Superman Lore Changed Forever? YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS!

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James Gunn’s adaptation of Superman introduced a significant shift in the character’s history. This reinterpretation of Clark Kent’s life may have been effective, but fans’ opinions on it will largely hinge on their acceptance of a substantial (though not entirely novel) transformation in Kal-El’s past. Regardless of individual opinions, this change is bound to have far-reaching implications for the future of the DC Universe.

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David Corenswet’s character, Clark Kent, lived under the impression that his Kryptonian parents, Jor-El and Lara, sent him to Earth for a noble purpose. The cryptic message they left him suggested they aimed to do more than just preserve his life by sending him to an alien world. Instead, it seemed as though they wanted him to harness the powers he’d gain on Earth to improve his new home. This aligned with the usual portrayal of Jor-El as a noble character in the history of Superman, a trait that has remained consistent across all movie adaptations. Each Jor-El was depicted as an exceptional individual who passed on strong moral values to his son.

It wasn’t the character of Jor-El as portrayed in Gunn’s movie. When the Engineer managed to breach the Fortress of Solitude, she unraveled the remainder of the fractured message. Subsequently, a startling revelation was disclosed to the world. Contrary to public perception, Jor-El desired his mighty progeny to rule with an iron grip over the ignorant populace of Earth. Additionally, he advised his son to establish a harem in order to populate the planet with his kin.

The disclosure left Clark feeling shaken, as it made him doubt his identity. It appeared to confirm the apprehensions that both current and potential adversaries held about him. However, Jonathan Kent, who had been Clark’s adoptive father and educator in empathy, compassion, and justice, reassured his son that a single message did not define him. His deeds were what truly mattered. Consequently, even though Kal-El and Lara turned out to be different than Clark expected, it didn’t alter the person he had become through Jonathan’s guidance. Clark was both superhuman and human at heart.

In the movie, this alteration wasn’t merely intriguing; it perfectly fit the narrative Gunn created. It skillfully flipped conventional storytelling tropes, given its familiar plot. Moreover, it echoed one of the film’s most compelling themes: Clark Kent being as human as any other person, a decent kid from Kansas who holds onto idealistic human values. Contrasting these values with his Kryptonian parents’ intentions served to underscore just how noble and heroic Clark truly is.

It’s not hard to see why longtime fans of Superman and Jor-El might take issue with such a major transformation, as it alters a fundamental aspect of these characters. Superman has traditionally symbolized the harmony of two worlds, emphasizing core values about goodness that transcend Earthly boundaries. If right and wrong are universal constants across galaxies, they must be absolute truths. The fact that Jor-El imparted benevolence to his son also embodied a unique form of hope for humanity. Despite his best efforts, Jor-El couldn’t prevent Krypton’s self-destruction. Instead, he hoped that his son, Clark Kent/Kal-El, with two sets of parents who instilled in him the potential to be his best self, might one day save Earth from a similar catastrophe.

Altering that detail, even though it didn’t alter the final version of Superman (since Gunn essentially got his desired outcome through an incomplete message), still fundamentally changes Superman’s narrative. This was what made it surprising. However, it wasn’t entirely unprecedented. On Smallville, Jor-El was portrayed as an Artificial Intelligence lacking the morality typically associated with Superman. This was due to the AI being incomplete and lacking much of Jor-El’s actual personality, but it still allowed James Gunn’s movie to present a different side of the ill-fated Kryptonian, one that wasn’t solely a noble figure. Similarly, this portrayal didn’t detract from Tom Welling’s character being a great hero.

While personal preferences may vary, this change will be significant for the DC Universe. In addition, the film introduces Milly Alcock as Supergirl, who is quite different from her well-known relative and Clark’s Kryptonian cousin. As James Gunn hinted, she’s “a bit of a mess.” Unlike Clark, who grew up in a nurturing Kansas household, she spent the first 14 years of her life witnessing the death of everyone on Krypton. The DCU’s portrayal of Krypton seems to be even more troubled than previously thought following Jor-El and Lara’s revelation.

It’s clear that Supergirl’s past will significantly impact her journey within the franchise, given she spent her formative years among cruel people on a dying Krypton. It’s not hard to imagine why, with such a history, she often copes with her problems by drinking on red sun planets while her balanced cousin shines as Earth’s top hero. However, Supergirl isn’t the only Kryptonian we anticipate in the DCU. In a universe where Jor-El was morally ambiguous, how will his son react when General Zod potentially makes an appearance?

In the DC Universe, instead of being constant adversaries with conflicting objectives like they’re typically portrayed, Jor-El and General Zod might share a similar message and purpose. If this happens, what impact will it have on Superman? How will he emotionally react to this unexpected revelation? How will he and his cousin, who is personally familiar with Krypton’s tragic past, navigate through this situation?

This change could potentially reshape the dynamics between these characters, creating a more complex narrative for Superman. Emotionally, he might grapple with feelings of confusion, sadness, or even anger at the realization that Zod, who was once his enemy, shares the same origin and possibly similar ideals as his father. Handling this revelation alongside his cousin, who also understands Krypton’s history, could lead to interesting conversations and decisions in their shared journey.

I must confess, you might find Jor-El loathsome or even detestable in this new portrayal. Regardless of your feelings towards him, there’s no denying that the unforeseen message about oppression he brings to the table has certainly added an intriguing twist to the new DC Universe.

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2025-07-11 19:33