Man of Tomorrow’s New Antihero is the Perfect Payoff to One Superman Scene

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Following the successful launch of the DC Universe with Superman, James Gunn has been developing the next film, Man of Tomorrow. Like most superhero sequels, Man of Tomorrow will bring back characters from the first movie while also introducing new ones. Brainiac has been confirmed as the villain, forcing Superman and Lex Luthor into an uneasy alliance, and he’s not the only new face. While rumors suggested Wonder Woman might appear, Gunn is known for surprising audiences, and he’s chosen a different direction for this major female role.

While it’s not official yet, evidence suggests Maxima might appear in Man of Tomorrow. If so, it would fit with James Gunn’s pattern of introducing lesser-known comic characters to a wider audience, and it would also be a great way to resolve the major surprise from the Superman movie.

Maxima In Man of Tomorrow Pays Off the “Superman’s Harem” Line

In the beginning of Superman, Kal-El discovers a shocking truth about the message from his Kryptonian parents. They didn’t send him to Earth to be a hero, but with the intention of him becoming a ruler who would control humanity, whom they considered less advanced. They even asked him to have multiple wives to continue the Kryptonian bloodline. While Superman struggles with this disturbing information, the Justice League arrives, and Guy Gardner jokingly asks if he’s been keeping a secret group of wives.

Okay, so Superman definitely doesn’t have a bunch of girlfriends, but I’m really excited about the possibility of Maxima showing up in the new movie! When she first appeared in the comics, she was this incredibly powerful queen looking for a husband, and she decided Superman was the only one worthy. If Maxima is in Man of Tomorrow, I’m guessing James Gunn will use that storyline. I think she’ll be a bit of a villain, and maybe even a romantic rival for Lois – at least to start with. It’d be a really interesting dynamic!

The idea of featuring Maxima and Superman together offers a fresh, potentially hilarious dynamic that hasn’t been explored in a major movie yet (though she’s appeared on TV). James Gunn could play up the comedy by showing Superman awkwardly trying to avoid Maxima’s romantic advances. However, it’s crucial to handle this carefully. While humor is welcome, Maxima shouldn’t be reduced to a simple, one-dimensional character defined solely by her pursuit of a mate. This is a great chance to introduce Maxima to a wider audience and demonstrate why she’s such a compelling character within the DC universe.

James Gunn has proven he’s skilled at writing engaging romantic stories. He successfully developed the relationship between Peter Quill and Gamora throughout the Guardians of the Galaxy films, giving it a moving ending. He also brought a new perspective to the classic Superman and Lois Lane pairing, giving Lois a strong and independent character. Given his track record, Gunn is the right person to introduce Maxima to audiences. He probably has exciting plans for the character, and this could be just the start of her story within the DC Universe.

Maxima Can Be More Than Just a Superman Love Interest in the DCU

Featuring Maxima in Man of Tomorrow could pave the way for a bigger part for her in the future of the DC Universe. Current expectations are that she’ll start the film as an enemy, but eventually switch sides. This suggests director James Gunn is drawing inspiration from the “Panic in the Sky” comic, where Maxima initially opposes the heroes. In that storyline, Brainiac destroys Maxima’s home world and forces her into servitude. With Brainiac already confirmed to appear in Man of Tomorrow, fans are likely connecting the dots and anticipating this plotline.

Giving Maxima a chance to turn over a new leaf could eventually lead to her joining the Justice League in the DC Universe. James Gunn has stated the team isn’t currently active, but will be formed in the future. Gunn and the creative team are wisely taking a slow approach, carefully introducing major heroes like Batman and Wonder Woman. While each DC project is meant to be enjoyed independently, they are also subtly setting up future storylines. If Superman and Maxima can find common ground by the end of Man of Tomorrow, it could pave the way for them to become allies.

If the upcoming Man of Tomorrow project takes a certain direction, it would follow a pattern established in the comics. Maxima has been a member of teams like the Justice League and Justice League International for years. It’s certainly possible James Gunn could include her in the DC Universe’s version of the team. The new DCU will likely want to be distinct from the previous DC Extended Universe, and while Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are almost guaranteed to be on the team (Gunn has emphasized the importance of Batman and Wonder Woman for DC Studios), featuring less prominent characters like Maxima could offer a fresh approach.

It will be fascinating to see what role Maxima plays in Man of Tomorrow – if she’s actually in the film. Depending on how her story goes, James Gunn could take her character in a surprising direction, potentially making her a villain, as she was part of the Superman Revenge Squad in the comics. Regardless of whether she’s a hero or a villain, she has the potential to be a much more significant character than just a callback to a joke from the previous movie.

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2026-01-29 23:41