Everyone is talking, and they can’t wait to seeJames Gunn’s new vision for Superman. It was a hard pill to swallow when it was announced that the DC cinematic universe was to be completely rebooted. But with all the news that’s been coming out, from Gunn’s first lineup of releases to the casting of David Corenswet as the new Man of Steel, fans may finally be settling in for the new vision. With Supes being arguably the most notable of the pantheon of DC heroes, why shouldn’t he be the first to enter this new era?
When it comes to comic book adaptations or any adaptations for that matter, there are always going to be die-hard fans of the source material challenging every decision.Fans of the Snyderverseknow this very well. When the first images of Henry Cavill’s interpretation of the hero were released, there were, of course, mixed reactions.
Fans were not too happy with the exclusion of the iconic red trunks.Now the debate has resumed all over again, with support for both including them and excluding them. James Gunn himself has shown support for the underwear,launching a pollasking fans what they prefer, but he’s yet to make an official decision on the matter. Until then, let’s go back and explore whySuperman’s red trunks are more important than we realize.
Related:James Gunn Reveals Why the DCU Superman Suit Has Not Been Fully Shown Yet
Origins of the Suit
To start, it’s best to go over thehistory of Superman’s red trunksas part of their significance. Superman’s tights predate the “S” logo on his chest, the most important part of the outfit. The underweared outfit debuted in 1938, being inspired by old Victorian strongmen. For context, these athletes needed something to wear that would give them full mobility while allowing them to retain decency.
The point was to show muscle, and the high-waisted trunks just worked. The suit largely remained the same until 1991. After having been dead for a period following his demise at the hands of Doomsday, Clark rose from the grave in his iconic black suit inAction Comics #689. It was a sleek black suit free of the underwear design and cape with silver cuffs and logo.
But as cool as this new outfit looked, DC Comics would return him to his original look not long after until 1997, when they began their Electric Blue era. Along with new abilities, Clark received a cool blue and silver redesign fit with silver sleeves and a face guard. It was a nice retro take on the character that lasted the whole year until he returned to his classic look inSuperman Forever #1.
Superman would continue to don the red undies for another decade until finally, with the start of the New 52, DC allowed comic writer Jim Lee to redesign every one of their heroes with fresh new looks. Gone were the tights in favor of a sleek blue jumpsuit, with the blue being broken up by a thick red belt. While this was happening, Zack Snyder was working onMan of Steel. For those wondering, it’s no coincidence that both interpretations took on a similar design, as DC was hoping to modernize the hero. Fans have been mixed about this change, and the look was finally brought back in DC Rebirth continuity.
Related:Superman: What The Logo Reveals About James Gunn’s DCU Film
Functionality & Fanfare
It’s difficult to justify the looks of any superhero, but there have been reasons for Superman’s underwear. The suit being form-fitting is so there is less between Superman and the radiation of the sun when he draws power. The red tights were meant to help him retain some modesty in that effort. A simpler reason is that the design was just more visually pleasing.
When looking at the original design compared to how he looks without them, Superman looks calm and approachable. Without the undies, he appears more authoritative, and a dash more intimidating.
Emotional Ties
These were only some explanations for the suit, though. Others have had more emotional significance, with many interpretations having had the suit made by Martha Kent. This is the most common birthplace for attire.
According to the CBR article20 Secrets About Superman’s Red Trunks, a young Clark crash-landed on Earth covered in very durable material from Krypton, which Martha used to make her adoptive sons’ suit.
That does not explain the trunks on the outside, though. There may be some practical reasoning, as Reddit user Jetsam5 theorized in aScreenRant articlethat Superman’s trunks may be the only part of his outfit made from the alien material, but as it is too strong to cut, it’s the only part of Supes suit that is durable.
Think of all the instances in which the outfit is ruined, and you’ll probably note that the trunks are nearly always intact.
A Respect for Tradition?
Another more important reason is a change of source material. Consider adaptations of popular anime, such as the live-action film ofDragon Balland Netflix’sOne Piece. The latterbroke the curse of live-action animealong with numerous records and is now beloved by fans for its dedication to the source material.
It is accepted that while things in the manga may not appeal to the casual viewer, it must be respected by the fans who made it famous and to capture the series' allure. TheDragon Ballfilm was wildly unfaithful and changed so many significant details to try and streamline it, leaving most longtime fans angry.
When it comes to the fans, even the smallest changes need to have a good reason. As things stand, they are half-and-half on the underwear. That doesn’t change it being significant to the character’s lore and history. Superman’s tights being made by his mommy may not be as cool of an explanation as it being a war suit from his home planet, but for those who have flown with the humble hero their entire lives, it means the world.
Above all else, fans always want their love and respect for source material to be respected.Hopefully, James Gunn keeps this in mindas he adapts Superman for the big screen.
