From Cynicism to Hope: James Gunn Brings Back the Superman We Remember

When the trailers for this film fist dropped a few of my friends commented on how the current generation might not love the classic “underwear on the outside” look. Mockingly they asked if it was a good esthetic choice if Gunn and DC wanted this film to do well. They couldn’t see how this generation would identify with the classic look and that it might hinder box office returns.

Ok, so yes, most comic book artists have strayed away from this style due to it not being copasetic with modern sensibilities. To us enlightened twenty first century mortals wearing your underwear on the outside is an unforgivable fashion fopaux. For Superman, however, it speaks to a deeper meaning then simple fashion. The choice to bring back Kal El’s classic costume was a way of showing the audience that this was not the darker broody more Batman like character of the Snyder-verse.

Whereas I did enjoy Man of Steel and I really think if Henry Cavill had been given better materiel he could have been an excellent Superman, his version of Superman just didn’t feel right. Neither did the New 52 version which Dan Diddio pushed when he took the helm at DC comics. Having come from marvel, he instantly brought the godlike DC heroes down to the level of us mere mortals in an attempt to make them more relatable like the every-man Marvel characters were.

Gunn’s choice to use a classic Superman look, regardless of how it would be perceived by modern audiences, symbolized a return to the traditional personality and values of the character. The Superman who was about truth, justice and the American way, even if the “American way” is currently politically frowned upon by half of US citizens. The “Big Blue Boy Scout”, the hero who’s light side meter is decidedly swung to the good guy spectrum. The man, who if there is any grey in him, it is so light it looks off white.

In my friend group, which is very eclectic and spans many generations, I found that this movie was met with mixed reactions. Those in my generation tended to dislike it finding it not “dark” enough and boring. There usual complaints of “he is unrelatable” and “overpowered” echoing in their Facebook posts and discussions. Preferring the irreverent Guy Gardner, they have no interest in a hero that is actually a good guy with no hidden flaws or darkness.

My younger friends, however, loved this film. Finding no fault with the idea that someone could actually be that good. For all of their issues and failures, I find that Gen Z and even Millennials desire to be good. They don’t revel in their failures and darkness the way Gen X does. Sure, they aren’t perfect, but I think that in them is a genuine longing to be better. To make a difference in the world around them. This classic Superman who is a hero and not and anti-hero, gives them a fictional character to emulate. For them, he is exactly what they need him to be.

In spite of a lot of naysayers, this Man of Steel is not untouchable or invulnerable. In fact, one of the complaints from the extreme right side is that he isn’t manly enough. He gets his butt handed to him through most of the film, and when Lex Luthor turns the world against him through a masterful social media campaign that is mostly propaganda, he shows his vulnerable side to Lois and his parents. He is devastated when Lex destroys the fortress of solitude and heart broken when Luthor kills a man who had simply been kind to him.

Here in how Clark handles failure, injustice, death and disappointment is where Gunn’s Superman truly rises above all of the other Silver Screen adaptions. Despite all the horrible things the villains did, this Superman still choses to be the good guy. He still choses to try and redeem them all, including Lex, who is outraged that even after all he did, Clark still genuinely wants to help him. He finds it patronizing and infuriating.

I was surprised at just how many times during the fighting he tried to reason with the bad guys. It was actually quite ridiculous. After a while I was like, “just knock them out already!” Seriously, he would have taken a whole lot less damage if he hadn’t been trying to reason with or save every villain in the movie.

I smiled every time though, because that, is exactly why I love Superman.

Even the introduction of Krypto the Super Dog was an excellent choice. Lex actually captures him when he raids the Fortress and Clark barges into Lex’s office cameras and all looking for him. He didn’t care how bad it made him look he just wanted to know where his dog was. On a serious note, I never got tired of watching Krypto beat up Superman in his attempt at playing. It was wholesome, fun and made him seem more like a normal person.

Scenes like the ones he shares with Krypto and his parents is how you make Superman relatable. You don’t dumb down his powers or make him grey, you simply make him…human. You make him a guy who is just like the rest of us. He has a mom and pop, a girlfriend and even a dog. Sure he is more powerful than a locomotive and able to fly, but at his heart, he is just a kid from Kansas trying to do the right thing. A guy trying to use the gifts he has been given to help others.

Even the Justice Gang as Guy called them, is inspired by Clark. Green Lantern Guy Gardner being a consummate jack ass, Hawk Girl being a warrior and Mr. Terrific being an almost autistic un-empathic person are moved by his actions. Even Metamorpho, who is being blackmailed by Lex defies him to fight along side the others as they save a small nation from being invaded by their totalitarian neighbor.

Unlike Snyder’s Justice league, in this movie we actually get to see why Superman is the standard by which all other heroes are measured. They do not simply refer to him as the best of them, we get to see him be that hero. In light of his actual character the other heroes can not help but be moved by his actions.

Just as the boy from Jarhanpur holds up a Superman flag hoping that the Man of Steel will come save them, so this movie is filled with that same hope. Straying away from the cynicism and nihilism of Snyder’s DCEU this film is a return to the golden age of superheroes who are actually heroes. Heroes we can all look up to and believe in. Heroes that inspire us to be better.

J

Side Note: I chose not to address the political criticism that has been leveled at this film. Even though I am a conservative Christian, I don’t seem to share their views on this movie. The only thing I will say, is that from listening to their opinions I can only assume they didn’t actually watch Superman, since I found almost all of their complaints invalid. But I am not a political commentator, major Youtube influencer, or even a very successful indie author. No, I am just a guy who likes Superman and wants to be someone who makes a difference. I pray everyday that I become more and more like the Superman I try to emulate, Jesus Christ.

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