James Gunn’s “Superman” is positively overstuffed with concepts. Whether or not you see that as factor or a nasty factor is generally depending on how you’re feeling about his tackle the titular character, which makes for a stark distinction with Zack Snyder’s gritty and grounded strategy to the Man of Metal (one which, arguably, by no means match him very nicely).
Moderately than proceed to chase the development of darkish comedian ebook motion pictures made by Snyder, Gunn has swerved in the other way with the primary film in his newly-launched DC Universe. In doing so, he common Superman right into a character who carries the way forward for Metropolis on his shoulders, balancing between disappointment and hope in ways in which converse to the superhero’s enduring 80+ yr run because the embodiment of justice in popular culture.
However comedian books aren’t all simply battles between good and evil. They will additionally characteristic some actually wild and loopy turns, with tremendous canines and robotic butlers that really feel regular to any comedian ebook veteran however look weird from an outsider’s standpoint. And Gunn likes to take pleasure in these unusual characters. Hell, he principally made “The Suicide Squad” right into a love letter to forgotten C- and D-tier supervillains. And “Superman” is not any exception.
All through “Superman,” we’re launched to a bevy of minor characters with deep backstories, starting from Nathan Fillion’s smug Inexperienced Lantern Man Gardener to Antony Carrigan’s surprisingly soulful Metamorpho. Nonetheless, it seems none of them maintain a candle subsequent to the gonzo backstory for Gunn’s “favourite” character within the movie: Mr. Good-looking.
Mr. Good-looking was 12 yr outdated Lex Luthor’s first try to create life
“Superman” presents its Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) as a tech genius who’s extra that prepared to bend the legal guidelines of society (and even actuality) to serve his wants, a lot in the identical manner our real-life supervillains suppose they alone deserve the ability to reshape the world of their picture. Lex’s contempt for Superman (David Corenswet) seems to stem from his insecurity about simply how excellent Superman is, and so he goes to dramatic lengths to foil the do-gooder. He has a workforce of tremendous powered metahumans to help him on this process, however the oddest one of many bunch is somebody we solely briefly see on display screen: Mr. Good-looking.
If the Greendale Human Being from “Neighborhood” had a love baby with the fleshy Pale Man from “Pan’s Labyrinth,” the child would in all probability look one thing like Mr. Good-looking. His affectionate title appears like its a small ironic joke hidden in the midst of a film positively full of gags, however Gunn revealed on Twitter that Mr. Good-looking’s backstory with Lex goes far deeper than you may need assumed:
When individuals ask me my favourite character from #Superman it simply may be Mr. Good-looking. Lex created Mr. Good-looking in a Petri dish when he was 12 — he was attempting to make a human. He did not come out so nicely, however he simply may be the one one on the planet Lex has any true sentiment for, as evidenced by the picture on his desk. Our Mr. Good-looking was portrayed by the great Trevor Newlin.
When individuals ask me my favourite character from #Superman it simply may be Mr. Good-looking. Lex created Mr. Good-looking in a Petri dish when he was 12 – he was attempting to make a human. He did not come out so nicely, however he simply may be the one one on the planet Lex has any true sentiment… pic.twitter.com/NwBPOOMLtQ
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 29, 2025
With such an outlandish backstory (one which’s certain to make individuals go “WTF?!” whereas concurrently including a touch of humanity to Hoult’s twisted portrayal of his bald baddie), it is simple to see why Mr. Good-looking is Gunn’s favourite character within the movie. And now, hopefully, he’ll be your favourite character too.
“Superman” is presently taking part in in theaters.
