman embraces his human side and speaks to a fellow person about what is troubling him. The DCU’sSupermangives off these same vibes, driven by the titular hero’s more vulnerable moments, and proving Gunn understands what makes the Son of Krypton a son of Earth too.
