Passing the boom of superhero films in the 2010s and leading to some of the highest-grossing films of all time, left the path of the 2020s not too eager in this genre anymore, with the main effect of “Marvel-fatigue”. The common audience feels overwhelmed by the brand and by such a complex and large multiverse, which ends up as a complete failure both at the box office and from the critics for 80% of the phase five films of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe).
With the decline of Marvel, a new challenger appeared as James Gunn, director of the acclaimed Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, takes charge of the DCU (DC Universe) and releases “Superman”, a new breath and restart of the character, completely different from the vision we had in “Man of Steel” from Snyder.
What followed was a strong battle between both the new “Superman” and the release from Marvel of their beloved Fantastic Four characters, headlining with one of the biggest stars of the moment, Pedro Pascal, and setting steps for the infamous “Avengers: Doomsday” releasing in December 18, 2026.
Even though both films were not far off in revenue, with 500 million dollars for Marvel and 600 million dollars for DC, clear evidence is shown in pop culture and critique that Superman was the clear winner, with a sequel already announced for 2027 and plans to continue expanding this new universe. What were some of the strengths and weaknesses in this whole situation?
To start, on the positive side of “Fantastic Four”, the aesthetic it positioned itself in is truly remarkable and shows up as a new step up in branding, as it comes from a retro-futuristic 1960s universe. Everything from the costumes, the decoration, and the world gives a very distinct look into the film and allows it to shine. This, paired up with very charismatic performances from the main group, develops into a fun and energetic film with the highlight of the frightening Galactus as the main villain.
Both films have the note that their protagonists are already well-established superheroes, which makes for a more exciting story, as their origins have been discussed multiple times in multiple past films. Superman’s highlight is by far the two main characters, our hero Clark Kent played by David Corenswet, and the villain Lex Luthor played by Nicholas Hoult. The portrayal presented by Corenswet as a hopeful, optimistic, and a true hero for the people brings the classic idea of what a superhero is and brought happiness to many of the audiences.
While “Fantastic Four” tries to take a stab at a more emotional theme with the addition of Mister Fantastic and Sue Storm’s baby, “Superman” takes the final blow and makes for a beautiful climax of trust and kindness towards others. The utter brightness and heart-punching moments that Superman delivers distances itself away from what we have been seeing from most DC stories in the past decade, accompanied by a more vibrant color and a comeback to one of the most iconic relationships in comics between Clark Kent and Lois Lane.
But the main issue that the “Fantastic Four: First Steps” encounters and one that is impossible to leave by the studio decision, is to incorporate them into the main line of the cinematic universe and have to join the cast of “Avengers: Doomsday”, which has been widely criticized by the recasting of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Audiences alike are tired of large film mashups that need series and multiple movies to watch to be understood, especially when the quality between all of these pieces vastly varies. While “Fantastic Four” suffers because of the path it is destined to fulfill, this is exactly where “Superman” stands strong as a restart for its story, and where hopefully the DCU will be taken care of more carefully and with quality controls, as shown by the love both “Superman” and “Peacemaker” have received.
While both films were in the positive range, I highly recommend “Superman” to anyone reading.
