Latest Superman Criticism About Being Weak Can Be Explained by This 20-Year-Old DC Masterpiece

James Gunn is the latest filmmaker to put his stamp on the Superman franchise, except this time, there's more pressure on a Man of Steel film to succeed than ever before because it's part of a DC Universe right from the start. Superman has one of the longest and most fascinating histories in the scope of comic book adaptations. Richard Donner's Superman is widely considered not only one of the best superhero films but also one of the most important, according to the likes of Kevin Feige and Christopher Nolan.

Meanwhile, past Superman films have also received their fair share of criticism, with the controversial Superman Returns and Man of Steel the last two solo films released in the series. Gunn aims to return the quintessential superhero to the level of widely celebrated success that only the Christopher Reeve version has received. So far, the footage from Gunn's Superman teases a fresh new take on the character for movie-going audiences, that both leans into the nostalgia of the 1978 film and also looks to bring elements from the character's Silver Age with the inclusion of Krypto the Superdog and other aspects. Superman is also the most iconic comic book character Gunn has ever tackled, and because of that, many have a strong opinion of how the character should appear on the screen. The footage from Superman so far has already raised some criticism, and another DC film perfectly explains what Gunn is going for.

Superman’s Footage Teases Tough Battles Ahead for the Man of Steel

Notable Superman Comic Books Inspiring the Film

All-Star Superman

Superman for All Seasons

Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?

Kingdom Come

In the very first piece of footage audiences received from Superman, David Corenswet's Man of Steel is falling into the snow, bloody and beaten. This is an unusual place for Superman to be in since the character is one of the most powerful in comics. While Superman has some weaknesses, most audiences are likely just familiar with Kryptonite since it's a device the films have repeatedly used. Superman, being as damaged as he was in the trailer, was a striking image to begin with, especially as the DCU's first tentpole film. However, that's not the only instance of seeing Corenswet's Superman in a vulnerable position.

The latest trailer for the upcoming film also showed Superman needing help from a civilian to get back up. Throughout the footage from the film, Superman is also donning a battle-damaged suit and lying in a bed at Ma and Pa Kent's home. Therefore, it's clear Superman will go up against some powerful villains and be put to the test. At some point, he will face off against a kaiju, Ultraman, the Engineer, and the Hammer of Boravia. Superman will certainly have his hands full, which is why the Justice Gang will likely help him in the film as well. Because the Superman footage released so far has featured the character defeated, some believe this goes against what the character is all about, since he is one of the most powerful superheroes. So far, Gunn's Superman doesn't appear to be too weak, it just proves the filmmaker understands the character.

Henry Cavill’s Superman Was Overpowered in the DCEU

• Henry Cavill's Superman is the most powerful the superhero has ever been depicted on the big screen to date.

• Because of how powerful Cavill's Superman was, it kept the character on the sidelines in Justice League, something the DCU will want to avoid.

Superman is notoriously one of the most difficult characters to adapt to the screen, largely due to how powerful he is. Part of that stems from filmmakers wanting to portray the ultimate power fantasy, something a Superman story can easily provide. No film leans into Superman's power than Man of Steel, with the Zack Snyder film pitting him against fellow Kryptonians with the same level of power and giving audiences one of the greatest third acts in comic book movie history. Cavill's Superman also faced plenty of defeat, but because of how powerful Man of Steel presented him early on, it ended up creating a major problem for the DC Extended Universe as it grew.

While using a Kryptonite spear, Superman was able to defeat Doomsday in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which resulted in his death. Superman's death ended up being a convenient one since it led to the formation of the Justice League to defeat Steppenwolf, but the team was unable to defeat him until Superman arrived. Moreover, Superman was primarily sidelined from the Justice League film, which was one of its major mistakes, but a necessary one. Once Cavill's Superman returned, he was essentially able to single-handedly defeat Steppenwolf. While the moment is a crowd-pleasing one, it brought to light the problem of making Superman too powerful in a universe full of other heroes. With Superman set to play a pivotal role in the new DCU, it seems Gunn is being careful with how powerful he portrays him because the DCEU proved it can cause issues down the line.

Batman Begins Perfectly Illustrated What Superman Will Try To Convey

• "Why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up" is one of the most important lines spoken in The Dark Knight Trilogy.

• That line in Batman Begins appears to be at the heart of Gunn's Superman as well.

Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins took a lot of inspiration from the original 1978 Supermanfilm and successfully rebooted the Dark Knight for a modern audience. To this day, Batman Begins remains as influential on comic book movies as the one that inspired it. Not only didBatman Begins take the character more seriously than any film before it, but the origin story also featured an incredibly powerful message at the heart of it. The recurring line "Why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up" first comes from Bruce Wayne's father in flashbacks. Later, Alfred Pennyworth received the line to boost Bruce's morale after the League of Shadows burned down Wayne Manor. The line is one of the most important in the entire trilogy and returns in The Dark Knight Rises right before another pivotal moment.

"This movie, at the end of the day, is not about power. This movie is about, in the loose sense of the word, a human being struggling with his day-to-day life. And we see a different aspect of him at the beginning. I thought it was a cool place to start the trailer—and the movie, frankly." -- James Gunn on the defeated Superman at the start of the first trailer.

Gunn's Superman appears to be going in a similar direction, with the first trailer showing the Man of Steel defeated, but then ending with him soaring into the sky. Overcoming failure is a crucial lesson for any hero, and while Superman might not be an origin story like Batman Begins, it's an excellent way for Gunn to make Kal-El more relatable, something past films have struggled with. Never giving up is at any hero's core, especially Superman's, and it's a lesson Batman Begins depicted as well as any other superhero movie.

There has been no shortage of comic book movies over the years, and for some reason, Superman is a character who has struggled to win over most audiences with a universal hit. Part of why audiences have failed to connect with Superman is because of how "perfect" and overpowered he can appear to be. The last time Superman was on the screen, he delivered a major beatdown to Steppenwolf in Justice League. While Superman's powers make him who he is, and the abilities are one of the most satisfying aspects to witness, there must be more to the character.

That's why the trailer for the upcoming Superman is making him appear "weak," because when he ultimately overcomes the challenge, it will be far more gratifying to experience. Gunn has also said the film is less about power and more about dealing with the challenges of everyday life. This will only make Superman more relatable than ever before, even if his life is far different from anyone else's. Batman Begins successfully articulated the theme of perseverance, and so far, it seems Gunn's Superman will follow in its footsteps based on the trailers showcasing a more vulnerable Man of Steel.