Superman’s Most Controversial Moment is Actually DC Comics Canon

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The character of Superman, carrying the weight of an entire multiverse, seems to be proving its worth with its enduring popularity. Notably, audiences and critics alike have been commending Superman for its authenticity to the original comics. While the film isn’t a direct adaptation of any one storyline, it certainly captures a familiar essence reminiscent of the Superman comics. For those who were disappointed with the portrayal of Superman in Man of Steel, this new version feels as if you could step out of the cinema and find the same Superman on the comic book store shelves. However, there is one scene in the movie that has left purists of a more comic-accurate adaptation questioning its origin, but it turns out this element has been present in the comics for quite some time.

SPOILER ALERT: Spoilers for Superman (2025) beyond this point.

In a surprising turn of events, Superman discovers Lex Luthor executing a scheme to breach Superman’s Fortress of Solitude and seize a recording containing a message from his biological parents. This message has been a source of solace for Superman for years, but due to damage during his journey to Earth, it was never fully complete. However, upon gaining access to the Fortress, Lex successfully reconstructed the missing fragments of the recording and had them translated. The revelation is shocking. Rather than containing words of love and urging him to serve humanity, as Superman had always assumed, the message actually instructs him to conquer the world.

This significant alteration in Superman’s background has left many viewers questioning if this concept originated from the comics. To put it simply, yes, it did come from the comics, but there’s a fascinating tale behind it that’s almost as intriguing as the reality itself. In essence, Superman creatively revisited old comic books, and this narrative serves as one such example.

Superman’s Origin Was Heavily Changed Post-Crisis on Infinite Earths

The “Crisis on Infinite Earths” event marked a profound transformation in the DC Universe. This pivotal storyline effectively brought an end to the DC Multiverse that had been in place since 1956’s Showcase #4. The multiverse was no more, and numerous characters underwent significant changes in their origins. Among these transformations, Superman experienced some of the most notable alterations. After “Crisis,” the Superman comics portrayed Krypton as a starkly different place than the one readers were previously acquainted with. This new Krypton was characterized by its cold and sterile environment, and it was highly technologically advanced. Rather than being born on Krypton itself, Superman was conceived in a birthing matrix during transit to Earth. It wasn’t until Kal-El arrived on Earth that he was born and discovered by the Kents.

Readers were reminded of Krypton’s final moments, meeting Jor-El and Lara, who stood out among their fellow Kryptonians due to their deep affection for each other and their son. For longtime readers, Krypton was a captivating science fiction realm; however, the new Krypton felt genuinely alien, and its perception of humans was intriguing, if not slightly baffling. This revelation occurred in issue #427 of Adventures of Superman, which continued the numbering from the old Superman comic series. In this new run, Marv Wolfman and Jerry Ordway delivered contemporary Superman stories, with the initial story arc focusing on a Middle Eastern nation called Qurac. Here, Superman faced challenges posed by a group known as The Circle.

In a confrontation against Superman, the villain Synapse manipulates Superman’s thoughts, and we witness various characters such as Bizarro, Cat Grant, Jor-El, Lara, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, and Metallo. One notable scene features Jor-El and Lara discussing their aspirations for young Kal-El on Earth. Their conversation reveals that they expected him to subdue a world of primitive beings and share with them the grandeur of Krypton. While startling, this exchange aligns with Krypton’s portrayal in post-Crisis DC Comics.

Gunn’s interpretation of Superman surpasses everything else, as the message instructs Superman to establish a harem and produce powerful half-Kryptonian offspring on Earth. However, it’s clear that Gunn drew inspiration from the comics for this concept. In fact, the initial story arc of Adventures of Superman bears a striking resemblance to the Boravia plot in the movie. Gunn mentioned that post-Crisis Superman comic books would be crucial in shaping his character portrayals, and this specific concept was directly influenced by those comics.

The Movie Left This Plot Line Wide Open

In the movie, the disclosure that Superman’s true purpose was to rule the world creates a great deal of conflict and alters the plot as it unfolds. Interestingly, Gunn doesn’t resort to a simple explanation like Lex Luthor orchestrating this deception. Instead, he adopts the concept of Krypton post-Crisis, opening up many possibilities for him and other directors in the DC Universe to explore.

In the world of comic books, the concept of cold and eugenicist Kryptonians persisted until around the early 2000s. During this time, creators who were influenced by comics from the 1970s and 1980s chose to restore their preferred version of the DC Universe. This shift brought back the original, warmer and more human-like Kryptonians as they were before a significant event known as “Crisis”. Although many readers prefer the kinder Kryptonians, it’s exciting that Gunn is taking a risk with Superman and portraying him in line with the post-“Crisis” era. Not only does this pay homage to the comics, but it also provides fans with a complex hero they can appreciate on the big screen as well.

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2025-07-16 01:10