After first teasing the costume at the end of February, yesterday saw us finally get a proper look at David Corenswet's Man of Steel in DC Studios and James Gunn's SUPERMAN. Unfortunately, the response has been mixed.
That's typically the case with any suit reveal, but the image makes some noteworthy missteps in its presentation that have left some fans concerned with the creative direction of the DCU.
In this feature, we take a look at those and what the image itself reveals about SUPERMAN. From a possible villain tease to the suit's finer, possibly MCU-inspired finer details, we're breaking it down for you in as much detail as possible.
So, to find out what we've discovered, simply click on that "Next"/"View List" button below...
5. He Has The Red Trunks
It's easy to miss, but yes, this version of Superman has his red trunks. Unfortunately, we only catch a glimpse of those and what looks like a yellow belt, meaning we don't know whether these are underoos or more like shorts.
Either way, it's a fan-pleasing addition and arguably an upgrade over the sparse belt design/lack of trunks when Henry Cavill was still playing the character.
This look can work on screen; Superman Returns and, more recently, Superman & Lois, have proven that. We're sure many of you will have been overjoyed by the presence of the hero's classic hair curl too.
4. The New 52 Inspiration
While the red trunks are present, the rest of Superman's suit is heavily inspired by the character's appearance during DC Comics' New 52 relaunch.
There are minor changes, but he has a collar, the same style cape, and lines across the suit that give it a little more texture. As for the previously revealed chest logo, we're sure the Kingdom Come fans among you will be instantly familiar with the design.
Gunn has reteamed with The Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 costume designer Judianna Makovsky for SUPERMAN. We're sure you won't be surprised because it 100% feels like a design we could see in the MCU.
3. Warner Bros.' VFX Haven't Improved
Visual effects have never been Warner Bros.' strong suit, particularly in its DCEU offerings. The Flash was the perfect example of that and there's a certain level of inconsistency which can be seen throughout all of its comic book adaptations.
The effects used in this first look are atrocious. Where the red of the cape attaches to the blue part of Superman's suit, there are obvious signs of Photoshop and something about the front of the collar and even Corenswet's right eyelid also looks off.
Then, there's the background. It should have been easy to get this looking flawless when it's a mere still. Instead, the glowing orb is oddly flat and perhaps even AI-generated. We can only hope it isn't indicative of what we'll see in the movie itself.
Oh, and could Metropolis look any more bland than it does here?
2. A Possible Mongul Hint
Rumour has it Lex Luthor creates a Superman clone in the reboot, pitting our new Man of Steel against an evil version of himself dubbed Ultraman. That might be true, but we don't think Lex is responsible for that glowing orb.
As we first suggested yesterday, this looks a lot like Warworld and Gunn has previously shared cryptic clues on social media suggesting he has an interest in the villain who commands that ship: Mongul.
He seeks domination and control over other civilizations, often clashing with heroes like Superman and the Green Lantern Corps. Driven by a desire for power and glory, and willing to commit any atrocity to achieve his goals, he's a threat we could get on board with seeing in SUPERMAN.
1. Who Thought This Was A Good Idea?
SUPERMAN is not going to live or die on a costume reveal photo. This thing will be a distant memory by the time official stills and footage are released, so there's no need to panic. It does, however, leave us questioning DC Studios' current decision-making process.
We respect Gunn for trying something new; rather than posting a typical Superman pose or epic flying shot, he dreamed up an image which reminds us that Kal-El is just like us, putting on one boot at a time. The execution, however, is flawed.
It's already generating unflattering memes, while the pose means the costume appears creased and ill-fitting (almost what you'd expect from a set photo). And why does Supes appear to be ignoring the mass destruction taking place outside his window?
This is not the good start to the new DCU we hoped for after the disaster that was the DCEU...