Superman’s Struggle: Who’s the Real Hero in James Gunn’s DCU Debut?

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You are warned, there are definitely spoilers for Superman ahead!

Over the weekend, I was captivated by James Gunn’s take on Superman (David Corenswet) in the 2025 film release, and it certainly ruled the box office. However, contrary to popular belief, this Superman doesn’t exactly rule his foes with an iron fist. In fact, throughout the movie, he seems to be on the receiving end of quite a few punches.

Despite my admiration for the film as an impressive launch for the revitalized DC Universe, I found myself growing a tad exasperated as I watched, left pondering which superhero held the ultimate power in this production.

Two Hours Of Superman On His Back Foot

In the initial scene, similar to what was shown in the trailer, Superman, a Kryptonian, is depicted lying injured and covered in snow, not far from, yet outside his Fortress of Solitude. The healing power of Earth’s yellow sun swiftly takes effect on him, but as the title card indicates, this instance marks the first time the Man of Steel has suffered defeat in a battle.

As a devoted cinephile, I was captivated right from the start, but around midway through the movie, my patience began to wear thin due to how frequently Superman seemed to be getting his hide beaten by the antagonists. First, it was “The Hammer of Boravia” (later revealed to be Ultraman, portrayed by Corenswet), and later on, Lex Luthor’s freshly minted “Authority,” led by Ultraman and The Engineer, played by María Gabriela de Faría (the female cast in Superman was impressive).

In Lex Luthor’s prison, Superman (Henry Cavill) faces a challenging time due to Metamorpho’s power to transform into kryptonite, leaving him weakened. However, it’s not just physical harm that Superman endures; Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) manipulates him emotionally within their cell. Meanwhile, Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) handles the physical aspects of the torment. Ultimately, this film presents a tough ordeal for Superman.

Meanwhile, The Green Lantern is Seemingly Untouchable

Throughout the superhero film, Superman endures numerous blows, but The Green Lantern, brilliantly portrayed by Nathan Fillion, traverses disasters and fights without a single scratch. He remains unfazed and appears impervious to the various adversaries he encounters throughout the movie. He even exhibits a degree of arrogance about his invulnerability.

This situation has me pondering who, in truth, deserves the title of superhero more between them? Superman appears human throughout, but Green Lantern seems invincible. He consistently demonstrates wisdom and even rescues Superman multiple times, not to mention protecting the citizens of Jarhanpur alongside the “Justice Gang.” Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi) also show their heroic side on occasion by saving Superman. At one point, even Krypto the dog comes to Superman’s aid.

Here’s another way to phrase it: Although I found the movie quite enjoyable, with James Gunn effectively capturing the feel of a fantastic Superman tale, it became bothersome that Superman didn’t exhibit his superpowers until nearly the end of the film. The reboot of the DC Universe by Gunn is off to an impressive start, and I eagerly anticipate seeing Milly Alcock in the upcoming ‘Supergirl’ movie in 2026. Her brief appearance was fantastic!

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2025-07-14 21:08