There seems to be some confusion about what’s happening in the newSupermansneak peek trailer from theDCU, so I think it’s worth establishing that no, Superman is not being hurt by the yellow sun. There is a lot riding onthe DCU’s newSuperman, with its success being the barometer for the future of the franchise. Given the sanctity of DC’s foremost superhero, fan reactions to first looks andtrailers forSupermanhave been unsurprisingly beset by detractors. Nevertheless, it should be said that the overall sentiment is positive towards James Gunn’s brighter approach to the character.
This approach is rooted in comic book precedent. Gunn has been open via social media about thecore inspirations for his Supermanadaptation, which include such installments as “All-Star Superman” and “A Superman for All Seasons.” These comics embody Superman’s sunnier persona, conveying an optimistic message as the godlike alien with superpowers to spare ensures they are used to prop up and protect humanity. They also convey Superman’s various vulnerabilities - a facet of the character that Gunn looks poised to lean into inSuperman.
The New Superman Trailer Shows Kal-El Being Treated Inside The Fortress Of Solitude
He Is Prescribed A Dose Of Yellow Sun By His Robot Attendants
Superman’s inconceivable power levels can make it hard to humanize him in a way that evokes enough empathy. It’s no real surprise, then, that boththe first trailer forSupermanand the recently released extended sneak peek openwith the largely invulnerable Kal-El lying beaten and bruised in the Arctic snow,calling to his rambunctious super-dog, Krypto, to help him. After being dragged to his Fortress of Solitude, Superman is attended to by a cohort of four robots that proceed to whisk him away to treat his grievous wounds.
Superman’s robots could be an adaptation of both Kelex, his single robot attendant in DC Comics, and Superman’s surprisingly rich history of developing and working with Superman robots in the Silver and Bronze ages of comics.
Assessing the damage to Superman, the robots diagnose14 fractured bones and damage to the bladder, kidney, large intestine, and lungs. As yet, the cause of Superman’s injuries is a mystery, but the sneak peek shows how the Man of Steel can recover: by being exposed to a focused barrage of the sun’s rays. This scene, where the Fortress of Solitude rotates into position and a series of lenses combine to focus the sun, is the cause of some controversy due to Superman’s immediate reaction to the process.
DC Fans Are Confused About Whether The Sun Is Hurting Superman
Some Fans Assert That The Sun Should Be Healing Him
Superman responds to his exposure to the sun by screaming as his android attendants pin him down to a chair. It looks like he is in pain, and several people on social media were quick to point this out,suggesting that the sun is hurting Superman in theSupermansneak peek when it should be doing the opposite. On X, for example, accounts like@GunntArchiveare questioning why the sun is hurting him when it should be healing him.
Another user,@FernandoHAyalaS, poses the same question:
Another user,@CaliEric0, also questions why Superman is in pain, suggesting that the yellow sun should be powering him up:
It is fair to say that these questions have earned their fair share of retorts. James Gunn’s approach toSupermanhas spurred detractors for several reasons, to varying degrees of ingenuousness, which helps to fuel lively debates online. I have to point out, however, thatthe many responses to these assessments are simply correct- with the decision behind Superman’s response being rooted in the real world and the decision to humanize the character.
Why It Looks Like Superman Is Being Hurt By The Sun
Healing Is A Painful Process
As many online have been quick to point out:healing is painful. Superman’s response to being exposed to a concentrated dose of the sun’s rays is eminently understandable when considering how painful it can be to heal a broken limb at an average human pace. When dialing up that healing process to transpire in a matter of minutes, it stands to reason that Superman would be in an immense amount of pain as his 14 fractured bones (and the rest) rapidly recover. Just consider how painful it can be to re-affix a dislocated limb.
Superman’s prime inspiration comes from the DC Comics run “All-Star Superman,” where the sun plays a key role.
This doesn’t mean Superman is being hurt by the sun, but quite the opposite. The X-based detractors are correct when stating thatthe sun is supposed to heal Superman, which is exactly why Superman’s automaton attendants head straight to that solution, stating “With a healthy dose of yellow sun, we’ll have you up and at ‘em in no time,” before prescribing a dosage of “292 times Saharan Prime.” Not only is this a comics-accurate way for Superman to heal himself, but it speaks to Gunn’s repeatedly stated inspiration forSuperman.
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Superman’s prime inspiration comes from the DC Comics run “All-Star Superman,” where the sun plays a key role. Over-exposure to the sun’s radiation causes Superman’s cells to overload, condemning him to a slow death. This suggests that the sun isn’t purely therapeutic for Superman, butthe source of an inherently quite aggressive biological process. Ultimately, I’m encouraged by James Gunn’s approach to Superman’s intricacies inSupermanas it seems intended to humanize a character that will presumably be the face of the whole franchise.
