Zack Snyder or James Gunn? Who Understands Superman Better

After James Gunn released his Superman film, a debate erupted online about who portrayed the character better, him or Zack Snyder. Both sides have compelling arguments. In this article, we decided to explore how the two directors portrayed the Kryptonians and which of them was closer to the original comic book character.

Superman comics have become the most popular graphic novels in the world. This hero, an alien from another planet, has become one of the most important symbols of American culture. Moreover, his influence has not been limited to the United States, but has spread throughout the world. Superman's image is based on mythical heroes like Hercules, who combine immense physical strength with a clear sense of goodness and justice. Initially, he was the embodiment of a hero who doesn't and can't have bad thoughts or ambiguous actions.

This is the Superman you see in the early films about him. We covered these films in a separate article.

Work on Man of Steel began after the resounding success of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. Clearly, the good-natured and incredibly powerful superhero would seem naive and even a little childish in comparison. So screenwriter David Goyer came up with the idea of ​​a more modern take on the Kryptonian. Studio executives liked the idea, so they decided to put the project into production. Zack Snyder, who already had experience adapting graphic novels, was appointed director.

In the very first film, we saw a completely different hero, completely unlike his portrayal in previous films or classic comics. For example, his fight with General Zod ended abruptly—the villain died. And this wasn't just a random incident—Superman intentionally snapped his enemy's neck. Prior to this, skyscrapers had fallen, fuel tanks had exploded, and civilians had died en masse during their battle, but our hero wasn't bothered by such trivialities. Even the traditionally brutal Batman was outraged by this state of affairs.

Man of Steel devoted a lot of attention to Krypton, the protagonist's real parents, and Zod himself. Clearly, this technologically advanced world is Superman's home, while Earth remained an unfriendly alien. It's no surprise that many people perceived Clark Kent as an alien. In the film, some people hailed him as a new god, while others saw him as a faceless threat. There were even doubts about whether he could bleed at all. Therefore, the scene with the mention of Martha, which was criticized by journalists and audiences, was crucial to the narrative. For the first time, Batman realized that his enemy could experience human feelings and emotions.

However, this episode proved to be an exception to the rule—Superman continued to distance himself from humanity. As a child, fearing that everyone would see through his true nature, he developed paranoia that led to him being unable to trust humans. Yes, he chose the side of Earth and challenged the last Kryptonians. However, this is not the end, but only the beginning of his difficult journey.

In Zack Snyder's Justice League, we were left with the hint that Superman would eventually side with the villains and turn against Earth's defenders. It's also worth noting that the murder of General Zod wasn't a one-off—at the end of Justice League, Steppenwolf was beheaded and his head thrown at Darkseid's feet. This action could be considered a clear intimidation of his opponents.

Thus, in Zack Snyder's films, we saw an ambiguous Superman, who is perceived more as an antihero. Such characters pursue noble goals, but use brutal methods. A prime example is the Punisher from Marvel comics. And this is a clear departure from the original image of the Man of Steel in the comics.

When it was announced that James Gunn would be directing the new Clark Kent film, it immediately became clear that we were in for another action movie. A Guardians of the Galaxy-style comedy. A brutal Superman simply wouldn't fit this format. A more classic, good-natured hero works much better here. This is precisely the Kryptonian we saw.

In the new film, it's Lex Luthor who doesn't see him as a full-fledged human being. Clark, however, tries to prove that he's just like everyone else. This speech is clearly addressed to the audience. And the desire of Superman's real parents for him to rule the planet as a dictator doesn't fit with Clark's worldview. Ultimately, he effectively renounces his Kryptonian roots.

Also quite noteworthy is the interview Kent gives to his lover, Lois Lane. She asks truly pointed questions, the gist of which boils down to Superman's obligation to abide by international law. In other words, even his timid attempts to place himself above others are criticized and condemned.

While the hero of Zack Snyder's films is willing to kill his equals and ignore accidental casualties, the character in James Gunn's film is willing to spare the lives of even aggressive monsters. He spends a great deal of time and effort ensuring his actions don't harm anyone.

There's a saying: "A father isn't the one who gave birth to you, but the one who raised you." Jonathan Kent, who appeared in Man of Steel, began scolding his teenage son for preventing a busload of children from drowning. He insisted that Clark shouldn't show his powers, as his privacy was more important than human lives. This is how a selfish personality was formed, putting his own petty interests above the greater good of others.

In James Gunn's film, the situation is reversed. His adoptive father says he's proud of his son for doing the right thing, including saving people from certain death. He motivates him to continue down the same path.

Casting is an important component of any film. In this author's opinion, Henry Cavill, with his perfect features and toned physique, is a much better fit for Superman than David Corenswet. However, there's an important nuance here.

Cavill is almost always detached, as if he doesn't accept the world around him. This works in his image—he spent a long time trying to hide his powers, which forced him to emotionally close himself off from reality.

Corenswet, however, reacts violently to the events unfolding. His character clashes with Lois Lane, is deeply distressed when he learns the truth about his parents, and actively defends his position during an argument with Luthor. The audience doesn't perceive him as an outsider—Superman seems just like us. Only stronger.

Zack Snyder's Superman is closer to modern works, where familiar comic book cliches are inverted. A striking example of this approach is the Injustice series of games and comics. James Gunn, on the other hand, showcased a more classic image from early graphic novels and films from the 70s and 80s. It would seem that this is the character fans would embrace. However, many viewers found this hero too banal and outdated for the reality of 2025. Snyder's version, however, was engaging and mature.

As a result, we have two different Kryptonians, each designed for a different audience.

Which version of Superman do you prefer? Share your thoughts in the comments!