Trial By Trailer: Sweet to see Superman bloody: Eat It Raw.
First Impressions of the Superman trailer?
Boravia is a super deep cut (on WGBS Metropolis-CNN, no less).
That’s a comforting mix of DC Comics lore and enough rollercoaster fun to get civilians to pony up their cash on opening weekend.
Krypto has been appearlily regularly in the DC Comics lately. It’s always a good and fun time when he appears.
There is a logical concern James Gunn is making a Batman and Robin movie…there’s way too much going on here. Ironically, Superman can’t be everything to everyone. (Heh…Gunn did Nathan Fillion dirty with that bowl haircut. Like that loser kid on Stranger Things.)
It’s a literal teaser though; not enough to tell if it’s a good movie.
This is the Kryptonian symbol for “hope” with James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie.
Nerd Prayers Up.
It’s funny in comics some writers like Peter David and Geoff Johns are excellent janitors. They deftly clean up messy continuity and inject a stale universe with purpose.
I wonder if Gunn is also a janitor: a cinematic Geoff Johns…kinda. Hopefully this means we won’t see (movie) Superman rescue yet another falling airplane. We get it already he’s a…Super…Man.
In the comics it’s been decades since we’ve seen bullets fly of Superman’s chest. Let’s move on: own the clichés and evict em.
Effective Marketing is gonna be the biggest challenge of Gunn’s fresh DCU. Not even Tide can remove the DCEU stain. Somehow James Gunn hasta unleash the Motown soul brother with a deep voice who delivers the “baby I’ve changed my ways” monologue amidst a hit song.
Warner Bros. used to be so good at pitching their DC Comics movies as cultural events.
If Gunn can successfully make DC movies a cultural event; then he’s on his way and the audience ROI will be strong. Christopher Reeve-Superman and Michael Keaton-Batman transcended the box office. Recently Warners cashed the ladies hard with Barbie.
Can they build on that Barbie formula with Gunn’s DC movies?
Remember the first Wonder Woman movie in 2017? It flooded the internet with corney images of little girls all princess powered looking up to Diana Prince.
Superman can deployed similar effective marketing hustle: Look Up.
This teaser is a smart marketing start for the new DC Studios. It’s after all not show friends, rather it’s show business. You gotta be good at marketing. Gunn’s got less than a year to make super duper marketing magic.
Nerd Prayers Up.
Finally: as we head into 2025: expect me to be absolutely ruthless. I don’t care if it’s trending or how good an “insider’s” track record is: no clicks and no time and no attention. Daniel clown, Grace clown…none of will get clicks from me.
I’m not giving anyone…anyone cultural power or even recognition of any kind when it comes to Superman.
If the news doesn’t come directly from James Gunn I will not click on it.
We got months ahead and we can expect clickbait, rumours, unsourced insights, ignorance, podcasts…so much white noise is coming. Online I’m a strict Fortress of Solitude: James Gunn or nothing.
Sammy Verdict: Superman: must be as good/better than Superman I & II. That’s It. Routh was garbage in a garbage movie. Cavill was better but marred by being in terrible movies. July 11 2025: pressure is massively on. Nerd Prayers Up.
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Sammy Younan is the affable host of My Summer Lair: think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.
