WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for James Gunn’s SUPERMAN (2025)!
For those who haven’t seen James Gunn’sSuperman(2025), this is your final warning before you encounter a MAJOR spoiler. This reveal didn’t just rock audiences, it especially stunned comic fans, who undoubtedly recognized the bold bit of comic lore blending used to create the Man of Steel’s newest and deadliest rival to date.
James Gunn combined Ultraman’s name and villainous nature with the retconned origins of Superboy…
Many comic fans’ ears undoubtedlyperked up during theSupermanmoviewhenLex Luthor introduced the being capable of taking on and defeating Superman as Ultraman.However, there was likely some confusion among those familiar with comic lore, since Ultraman is not a Luthor-created being but a long-established DC character who exists as an alternate version of the Man of Steel from Earth-3.
This was not the only twist involving the villain, as the movie’s third act revealed that this deadly new rival not only reimagined Ultraman’s backstory butalso blended it with the lore of one of Kal-El’s greatest allies: Superboy.
Which Parts of ULTRAMAN Lore Did James Gunn Use for His New Villain?
Ultraman First Debuted inJustice League of America#29 (1964)
As a quick crash course for those unfamiliar withthe comic version of Ultraman,he is best described as an evil version of Superman from Earth-3, a mirror universe where good and evil are reversed. In this world, the heroes of the DC Universe are actually villains, while the villains of the main universe are reimagined as heroes.
Ultraman is a member of the Crime Syndicate,the evil counterpart of the Justice League, and serves alongside characters such as Superwoman (the evil version of Wonder Woman), Owlman (the evil version of Batman), and others. He has powers similar to Superman, though often with subtle differences. For instance, Kryptonite makes him stronger instead of weaker.
Although the villain in the film is called Ultraman, his origin more closely mirrors that of Superboy…
James Gunn’s version of Ultraman is quite different from his comic counterpart. So far, it appears that Gunn has borrowed only the name, as the other defining traits and origins of the original villain are missing in the live-action portrayal.
Superman ultimately defeats Ultramanby sending him into a black hole. But despite how final that may seem, it doesn’t feel like this is the last fans will see of him in Gunn’s DCU. If he returns,he may come back as a more fully realized version of the character, with deeper ties to his comic book origins.
Which Parts of SUPERBOY Lore Did James Gunn Use for His New Villain?
Superboy First Debuted inAdventures of Superman#500 (1993)
Even casual Supermanfans have likely heard of Superboy, but since multiple characters have used this moniker over the years, it’s important to clarify that this article refers specifically to Conner“Kon-El”Kent.He debuted inAdventures of Superman#500 (1993) and continues to go by Superboytoday.
Kon-El is best known as Superman’s clone, created after Clark’sdeath at the hands of Doomsdayto replace the fallen hero. Since scientists couldn’t directly replicate Superman’s Kryptonian DNA, they used human DNA instead, resulting in a genetically engineered"human clone"with telekinetic powers that mimicked Superman’s strength and ability to fly.
Superboy’s origin was later retconned post-Crisis by Geoff Johns inTeen Titans(2003), where it was revealed that Kon-El is actually a hybrid clone,created from half Superman’s Kryptonian DNA and half Lex Luthor’s human DNA. It’s this version of the lore that James Gunn draws from in hisSupermanmovie.
Although the villain in the film is called Ultraman,his origin more closely mirrors that of Superboy from the comics, even though he is not referred to as Kon-El or Superboy on screen. In the movie, fans learn that Ultraman is a clone of Superman, created using both Lex’s and Clark’s DNA. This genetic link is what allows Ultraman to gain access toSuperman’s biologically coded Fortress of Solitude.
Gunn’s Superman Villain Merges Ultraman With Superboy’s Comic Origins
Could This Lore Mashup Mean Kon-El Has No Place in the New DCU?
In short,James Gunn combined Ultraman’s name and villainous nature with the retconned origins of Superboy,creating an epic mashup of comic lore that allowed even longtime fans to experience the thrill of a major twist. It served as a clever way to introduce a brand-new villain to Superman’s mythology while still honoring elements from the comics.
However, this does raise a major question about whether it will preventSuperboy Kon-El from ever being introducedto the DCU. Since his origin story has essentially been given to Ultraman, it begs whether this is Gunn’s way of signaling thatConner Kent won’t be part of his future plans for Superman.
There’s also the possibility that, like Ultraman, Gunn may have a different origin in mind for Kon-El. So this isn’t necessarily a complete dismissal of the character. In fact, Gunn could still introduce Kon in a way that remains faithful to his comic origins, especially sinceit’s entirely possible that Luthor might attempt to create another Superman clone.
This could be particularly exciting if Gunn takes that route, as he’s already established a negative precedent for clones in Clark’s eyes. Superman would likely be far more skeptical of Kon, creating tension and conflict between them. That dynamic could lead to a powerful narrative arc filled with emotional depth and angst, culminating in an epic story aboutSupermanlearning to trust and ultimately takeSuperboyunder his cape, despite the trauma left behind byUltraman.
