Superman’s Squirrel Scene Is Deeper Than You Think; ScreenRant, August 2, 2025

TC Phillips, ScreenRant; Superman’s Squirrel Scene Is Deeper Than You Think

r

"While test audiences may have had questions about Superman’s titular superhero performing an unexpected wildlife rescue, the DC movie’s co-composer has offered his insight into the hotly contested moment. During a recent interview following Superman’s release, James Gunn revealed that some test audiences had taken issue with David Corenswet’s Superman saving a squirrel while fighting a rampaging Kaiju.

Nonetheless, Gunn decided to keep the moment in his movie’s final edit, despite the feedback he had received and additional protests from some of his crew. Since then, the pivotal moment has become a major focus of online discussion and has even spawned a slew of memes and other viral content...

Ultimately, however, Fleming revealed that he is fond of the moment and explained how Superman’s actions are true to his character. He also suggested they were a perfect counterpoint to the more callous and careless actions of the Justice Gang. Check out his final comments below:

I kind of think the squirrel's great. To go back to the Justice Gang being a great foil for Superman, the fun of the scene is how haphazard they are versus him trying to make sure everyone is safe all the time, which is a real hallmark of his character and at the core of the creation of the character.

Over the years, DC’s Superman has been reimagined and recontextualized countless times. While the character’s previous big-screen iteration had largely centered on depicting the Last Son of Krypton as a god-like being attempting to find his place among mortals, Gunn’s version intentionally leans into the strength of his humanity, and his concern for all living creatures...

In a comic book universe already filled to bursting with metahumans parading as heroes and villains, it is Superman’s boundless empathy that truly sets him apart from his many contemporaries." 

Fantastic Four vs. Superman promised to be the showdown of the summer, but the real winners are comic book movie fans after a half-decade of mediocrity; Games Radar, July 30, 2025

Bradley Russell, Games Radar; Fantastic Four vs. Superman promised to be the showdown of the summer, but the real winners are comic book movie fans after a half-decade of mediocrity

 "In one fell swoop, Fantastic Four and Superman have brightened things up and made everything fair game.

That's without even talking about the optimism and, yes, the punk rock of Reed Richards and Superman. We've had cynical heroes and self-destructive heroes aplenty. It feels good, in a real-world mired in turmoil, to have a set of heroes that are unabashedly working towards the greater good, sans the snark and snarling. They can use their stretchy fists and heat vision, respectively, sure, but they are emblematic of so much more – a chance to entertain and inspire a new generation of audiences and storytellers. Along the way, Marvel and DC had lost that idea. Now, it's back. DC may have just undergone a literal reboot but, for both, this resembles a creative reboot that should be the catalyst for the next decade of storytelling."

For this Kansan, Fantastic Four and Superman films slice through grimness with moral clarity; News From The States, July 28, 2028

Clay Wirestone, News From The States; For this Kansan, Fantastic Four and Superman films slice through grimness with moral clarity

"The films put me in mind of another Kansas Reflector columnist, Mark McCormick. Last week, he argued that attacks on the U.S. Department of Education undermine the common good.

“Increasing waves of politicians exalt qualities that should disqualify them as public officials: a mistrust of government, demonizing opponents, and supporting private schools with public money,” Mark wrote. “These qualities should stand as barriers to candidacy, not bona fides.“

Both the Fantastic Four and Superman devote themselves to the common good.

That’s why they’re superheroes — not because of their powers, but because of their morals. They serve humanity. They serve their country. They serve one another. The Fantastic Four literally contains a family: Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) and Sue Storm (the Invisible Woman) are a married couple, while Johnny Storm (the Human Torch) is Sue’s brother and Ben Grimm (the Thing) is a close friend. During the film, Reed and Sue welcome their son, Franklin, into the world.

“They are parents first,” director Matt Shakman told Variety. “They are scientists and explorers second. And they’re superheroes only when they have to be. I come at this as a dad and as a husband. That’s what makes it so special to me.”

Every summer brings superhero films. Almost every superhero film brings battles between good and evil. Yet these films, and this summer, suggest to me that both filmmakers and audiences yearn for more than thrills. They want clarity. They want warm, nurturing, uncomplicated goodness."

Superman’s Earthly Birthplace? It’s Cleveland, and It’s Embracing Its Hero.; The New York Times, August 1, 2025

George Gene Gustines, The New York Times; Superman’s Earthly Birthplace? It’s Cleveland, and It’s Embracing Its Hero.

"In a 2007 article, Sangiacomo asked, “Isn’t it time Cleveland embraced its most famous son?” That article then led to the formation of the Siegel and Shuster Society, a nonprofit that is now spearheading the construction of the Superman memorial. (Sangiacomo is a founding board member and the vice president of the society.)...

The Siegel & Shuster Superman Plaza will sit at the city’s Huntington Convention Center and include statues of Superman in midflight, of Siegel and Shuster, and of Siegel’s wife, Joanne, the original model for Lois Lane...

For Siegel and Shuster, it was a long journey to publication after they created their superhero. They pitched Superman to many publishers before National Comics Publications, the forerunner of DC Comics, took a chance on him in 1938. Having no clue how successful the character would become, the pair sold the rights to their creation for just $130 (around $3,000 in today’s dollars). When they later tried to renegotiate, DC Comics stripped them of credit and denied them further work. Siegel eventually became a typist in Los Angeles and Shuster a messenger in Manhattan. It was not until the 1970s that a publicity campaign brought them recognition and a substantial annuity...

Justin M. Bibb, the mayor of Cleveland, said in an interview that he understood why Superman resonates today in these “chaotic and challenging times.”

“People want to feel good about being better neighbors to one another,” he said. “And so, hopefully, this film inspires us all to be our own version of our best selves.”"

James Gunn Says ‘Superman’ Is An “Immigrant” Story About “Basic Human Kindness”; Deadline, July 6, 2025

Natalie Oganesyan , Deadline; James Gunn Says ‘Superman’ Is An “Immigrant” Story About “Basic Human Kindness”

"Long established as an allegory for the immigrant experience, especially when viewed through the personal histories of Superman‘s comic book co-creators — second-generation Jewish immigrants Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster — DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn said his forthcoming film entry of Kal-El keeps in tune with the original 1938-created vision.

“I mean, Superman is the story of America,” the Superman helmer told The Times U.K. in a new profile. “An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country, but for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost.”"

REVIEW: Image Comics' Public Domain #1; CBR, June 20, 2022

 SERGIO PEREIRA, CBR; REVIEW: Image Comics' Public Domain #1

"The prolific creator continues to blend humor and drama in Public Domain #1, the first installment of a new series from Image Comics, where he works to take on creators' rights.

The first issue introduces Syd Dallas, a comic book artist responsible for The Domain, the biggest superhero around. Sadly, no one knows that Syd created the character because Singular Comics owns the publishing rights. And his former collaborator, Jerry Jasper, is more than happy to take the credit for it. Syd's children, Miles and David, struggle to understand why their father hasn't fought harder to gain what is rightfully his. However, a chance encounter at the premiere of Eminent Domain, the latest film in the franchise, may change everything for Syd."

Stan Lee Unleashed the Heroic Power of the Outcast; Wired, December 13, 2018

Adam Rogers, Wired; Stan Lee Unleashed the Heroic Power of the Outcast

"From the fantasy-pulp midden, Lee had excavated a gem of a truth: These tales about men and women in garish tights hitting each other were also about more. Super­heroes had incredible abilities, yes, but they were also often the victims of prejudice themselves, or trapped in moral webs stronger than anything Spider-­Man ever thwipped. So the comics appealed to people who felt the same, even before Lee and the other Marvel creators published the first African American heroes, the first popular Asian American heroes, and strong, leading-character women in numbers large enough to populate a dozen summer crossovers...

His death encouraged people to tell stories of Lee’s kindness and enthusiasm. But for every story that circulated after Lee’s death about how wonderful and caring he was, comics professionals tell other tales in which Lee is … not.

Every bit as complicated as the characters he helped bring into the world, Lee taught generations of nerds the concepts of responsibility, morality, and love. He waged a sometimes ham-fisted battle against prejudice, misunderstanding, and evil. This is what makes some of nerd-dom’s recent tack toward intolerance so painful; other­ishness is engineered into comics’ radioactive, mutated DNA. Even if Lee wasn’t a super human, he was super­human, empowering colleagues to leap creative obstacles and to give readers a sense of their own secret strengths."

"Fighting for the Better Good"..."Don't Give Up"..."Don't Surrender", December 2018

Kip Currier: Good touchstone for anyone "fighting for the better good"--in bad times and good times.

How Stan Lee Fought To Keep Spider-Man An 'Everyman'; Comic Book Resources, November 13, 2018

Brian Cronin, Comic Book Resources; How Stan Lee Fought To Keep Spider-Man An 'Everyman'

"In 1965, Esquire magazine polled college students and found that Spider-Man was just as popular to them as other generational talents like Bob Dylan. One pollee brilliantly explained Spider-Man's appeal, "beset by woes, money problems, and the question of existence. In short, he is one of us."

The problem was, though, that Steve Ditko was beginning to think that that was not a good thing...

However, a more philosophical dispute between Ditko and Stan Lee came over how Spider-Man should be depicted now that he had graduated high school and entered college. Ditko, a follower of Ayn Rand and Obkectivism [sic], was okay with the idea of a young teen not being a "true" hero (that is, having some gray areas), but now that Spider-Man was in college, Ditko wanted Spidey to become more of an objectively heroic character. Stan Lee and Martin Goodman, though, wanted to keep Spider-Man as an "everyman." That was the exact opposite of what Ditko wanted for the character."

Marvel Comics' Stan Lee Passes Away at 95; November 12, 2018

Kip Currier; Marvel Comics' Stan Lee Dies at 95

Marvel Comics' legend Stan Lee passed away today at the age of 95 in Los Angeles. In the 1960's, Lee collaborated with the late iconic artist Jack Kirby (and later, others as well) in co-creating many of Marvel's most famous superhero characters--the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, the Avengers, the X-Men, the Black Panther, and many more. Lee and Kirby's creations now rank among the most lucrative Intellectual Property in the "616 universe".

It's interesting to note the headlines that have been appearing today--some citing Lee as "creator", while others use "co-creator":

Stan Lee, creator of legendary Marvel comic book superheroes, dies at 95; NBC News

Comic Book Genius Stan Lee, Spider-Man Creator, Dies at 95; NBC San Diego 7

Stan Lee: Spider-Man, X-Men and Avengers creator dies aged 9; The Guardian

Marvel Comics co-creator Stan Lee dead at 95; ABC 13

Stan Lee, Marvel Comics writer, co-creator of the Avengers, X-Men and Spider-Man, dies aged 95; ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Marvel Comics Co-Creator Stan Lee Dead at 95; TMZ

Marvel Comics co-creator Stan Lee dead at 95; WGN 9

‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ is a superheroic meditation on how to be a good person; Washington Post, July 10, 2017

Alyssa Rosenberg, Washington Post; ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ is a superheroic meditation on how to be a good person

[Kip Currier: Spoiler-Free Comment: I saw Spider-Man: Homecoming this weekend and it's great--for all of the reasons (and more) that Alyssa Rosenberg identifies in her column today. The film doesn't actually quote the oft-quoted Spider-Man touchstone "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility", but you feel its invisible presence throughout the film's narrative arc.]

"This column discusses the plot, and ethical dilemmas, of “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”

“Spider-Man: Homecoming,” which zipped into theaters last weekend, is almost everything a summer blockbuster should be: It’s very funny without using humor as an excuse to be less than emotionally accessible; its super-sized throw-downs are anchored in real, human-scale conflicts; its world is richly populated with characters who aren’t solely defined by their powers or lack thereof; and it resists the urge to revisit the most famous story beats associated with its title character’s origin story. All of these elements made “Spider-Man” only the second blockbuster this year I’m eager to rewatch as soon as possible. And another element has left me thinking of it with more than mere amusement: “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is at its most poignant when it’s concerned with how to be a good person — often, specifically, a good man."

"What Would YOU Do?"; Go Comics, May 24, 2017

Lincoln Peirce, Big Nate, Go Comics; 
"What Would YOU Do?"

Ethical conflicts and new heroes power 'Captain America: Civil War'; [Austin] American-Statesman, 5/5/16

Joe Gross, [Austin] American-Statesman; Ethical conflicts and new heroes power 'Captain America: Civil War' :

"“When we last saw our heroes …” is the way any discussion of “Captain America: Civil War” should start, as this often intensely enjoyable film doesn’t even present any pretext of standing on its own. Which doesn’t mean it’s not a funny, thoughtful blast.

On one level, it is a 147-minute hunk of episodic filmmaking, yet another chapter of an old-school serial, as much the next Avengers movie as it is a Captain America picture.

And yet, directed by sibling filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo, it is often joyous, raucous and action-packed while asking a serious question: With all the ungodly destruction in each of the previous 13 movies (reaching back to 2008’s “Iron Man”), shouldn’t the Avengers, Earth’s mightiest heroes, be accountable to someone, somewhere?"

Captain America: Civil War – conflicted heroes and a clash of philosophies; Guardian, 4/21/16

Mark D. White, Guardian; Captain America: Civil War – conflicted heroes and a clash of philosophies:

"These days the world feels precarious. It seems we face new threats every day from extremist forces both domestic and international. At the same time, we’re developing new ways to detect and predict these threats, using advanced surveillance and drone technology to enhance our safety and security – but at what cost to our liberties and freedoms? Must we choose which of these we value most and give up on the other?

Some of our favorite superheroes can help us think about this timeless conflict. In Marvel Comics’s Civil War storyline, the latest movie version of which is released on 6 May, Captain America, Iron Man and the rest of the Marvel heroes face off over the same issues of liberty and security that we face in the real world every day, and they find the answers neither easy nor simple.

As it happens, these very same issues are discussed by moral philosophers in terms of the work of classic figures such as Aristotle, Jeremy Bentham and Immanuel Kant. This makes it irresistible for a philosophy professor who is also a lifelong comics fan to write a book drawing out the relationships between the fictional superhero battles in Civil War, the all-too-real conflicts we deal with in the real world, and the underlying philosophical ideas they share."

Sneak peek: Captain America goes rogue in 'Civil War'; USA Today, 3/8/16

Brian Truitt, USA Today; Sneak peek: Captain America goes rogue in 'Civil War' :

"Over the course of several Marvel movies, Cap and the Avengers have saved the world multiple times, from thwarting an alien invasion of New York City (in The Avengers) to staving off an evil organization’s destructive plans in the skies of Washington (Winter Soldier) to keeping a killer robot from destroying the planet after taking over the fictitious Eastern European nation of Sokovia (Avengers: Age of Ultron).

“It’s boring when a good guy knows how to be a good guy,” Evans says, during a filming break at the Porsche building outside downtown Atlanta that serves as Avengers headquarters. “It’s much more dynamic when a good guy isn’t sure what the good guy move is and has to debate another point of view from someone who may be very close to him.”

Avengers are forced to choose which way to go, and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), who befriended Cap as the flying Falcon in Winter Soldier, stands by his man, Mackie says."

Blog Gives Superheroes and Supervillains Their Day in Court; New York Times, 12/21/10

John Schwartz, New York Times; Blog Gives Superheroes and Supervillains Their Day in Court:

"...[A] new blog and the interest it is generating shows that there are people who look at an epic battle between superheroes and supervillains and really, really want to know who should be found liable for the broken buildings and shattered streets.

Those people now have a blog called Law and the Multiverse: Superheroes, supervillains, and the law. Kicked off on Nov. 30, it addresses questions like: “What if someone is convicted for murder, and then the victim comes back to life?” And whether mutants are a legally recognizable class entitled to constitutional protection from discrimination."