SUPERMAN: Daily Planet Article Reveals Another Villain (Not Grodd) And Some Potentially Major Plot SPOILERS

SUPERMAN: Daily Planet Article Reveals Another Villain (Not Grodd) And Some Potentially Major Plot SPOILERS

Sharp-eyed fans have transcribed the newspaper featured in the first Superman trailer, confirming that not only is that mystery villain not Gorilla Grodd, but Supes has caused an international incident...

By JoshWilding - Dec 23, 2024 12:12 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman

As with any trailer, our first look at Superman earlier this week generated plenty of discussion and excitement among fans.

Examining every frame to try and learn more about what's to come has become the norm with any highly anticipated superhero movie and Superman offered plenty of intriguing clues (including a possible first look at a certain Warsuit).

However, the newspaper we thought revealed plans for a Gorilla Grodd cameo has now been transcribed and that's no ape...instead, the "Hammer Of Boravia" appears to be a different comic book villain altogether. 

"Metropolis was targeted by a superpowered mystery man on Sunday, resulting in over 20 million dollars in damage to the city," reads the Clark Kent-penned Daily Planet article which @DCU_Updates managed to take a closer look at. "The self-titled 'Hammer of Boravia' attacked Downtown Metropolis claiming it was retribution for the recent political interventions in Boravia by Superman."

"This vengeful expedition turned into a terrorist assault on American soil, hospitalizing 22 Metropolis citizens," it continues. "Boravia has been the source of numerous headlines worldwide in recent weeks as it invaded its neighboring country Jarhanpur, only for the brief war to be swiftly ended by Superman."

"The President of Boravia, Vasil Glarkos, maintains the Hammer of Boravia is not a representative of the national government, but rather an independent vigilante."

There are already a couple of popular theories doing the rounds online about who the mystery villain is, including Adversary and Ultra Humanite.

Those are decent suggestions but we believe this is likely Lex Luthor's Ultraman posing as the "Hammer of Boravia" in an attack orchestrated by the villain to turn the people or Metropolis against the Man of Steel. 

Elsewhere in the article, it's revealed that a Chocos building was damaged by "an ocular laser strike" and that Metropolis citizens are unhappy that taxes are rising to pay for the continued damage "super-powered individuals and extraterrestrials" unleash on the city.

There are even comments from Superman addressing his actions which appear to have caused an international incident. "When addressing the political ramifications of his actions, Superman said, 'While critics thousands of miles away from this conflict continue to argue if what I did was right or wrong, the bottom line is people's lives were threatened. I had to act.'"

That sure sounds like something Supes would say and it now feels like we have a rough plot outline: Superman gets involved in an overseas conflict, Lex uses that to vilify him, and he and A.R.G.U.S. unleash Ultraman to take the Kryptonian down. We still don't know what the deal is with that glowing orb in the sky, though.

Gunn's approach to Superman is shaping up to be very interesting indeed and you can take a closer look at this mystery baddie - who definitely isn't Grodd - in the X post below.

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GiverOfInfo
GiverOfInfo - 12/23/2024, 12:21 AM
Sounds good, I just hope they're not going to try to use Superman as a source of propaganda as a stand in for US intervention in foreign conflicts abroad.
DrDReturns
DrDReturns - 12/23/2024, 2:02 AM
@GiverOfInfo - You mean plot-wise or representative to reality?

You seemed to be 100% on board with this movie since production. Is that no longer the case? (Genuine question. Not attacking)
GiverOfInfo
GiverOfInfo - 12/23/2024, 4:41 AM
@DrDReturns - both.

I'm still on board with it, there's always the possibility it will not live up to my expectations, there is also the possibility that it features a message I don't like in it but is still a good movie anyway too.
DrDReturns
DrDReturns - 12/24/2024, 1:57 AM
@GiverOfInfo - Understood.

Yeah, personally, I do want it to do well (much like many fans, obviously). Would never wish it to fail. Just skeptical of Gunn's ability to execute.
Hoping for the best, but Hollywood has let me down for a long time now...
GiverOfInfo
GiverOfInfo - 12/23/2024, 12:21 AM
Sounds like the plot to Team America...
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 12/23/2024, 12:29 AM
As a non comicbook reader, i am jealous if those who are that will be in for a lot of treats because of Gunn's deep comicbook love and knowledge.

Not just some lousy and cheap cameos and easter eggs, these seem to help in the world building.

#InGunnWeTrust
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 12/23/2024, 7:43 AM
@vectorsigma - yeah, it's exciting to think we're gonna get a more comic-accurate situation with Superman. I'm not ripping on any of the Supermen before, just no writer/director has come up with more than the standard Lex Luthor or Zod types and Snyder completely f-ed up Doomsday.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 12/23/2024, 7:55 AM
@lazlodaytona - and i dont understand why some fanboys cant see that. We are being given faboy content out of someones deep knowledge, love and creativity in the medium.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 12/25/2024, 12:53 AM
@vectorsigma - couldn't agree more sir
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 12/23/2024, 12:45 AM
While we know this is leading into a sequel and spinoffs, I just hope the movie isn't too overstuffed with things. The general audience may not have watched The Suicide Squad or Creature Commandos. So Gunn needs to sort of explain within the confines of the story why specific characters exist and villains and departments while also giving Superman time to develop in this world.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 12/23/2024, 1:43 AM
@SonOfAGif - you are looking at this in the lens of a Marvel movie.

One liner like "ever since superheros/vigilantes appeared.." can go a long way to clear it up. This is not a marvel universe where each hero/villain needs their own movie or show just to get introduced.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 12/23/2024, 2:22 AM
@vectorsigma - Again you bring up Marvel in a franchise that has nothing to do with Marvel. This has nothing to do with Marvel and everything to do with a movie being overstuffed. My concern is for the general audience and not comic fans. For us it's easy to connect the dots. For the general audience whom do not follow comics like we do, Studios have to sell the movie/franchise to them. We will show up. They will not. That's the conundrum and Marvel has nothing to do with it.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 12/23/2024, 4:03 AM
@SonOfAGif - and again. Where's the lie?

The general audience will not care as long as

1. It is good - no doubt here being a Gunn movie

2. Marketed well - the trailer had good view numbers and hopefully they follow it up with more good stuff

3. Marketing causes people to FOMO - still a question mark

The general audience will not care about the minutiae. They will watch with these 3 reasons

I bring up Marvel because we got used to a slow burn with 1 movie for each hero (at least from phase 1 - 3). Why do you need to make it sound so negative as if it is my usual shade on marvel?

GodHercules20
GodHercules20 - 12/23/2024, 7:34 AM
@vectorsigma - Dude stop bringing Marvel to every DC article.

You're too obsessed. Touch some grass
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 12/23/2024, 7:45 AM
@SonOfAGif - Just an opinion, I think all of these other characters won't be having a 'lot' of screen time. I'm sure the majority of the film will be dedicated to Superman's own personal world.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 12/23/2024, 7:48 AM
@GodHercules20 - why shouldnt i? I am comparing the current processes of the 2. I am not the only one who see marvel as mediocre nowadays. And do you guys digest the point first before you think "oh another dc vs marvel comment"?

Butthurt much? Lolz
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 12/23/2024, 12:06 PM
@lazlodaytona - That's what I'm hoping for too. I know we will get to explore this shared world but I hope it's explored from Superman's perspective 90% of the time.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 12/23/2024, 12:09 PM
@vectorsigma - Because your usual shade of Marvel involves mentioning your gripes at every opportunity you can. You're entitled to your opinion but when you constantly bring Marvel up you undermine your opinions on different movies you have interest in. For example:

"This movie looks well paced unlike Marvel's last few movies"

It just shows you're obsessed and cannot seem to allow on property exist on it's own merits without constantly running back to your ex and bashing her whenever you can.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 12/23/2024, 8:36 PM
@SonOfAGif - ok, lets step back a bit...

I said

"you are looking at this in the lens of a Marvel movie."

Where is the shade there? I explained about the slow burn, 1 movie, 1 character approach and here you are getting hurt because i mentioned marvel.

I can compare both whenever i want because i follow both and watch their products.

Maybe most of the time i shade Marvel yes, but you tend to get blinded that you seem to think that all of my marvel related comments are criticisms.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 12/23/2024, 12:45 AM
If that "Hammer of Boravia" is supposed to be the Ultra-Humanite then it's just gotta be the scientist's brain inside of that helmet/jar that is commanding that big body. That's the schtick about the villain, puts his brain in different type of bodies except that it's usually in a white gorilla that is powerful enough to fight and also has psych abilities.

That thing could either be an ape or just a really big chunk of metal that acts like an armor.

Weird design choice for the helmet though.

I could see the intention of including in a way the Ultra-Humanite here in some way since it's in fact the first ever villain Superman fought, for not satubg THE first ever DC villain. But not choosing to go with the canon look would be a bit lame, Hawkgirl and Guy already look so different.

Stargirl adapted the Ultra-Humanite faithfully in Season 3. (Bring that show back Gunn, c'mon)

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TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/23/2024, 5:36 AM
@NinnesMBC - Hawkgirl & Guy don’t look that different , I feel like you can still tell it’s them.

Also I don’t think this is Ultra Humanite or Adversary at all.

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soberchimera
soberchimera - 12/23/2024, 9:06 AM
@NinnesMBC - Amazing how Geoff Johns is basically responsible for renewing interest in DC in the 2000s with amazing runs on literally every DC character except Batman and Wonder Woman, and he's not involved with the DCU.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 12/23/2024, 5:58 PM
@TheVisionary25 - Those white and black corporate mandate vests say otherwise. :P

I'll give you that, this person can be an original character. Gunn went ahead and created an entire bunch of original aliens in Peacemaker after all.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 12/23/2024, 6:02 PM
@soberchimera - Yeah he reignited a lot of stuff in DC: Flash with the rebirth of Barry, the entire lore for the Emotional Spectrum for each Lantern Corps and how it led to The Blackest Night event, his JSA run can't be forgotten etc. He's great. And I didn't know he did nothing with Batman and Wonder Woman. Although IMO he kind of did in mid-2022 with the Flashpoint Beyond miniseries, I enjoy that: Batman vs the Time Masters as we saw what it was still like in Thomas Wayne's Flashpoint timeline.

He's currently doing as good with his own comic brand line of Ghost-Machine with the help of the talent he enlisted, they've got many stuff going on and they've been well received. Pretty crazy he came up with the first thing, Geiger, while taking a break in 2021 after finishing Stargirl S2. And now he's got it all out and going.

And yeah, crazier that he's not involved witht the DCU in any way. Really crazy.

He deserves to have his Stargirl show revived under the Elseworlds label though and be allowed to finish the last 2 Seasons he had planned. It's only fair. I'll always vouch for that.
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 12/23/2024, 12:59 AM
This sounds far more interesting than the trailer presented.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 12/23/2024, 1:32 AM
@TheJok3r - as someone who only watch NWH after endgame, you seem to have a lot of nitpicks on cbms.

I mean i also nitpick a lot, but i tend to watch all them both marvrl and dc.

Just saying 🤷‍♂️
elcapitan
elcapitan - 12/23/2024, 1:06 AM
And yet none of this means Grodd is not involved in some way.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 12/23/2024, 1:38 AM
@elcapitan - im not sure if it will be too much if this movie will give some tie-in details on the Creature Commandos premonition.

I prefer though that it will as i have no doubt Gunn can balance it
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 12/23/2024, 7:47 AM
@elcapitan - They GOTTA hopefully save Grodd for the first Flash film ... along with Reverse Flash being included.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 12/23/2024, 1:15 AM
Gunn comes as pretty passionate about DC, pretty hard not to be excited for his ambitious, connected universe.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 12/23/2024, 1:36 AM
@ModHaterSLADE - louder please. The nitpickers on the back cant hear you
ProfessorWhy
ProfessorWhy - 12/23/2024, 2:28 AM
It's Luthor in his power suit with the helmet on, trying to make Superman look bad. Costume design beat him to it
BeyondtheFuture
BeyondtheFuture - 12/23/2024, 3:42 AM
Isn’t this quite similar to BVS?
ManofSteel23
ManofSteel23 - 12/23/2024, 7:14 AM
@BeyondtheFuture - strange I was looking for someone to say this as I thought this myself
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 12/23/2024, 5:59 AM
Wasn’t there a rumor awhile back that Superman would be involved in an international incident and it could be the catalyst for the plot of this film?.

If so then it seems like that was true.

I don’t think the Hammer of Boravia will be an established comics character though I do like the theory that it’s Lex using Ultraman to his advantage…

Also now we know what leads Martian Manhunter to show up , it’s the destruction of that Choco’s building lol.

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Nolanite
Nolanite - 12/23/2024, 7:27 AM
Somebody has a bit too much free time on their hands to be able to spend precious time figuring this shit out.

Nolanite out
Forthas
Forthas - 12/23/2024, 9:01 AM
Here is the real villain in the DC universe...

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bs77
bs77 - 12/23/2024, 9:03 AM
I'm excited about Superman being in pure fantasy comicbook world where anything from the comics can exist. I'm not thrilled by all of Gunn's creative choices but I'm thrilled by the possibilities of this world. Leave the politics at the door. Give us a great story of hope.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 12/23/2024, 1:00 PM
It's going to be a reverse Kingdom Come

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