Mini Review: Superman takes the sports film formula and throws in a dash of Silver, Bronze, and Copper Age of Comics kookiness

Superman

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics, sees more movies, and watch more tv than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Superman (2025) – Boring, annoying people say Superman isn’t a good superhero because he’s “overpowered”. In Superman, writer/director James Gunn swats that notion away like the Man of Steel does to Lex Luthor’s Silicon Valley rent-a-goons. He begins the story with Superman’s first defeat, and he and a game David Corenswet break down the iconic superhero putting him through the wringer before building up stronger and braver than ever.

Superman takes the sports film formula and throws in a dash of Silver, Bronze, and Copper Age of Comics kookiness while finishing off with a timely helping of contemporary politics. Superman uses otherworldly and crazy sci-fi tech as metaphors to create cathartic hope in a world run by billionaire criminals that sadly aren’t chilling in Belle Reve prison. The film has its preachy moments, but I’m in the choir so I didn’t mind although let’s definitely say that James Gunn has read his Larry Niven.

However, for the most part, Superman is pop rock fun that showcases Gunn’s skill with making it easy to connect with quirky characters in ensemble casts. I came out of the theater clamoring for Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo has the freak factor.), Metamorpho, and a Bwahahaha-type Justice League film while still savoring the triumph of nurture over nature, truth over deception, justice over venality, and populism over plutocracy that I had just witnessed. Also, wow, Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan have incredible chemistry as Clark Kent and Lois Lane.

Overall Verdict: 8.0


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