2025 just said hello, and DC has dropped their biggest reboot trailer of Superman for DCU. You already know that 2025 will be a banger. New trends, new laws, new taxes, and whatnot. There have been some pretty concerning theories about global warming that are coming up (like every year), but it is our year.
And even if not in all aspects, the filmmakers look ready to take things to the next level. Yes, I am subtly hinting towards the Superman trailer. Spoiler alert, it was a banger. What we cool nerds thought was dead, DC is trying to bring it back.
To all you ‘Marvel-is-cool’ group, let me explain why it’s a big deal for us.
There is no doubt that since the beginning DC Universe had more scope and money than Marvel Cinematic Universe. The only issue was that MCU knew how to play along, and DC didn’t.
They kept exploiting their only two best characters, Superman and Batman until they realized that they had more characters and stories. There are now 13 Batman movies and 11 Superman movies, a whole lot of Batman vs. Superman series. You see, there was a bit of an oversell.
And see, being a DC fan teaches you patience and hope. No matter how bad they sucked, we still have our hopes high because the Robin Pattinson Batman was kind of good, and the Superman trailer also looked good.
Despite the fact that it is a tribute to the comic books, Marvel already did that, but okay, baby steps? Besides, with the release of this teaser, DC is officially rebooting, and trust me, it looks promising.
Okay, I’m way too excited to break that trailer down, so here you go.
Superman’s Vulnerability
Let’s start from the opening scene, Superman is badly injured and covered in blood and asks his doggo, Krypto to take him ‘home’. And guess what was in the comic book “Superman #61-The Mystery of the Lucky Horseshoe (1949)”? His vulnerability to Kryptonite.
Clark Kent at The Daily Planet
Do you remember that scene when Clark Kent was trying his best to reach The Daily Planet, to fit in as a human? Every famous superhero problem ever, am I right? Superman has been battling with this problem since 1938. “Superman, Champion of the Oppressed” the first Action Issue, was the first to talk about his dual personality.
Necessary Character Introduction
According to a few smart individuals, introducing pets is the only way to reboot any superhero fandom. Look at Deadpool v/s Wolverine for instance. Now that the ground rule has been established, Krypto, superman’s superdog is going to get screentime. As a matter of fact, he got his first book time in 1955 in the infamous 210th issue of Action Comics, “The Super-Dog from Krypton”
Lex Luthor and Luthorcorp
Making its debut straight from the Action Comic #23, “Europe at War (1940)” is the Luthercorp, hinting at the involvement of Lex Luthor, Superman’s Adversary, because what’s a superhero world without the superpower of money?
Homage to Classic Comic Imagery
Since it is the season of tributes, the scene where Superman flies over Metropolis and his interactions with Lois Lane pays homage to the classic “The Origin of Superman (1939)”
Now that we have established why this trailer is a big deal, let’s talk more about why it’s a big deal.
Currently, there are two major superhero franchises and they are at war. Whilst some Marvel fans might say that DC is following Marvel, some say it’s high time to get a job.
There were a few speculations that the rude Marvel guys made, like, for example, Superman is sharing his new universe with a couple of new characters, just like how Marvel does. Or the idea to get newcomers to watch DC while still appealing to the loyal fans.
Now, before you (Marvel cult) get your horses high, the reason behind these similarities is James Gunn’s (He was the director of Guardians of the Galaxy) signature style. He is known for mixing humour with other serious emotions, and hence the trailer feels the same.
But obviously, that’s not true. For starters, the tone and style seem different. While MCU has been engulfed in humour and quirkiness, Superman is trying to emphasize hope and optimism.
Not to mention how the comic reference is different too. See, Marvel uses its comic storyline more loosely to have an overarching narrative. Not a bad thing at all but Superman, on the other hand, recreated the iconic comic book, showing a deeper respect for source material.
The biggest difference between the two is that MCU always intercrosses multiple characters and plotlines in one go, and expects the audience to not get confused. Superman is considerate; Legacy seems to be centred on Superman as a singular icon. While there are glimpses of other heroes, they are there only to support Superman’s story rather than setting up a broader universe.
Let’s not forget about the character. No doubt Marvel heroes are fun to watch, but are they superheroes anymore? I mean, look at Deadpool, or even Star-Lord. They aren’t perfect; they have flaws just like humans. And if wanted to watch humans, I’d go and watch The Big Bang Theory. Learn something from Superman. Classic Superhero-has his own set of morals, is inspirational and is selfless. That’s how it’s supposed to be done.
But you know, I feel that we really shouldn’t compare either universe because they are unique in their own ways. As humans, we should enjoy their creations with popcorn buckets in our hands.
I’m just kidding; there is no fun without this banter. So see you on 11th July to debate even more about how DC is better.
Authored by Harbani Goindi, a 3rd year B.Voc. Media and Communication student at Fergusson.
Thank you for taking the time to read this! Please like, comment, and share this article if you enjoyed it. Also, you can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to get more interesting articles.