Was James Gunn’s Superman Villain Leaked?

by

Quick Links

  • A Toy List Revealed the Potential Superman Villain
  • Ultraman and His Place in DC Comics
  • Ultraman Is a Force to Be Reckoned With in the DCU

As a longtime comic book enthusiast and a diehard fan of James Gunn’s work, I must say that this potential lineup for Superman is simply mind-blowing! The rich history and diverse storylines of Ultraman in the DCU have provided us with some of the most intriguing, action-packed, and even darkest tales ever told. If Gunn manages to weave these elements into his take on the Man of Steel, I truly believe that Superman will be a cinematic masterpiece that will leave audiences in awe.

In James Gunn’s Superman, the addition of numerous comic book characters might make the title “Superman and Friends” seem less unrealistic. This upcoming DC film seems to draw inspiration from the superhero shows popular in the 1970s. Characters like Guy Gardner, Metamorpho, Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, Jimmy Olsen, and many more are set to appear. However, while multiple heroes have been introduced, only one villain has been confirmed so far – The Engineer, played by Angela Spica. It’s hinted that The Engineer may not be the only antagonist; we’re not referring to Brainiac in this case.

Given the upcoming release of a movie based on “The Authority” during Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, it’s likely that her portrayal as a villain won’t last long. Although many believe Brainiac might be the main antagonist (as suggested by James Gunn’s Instagram post in May), this hasn’t been officially confirmed yet. However, thanks to reliable Hollywood insider Daniel Richtman on X, we might soon identify another villain appearing in Superman… none other than Ultraman! This isn’t the colossal Kaiju that battles aliens from outer space.

A Toy List Revealed the Potential Superman Villain

What caused this leak to happen? Richtman’s post on October 26 revealed upcoming toy listings related to the Superman film. It’s worth noting that we will be seeing the fortress of solitude and, interestingly enough, a kaiju (this isn’t surprising given the nature of The Suicide Squad)). Furthermore, a five-inch action figure called Ultraman was also mentioned in the text document.

In response to a fan inquiring about his feelings regarding the internet-famous toys and figures, Gunn expressed that he doesn’t believe these names will ruin the movie for viewers. With Ultraman having been spotted on set (in a mysterious dark military uniform), and considering Gunn’s previous statement in April identifying Superman and Lex Luthor as the main characters of the film, there are many questions left to answer about Ultraman’s role in the DC universe. In other words, more details need to be revealed regarding who Ultraman is in this movie and how this familiar-looking villain might affect the upcoming storyline.

It’s quite unexpected that Ultraman made his debut in the 1964 issue of Justice League of America, setting the stage for a major DC storyline known as Crisis on Infinite Earths. What makes this version of Superman unique is that it draws power from Kryptonite rather than being affected by it, and acquires a new ability after prolonged exposure to it. Additionally, he seems to be vulnerable to yellow sunlight, which may explain why he’s seen wearing full-body armor in the leaked set photos.

Despite his original intention to ally with the American Crime Syndicate against the Justice League and the Justice Society (after learning about parallel universes), Ultraman met an untimely demise while attempting to halt Anti-Monitor’s destructive anti-matter wave. Tragically, this malevolent entity annihilated Earth 3, the home world of Ultraman, along with everyone on it. Rest assured, we will cross paths with this ominous version of DC’s legendary hero once more in the future.

Ultraman and His Place in DC Comics

Over a span of 14 years, Ultraman made several brief appearances and minor roles. One notable instance was in the “Animal Man” series, where he learned that he was a comic book character, clashed with Overman – a Superman variant infected with a sexually transmitted disease – and eventually disappeared into the villain’s mask as an alternate identity. In 1999, this villain was officially reintroduced as an anti-matter counterpart of Superman, who at that time, was part of America’s Crime Syndicate. Originating from the Anti-Matter Earth, this version of Clark Kent was a former astronaut who was rescued by aliens after his spacecraft exploded.

In the process of fixing him, however, they adjusted his chemical makeup, making him significantly stronger when he was near Anti-Kryptonite. Interestingly enough, this updated version of Ultraman finds himself in a love triangle with Owlman and Superwoman (variations of Batman and Wonder Woman). Yet, he refrained from becoming too humorous, as a grand narrative unfolded about Brainiac’s plan to obliterate both Earth and the anti-matter world…hang on. This could easily be Gunn’s plot idea, given that toys branded “Baby-Joe” and “Baby-Kaiju” will hit the market! Additionally, there was a wild tale where numerous variant Supermen (including Ultraman) merged into a colossal robot to battle Mandrakk, a dark Monitor. This certainly seems like something Gunn would concoct as well.

Ultraman Is a Force to Be Reckoned With in the DCU

In December 2013, a new iteration of Ultraman emerged in the second volume of The Justice League (following the Flashpoint event). This storyline is significantly more brutal than its predecessors. As an infant, Ultraman’s parents slaughtered everyone en route to an escape pod. Upon arriving on Earth, he compelled drug-dependent John and Martha Kent to raise him until he was seven, then proceeded to kill them before moving in with another family. After spending time in prison, Ultraman was given Kryptonite to battle a being called Mobius, a role similar to an anti-monitor. Regrettably, in this narrative, Ultraman disregarded Superman’s advice and attempted to confront the deity-like being single-handedly.

The being known as Perpetua turned Ultraman and his criminal group into hybrid martians intent on dominating all life forms. However, it remains to be seen if any of these stories related to Ultraman will appear in James Gunn’s Superman. Given that Brainiac has been mentioned, the second story could be a reality, but it might be too extreme for some casual viewers. The release date for Superman is July 11, 2025, so we’ll have to wait and see what unfolds on the big screen.

Read More

2024-11-08 04:02