David Corenswet's Superman Comic Influences

Fans finally got their first look at James Gunn's Superman, starring David Corenswet as the titular DC superhero. Judging by the trailer, poster, and first details provided by the cast and crew, the new Superman 2025 appears to be borrowing from multiple versions of Superman over 80 years of history, rather than one specific one.

David Corenswet's Superman has sparked fans' memories of the comics, whether it's the suit, the way he acts, and some of the plot elements that are recognizable. However, not everyone is as knowledgeable about the vast world of Superman comics, so some of the references in the trailer may come as a surprise to those individuals.

The Man Of Steel

Author: John Byrne, Dick Giordano

The original Superman movies made a huge impact on pop culture and comics themselves during the Silver Age, so when Superman was rebooted after Crisis On Infinite Earths with John Byrne's The Man Of Steel, the character was redesigned to look more like the actor, who every stunt performer since then has more or less taken inspiration from.

David Corenswet's new Superman look features the curly hair seen in the comics, especially in the 80s when the character was rebooted for the better by John Byrne. The character also has the classic red boots with a V-shaped design on the top. They look almost identical to the boots Christopher Reeve & Brandon Routh wore with their suits.

All-Star Superman

Author: Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely

Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman became a beloved comic book series thanks to the author's love of Superman. While the suit may not have been inspired by All-Star Superman, David Corenswet's Clark Kent shares many similarities, such as being completely different from the Superman character.

Even though David Corenswet's Clark is supposed to be taller than most people in Metropolis, he does a great job as the awkward but lovable Kansas native. He's shy, awkward, and a goofball, which helps him not look like Superman. It shows that his disguise is more than just a pair of glasses.

Action Comics #1

Author: Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster

The bright colors of David Corenswet's suit are very noticeable. The almost blue color combined with the yellow is bright enough to make Green Lantern jump. This is no different from when Superman first debuted in Action Comics #1 in 1938, and when Superman #1 debuted in 1939.

Instead of a red outline for the House of El's crest, it's yellow, which hasn't been a common design choice since the original symbols Superman had in his early days over 80 years ago. Not only is this a welcome change from previous action-packed depictions of Superman, but it also shows James Gunn's respect for the character's history.

The New 52

Authors: Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, Scott Williams

When DC rebooted its universe in 2011 with The New 52 comics, Superman got one of the most radical redesigns yet. Not only was his suit a darker sapphire blue, it was also designed to look more like Kryptonian armor, including a high collar and shoulder pads to look more like an imposing warrior in a sci-fi adventure.

There's no denying that David Corenswet's suit shares many of the same features as the armored fabric of the New 52 design, especially the collar. However, the blue is much brighter and retains the red shorts with a yellow belt instead of a red belt, further suggesting that James Gunn drew inspiration from many previous eras of the character.

Superman: The Man Of Steel #100

Authors: Mark Schultz, Pablo Raimondi, José Marzan Jr.

Superman has a deep connection to Earth, having been raised by the Kent family, but James Gunn has hinted that his upcoming Superman movie will explore the character's connection to both Earth and Krypton. A hint at that is the possibility of revealing Kelex, a character developed by John Byrne during his run but who has appeared in other comics over the years, including Superman: The Man Of Steel.

Kelex is more or less Batman's equivalent of Alfred Pennyworth, a robotic companion who helps maintain and protect the Fortress of Solitude. While it's more similar to the Superbots Superman has in the comics, Superman seems to be mourning this character in the new trailer, which could be a sign that it's Kelex, and could be Clark's only "half-alive" connection to Krypton outside of the Fortress.

Jessica Tanner

Update 29 December 2024