Ultraman’s Identity Is a Post-Crisis Deep Cut

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The film featuring Superman has exceeded expectations and it’s fantastic! Director James Gunn had a significant burden with this production, yet it seems he has successfully met the challenge. This movie delivers an outstanding portrayal of Superman, managing to breathe life into the Man of Steel’s mythology in a remarkable way. For devoted Superman enthusiasts, there are elements from various stages of the character’s evolution, but the most obvious influence is the post-Crisis version. If your knowledge of comic book history isn’t as extensive as your familiarity with world history, “post-Crisis” refers to the DC Universe following “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” This was a major overhaul for DC Comics, and Superman received an entirely new backstory. Numerous aspects of the movie evoke memories of post-Crisis DC, but one of the most striking parallels is the character of Ultraman’s true identity.

In the lore of Superman, the name Ultraman holds significant weight. The initial Ultraman was actually the antagonistic counterpart of Superman from Earth-Three. However, this cinematic portrayal of the character isn’t the same as that Ultraman. From the very start of this impressive DC reboot, there are hints about the identity of Ultraman that long-time Superman readers will find delightful, serving as a fun Easter egg for them.

SPOILER ALERT – This article contains spoilers for Superman

Ultraman Was Created by Lex Luthor

The goal behind the series “Crisis” was to revamp and make the DC Universe more contemporary and realistic. The film “Man of Steel” introduced a fresh take on Superman, with numerous alterations to his character. His origin story was modified so he was born on Earth, and his power level was scaled down. Initially, Lex Luthor was depicted as an insane scientist, but in this version, he transformed into a cunning business tycoon, using his intelligence to target Superman. Luthor managed to obtain some of Superman’s DNA and used it to create a clone, which battled Superman in “Man of Steel” #5. However, due to the unique properties of Kryptonian DNA, Luthor couldn’t produce an exact copy of Superman; instead, he developed Bizarro, a distorted version of Superman. Prior to “Crisis,” Bizarro was the Superman of Bizarro-Earth and was portrayed as Superman’s perfect antithesis. In the revamped DC Universe post-“Crisis,” things became less whimsical than before, so “Man of Steel” redesigned Bizarro to have been created by Luthor. Superman would ultimately defeat Bizarro, but this wouldn’t be the last time that Luthor produced a Bizarro clone, and Superman would confront him again (the most compelling rendition of this is found in the New 52 story “Forever Evil,” where both Lex and Bizarro undergo significant humanization).

It’s likely that by now you have realized who Ultraman is. He isn’t a copy of Superman like Bizarro, but was created by Lex Luthor from Superman’s DNA found at the site of his battles. Unlike Bizarro, Ultraman doesn’t have white skin or speak in opposites, and he doesn’t communicate at all. Instead, he is characterized by his lack of intelligence, which can be improved through training. He even managed to infiltrate the Fortress of Solitude due to his Kryptonian DNA. The creation of Bizarro by Lex Luthor as a foe for Superman is a well-known concept in DC comics. Interestingly, all the clues about Ultraman’s identity are already present in the movie. This is a clever Easter egg for comic book fans because it demonstrates just how far Lex Luthor will go to defeat Superman and showcases his intelligence. In the post-“Crisis” DC Universe, Superman clones were not limited to being Bizarros. For instance, the post-“Crisis” Superboy was also a clone of Superman, but he didn’t become a Bizarro because Lex Luthor’s DNA was added to stabilize him. In this movie, however, director Gunn takes a different approach with Ultraman.

The Identity of Ultraman Shows Just How Much Love Gunn Has for the Comics

James Gunn’s affection for comics significantly influences his work on both the Marvel and DC cinematic universes. He often hides comic-related Easter eggs in his superhero movies, and one of the most intriguing is Ultraman. The character’s backstory, being an evil Superman duplicate or replica, adds a layer of mystery that’s quite obscure. Despite speculation that Ultraman might be a multiverse version of Superman, this interpretation is more exciting.

In the world of Bizarro from the comics, we’re returning to his original storyline, which harks back to an era of Superman that is strikingly different. Gunn’s portrayal of Superman aligns more with the post-“Crisis” version compared to any other rendition of the character. Introducing this concept post-“Crisis” seamlessly fits into the narrative. This is classic Gunn, presenting a brilliant concept that appeals to comic enthusiasts yet remains coherent for those unfamiliar with comics.

Superman is in theaters now.

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2025-07-14 03:10