DC just dropped the first full trailer for James Gunn’s Superman — and it’s bursting with hidden details, deep-cut comic references, and a surprise Justice League cameo. As the DCU prepares for its big reboot on July 11, the trailer gives fans a sneak peek at what's ahead, from Creature Commandos to The Authority — and even a new take on Superman and Lois’s relationship. Here’s a closer look at everything you might’ve missed.
LordTech and the Justice Gang
LordTech, led by Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn), is a key Metropolis tech firm featured in Superman. Lord sponsors the “Justice Gang,” with heroes like Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Green Lantern Guy Gardner sporting LordTech-branded suits. Lois Lane uses a LordTech recorder, and the company’s skyscraper appears in a key action scene. In the comics, Lord helped turn the Justice League into a UN-backed force, with Guy Gardner as a founding member.
Stagg Industries
Stagg Industries, owned by tycoon Simon Stagg, is a major company in the DC Universe. Stagg is the archvillain of Rex Mason, also known as Metamorpho, and the father of Mason’s love interest, Sapphire Stagg. In the comics, Stagg causes the accident that exposes Rex to a radioactive meteor, transforming him into Metamorpho—a metahuman who can rearrange his molecules into any chemical element or shape.
Kryptonite
Ultraman and the Engineer appear to hand over the captured Superman to Lex Luthor, who then imprisons him alongside other metahumans like Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan). Metamorpho uses his power to transform his right hand into green Kryptonite, making Superman vulnerable to attacks from Lex’s armored guards, identified by the “LC” (LuthorCorp) logos on their uniforms.
Black Orchid
Beside Superman’s cell stands a woman in a striking black and pink dress, likely Susan Linden—a lesser-known comic character connected to Lex Luthor. First introduced in 1973’s Adventure Comics #428, Linden, also known as Black Orchid, grew up near Metropolis and married Carl Thorne, a criminal and arms dealer working for Luthor.
After Thorne betrayed Luthor by stealing a shipment of terrorist weapons, he killed Susan for informing the police. Later, botanist Philip Sylvian used Susan’s genetic material in experiments to create hybrid human-plant beings, leading to her rebirth as Black Orchid—a costumed hero who often fought against Luthor.
Rick Flag Sr.
The trailer hints that Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) has been promoted to Secretary of Defense. Flag Sr. first appeared in James Gunn’s animated series Creature Commandos as the leader of A.R.G.U.S., replacing Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) as head of Task Force X—a team of monsters from Belle Reve’s Non-Human Internment Division. His son, Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), was killed on a mission in Suicide Squad (2016) and The Suicide Squad (2021), which Gunn has said is semi-canon to the new DCU. Flag Sr. will return in Peacemaker season 2, likely confronting Peacemaker (John Cena), who was involved in his son’s death. In the Superman trailer, Flag Sr. appears tasked with arresting Superman.
The Engineer and Ultraman
Captured by the Army, Superman is shown flanked by Rick Flag Sr. and two super-powered figures dressed in black. One is Angela Spica (María Gabriela de Faría), aka the Engineer from the super-team The Authority. Thanks to nanomachines in her body, she can shapeshift into liquid metal and create any object she imagines—like the spinning hand blades seen in Superman’s Fortress of Solitude.
The other masked figure is likely Ultraman, hinted by the “U”-shaped emblem similar to his comic counterpart. An evil version of Superman from Earth-3 and member of the Crime Syndicate, Ultraman gains strength from Kryptonite (which weakens Superman) and is vulnerable to sunlight—possibly why he wears a full-body suit.
Superman Creators
Metropolis is filled with tributes to DC Comics legends. Superman is arrested on Waid Street, honoring Mark Waid, the writer behind The Flash’s Wally West era, the 1993 Metamorpho run, and the iconic 1996 Kingdom Come storyline that inspired the new movie’s Superman symbol, as well as Superman: Birthright.
Nearby, a sign for Swan’s Books pays homage to Curt Swan, the celebrated artist of Action Comics, Adventure Comics, and other Superman titles. When Superman rescues a little girl outside Swan’s Books, it happens on Ross Street— a nod to Alex Ross, the artist of Kingdom Come.
Big Belly Burger
Superman’s showdown with a massive Kaiju takes place beneath a Big Belly Burger billboard—a fictional fast-food chain introduced in Adventures of Superman #441 (1988) by John Byrne and Jerry Ordway. In the comics’ “The Tiny Terror of Tinseltown” story, Superman fought a giant Big Belly mascot brought to life by the mischievous imp Mr. Mxyzptlk from the Fifth Dimension.
Big Belly Burger is depicted as a LexCorp-owned brand located in Metropolis’s New Troy district. It has appeared frequently in The CW’s Arrowverse shows like Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl, and has also made cameo appearances in the 2023 Blue Beetle film (part of the DCEU) and the video game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Metropolis Meteors
Superman and Mister Terrific are shown battling Ultraman and the Engineer in a baseball stadium home to the Metropolis Meteors—a team that debuted in the 1973 issue of Strange Sports Stories, co-penciled by Curt Swan and Dick Giordano.
Originally introduced as the Eastern League playoff champions in Strange Sports Stories #1—with no mention of Metropolis—the Metropolis Meteors later became established as the city’s team. They have appeared in various media, including an episode of Superman: The Animated Series and the tie-in comic Superman Adventures. Issue #13 of that series paid tribute to Strange Sports Stories by featuring Superman fighting an alien in the Meteors’ home stadium.
Smallville Giants and The Mighty Crabjoys
When Superman returns to the Kent family farm in Smallville, Kansas, reuniting with his adoptive parents Jonathan (Pruitt Taylor Vince) and Martha Kent (Neva Howell), along with Lois and Krypto the Superdog, a pennant for the Smallville Giants is visible. In John Byrne’s The Man of Steel comic, Clark Kent was a star player for Smallville High School’s football team—the Smallville Giants. The pennant even sports the team’s signature orange and yellow colors from the 1986 The Man of Steel #1.
Clark’s childhood bedroom features a poster for The Mighty Crabjoys, a popular fictional band in the DC Universe. Frankenstein, voiced by David Harbour, wears a Mighty Crabjoys T-shirt in the Creature Commandos episode “The Tourmaline Necklace,” and the band’s billboard also appears in the Peacemaker season 2 trailer.
Jim Lee’s Superman, Man of Tomorrow
At The Daily Planet, a quick shot shows a cork bulletin board covered with Superman memorabilia. Among the items is a card featuring Jim Lee’s iconic cover from 2004’s Superman (Vol. 2) #204, the first issue of the Superman: For Tomorrow storyline by Brian Azzarello and Lee. Jim Lee, a fan-favorite artist, is also DC Comics’ current Chief Creative Officer and Publisher.
Martian Manhunter
In a quick “blink and you’ll miss it” moment, when Clark hangs out with Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), you can spot the Martian Manhunter, J’onn J’onzz, on Jimmy’s computer screen. The shape-shifting Green Martian from Mars is a founding member of the Justice League and one of the “Big Seven” alongside Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman.
The Hammer of Boravia
The trailer features a fight with the Hammer of Boravia, a new character whose attack is linked to Superman’s recent political actions in Boravia. According to a Daily Planet article by Clark Kent, the Hammer’s assault injured 22 people and is said to be an independent vigilante, not representing Boravia’s government. The Hammer uses a powerful laser attack that damages the offices of Chocos, a cookie company favored by Martian Manhunter in the comics. While the Hammer of Boravia is original, it resembles past hammer-themed villains like Jackhammer from the comics and the Lexo-Suit armor piloted by John Corben (Metallo) in Superman: The Animated Series.
LordTech and the Justice Gang
LordTech, led by Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn), is a key Metropolis tech firm featured in Superman. Lord sponsors the “Justice Gang,” with heroes like Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Green Lantern Guy Gardner sporting LordTech-branded suits. Lois Lane uses a LordTech recorder, and the company’s skyscraper appears in a key action scene. In the comics, Lord helped turn the Justice League into a UN-backed force, with Guy Gardner as a founding member.
Stagg Industries
Stagg Industries, owned by tycoon Simon Stagg, is a major company in the DC Universe. Stagg is the archvillain of Rex Mason, also known as Metamorpho, and the father of Mason’s love interest, Sapphire Stagg. In the comics, Stagg causes the accident that exposes Rex to a radioactive meteor, transforming him into Metamorpho—a metahuman who can rearrange his molecules into any chemical element or shape.
Kryptonite
Ultraman and the Engineer appear to hand over the captured Superman to Lex Luthor, who then imprisons him alongside other metahumans like Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan). Metamorpho uses his power to transform his right hand into green Kryptonite, making Superman vulnerable to attacks from Lex’s armored guards, identified by the “LC” (LuthorCorp) logos on their uniforms.
Black Orchid
Beside Superman’s cell stands a woman in a striking black and pink dress, likely Susan Linden—a lesser-known comic character connected to Lex Luthor. First introduced in 1973’s Adventure Comics #428, Linden, also known as Black Orchid, grew up near Metropolis and married Carl Thorne, a criminal and arms dealer working for Luthor.
After Thorne betrayed Luthor by stealing a shipment of terrorist weapons, he killed Susan for informing the police. Later, botanist Philip Sylvian used Susan’s genetic material in experiments to create hybrid human-plant beings, leading to her rebirth as Black Orchid—a costumed hero who often fought against Luthor.
Rick Flag Sr.
The trailer hints that Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) has been promoted to Secretary of Defense. Flag Sr. first appeared in James Gunn’s animated series Creature Commandos as the leader of A.R.G.U.S., replacing Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) as head of Task Force X—a team of monsters from Belle Reve’s Non-Human Internment Division. His son, Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), was killed on a mission in Suicide Squad (2016) and The Suicide Squad (2021), which Gunn has said is semi-canon to the new DCU. Flag Sr. will return in Peacemaker season 2, likely confronting Peacemaker (John Cena), who was involved in his son’s death. In the Superman trailer, Flag Sr. appears tasked with arresting Superman.
The Engineer and Ultraman
Captured by the Army, Superman is shown flanked by Rick Flag Sr. and two super-powered figures dressed in black. One is Angela Spica (María Gabriela de Faría), aka the Engineer from the super-team The Authority. Thanks to nanomachines in her body, she can shapeshift into liquid metal and create any object she imagines—like the spinning hand blades seen in Superman’s Fortress of Solitude.
The other masked figure is likely Ultraman, hinted by the “U”-shaped emblem similar to his comic counterpart. An evil version of Superman from Earth-3 and member of the Crime Syndicate, Ultraman gains strength from Kryptonite (which weakens Superman) and is vulnerable to sunlight—possibly why he wears a full-body suit.
Superman Creators
Metropolis is filled with tributes to DC Comics legends. Superman is arrested on Waid Street, honoring Mark Waid, the writer behind The Flash’s Wally West era, the 1993 Metamorpho run, and the iconic 1996 Kingdom Come storyline that inspired the new movie’s Superman symbol, as well as Superman: Birthright.
Nearby, a sign for Swan’s Books pays homage to Curt Swan, the celebrated artist of Action Comics, Adventure Comics, and other Superman titles. When Superman rescues a little girl outside Swan’s Books, it happens on Ross Street— a nod to Alex Ross, the artist of Kingdom Come.
Big Belly Burger
Superman’s showdown with a massive Kaiju takes place beneath a Big Belly Burger billboard—a fictional fast-food chain introduced in Adventures of Superman #441 (1988) by John Byrne and Jerry Ordway. In the comics’ “The Tiny Terror of Tinseltown” story, Superman fought a giant Big Belly mascot brought to life by the mischievous imp Mr. Mxyzptlk from the Fifth Dimension.
Big Belly Burger is depicted as a LexCorp-owned brand located in Metropolis’s New Troy district. It has appeared frequently in The CW’s Arrowverse shows like Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl, and has also made cameo appearances in the 2023 Blue Beetle film (part of the DCEU) and the video game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Metropolis Meteors
Superman and Mister Terrific are shown battling Ultraman and the Engineer in a baseball stadium home to the Metropolis Meteors—a team that debuted in the 1973 issue of Strange Sports Stories, co-penciled by Curt Swan and Dick Giordano.
Originally introduced as the Eastern League playoff champions in Strange Sports Stories #1—with no mention of Metropolis—the Metropolis Meteors later became established as the city’s team. They have appeared in various media, including an episode of Superman: The Animated Series and the tie-in comic Superman Adventures. Issue #13 of that series paid tribute to Strange Sports Stories by featuring Superman fighting an alien in the Meteors’ home stadium.
Smallville Giants and The Mighty Crabjoys
When Superman returns to the Kent family farm in Smallville, Kansas, reuniting with his adoptive parents Jonathan (Pruitt Taylor Vince) and Martha Kent (Neva Howell), along with Lois and Krypto the Superdog, a pennant for the Smallville Giants is visible. In John Byrne’s The Man of Steel comic, Clark Kent was a star player for Smallville High School’s football team—the Smallville Giants. The pennant even sports the team’s signature orange and yellow colors from the 1986 The Man of Steel #1.
Clark’s childhood bedroom features a poster for The Mighty Crabjoys, a popular fictional band in the DC Universe. Frankenstein, voiced by David Harbour, wears a Mighty Crabjoys T-shirt in the Creature Commandos episode “The Tourmaline Necklace,” and the band’s billboard also appears in the Peacemaker season 2 trailer.
Jim Lee’s Superman, Man of Tomorrow
At The Daily Planet, a quick shot shows a cork bulletin board covered with Superman memorabilia. Among the items is a card featuring Jim Lee’s iconic cover from 2004’s Superman (Vol. 2) #204, the first issue of the Superman: For Tomorrow storyline by Brian Azzarello and Lee. Jim Lee, a fan-favorite artist, is also DC Comics’ current Chief Creative Officer and Publisher.
Martian Manhunter
In a quick “blink and you’ll miss it” moment, when Clark hangs out with Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), you can spot the Martian Manhunter, J’onn J’onzz, on Jimmy’s computer screen. The shape-shifting Green Martian from Mars is a founding member of the Justice League and one of the “Big Seven” alongside Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman.
The Hammer of Boravia
The trailer features a fight with the Hammer of Boravia, a new character whose attack is linked to Superman’s recent political actions in Boravia. According to a Daily Planet article by Clark Kent, the Hammer’s assault injured 22 people and is said to be an independent vigilante, not representing Boravia’s government. The Hammer uses a powerful laser attack that damages the offices of Chocos, a cookie company favored by Martian Manhunter in the comics. While the Hammer of Boravia is original, it resembles past hammer-themed villains like Jackhammer from the comics and the Lexo-Suit armor piloted by John Corben (Metallo) in Superman: The Animated Series.
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