James Gunn’s Superman Can’t Make One Critical Mistake, The DCU Is On The Right Track

By Drew Dietsch | Published 4 seconds ago

I have high hopes for James Gunn Superman and the upcoming DC Universe, or DCU as it is officially referred to. I called Suicide Squad“the best DC movies in decades,” and I stand by that (my review). Now, after Creature Commandos you made me want more superhero stories made into animation, I’m ready for whatever James Gunn has to bring to the superhero. But, there’s one thing I can’t handle without feeling a touch of horror, and it goes back to Superman’s origins on Planet Krypton.

Superman’s parents

I am currently studying Absolute Supermanpart of Absolute’s new line of DC comics that allows for a bold new take on iconic heroes. In the first story, it is revealed that Superman’s parents are farmers in a Kryptonian society with a unique and cruel caste system. Usually, Superman’s parents are shown as scientists in a utopian world. In Absolute Supermanthey are low-level workers who realize that the ruling class is leading to the destruction of the planet.

This is a great and fresh idea to inject into Superman’s origin. It gives us a reason to actually see Kal-El’s parents and spend time with them and their story. And if James Gunn has a creative and fresh take on Jor-El and Lara’s life, I’m ready to see how it affects his take on Superman.

But, if James Gunn is taking inspiration I believe he is, I guess Superman you need to show us as little of Karl-Ed’s birth parents as possible. In fact, I would be better off not seeing them at all.

The Origins Are Now Myths

James Gunn has talked a lot about the comic book series All-Star Superman for being one of his sources of inspiration for this take on the Man of Steel. In that comic, writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Summarize Superman’s origin in one page, four panels, and eight words. Morrison boils everything down to its mythic elements. It is one of the greatest pages in comic book and superhero history.

I get the vibe that James Gunn felt the same way about the origin of the original hero. At least, I hope so. Just as we no longer need to see Bruce Wayne’s parents shot, Clark Kent’s early life has entered the realm of pop culture mythology as ubiquitous as knowing that Santa lives at the North Pole. It is understood that both Richard Donner Superman and Zack Snyder The Man of Steel they felt the need to firmly establish their versions of Superman’s parents (especially Jor-El in those movies). But, Gunn could make a big statement by downplaying that part of Superman’s story.

Superman is a great coming-of-age story, and while I don’t want his Kryptonian heritage to be brought out by his escape pod, it feels like focusing on Superman’s love and connection to Earth is the best story to tell for the character on the big screen. . Even this one shot of Superman and his pet Krypto seems to be rooted in this concept. Yes, Krypto is part of his past, and I can’t wait to see how that relationship plays out between Clark and his dog. But, the frame of that picture puts them in a situation that emphasizes the beauty and importance of the world to Superman.

The less time we spend on Superman’s parents and the impact of Krypton’s history on his story, the better for James Gunn Superman I will. Whatever happens, I can’t wait to see this new movie, even if it means more time on that planet to see what happens.