DC Comics has had a few rough years when it comes to onscreen adaptations. The DCEU became a lightning rod for controversy and fans were heavily split on if it was something inventive, or a franchise that missed the point of DC characters entirely. The DCU is now looking to start fresh with James Gunn and Peter Safran at the head. Superman will be the first motion picture of the new universe and because of that, it will set the tone for the entire universe. This makes it even more important that it doesn't fall into the same pitfalls as the previous universe, especially the multitude of mistakes that were made regarding Superman's villains.

While not praised as much as Batman or The Flash's rogue gallery, Superman has an impressive pantheon of villains. In the DCEU, Lex Luthor, Zod, Doomsday, and even a future vision of an Evil Superman. Not only was this a lot of villains that were mostly all in the same film, but fans felt that many of them were a shadow of their comic book counterparts. A great villain is essential for having a great superhero film, and the DCU needs to remember that. By avoiding certain characters and villain tropes, Superman can break free of the shadow of the former universe.

Doomsday is Not a Starter Villain for Superman

• Doomsday first appeared in Superman: The Man of Steel #18 in 1992.
• Doomsday is the first character that kills Superman and the Man of Steel stays dead past the end of the issue.
• Doomsday has appeared in multiple live-action properties including Smallville, Krypton, and Superman & Lois.

One of the biggest mistakes that the DCEU and Zack Snyder made was introducing Doomsday so early in the life of the cinematic universe. Doomsday is one of Superman's ultimate villains, he is the boogeyman that haunts the shadows and sends tingles of fear even down the spine of the Man of Steel. While it's certainly tempting to utilize such a visually and physically stunning villain, it is also a huge mistake. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice made Doomsday the main evil at the end of the movie and it tried to replicate the impact of the Death of Superman comic. Yet, this was only the second time that fans had seen Henry Cavill's Superman and audiences hadn't really made an emotional connection to his character yet. When Doomsday killed Superman, it lacked any impact because it was obvious that Superman would be returning almost immediately considering how young the cinematic universe was.

Considering the DCU is now in the same position as David Corenswet's Superman, it cannot afford to make the same mistake. Doomsday is an endgame villain, a final evil for a mature Superman to face down. Early Superman appearances need to focus on more manageable and grounded threats, and then when Doomsday is introduced, he doesn't need to kill Superman the first time Doomsday can evolve every time he dies, making it so he cannot be killed the same way twice. This means that even though Superman can defeat him the first time by flying him into space, that method will never work again. This makes him a terrifying threat and one that can be used sparingly.

Doomsday also represents one of Krypton's biggest failures. The creature is a creation of unholy Kryptonian science that created a being capable of unimaginable destruction. This not only impacts Superman on a personal level, but it also makes him feel as though Doomsday is his responsibility. A young Superman doesn't necessarily have a strong connection to his heritage, and the audience will likely feel the same. Giving more time for the history of Krypton to be explored will allow Doomsday's appearance to feel far more meaningful and even upsetting.

The Evil Superman Trope is Overused and Rarely Satisfying

• The trope of "Evil Superman" has been mostly explored through the Injustice Saga, both through comics and video games.
• Evil Superman has been appearing in films and TV since Superman II.

One of the most tempting tropes for writers and creative people to go for with Superman is making him evil. The question of "What if the Boy Scout Superman became Evil" is something that has been beaten to death in comics, films, and TV. It's no longer creative and fans are tired of a character like Superman being dark or brooding. The DCEU showed glimpses of it in both Batman v Superman and both cuts of Justice League. The Injustice games and comics have looked at the concept continually. Superman II and Smallville also used this trope. Even looking at other versions of Superman, like Ultraman, has been far too prevalent in recent years. Audiences are craving a more traditional Superman and looking at his evil counterpart is exhausting at this point.

The argument for Evil Superman often comes back to fans thinking that Superman is boring because he is always morally incorruptible. But this isn't a weakness of his character, it's his greatest strength. Superman is meant to be the inspiration for all heroes, he is the golden standard of what it means to be a superhero. By constantly trying to make him evil, not only tarnishes the character, but it ruins his effectiveness as a leader for Metropolis and for other heroes. It also proves that villains like Lex Luthor were right all along and that Superman was a menace who needed to be contained. With rumors swirling that Ultraman will be in Superman fans are more concerned than ever. James Gunn put down this rumor on Threads, but it still has fans worried.

The DCU is looking to move past the negative opinions of the past and focus on more traditional stories that really honor the history of the characters. While Evil Superman tropes are apart of the character, they are a version of Superman that needs to be put to bed for awhile. The concept is no longer interesting and it will only prove that the DCU has not learned the lessons taught by previous versions of the character and the universe. There is no room for Evil Superman until fans have a chance to repeatedly experience a truly authentic version of a real Superman.

A Great Villain Makes For a Great Comic Book Movie

It's easy for fans to focus solely on the heroes when looking at comic book films and the important characters. Yet, when fans think of incredible comic book movies like The Dark Knight, Avengers: Infinity War, Spider-Man: No Way Home, or Superman: The Movie, the villains of these movies are as memorable as the heroes. The Infinity Sage of the MCU would be nothing without Thanos and no one would remember The Dark Knight as much without Heath Ledger's Joker. Superman will be headlining the DCU and it needs to establish that the DCU will be as dedicated to its villains as it is to its heroes. It needs to avoid the lazy tropes of previous iterations and forge a new path for the Man of Steel's villains.

Doomsday is a tempting villain for any filmmaker. He is visually terrifying, physically intimidating and he has a deep emotional connection to Superman in the comics. Yet, rushing towards him is a massive mistake that started the downfall of the DCEU before it barely began. The Evil Superman trope is another storyline that may seem easy, but fans are bored of it and it has dominated multiple forms of media for years. The DCU needs to create a new legacy and avoid these villainous pitfalls is one of the best ways to start that new journey.