Hope and Heroism: ‘Superman’ (2025) Review

(WARNING: Moderate spoilers for Superman (2025) ahead.) I’m a certified old, definitely in the Joel category. So I didn’t quite know what it meant to be “back.” My kids say “WE ARE SO BACK,” and I smile and nod and keep it moving rather than admit my confusion. Then, I exited the theater after 2025’s Superman. Folks: WE. ARE. SO. BACK. As Good as It Gets 2025 has been incredible for movies thus far. Between Thunderbolts* and Sinners, with Fantastic Four: First Steps right around the corner, being Black and a nerd has us eating real good. I’ll be honest – that context in mind, I was a little skeptical to get behind yet another DC project when I’ve been burned before. A lot. I am a lifelong fan of comic books and all things nerd. I have always had a special affinity for DC’s works, and especially the Superman family of characters. When I was younger, they were considered less “cool” than characters like Batman or Spawn (which I also love), because those were more dark and edgy, and it was the 1990’s. My fandom is such that I saw the movie Steel in theaters. I, of sound mind and free will, watched a movie starring Shaq, Ray J, and John Bender from The Breakfast Club.

Almost a year to the day later and we got Blade. And you know what that’s called? Growth. © 1997 Warner Bros.

Were the DC movies of late quite that bad? No, but I’d be lying to say they weren’t a let-down for someone looking for their favorite characters on-screen. Movies like Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman, a…