If you asked me about my fandom loves, it depends on the day. I might say it’s X-Men, and tell you about my love for Cyclops and Rogue. I might talk about Star Wars, and how Han Solo and Luke Skywalker’s hero’s journeys resonate with me. I might even talk about the pulp adventure of Indiana Jones. But more than likely I’ll tell you about my love for Superman and Spider-Man.
These two heroes embody what I hope for in humanity. Spider-Man is what I hope I would be if I had great power. Superman is the embodiment of goodness and hope in humanity. Superman is what I would aspire to be. He’s humanity’s best, despite not even being human.
So the moment I woke up this morning, I rolled over and searched for the first trailer for James Gunn’s Superman. It was 7:01 a.m. Mountain Standard Time, and the trailer hadn’t even hit 2,000 views yet.
The moment I saw Krypto the Superdog, I teared up.
In two minutes and 20 seconds, director James Gunn captured the spirit of hope, compassion, selfless sacrifice and love that Superman embodies to me. We see David Corenswet as Superman beaten and broken. We see Clark Kent as his sweet but bumbling cover identity, then a few moments later, Clark hugging his father in Kansas. Rachel Brosnahan owning the room as Lois Lane, but throughout the trailer we see her by Clark’s side, in costume and out, acting as his partner. Even Nicholas Hoult in two moments embodies Lex Luthor wordlessly.
Yes, it’s a trailer. It’s meant to be exciting and attention grabbing. But in that short run time, Gunn and his team lean into what makes Superman great. The first shot of Superman in action is of him saving a child in danger, not punching a monster or bad guy. The only dialogue is Clark asking his best friend for help and a child whispering Superman’s name with a reverence that’s as much a cry for help as it is a prayer.
Some fans are going to take today to dissect the trailer and look at what the monster was, how accurate the costumes and designs for Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl and Metamorpho were, the type of gun Luthor was holding menacingly. Not me.
Superman is my favorite hero because he’s what we can and should be. He’s not always bright and shiny — and this trailer shows that in more ways than one. He’s about hope.
And that’s enough for me, especially in these difficult times.
We need a Superman.
Artist’s rendition of the author weeping
Tony Thornley is a geek dad, blogger, Spider-Man and Superman aficionado, X-Men guru, autism daddy, amateur novelist, and all around awesome guy. He’s also very humble.
