‘Superman’: Are We Destroying What’s Come to Save Us?

The risk of attempting to re-franchise a character as familiar as Superman is a big one, but with former Marvel director James Gunn taking on the next era of DC’s Superman, it seems all the character needed was some MCU treatment.

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Thankfully this years’ edition gives credit to our assumed knowledge, skipping over Clark Kent’s origin story and introducing to a hero in battle, already dating Lois Lane and trying to manage the politics of protecting civilians affected by international warfare.

Knowing the strengths of his hero ensemble in Guardians of the Galaxy, James Gunn expands Superman’s posse to include the Justice Gang (The Green Lantern, Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl), Krypto the Superdog and gets Lois in on more of the action.

In Gunn’s Superman, we’re tasked with asking, what if we don’t want to be saved?

Yes, there’s a lot to keep track of and a new roster of faces to become acquainted with, but the choice to make Superman a team sport modernises Superman and reflects his ability to admit his vulnerabilities and have relatable foibles. He’s still the “man of steel” but isn’t above the damage of criticism or assessing the ethics of his choices and how to navigate love.

In Gunn’s Superman, we’re also tasked with asking, what if we don’t want to be saved?

Since Superman’s inception we’ve grown up with the idea of him being the saviour we’ve all been waiting for – the cure for humanities ills and a hero embraced by all.

This time, powerful political forces (Lex Luthor) conspire to destroy Superman’s social standing and attack his good intentions for personal gain. There’s a sense that humanity’s best left to its own devices and Superman is overstepping by entering into the dynamic. With the addition of social media, we see a society cannibalising itself through cancelling what’s come to save it.

There’s an eerie relevance to Superman‘s portrayal of public opinion swaying belief so readily, and how ignorant we can be to the consequences.

There’s an eerie relevance to Superman‘s portrayal of public opinion swaying belief so readily, and how ignorant we can be to the consequences.

Superman lays the groundwork for a valuable chapter in the life of this hero, so long as he doesn’t get lost in the crowd.

Superman is in cinemas now.

Feature image: Supplied (Movie promotional image)