Warning! MAJOR spoilers for Superman (2025)!The latestSupermanmovie swung for the fences with a twist that had fans everywhere debating.James Gunn’s decision toswitch up the reasons behind Jor-El and Lara’s decision to send Clark to Earth was a pretty bold choice. But a classic comic did something incredibly similar, albeit with one big change that made the plot work a bit better.
In James Gunn’sSuperman, Clark’s Kryptonian parents are revealed tohave sent Superman to Earthto conquer it and take as many wives as possible to bring the Kryptonian race back from extinction. While suggested that this was afabrication devised by Lex Luthor, it’s confirmed several times that this was genuinely what Jor-El and Lara wanted for their son.
A similar plotpoint popped up two decades prior inSuperman: Birthrightby Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu. Lex discovers Superman’s Kryptonian lineage and stages an attack tomake it seem like all Kryptonians, including Superman, are actually conquerors from another planet. But Superman is able to disprove Luthor’s fabrication and earns the public’s trust once again.
Superman: BirthrightPulls OffSuperman’sTwist Much Better
It Doesn’t Sacrifice Superman’s Birth Parents for Drama
In the scope of the movie, the twist regarding Superman’s parents works. Superman only ever heard the first half of their message and was inspired to do good. His decision to be a hero his idea and not something placed upon him. But while it works forSuperman, it sadly sacrifices some major characters in Superman’s mythos.
Admittedly, Jor-El and the rest of Krypton don’t play an active role in Superman’s life. But Clark’s biological father is portrayed as a good and wise man, and it’s kind of shocking to see him mischaracterized in the DCU. Birthright kept all the drama of that plotpoint, but not at the cost of someone who means something to Superman.
Both Superman Stories are Good, But One is a Bit Closer to Canon
There’s No Need to Destroy the Characters of Superman’s Parents
Like most non-canon stories,Supermanchanged what it needed to tell the story it wanted to tell. But Superman’s parents didn’t need to be turned into conquerors who looked down on humanity.Superman: Birthrightwas able to achieve the same things that the film did, but without throwing away Jor-El and Lara’s characterizations.
Superman: Birthright plays with that plotpoint, but doesn’t rob Superman’s parents of the kindness or love that they had. While fans are likely going to continue debating whether Gunn made a good call in his film or not, Birthright showed that aSupermanstory can have a similar dramatic story and not make Clark’s parents into careless beings.
