Superman (2025)

First, let me give some backstory on myself. I’ve been reading comics since I could read. I literally learned how to read so that I COULD read comics. My uncle had a small box of comics that he kept. This was the late 70s/early 80s and you just didn’t take care of them, so this was just a box in a young dude who was honestly moving on from comics. He had what you’d expect from this time, so there was some Spider-Man, some Conan (Savage Sword, but also the regular color comics), and some Superman.

One of the first books that I remember reading is this story where Superman fights Terra Man, who is this dude on a horse, dressed kind of like a space cowboy (Some might call him Maurice) fighting the Man of Steel over Metropolis. There’s a couple of these where that’s the cover, and the one I remember reading is not the one were he’s got the reins in Superman’s mouth.

So this book:

Not this one:

And pre-crisis, so not this one, which still seems to think he’s a cowboy but the creatives probably thought that the cowboy thing just didn’t work anymore:

I also, because I am middle-aged, was an avid fan of The Adventures of Superman (George Reeves) (Reruns) and Superman the Motion Picture (Chris Reeves) and Superman from the Super Friends (Danny Dark) so it wasn’t all just comics. I never stopped loving comics, though I did miss the early 2000s because I was working to support a family and had no time for almost anything. (I actually haven’t finished Smallville yet, to my shame)

But I got back into them later, and I am a bit of an expert on the subject. I’ve read over 10,000 books (honestly probably over 20k if you count digital), the 10k of which I used to own in hard copy till they went the way of most comic collections due to my mom. Now I collect some books, mostly in collections, and I have subscriptions to DC and Marvel’s services for reading comics. Add to that, I did a podcast years ago on reviewing comics and I have at least one project going to make my own. This is all a long winded way of showing that I know what I am talking about when it comes to comics. Superheroes, horror, comedy, classics, manga, you name it, I love the art form.

So I will tell you right now, that James Gunn’s Superman (2025) is one of the best experiences I’ve had watching comic book movies. I waited a bit to write out my thoughts, because I didn’t want to just go on adrenalin and excitement over just watching the movie.

You start in media res, right in the action, and it keeps going almost constantly through the whole thing. Think “The Mummy Returns” (2001) which, also, amazing movie. Which wasn’t what made me bi, but it didn’t hurt. You just keep going, and the story flows from there. There’s no lull time, the movie is tight and there’s not really any extra stuff thrown in, but it is SO packed full of stuff. There’s constant worldbuilding, but it’s built into the story. There’s fun, and yes, silliness, which I have got to make just very clear to everyone –

• Superhero comic books are silly. It’s in the name (comic). You have to suspend disbelief to get into the story. They aren’t dark and grounded.
• Superman is NOT a serious character. There are serious stories, but that is not what the character is about. He’s about light, and hope, and making the choice every day to keep going and work for a better tomorrow (And truth and justice 😉 )
• This is DC guys. I’ve been watching or reading this stuff longer than probably a lot of people complaining have been alive, and I can tell you – It gets Silly. Get over yourself. Allow yourself to smile. It’s ok. Do you need a hug?

What it’s not? It’s not Woke. Is protecting and respecting all life Woke? If you think so, I suggest you get therapy, and I have to break something to you – you might be a bad guy. I mean like, that’s where we’re at. There’s nothing in this movie that is trying to make any sort of statements about any of the stuff the anti-woke like to complain about.

I suppose people might be thinking the presentation of Lex is a commentary about the anti-woke mob, but if you are siding with him, I have got to tell you. You aren’t the good guy. Lex is an absolute monster in this movie. Hoult is PERFECT as Lex. I loved Rosenbaum, and I loved watchin Hackman chew up scenes (though I never really bought him as a Supervillain, just a comic book version of a certain type of New York Real Estate Developer) but Hoult (And Gunn) give us a supervillain.

The chills that you got (I hope) from the Lex on the animated series (respect to Clancy Brown for bringing that character to life) – You get that in live action. He’s brilliant, and a mastermind, and chilling, and absolutely EVIL. Everyone is below him. He’s the best Lex. I love to hate him.

Corenswet is a perfect Superman. I still have to pick Reeves as my favorite, but that’s more because he’s the Superman of my youth. I can’t find any issues with how he did that role. And I am DYING to see him next to Batman. I want to see them be best friends. I want to see more of this world, done like this. Absolute respect for the passion of my life.

Gunn… Gunn didn’t just make a comic book movie despite all the weird rules of the medium, making them marketable for people. He made a movie where he embraced all that stuff. It’s silly, but not like a Will Farrell movie. (Though it does have some fun jokes) It’s silly because it speaks to the little kid who sat down with some cereal on Saturday morning and watched Super Friends and then grabbed a red towel and ran around the house.

And instead of all the stress of the world. Having to worry about our government, and other people’s Governments, and uncaring billionaires, and people forgetting what it’s like to just be nice. Instead of that, I got to be a kid again for just a little while.

It’s probably not what Superman would do, but I will fight people who say this movie is bad. I love it.

9/10 – it isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty Super.