Just like Superman defeated Dr. Manhattan without using raw power in Doomsday Clock, David Corenswet’s version should exhibit similar qualities.

Following the release of James Gunn’s Superman trailer, fans have become obsessed with how David Corenswet’s titular character is set to be a comic-accurate version. Unlike the gritty portrayal of Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel, DC fans are losing their minds over Corenswet’s righteous and mighty superhero. So much so that fans even expressed their desire to see the likeness of Superman from Doomsday Clock in Corenswet’s version.

David Corenswet in a still from the Superman trailer | image: DC Studios

Given how Superman defeated Dr. Manhattan in the events of Doomsday Clock, with his kindness and humility rather than using his powers, DC fans are hoping for James Gunn’s Superman to feature similar qualities in David Corenswet’s version. Hoping for Kal-El to once again return to his era of kindness and principle over sheer physical power, fans want Corenswet’s Superman to exhibit similar characteristics.

Superman’s righteousness became his biggest power that defeated Dr. Manhattan 

After the events of the original Watchmen comic (via Fandom), wherein Doctor Jonathan “Jon” Osterman aka Dr. Manhattan traveled to the Metaverse and reordered the timeline which ruined countless lives, there came the events of Doomsday Clock. Serving as a sequel to the Watchmen comic, the events mentioned in the final issue of Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, and Brad Anderson’s series, followed the incidents that took place after Dr. Manhattan altered the reality of the prime DC timeline.

In the comic, Dr. Manhattan was said to have become fascinated with the structure of the DC reality and became obsessed with Superman, whom he believed to be the center of that universe. Thereafter, as he began experimenting with this reality, he altered its history, which led him to be haunted by his final confrontation with Superman—who would eventually come to save his people—resulting in nothingness, which perhaps symbolized Dr. Manhattan’s death (via IGN).

Dr. Manhattan’s vision about his confrontation with Superman in Doomsday Clock | image: DC Comics

But in a shocking twist of event, that no DC fan had ever imagined, the final confrontation between Superman and Dr. Manhattan in Doomsday Clock ended up being a reminder of Kal-El’s real powers—his kindness, principles, humility, and hope. Therefore, during the fight, instead of using his raw power to defeat Dr. Manhattan, Superman tried saving the physicist.

This act, although confused Dr. Manhattan, also inspired him to realize the true meaning of the nothingness he foresaw. Superman’s act of kindness eventually led Dr. Manhattan to realize his purpose, undo the timeline changes, and then return to his original Watchmen reality. There, he erased all nukes and even helped create a gay rights crusader.

Further, to complete his plan, he reconsidered his earlier vision of the future awaiting the child of Mime and Marionette, whom he named Clark, after Superman. Dr. Manhattan passed on a few lessons to the child like Superman did for him, and eventually sent him to be raised by Nite Owl and Silk Spectre in a happy family.

DC fans are rooting for David Corenswet’s Superman to exhibit hope and kindness 

Meanwhile, considering how Superman defeated Dr. Manhattan in Doomsday Clock without even using any of his raw powers, DC fans are hoping for James Gunn to inculcate some of these qualities in his Superman movie. Overall, given how David Corenswet is set to bring back the kind and righteous Kal-El, instead of the Man of Steel previously portrayed by Henry Cavill, fans are hopeful that these quantities will come alive on screen.

A still from James Gunn’s Superman trailer |image: DC Studios

Further, given how James Gunn’s Superman trailer promised that David Corenswet‘s character would be majorly based on Grant Morrison’s legendary All-Star Superman comic, fans got excited for the bright and bumbling version of Clark. There seems to be the possibility of the new era Superman exhibiting a similar level of hope and kindness that the character previously portrayed in the Doomsday Clock comic.

Superman is scheduled to fly into the theaters on July 11, 2025.