Ever since the “superhero movie” became the box office staple it is today, fans have known what to expect. Most modern superhero movies fall into one of two camps: either a super dark, ultra-grim contemplation on what it means to be a hero, or a Whedonesque quip-a-minute adventure full of one-liners. It’s the difference between The Dark Knight and The Avengers.
For a while now, it’s felt like DC has dominated the grimdark, especially during Zack Snyder’s tenure, while Marvel has always lent more on snark. But James Gunn’s Superman seemed like it would cross the streams, as it was a DC movie written and directed by a Marvel veteran. But instead of being either of these sub-categories, it managed to be something else entirely — and it could be the future of the superhero genre as we know it.
