Zack Snyder Nailed 1 of Superman’s Most Overlooked Traits (& DCEU Critics Punished Him for It)

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Starting with Man of Steeldirector Zack Snyder oversaw a drastic reimagining of the DC Comics pantheon focusing on controversial interpretations of the heroes. Many fans felt that his DC Extended Universe of films misunderstood the character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster 86 years ago. However, Zack Snyder’s films actually perfectly adapted a key characteristic of Superman in his world, and the DCEU critics punished him for it.

Various adaptations of Kal-El’s story in film and on television emphasized different parts of his character. Richard Donner put the spotlight on his alien heritage and idyllic personality. TV’s Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman focused on Clark Kent as a regular guy trying to find love while doing good. Man of Steel was the first film to lean into the mythological nature of Superman. It also pondered how the modern world would react to an alien living on Earth. There was cynicism in this film and its sequels, but it was firmly aimed in judgment of people, not Superman. DCEU critics say Henry Cavill’s Clark Kent is aloof, distant and even uncaring. While it may seem like that, he’s really trying to respect the wishes of the world he calls home.

Superman Chooses Humanity Over Krypton in Battling Zod

Of all the past Superman adaptations, Man of Steel included a lot of Krypton in its story. Along with sending Kal-El to Earth, Jor-El also sent a codex that could, in theory, resurrect the Kryptonian race. When Zod and company show up, they want to use this device as part of their subjugation of humanity. Before going to battle with them, Zod tried to convince Kal-El to join him.

At first glance, it seems like Man of Steel changed Superman in many ways. In actuality, the film changes the circumstances around Clark Kent as he grows from Kansas farm boy to the world’s greatest superhero. His parents reflected this more fearful world. His first public appearance in costume isn’t heroically saving someone. Instead, after Zod shows up and threatens the planet, Superman surrenders himself to humanity. They give him up without hesitation.

The silliest controversy over Man of Steel was Superman killing Zod. In Superman II the hero kills Zod after he’s powerless. In this film, Zod is literally about to burn innocents alive with his heat vision. Superman saves Earth, but the devastation Metropolis suffers is seen by some, including Bruce Wayne in the sequel, as Superman’s fault. This sets up the weird dynamic the people of Earth have with the Man of Tomorrow.

Zack Snyder Leaned Into Superman as God-Like Mythological Figure

Most Stories Make the Man of Steel Just a Regular Guy

Even before Man of Steel, many people criticized Superman as a character. Some believe he’s “too powerful” to support interesting stories with any real tension. Others believe his moral purity is a narrative weakness and inauthentic. Of course, that’s the point of Kal-El. Superman isn’t a power fantasy about a demigod who can mess up any bad guy with one punch. Rather, it’s a fantasy that a being with such power would be compassionate, caring and committed to serving humanity rather than ruling it.

When asked what scenes from his films move him the most, Zack Snyder pointed to Jonathan Kent and Clark. In every adaptation, Kal-El becomes Superman because of the example the Kents showed him. In Man of Steel, they are a bit more fearful of humanity than other adaptations, but not all that much. They underscore the mythological nature of this Superman. Pa Kent tells Clark he’s here for a reason. Martha Kent tells him he doesn’t owe the world anything. They give him the freedom to become whatever he wants to be.

“You have to know when, as Superman, when to intervene and when not to….[Superman] literally…can’t be everywhere at once, so he has to be really selective in a weird way about where he chooses to interfere.” — Zack Snyder in an interview.

Despite humanity’s fear of Superman, he still cares about the world. A deleted scene from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justicewould have showed the toll his powers take on him. Trying to find his mother using his super-hearing, Superman would’ve heard cries for help from across the world, showing that despite his god-like abilities, he still can’t help everyone. That film is where Zack Snyder’s DCEU critics lambast his take on Superman the most, because it’s all about Kal-El’s complicated relationship with humanity.

The Subtlety in Superman’s Story in Batman v Superman Is Easy to Miss

Clark Kent Wanted to Do Good and Didn’t Like Being Worshiped or Feared

Batman v. Superman was the sequel to Man of Steel, with Snyder and David Goyer reuniting to develop this story. Goyer had other commitments, so writer Chris Terrio came in to carry the film over the finish line. While the focus was on the battle between the DC titans, the film is really about how the world would react to Superman. Some people still fear him or, at least, resent him for doing what he does with no oversight. Others, especially the people he saves, worship him like a god. Both reactions make Clark Kent uncomfortable.

Chris Terrio’s Inspiration for His Script Rewrite

Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy

W.H. Auden’s “Musée des Beaux Arts,”

Umberto Eco’s critical essay “The Myth of Superman.”

Superman is not uncaring nor distant from humanity in the way DCEU critics say. There are story problems, of course, like the Congressional committee denouncing Superman for supposedly burning the terrorists in the opening sequence alive. This was later revealed to be part of Lex Luthor’s plan. Additionally, the U.S. military was going to blow up the entire compound with civilians present, and with a drone that Superman destroys as he flies in to rescue Lois. His failure to stop the Capitol bombing almost broke him.

The Superman in the DCEU isn’t all that different from other adaptations. Rather, America has become more fearful and unwelcoming. Clark tries to strike the right balance between doing what he can to help people in need, while respecting that people don’t want him to. He tries to keep his distance from humanity. As he says in Man of Steel, he won’t be controlled by institutions of human power, but he also won’t inflict himself on the world against humanity’s will. That’s exactly how Superman would handle such a dilemma. Zack Snyder got that right.

Snyder’s DCEU Examined a World That Feared Their Heroes

The Justice League Was ‘Darker’ but They Reflected Their World

In fairness to his critics, Snyder’s DCEU is dark, but that was always the intention. For better or worse, his films were about the corruption of these heroic symbols. Yet, had Warner Bros. allowed him to finish his planned films, they would’ve overcome that and returned to a more traditional place. However, Superman hadn’t been corrupted, yet.

In an interview, Snyder shared his endgame for Superman had he finished making the films he planned to make. Superman would have fallen victim to the Anti-Life Equation before breaking free of it. Time travel would have happened, and he’d ultimately defeat Darkseid. Yet, in the films Snyder did make, Superman was still good. His perceived detachment from humanity wasn’t a flaw in this interpretation. Rather, he was trying to balance his desire to help people with his respect for humanity’s fear of him.

One of the most often repeated sequences in Superman stories is someone asking who he is, and he responds by saying “a friend.” It’s nice when the Man of Steel is everyone’s friend, but in Snyder’s world, not everyone wanted him to be. People feared Superman, Batman and other powered beings, which is an authentic reaction. Whether people like Snyder’s take on DC heroes or not, his films did get Superman’s attitude towards people right. If he kept his distance, it’s because he cared about what humanity wanted.

Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League are available to own on DVD, Blu-ray, digital and stream on Max.

“}]] A key complaint about Zack Snyder’s take on Superman is that the hero keeps his distance from humanity, but that’s something the director got right.  Read More