For 18 years, Marvel has outpaced DC on all fronts. Since 2008 Marvel has seemed to be untouchable but 2025 was the year for DC to make a mark on and make the race of superheroes even tighter, and finally out doing Marvel in popularity for a single year, all with one movie.
With the anticipation of the release of Superman this summer. Many fans and everyday people were curious how the movie would do. Superman is the first very well known Superman and has shown up in tons of media over the years. But director James Gunn didn’t miss with his interpretation of the symbol of hope.
“Superman is one of my favorite fictional characters, I really think he was represented as he should be, in the movie there isn’t a moment where he doesn’t show true hope and human feelings,” said Emory Pais (12).
People believed his comic book style made the characters and the world fly right off the page. Superman being a friend to all, and a symbol of hope was the strongest and most important part of the movie, especially in the world we live in today. The movie was reviewed very positively for critics sitting at 83% on rotten tomatoes. But the fans had nothing but amazing and positive things to say with 90% view score from the audience. (“Superman (2025).” Rotten Tomatoes, 11 July 2025,www.rottentomatoes.com/m/superman_2025)
But before the new Superman, DC was in the large shadow of Marvel, their first attempt to make their own universe with Man of Steel (2013). The movie came out to a good box office, and okay reviews from critics and fans. But something was off to most die hard DC fans, the portrayal of Superman didn’t feel like Superman, for someone who is supposed to want to save as many as he can, and do whatever it takes to do good. It seemed the portrayal was more leaned towards the director’s style, Jack Snyder. Being known for a more dark and serious tone.
People didn’t think the style suited the bright, friendly, giant that is Superman.
“I think those movies didn’t work because of the lack of any clear direction or build,” Braden Langwith (11) said.
With more movies coming out there was somewhat of an connection between movies, but there were two major problems. The movies felt rushed and weren’t seen as good in the eyes of fans and critics, and Marvel at the time from 2018-2019 was in its more important time period with the releases of Avengers Infinity War, and Avengers Endgame. The last attempt of saving the dying DC universe was letting Zack Snyder make a rebooted Justice League and give Dwayne Johnson, known as the Rock the keys to most of the DC with his movie Black Adam. The Snyder cut was seen as a good movie, but the failure of Black Adam was the end for DC.
A year prior to the end of the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) in 2021 Gunn, known for making the Guardians of the Galaxies movies, was brought on broad to use his more cheerful and comic book style to make a sequel or soft reboot to “The Suicide Squad.” The story follows C list DC villains coming together to do the government’s dirty work. The movie was a success and gave DCEU fans hope for the future. After the flop that was Black Adam, Gunn was named co-chairmen of DC studios. His first project was a TV show following the character Peacemaker, who had his first appearance in Gunn’s Suicide Squad. The show and Gunn’s new leadership was fresh and seen as an amazing success.
The success of the new reboot led to what we know now as just the DCU. With the animated show Creature Commandos, and Peacemaker the plan was just set into motion. Peacemaker, which is currently in the middle of its second season, is seen as one of the best superhero shows currently, showing Gunn’s range of his more serious tone with such non serious characters as the leads.
With the upcoming Supergirl and Clayface movies set to arrive in the later half of 2026 for both. Many fans are excited to finally see what path Gunn takes on the beginning of the new DC universe.
