This article contains spoilers for James Gunn’s Superman.
Every time I mention AI in this article, I’m specifically referring to Generative AI; I will use AI as a shorthand.
The long-awaited Superman is here, helmed by James Gunn, of Guardians of the Galaxy fame. The movie represents a new start for the DC cinematic universe, and having Gunn at the helm has been a beacon of hope for many who enjoy superhero movies but have not been the greatest fans of DC’s cinematic endeavors so far, including myself. Gunn has demonstrated that he can write a superhero movie that fits into a wider universe and tone while still hyper-focusing on characters, their growth, and their relationships, which was what made his Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy so special.
Suffice to say I was majorly looking forward to this movie, and everything that came out before its wide release on July 11 made me all the more pumped for it, except for one tidbit. There was only one thing that, before the movie premiered last week, gave me pause regarding the portrayal of Superman and his age-old nemesis, Lex Luthor.
In an interview with Rolling Stone released in June of this year, James Gunn said he related to Lex more than he would like to, and that:
“Lex looks at Superman like artists look at AI. He is the world’s greatest man in so many ways. He’s done these unparalleled things. And then you got a guy who comes in who’s done nothing to deserve the ability to fly and to smash down buildings. And he’s also extraordinarily handsome, too. And all of a sudden that’s all the world is talking about. And that sort of obsession with being replaced, with being — with your gifts not being seen or passed over — I think is what drives Lex. I relate to everything he does. He’s just meaner than I am.”
When I initially read this, I was a bit alarmed. Having watched the movie, I understand where it comes from: Lex’s own perspective. Gunn is referencing this directly as how he relates to Lex, and Lex sees himself as the artist and Superman as the AI. He is a technological genius and a billionaire who can create unprecedented technology. He believes he should be lauded for his genius and handed the keys to the country and the world, named their defender because “he’s earned it” with his hard work, whereas Superman has not.
Superman is an alien who didn’t “earn” his power — he gets it from the yellow sun due to his alien constitution — thus he could not have earned people’s devotion. He must have gotten it for free due to the raw power he unfairly possesses. This is according to Lex’s logic, which is of course deeply flawed. And how he’s wrong is one of the major thematic thrusts of the movie, which I really appreciated.
Lex thinks the awe for Superman is unwarranted and he instead deserves it because he puts in the work. But the love and admiration Superman gets doesn’t begin and end with his physical power. Superman is loved because he is loving.
In the movie, we see that Superman prioritizes life above everything else — politics and optics included. He is the type of person who goes out of his way to save a squirrel and wants to make sure he does everything he can to save a giant, destructive kaiju or, if he can’t, be as humane as possible in ending its life. And the way people talk to and about him since the beginning of the film shows that this is who he has proven himself to be in the three years he’s been active as a public figure.
Superman might not have had to put in the gym work to become as strong as he is, but he certainly has earned people’s love for him through his actions, and the inherent goodness in them.
What makes Superman special isn’t what makes him more than human, much less what makes him not human. On the contrary, and as the film shows throughout and Clark explicitly states to Lex in their final confrontation, what makes Superman special is his humanity. Superman is willing to do good despite the worst odds, he admits when he makes mistakes, and he’s determined to see the best in everyone he meets.
Another way the film shows that his raw power isn’t what makes Superman stand out is that it throws us directly into a world where Superman is far from the only superhero. There are other metahumans that, although not as strong individually, are clearly very powerful and could be capable of facing off against Superman if need be. He’s not really that special in that way.
Stepping outside of Lex’s perspective, I believe the metaphor that actually works best if we’re making real-world comparisons is that Lex sees Superman like the “techbros” who create and push AI on the world view the artists they want AI to replace.
These businessmen from the tech industry see art as a commodity rather than something inherently human. Thus, the beauty, aesthetics, and utilitarian goals of art are all that has (monetary) value, so what does it matter how to get there? AI can produce art that certainly looks esthetically pleasing (six finger glitches aside). The problem is the product of these technologies lacks the inherent humanity and vulnerability that fuels real, human-made art.
Similarly, Lex Luthor can certainly create technology that rivals Superman’s strength. He can even create an exact replica of it. Ultraman is a clone that looks just like Clark, flies and punches and has laser vision just like the real thing. But he lacks the soul, the thoughts, and even the internal conflict that make Superman human. Ultraman is a pattern repeater; Lex literally shouts Superman’s fight patterns for him to replicate. But without the heart that makes Clark Kent Superman, he is but a lousy facsimile. Just like AI “art.”
Ultimately, the dissonance between how Lex Luthor sees himself and who he actually is was brilliantly executed, and proof of why James Gunn’s approach to character writing works. I’m certainly not a superhero or comic buff, but I am someone who has been a fan of superheroes as a movie subgenre since the first X-Men came out in 2000. Superman is everything I could have asked for in a superhero movie in this day and age. It is fun, touching, and hopeful. It certainly makes me excited for the new DC cinematic universe.
Image courtesy of DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures.
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