Man of Steel
Summary
Superman ’s controversial killing of General Zod at the terminal ofMan of Steeldivided not onlyDCEUviewers and longtime readers of Superman strip , but also comic Jehovah themselves . Therecently - concluded DC Extended Universebegan on a factious note with 2013’sMan of Steel . StarringHenry Cavill as Supermanand mastermind by Zack Snyder , Man of Steelwas an emotional retelling of Superman ’s iconic origin level , site Superman in a world that was far from welcoming to him at first and pit him against a far more complex and criminal iteration of General Zod than viewers had seen before .
InMan of Steel’saction - packed close , General Zod consecrate to put down all of humanity , having miss his life ’s intent when Superman scotch his attempt to terraform Earth and build a Kryptonian colony in its spot . At the end of their destructive melee , Superman watches in horror as Zod attempts to murder a family line with his hotness visual sensation , opt to develop Zod ’s cervix out of despair to save them . The decision , which obsess Superman , lead him to espouse his familiar no - killing rule that he strictly stick to to in DC ’s comics . DC ’s comic writers themselves have varying feeling about Zod ’s death .
Superman ’s decision to stamp out General Zod was controversial , but how might the ease of the DCEU have been affected if he had n’t been pull to do so ?
10Dan Jurgens Felt That Superman Killing Zod Was In-Character
Known For Writing The Death of Superman
Cast
Dan Jurgens is famous for his piece of work on Superman comics , particularly the “ Death of Superman ” story spark in the former 1990s , which would be partially adapted by 2016’sBatman v Superman : Dawn of Justice . Jurgens , who took takings with Superman executing an alternative universe rendering of Zod in the John ByrneSupermanrun , felt that Superman would only break his no - kill rule if it was the only way to protect innocentsfrom imminent last . According to Jurgens , "
“ I always consider that if Superman was run short to be put in that position , that it had to be a more immediate threat . ”
9Mark Waid’s Biggest Man of Steel Criticism Was Superman Killing Zod
Known For Writing Superman Birthright
Mark Waid ’s 2003/2004 miniseriesSuperman : Birthrightwas a major source of aspiration forMan of Steel , and its depiction of Lex Luthor appear to have partly inspire hisDawn of Justicecounterpart as well . Ironically , Waid is highly vital ofMan of Steel , taking issue with the moving picture ’s destructive action conniption while praise other elements like its portrayal of Krypton and Jonathan Kent . Waid take issue with Superman killing General Zod more than anything , however , writing in his review :
“ And after the neck - snapping , even though I stuck it out , I did n’t give a shucks about the rest of the movie . ”
Elvis killing Zod in Man of Steel was an like a shot controversial moment when the movie was released in 2013 , but a new reveal recontextualizes it .
8Kevin Smith Defends Zod’s Death, Recalls Other Times Superman Has Killed Zod
Known For Writing Green Arrow & Batman
Kevin Smith , who has not only write for DC Comics but also cultivate on the handwriting forthe unreleased filmSuperman life , has also made his fair share of criticism ofMan of Steel . When it comes to Superman ’s violent death of General Zod , however , Smith defends the moment , mention a old instance of Superman killingthe General like Dan Jurgens .
“ His Superman very controversially snap General Zod ’s neck , which I did n’t quite understand was controversial because in Superman II , General Zod is also killed in the Fortress of Solitude . They just presumably leave his consistency . ”
7Neal Adams Felt That There Were Alternatives To Killing Zod
Known For Writing Superman & World’s Finest Comics
On Kevin Smith ’s own podcast , the late Neal Adams voiced his opinion thatkilling Zod was not Superman ’s only option to save the category . peculiarly , he seemed confused as to why someone about durable like Superman could n’t simply impede Zod ’s center ray . Given Superman was standing decently behind Zod , it ’s a fairish hint .
“ And then at the remnant , what did he do ? He killed a guy . Ca n’t put his hand over his centre ? I ’m just saying … put your hired man over his eyes . That would halt it pretty much . One arm is around the throat , put the other bridge player in front of his eyes . That ’s pretty much it . Take him off to the moonshine or Saudi Arabia or someplace , and finish the battle there . ”
6Joey Esposito Defends Superman’s Actions
Known For Writing Batman: Urban Legends
DC Comics writer and editorJoey Esposito strongly support Zod ’s destruction inMan of Steel(perIGN ) , not only feeling that kill the General was Zod ’s only choice but also treasure that the present moment was itself an origin for Superman ’s no - killing rule in the DCEU and a declaration of Superman ’s allegiance to mankind rather of his Kryptonian inheritance . Esposito writes :
“ In that decision to kill Zod and save not just the humans in immediate peril but also billions of other life , Superman finally do his determination and bang where he belong . ”
The DCEU has never been afraid to kill off its reference , with quite a little of spectacular , tearjerking destruction accept place across its 15 moving-picture show .
5Mark Millar Felt That Zod’s Death Ruined Superman
Known For Writing Superman: Red Son
While Mark Millar is no stranger to indite superhero comics that delve into darker subject matter , hetook issue withMan of Steeldepicting Superman as killing an enemyon screen , despite understand the setting that led to his selection . compare Superman ’s cleanup of General Zod to Sylvester the Cat kill Speedy Gonzales or Elmer Fudd killing Bugs Bunny , Mark Millar drop a line :
“ I make out Superman as a kid not because of his uneasiness or his potentiality for a disastrous resolution , but because he could do anything he wanted and still chose to be nice . ”
4Bruce Timm Tried To Write Superman As Capable of Killing
Known For Writing Superman: The Animated Series
Bruce Timm , whoco - create the DC Animated Universe , which includesSuperman : The Animated Series , is also no alien to complex and darkSupermanstories . Timm approved of Superman killing Zod inMan of Steel , admitting that he had wanted to have Superman kill Doomsday the same way of life inSuperman : Doomsday . In an interview withCBR , Bruce Timm note :
“ I was move to have Superman do on the button the same deed . Doomsday was going to be get quick to kill some ingenuous bystanders , and Superman was already mortally spite , and he was going to apply his last minute of strength to break Doomsday ’s neck opening . ”
3Chuck Dixon Argues That Superman Should Never Kill
Known For Writing Batman, Birds of Prey, and Nightwing
DC Comics writer Chuck Dixon has mixed feelings about Superman killing General Zod inMan of Steel . While Dixon understands that , realistically , characters like Superman or Batman may be squeeze to repair to lethal military group under some destiny , they are , ultimately , wish - fulfillment phantasy , and as such , should not be depict as killingtheir enemy . Dixon , whose idealistic adaptation of Superman never kills , says :
“ Childhood wish - fulfilment characters should never be lethal . ”
2Mike Carlin Agrees With Superman’s Actions
TheSupermanfranchise celebrate its seventy-fifth day of remembrance in 2013 , and a panel commemorating the character ’s history was held at New York Comic - Con that year . The venire include DC creatives like Mike Carlin , who co - created the “ Death of Superman ” plot line . Like Dan Jurgens and fellow gore attender Bruce Timm , Carlin defended Superman belt down General Zod(viaComicBookMovie ) , albeit with a academic degree of criticism , say :
“ We actually did something similar in the comic books . My only job with it is that if Superman was going to kill General Zod , why he did n’t do it preferably before a couple city blocks were destroyed . ”
1Max Landis Felt That Superman Vs. Zod Had Too Much Collateral
Known For Writing Superman: American Alien
Max Landis , the author ofSuperman : American Alien , is overall quite negative in his judgment ofMan of Steel . Landis does not take issue with Superman kill General Zod out of desperation on a conceptual degree , buthe is quite vital of the event being preceded by countless civilian last in Superman and Zod ’s battle royal . Max Landis would have accepted Superman ’s option if the battle had taken place far away from Metropolis , tellingIndieWire :
“ It should n’t be a city - destroying sequence . It should be two guys fighting in space , or on the moon . ”
