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Which Version of Superman is the Most Punk Rock?

Which Version of Superman is the Most Punk Rock?

Last updated on: July 20, 2026 at 6:18 am by Gregory T. Smith

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Which Version of Superman is the Most Punk Rock? 2026-07-17T07:00:10-08:00 Gregory T. Smith

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In James Gunn’s 2025 movie Superman, David Corenswet portrays a very different version of Superman from Henry Cavill’s brooding incarnation.

Superman isn’t a hero because he is an alien. He is a hero because of all the things that make him truly human. (Image by King Lip from Pixabay)

When Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice came out ten years ago, I admired Cavill’s portrayal of the classic superhero. No longer a one-dimensionally good character, Cavill’s version embodied a true-to-life mixture of virtue and vice. Superman and the Caped Crusader go at it in a battle royale that reveals neither character to be the absolute hero we want to believe in.

The Antihero

Nobody was surprised to see Batman as an antihero. For decades, we have known Gotham’s defender as the quintessential mixture of bad guy and good guy, with the hero coming out just a little stronger than the Dark Knight’s shadow side. But this was an unusual portrayal of Superman, who has traditionally stood for “truth, justice, and the American way.”

As a storyteller, I liked the honesty of the three-dimensional Superman who wasn’t one hundred percent good. In “Sinless Jesus; Flawless Hero,” I wrote:

When we read great literature, we expect the best heroes to have flaws. Whenever you read a story or watch a movie with a protagonist who seems to have no defects, it leaves you unsatisfied. You want your heroes to be human, so you can identify with them…. In fiction, a protagonist with no flaws is called a Mary Sue. Superman is one example—sure, he’s allergic to kryptonite and sometimes makes mistakes, but he is morally flawless and stands for truth, justice, and the American way. If you ask me, Superman’s moral flawlessness makes him a little boring.

Because, in reality, who doesn’t have flaws? And isn’t everyone the anti-hero of their own story, playing the protagonist despite their weaknesses?

So, when Henry Cavill displayed Superman’s bad-boy side, I appreciated that version’s honesty.

Superman’s Inherent Goodness

The antihero Superman is, of course, a variant of the typical hero known for his inherent goodness. The actors who have historically portrayed the Kryptonian have traditionally embodied that clean-cut, trustworthy image. From George Reeves to Christopher Reeve, actors fortunate enough to land this coveted role have shared one thing: the ability to portray not only physical strength but also moral rectitude.

And this is not for nothing. Superman came not from Krypton, but from the minds of creators who wanted to inspire people with hope during troubled times.

The History of Superman

Superman was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, who introduced their hero in Action Comics #1 in 1938.

These Jewish creators later depicted Superman flying to Europe, defeating both Hitler and Stalin, and dragging them before the League of Nations. During World War II, Superman became a propaganda tool to sell war bonds.

The devastation of the war shattered many people’s faith in humankind’s potential for decency. In an era that witnessed so much evil, Superman—whom some interpret as a Christlike figure—inspired generations to reclaim virtues like integrity, loyalty, and justice.

Relativism and Antiheroes

Generations have grown up with Superman as a role model. So many generations, in fact, that we can watch his ethos evolve alongside changing cultural values.

I remember how shocked I was when I saw the morally upright Clark Kent wake up beside his girlfriend after a night of passion. I remember the first time Superman killed someone, rather than capturing them and handing them over to the authorities. I remember my shock when obscenities passed his lips.

But later, I figured it made sense—because nobody, not even Superman, can be that good.

In an age of relativism, I felt strangely satisfied when I first watched Batman vs. Superman. Because no villain is perfectly evil, and no hero is totally good. It seemed like it was just better storytelling.

Why We Need Superman to be Good

But these days, perhaps there’s a bit too much relativism.

Abuse scandals have revealed that many in power aren’t there because they’re upright or wise but because they’ve oppressed the poor and preyed on the vulnerable. Those once trusted to guide us have revealed their deepest flaws.

We’ve learned that deepfakes aren’t just products of artificial intelligence. Human beings can also create convincing illusions of goodness. Just look at the leadership in D.C.—the city, not the comics—if you want examples. So now, I’ve reconsidered my earlier blog’s disrespect of the Mary Sue. Maybe today that’s just what we need.

Paul puts it this way: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). In a culture that admires cruelty as if that meant strength, that idolizes supervillains as if they were superheroes, choosing goodness may be the most rebellious thing a person can do.

Corenswet’s version of Superman is decidedly rated G, using phrases like “What the hey, dude?” and “Good gosh!” and “Darn it. I can be such a jerk sometimes.”

In contrast with Cavill’s dark, textured, and modern outfit, Corenswet’s Superman boasts a bright, colorful, and comic-accurate blue suit with red trunks. Unlike the anti-hero who fights Batman, the 2025 version leaves us with the hope that there might still be real heroes in the world.

Perhaps it’s time to revive a just, moral, and exemplary Superman. We need a hero who can be good, because we need to believe that humanity can be good—that we can be good.

Who’s Punk Rock?

In the 2025 movie, Lois tells Clark that she used to be a “punk rock kid” who questioned everything. Clark says that he is punk rock, too, and names favorite bands like Strange Fellows, the P.O.D.s, and the Mighty Crabjoys. But Lois dismisses them as “pop radio bands” and says that the Mighty Crabjoys “suck.”

Lois finally says,

“My point is, I question everything and everyone. You trust everyone and think everyone you’ve ever met is, like…beautiful. Maybe that’s the real punk rock.”

Superman’s naïveté, his hopefulness, and even his corniness may be a little over the top. But in a jaded world, that may be exactly the hero we need.

The Real Punk Rock

Later in the movie, Superman confronts his nemesis Lex Luthor and says,

“I am as human as anyone. I love, I get scared. I wake up every morning, and despite not knowing what to do, I put one foot in front of the other and I try to make the best choices I can. I screw up all the time, but that is being human, and that’s my greatest strength. And someday, I hope, for the sake of the world, you understand that it’s yours too.”

Superman isn’t a hero because he is an alien. He is a hero because of all the things that make him truly human.

Perhaps it’s time we stopped waiting for heroes and started becoming heroes ourselves.

That would mean learning to trust a little more. It would mean allowing ourselves to be vulnerable for the sake of others. It would mean loving, getting scared, making mistakes, and doing our best anyway.

That’s how we change the world. And that’s the real punk rock.