Let’s be trustworthy. DC followers have been by way of it. The final decade of superhero cinema felt like a endless reboot cycle, a cinematic tug-of-war between realism, studio meddling, and the Snyder Minimize….truly, that was actually good. However with Superman, one thing shifted. When the primary trailer dropped, you might really feel the heartbeat of pleasure! Fanboys rejoiced as James Gunn, the misfit maestro behind Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, was tasked with rebooting probably the most iconic superhero in historical past.
What we received wasn’t simply one other origin story or grim reboot. Superman is a vibrant, character-rich celebration of every part that makes the DC Universe work! It’s crammed with coloration and hope, and, should you listen, layer after layer of hidden element. Whether or not you’re a die-hard comedian e-book reader or simply somebody who misses seeing Superman smiling or being human, this film is for you! It’s loaded with a treasure trove of cameos, deep-cut references, and Easter eggs that go by quicker than a dashing bullet. And except you have been watching with a freeze-frame distant and three DC encyclopedias on standby, likelihood is you missed a couple of of them. So, let’s focus on.
James Gunn loves two issues: misfits and cameos. And in Superman, he delivers each. Proper out of the gate, we’re handled to some fast appearances which are much less about stunt casting and extra about planting seeds for the way forward for the DCU.
First up, we’ve received Bradley Cooper voicing Jor-El, Superman’s Kryptonian father. It’s a quiet, emotionally resonant second that’s delivered by way of hologram; far faraway from the bombastic “Kneel Before Zod” vibes we’ve seen in previous iterations. It’s restrained, heartfelt, and reminds us that Superman’s roots are, at their core, about love and loss.
Then there’s Frank Grillo, as Rick Flag Sr., a personality he’ll proceed to voice within the animated Creature Commandos sequence. This crossover is refined, nevertheless it does matter. A sign that animation and live-action in Gunn’s universe aren’t siloed off. They’re all items of the identical puzzle. My solely downside with that is that Frank Grillo, in actual life, is 60 and appears youthful. Joel Kinnenman, who was killed off in The Suicide Squad (sorry spoilers), is 45 years previous. He might simply be Rick Flag Sr’s brother, however I’m positive Gunn has created logic for this… if we ever revisit this in future movies.
John Cena makes a traditional Cena-style look as Peacemaker, delivering a snarky televised rant about Superman. It’s hilarious, meta, and probably establishing future pressure between the characters. In the meantime, Milly Alcock’s cameo as Supergirl is even quieter, however no much less essential. She drops in for a couple of, to remind the viewers that her time is coming with Supergirl: Lady of Tomorrow in 2026.
And for longtime followers, the looks of Will Reeve, sure, the son of Christopher Reeve, seems as a Day by day Planet reporter in a second that hits emotionally. It’s a refined however highly effective nod to legacy, just like the filmmakers are saying, “We remember.” Additionally, earlier than we overlook, Michael Rosenbaum (Lex from Smallville) voices a Raptar guard. That one’s for us WB nerds.
That is the place issues get actually into comedian lore. Superman is layered with refined DC references that reward the hardcore followers. You don’t have to catch all of them to benefit from the film, however should you do, it’s like unlocking secret achievements in a online game.
The fictional nations Boravia and Jarhanpur pop up in international information tickers and background chatter. Boravia has ties to Lex Luthor’s army dealings, whereas Jarhanpur connects to mystical characters just like the Justice League Darkish. These inclusions trace that this Superman exists in a world far greater and stranger than Metropolis.
Then there are the powers. Gunn makes a degree of showcasing Clark’s freeze breath, warmth imaginative and prescient, and X-ray imaginative and prescient in enjoyable, inventive ways in which really feel like comedian e-book panels come to life. These are world-building instruments that reinforce Clark’s gentle-but-deadly energy set.
Eagle-eyed viewers may’ve noticed the Belle Reve jail on a display in one of many Justice Gang briefings. That’s Suicide Squad territory, people. The identical goes for the Corridor of Justice exterior, seen briefly in a large aerial. Whereas transient and quick, Gunn needs the viewers to know he’s setting the stage for one thing greater.
Right here’s one which deserves its personal museum plaque. Contained in the Corridor of Justice, there’s a large mural celebrating 300 years of Earth’s metahuman historical past. Should you blinked, you missed it. Should you paused and zoomed, or regarded on-line for somebody to add a crystal clear HD model, then welcome to DC deep-lore heaven. The mural contains traditional and often-forgotten heroes like Max Mercury, Liberty Belle, Zatara, Wildcat, Vibe, and even Wonderful Man. This isn’t simply an artwork piece, it’s a declaration of intent. Gunn is telling us this isn’t simply Superman’s world, however a world with generations of heroes, a lot of whom might present up in future movies, streaming reveals, or animation.
Much more intriguing? Gunn himself confirmed that two characters featured in that mural are going to play main roles in a future, as-yet-unannounced DCU venture. So go forward and obsess over each pixel of that wall, and begin studying each deep thread you’ll find, since you simply is likely to be seeing these faces once more.
Of all of the random issues to incorporate in a Superman film, a packet of cookies may not appear essential… however you’d be mistaken. In a single scene, Clark is seen tossing a bag of “Choco” cookies onto his desk. Whilst you might imagine nothing of it, Chocos are famously the favourite snack of Martian Manhunter. What appears like a tease from Gunn, who hinted at it on social media, referred to as out “a certain Martian” who’d respect the reference. So if Martian Manhunter reveals up in Justice League: Reborn or no matter DC’s huge team-up film finally ends up being referred to as, you may hint his arrival all the way in which again to this humble bag of cookies.
One thing we expect makes Superman really feel contemporary is that Clark isn’t the one superhero on the town. We’re launched to the Justice Gang, a corporate-backed, government-approved super-team that works with, generally in opposition to, Superman. Mister Terrific, performed with quiet depth by Edi Gathegi (and doubtless our favourite character within the movie), Hawkgirl (performed completely by Isabella Merced), in addition to Metamorpho (scene-stealing Anthony Carrigan), and Man Gardner’s Inexperienced Lantern (the always-delightfully-smug Nathan Fillion) all make their live-action debuts right here. They don’t seem as simply aspect characters. Every one has their very own personalities, politics, and conflicting views on what it means to be a hero.
Then there’s Angela Spica, aka The Engineer, a cybernetic powerhouse aligned with Lex Luthor. Her introduction is a backdoor into The Authority, a movie that Gunn has already confirmed is on the slate. And let’s not overlook Krypto, Superman’s loyal canine, who was dropped at life by way of visible results and based mostly on Gunn’s personal pup, Ozu. The DCU is beginning to really feel lived-in, various, and legitimately unpredictable.
Superman isn’t only a nice film, however a reset button with goal. It’s vibrant with out being tacky, earnest with out being naive, and jam-packed with particulars that reward those that’ve caught with DC by way of the chaos. Whether or not it’s a mural full of legacy heroes, a cookie pack teasing alien detectives, or characters we haven’t even met but, each inch of this movie is telling you a similar factor: the DCU is alive and never slowing down anytime quickly. Thanks specifically to James Gunn, who’s curating a residing, respiration mythology. If the brand new DC is as vibrant, bizarre, and interconnected as this movie, then we’re in for one hell of a experience!
So, should you’ve solely seen Superman as soon as, do your self a favor and go once more. Look ahead to the cameos. Hunt the Easter eggs. Obsess over the background particulars. As a result of on this new DC Universe, every part means one thing. And we’re simply getting began.
Supply:
JoBlo.com
