Sorry, James Gunn And Zack Snyder, This Is The Best Version Of Superman

Superman fans tend to strongly prefer either the versions created by James Gunn or Zack Snyder, but a truly great Superman goes beyond what either of them have shown. The core of the character is richer and more complex than any live-action adaptation has fully explored so far.

While Christopher Reeve’s portrayal of Superman is often considered the best, another version of the hero has truly distinguished itself since then. It’s a much more accurate adaptation of the character than the recent interpretations that have leaned into being either a rebellious, edgy Superman or a brooding, dark one.

Superman: The Animated Series Is The Perfect Superman Adaptation

In 1996, Superman: The Animated Series became one of the standout superhero cartoons of the decade, alongside other great comic book adaptations. This Superman is portrayed as genuinely good-hearted and optimistic, but also capable of experiencing and expressing deep emotions, and becoming serious when the story demands it.

Being an animated series allowed Superman: The Animated Series to perfectly capture the look of Superman from the comic books. But more importantly, it truly embodied the hero’s spirit and ideals in a way that hasn’t been matched by any other adaptation.

The DCAU’s Superman Found The Balance That Most Adaptations Struggle To Find

What’s great is that this character became very popular on screen. Over three seasons of his own show, and then on Justice League Unlimited and throughout the DC Animated Universe, this version of the hero was really well-developed and explored.

This new take on Superman feels more well-rounded than what we’ve seen in live-action movies. While the previous films, under Snyder, explored a grittier, more realistic side of the character, the new DC Universe led by Gunn aims to recapture a sense of optimism and hope.

Superman is a surprisingly complex character. Although Christopher Reeve portrayed him in four films, the later movies didn’t quite know what direction to take the character. Let’s hope the new DC Universe has a longer and more consistent run than previous attempts.

David Corenswet’s portrayal of Superman has potential, but it needs time to fully develop and explore the character’s depth. For now, the best version of Superman still remains the one from Superman: The Animated Series.

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2025-11-01 01:38