Zack Snyder’s Biggest Man of Steel Problem Is Not the One Fans Think

The DC Comics films helmed by Zack Snyder are controversial, but his first is still the most universally beloved. Still, many of the choices the filmmaker made about Superman upset fans. Llooking back at Man of Steel,the biggest problem in the film isn’t Superman’s portrayal but rather the very concept of the Kryptonian codex. It complicates the story and most viewers don’t quite understand why it’s included in the story.

Despite the darkness in the DC Extended Universe, Snyder’s Superman is still the character fans know. Within the movie’s narrative, it’s the people of Earth (or at least, the US) who are suspicious and frightened of anything they don’t understand. Nonetheless, Man of Steel is about Superman choosing Earth and humanity and over his own people’s well-being, but that message still gets lost in the shuffle. The inclusion of the Kryptonian Codex — a genetic database of family lines — drives the conflict and leaves many open questions about the kind of hero Kal-El chooses to be. His choices are what the film is all about, even if fans don’t agree with them.

Man of Steel Confused the Narrative With Its Origin Story

The Kryptonian Codex Muddled Superman’s Mission on Earth

Of all the superheroes, Superman’s origin story is perhaps the best known of all. Despite this, Snyder and screenwriter David S. Goyer, opened Man of Steel with a nearly 20-minute prologue about the destruction of Krypton. Both Jor-El and General Zod want the Kryptonian Codex because it is a way they could save the future of their people. Jor-El puts this genetic information into his son’s cells, which is already a difficult concept to understand. He does this because he hopes Kal-El will save Krypton where he couldn’t.

“This is a second chance for all of Krypton… We’ve had a child Zod… Krypton’s first natural birth in centuries, and he will be free…to forge his own destiny.” — Jor-El to Zod on Krypton.

On Snyder’s Krypton, their society leaned into genetic engineering and predestination. The people born on the planet had their lives, their careers and all their choices determined for them. General Zod embraced this and even wanted to eliminate “bloodlines” he deemed useless. Jor-El rejected this philosophy, suggesting that Kryptonians start anew on some other planet. When that plan was rejected, he and Lara Lor-Van sent their son Kal-El to Earth. They knew he would “be a god to them,” and they trusted that he would ensure the survival of their species by giving him the power to resurrect them.

This detail significantly changes the Superman mythos without giving the audience a clear payoff of what it sets up. In most adaptations, Kal-El was sent to Earth merely to survive. In some versions, his parents knew he had the potential to be a heroic figure for humanity. The people of Earth were meant to become “his” people, yet the inclusion of the codex creates a possibility for Superman to resurrect the Kryptonian species via the codex. He doesn’t share Zod’s desire to do this at the cost of humanity’s existence. Yet, his decision to destroy the technology that could bring Kryptonians back is both confusing and seems antithetical to who Superman is — specifically as a figure who does his best to save everyone.

Man of Steel Put Kal-El Above Humanity Instead of With Them

A crucial reason Superman becomes the person he ends up being is that Jonathan and Martha Kent were his parents. Their influence is usually what makes him a good person, which is reinforced by Elseworlds stories like Red Son. While Jor-El represents optimism and self-determinism, Jonathan and Martha are dominated by fear and mistrust of their fellow humans. They actively discourage Clark from using his powers to help people because of it, but he does it anyway. Despite these fears, they believe their son does have a destiny, and they want him to discover what it is.

“When that day comes you have to make a choice. A choice of whether to stand proud in front of the human race or not….[S]omewhere out there you have another father too, who gave you another name. And he sent you here for a reason, Clark. And even if it takes you the rest of your life, you owe it to yourself to find out what that reason is.” — Jonathan Kent to young Clark.

Given Zack Snyder’s affection for The Fountainhead, it’s not surprising that there’s some objectivist elements to this story. The characters who most embody the ideas popularized by novelist Ayn Rand are Jonathan and Martha. They each tell Superman he doesn’t owe the people of Earth anything. Their influence manifests in Clark as a detachment from humanity. Jor-El wanted him to consider himself as much an Earthling as a Kryptonian. Through their fear of losing him, the Kents are the ones who constantly remind Kal-El he’s an alien.

Man of Steel is not a story about an objectivist superhero, rather, their perspective stands in opposition to Jor-El’s. The Kryptonian argues Kal-El should be Earth’s champion, while the humans tell Clark protecting others isn’t his responsibility. However, it seems like all his parents are pushing him towards finding his own people and, if he can, living among them. The narrative points towards Clark using the codex to bring back his own kind. Thus, its real purpose in the film is lost on viewers who may dismiss it all as bad storytelling.

Why the Codex Was Important to Zack Snyder’s Superman Story

Kal-El Was Given a Choice No Kryptonian Had Before

Zod destroyed Jor-El before his plans with the Kryptonian Codex could be elaborated upon. The only time he talks about it to Kal-El is during the escape from Zod’s ship. As a McGuffin, it’s unnecessary because Zod doesn’t need any more motivation to want Superman dead. Even more interesting is that despite being powerful on Earth, Zod wants to terraform the planet to be more like Krypton. Instead of creating a race of gods, he just wants to eliminate humanity. Obviously, Superman wouldn’t go along with that plan, but it doesn’t quite make sense that he’d not care about saving his people at all.

“We wanted you to learn what it meant to be human first so that one day, when the time was right, you could be the bridge between two peoples… You can save all of them.” — Jor-El hologram to Kal-El.

Given that Kryptonians were genetically engineered, Zod likely couldn’t help himself. Protecting his people with relentless, lethal force was hardwired into his DNA. Along with this “nature” influence, Kryptonian society also didn’t seem very good in the “nurture” department. As a device to bring the descendants of Krypton to life, it doesn’t make much sense, since it exists in Clark’s cells. Zod is a prisoner of his programming, while Superman has limitless potential because he literally possesses the best of all Kryptonians within himself.

Superman was never supposed to resurrect Krypton in Man of Steel or any of the DCEU films that followed. Rather, the Kryptonian Codex served to further justify why Clark is so exceptional. Jor-El, Jonathan and Martha instill different ideas in Clark, but each of them stresses the choice is his to make. Clark chooses humanity, for all its fears and flaws, over his own people. Yet, through the codex, so long as Superman lives, Krypton does, too.

How the Codex Worked Against the Superman Audiences Know Already

Killing Zod Wasn’t Man of Steel’s Greatest Sin Against Kal-El’s Legacy

Like Zod, Jor-El wanted his son to bring Kryptonians back, too. Man of Steel implies that Jor-El wanted Kryptonians to, at least, share Earth with humanity. While he encourages Clark to be a hero on Earth, his ideology isn’t all that different from Zod’s. Where it differs is that Jor-El wants his people to have the chance to determine their own destiny, just like he did for his son. While compassionate, Jor-El does put Kryptonians above humans, if only because he tells Clark to “guide” people towards a better future.

Clark stands apart from humanity in Man of Steel, and he is often confronted with the worst of it. Krypton had a “Golden Age” of space travel and technological advancement. Yet, the planet was destroyed because they made selfish, stupid mistakes just like humans. Jor-El wanted future Kryptonians to make their own choices, meaning any number of people like Zod could decide they wanted to rule or eliminate humanity. Zod condemned the future of Krypton by showing Kal-El the worst of his people. It’s why he chooses humanity over them.

“Krypton had its chance.” — Superman to General Zod.

Superman’s perceived disinterest in society isn’t objectivism or bad storytelling. Rather, he’s trying to follow humanity’s lead while still doing what he believes is right. The Man of Steel tries to save everyone, and the Kryptonians not yet born are innocent. Instead of seeing it as a foundational part of Superman’s commitment to the people of Earth, it feels like a dangling story thread. Especially since Clark keeps humanity, other than Lois, at a distance. His ultimate integration with Earth and its people was something that would’ve happened well into the DCEU’s future, after whatever story the “Knightmare” sequences were setting up. Without that ending, Man of Steel has an unfinished element other Superman adaptations do not.

Man of Steel is available to own on DVD, Blu-ray, digital and streams on Max.