David Corenswet's Superman lost in thought and serious in DC's Superman movie
By
Evan D. Mullicane
Published 6 minutes ago
Evan Mullicane is the senior editor and founder of Screen Rant's anime section. Having started as a writer for the Comics Team at the beginning of the Pandemic, Evan was swiftly promoted from writer to editor, and then from editor to lead of Screen Rant's newly established anime vertical.
Throughout his time with Screen Rant, Evan has made a handful of appearances at conventions such as Anime Expo and San Diego Comic-Con, and has interviewed some of the biggest names in Anime and Comics history.
In addition to editing anime and manga articles for Screen Rant, Evan is also a science fiction and fantasy author. In 2018 and 2019, his short story "The Demon's Mother" won honorable mentions from the Writers of the Future contest.
You can find Evan on Twitter @EvanDM and BlueSky @evandmu.bsky.socia
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Given that Superman is one of the strongest superheroes in DC Comics, it only makes sense that his villains would be able to match him. From the raw might of Darkseid to the more calculated malice of Lex Luthor, the Man of Steel has his work cutout for him in terms of opponents.
Luckily for Clark Kent, however, James Gunn's recent Superman actually nerfed an iconic foe that should rank among DC's most powerful.
In the middle of the movie, Superman and Lois Lane get some downtime to reconnect. During their heart-to-heart, the Justice Gang can be seen battling a monster of some sort. Far from just a nameless beast, however, Superman specifically mentions that the Justice Gang is fighting a Fifth-Dimensional Imp.
James Gunn's Superman Gives Mister Mxyzptlk a Huge Downgrade
The most iconic (and first) Fifth-Dimensional Imp in DC Comics is the long-time Superman foe Mister Mxyzptlk. Mxyzptlk ranks among Superman's strongest villains and is strong enough to warp and rewrite reality as he sees fit.
Though he's usually more of a nuisance who just wants to play games, he has the potential to be a universal threat if he wanted to be, a prospect that Superman is keenly aware of.
This is why it's so surprising to see a member of his species so easily dealt with in the DCU.
While the Justice Gang as portrayed in Superman has powerful heroes, they're not nearly on the Justice League's level. Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Guy Gardner are strong in their own right and powerful as a team; there is nothing in their arsenal that can meaningfully prepare them for the threat posed by a Fifth-Dimensional Imp.
The DCU Could Be Setting Up a Great Storyline For a Classic Superman Foe
David Corenswet's Kal El looks up in a Metropolis street in James Gunn's Superman
This downgrade for Mxyzptlk's species doesn't have to be a negative for the DCU, however. A classic Superman foe being significantly weakened could very well be an opportunity for more stories.
Given Mxyzptlk's Deadpool-esque ability to break the fourth wall, there's a possibility that Gunn's version of the character will know that he's been depowered, setting up a potential story where Superman has to stop him from essentially becoming a god.
This would be a great foe for David Corenswet's Superman to contend with. Superman is someone who has an unreasonable amount of power but wields it responsibly. So a power-hungry trickster would make a great contrast and highlight the strengths of Superman.
While Superman's sequel has tapped Brainiac as the Man of Tomorrow's next foe, Mxyzptlk could be a wonderful villain if Gunn sets him up correctly.
While the DCU may have nerfed Mister Mxyzptlk, that provides a wonderful opportunity for Superman's future adventures.
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Like Follow Followed Superman PG-13 Science Fiction Adventure Action
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Release Date
July 11, 2025
Runtime
130 minutes
Cast
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David Corenswet
Superman
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Rachel Brosnahan
Lois Lane
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