Does Superman break the same ‘killing rule’ as Man of Steel?

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Heed this warning: This write-up reveals significant plot twists about Superman’s finale, which could potentially challenge the very rule that turned Man of Steel into one of the most contentious comic book films to date.

Towards the climax of Superman, the global population finds themselves in peril due to Lex Luthor’s pocket dimension tearing a fissure in Metropolis. As citizens are urged to flee (be on the lookout for the Gotham sign), Superman swiftly flies over to offer any assistance he can.

In this scenario, there’s a life-threatening fight between our character and the Engineer. The Engineer introduces nanites into our character’s lungs, but he manages to eject himself into space, falling like a powerful bomb (bunker buster). Upon impact, these nanites are destroyed from his body, causing severe damage to the Engineer as well. However, it’s possible that the Engineer could reappear in future movies under the control of an authority figure.

In this stage, Superman and Ultraman engage in a fierce battle. It’s disclosed that Ultraman is a clone of Superman, crafted by Lex Luthor to be the “strongest entity on Earth” and capable of executing extensive, ruthless maneuvers. Naturally, Superman emerges victorious… but at what price?

Superman kills Ultraman… or does he?

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but recount an exhilarating scene where Superman takes charge. In the heat of the battle, he hurls Ultraman towards a bus, which was being drawn into a black hole. A chilling scream echoes from Ultraman as he gets swallowed by the abyss, leaving us with no sight of him ever since.

Reflect on the incident from the movie “Man of Steel,” where Superman had no choice but to break Zod’s neck to prevent him from murdering an entire family (and countless others, if successful in his plans).

In a similar vein to Batman, Superman abstains from taking lives, which has been a contentious issue among some fans (despite the fact that, much like Batman, he’s caused numerous deaths in the comics and movies, either accidentally or by hurling them off buildings or administering severe beatings).

Currently, Zack Snyder’s portrayal of Superman is often criticized for lacking understanding. However, this notion is being challenged by James Gunn’s work, as his film seems to depict Superman killing a villain. Yet, there remains some ambiguity as to whether the villain truly perishes in the end.

It appears that only Ultraman is getting pulled towards the ominous black hole. One can’t help but ponder: once someone ventures near a black hole, they might as well be considered gone; perhaps even Superman could not rescue him in time.

It’s worth noting that according to comic book lore, Superman has the ability to withstand a black hole. If Ultraman is a clone of Superman, then theoretically, he too could survive one. In the comics, Superman can fly faster than light itself, which would be crucial in escaping a black hole (since they’re so dense that they trap light, if Superman can move faster than light, he might have a chance).

Instead of relying solely on my account, let me clarify that in the comic book series Action Comics Volume 2 Issue 35, Superman successfully dragged Brainiac into a black hole and remarkably survived himself.

If we suppose that Ultraman doesn’t attempt to exit through the black hole, considering his immense power and capacity to defy physical laws (just like Superman), he might have a chance of enduring the incomprehensible pressure at the event horizon and emerge from a white hole’s expulsion, possibly finding himself in an entirely different universe.

In the most unfavorable scenario, Ultraman’s outcome might resemble Batman allowing Ra’s al Ghul to perish in Batman Begins. However, it’s essential to consider that Ultraman is not an ordinary being but rather a mindless clone whose feelings, such as anger and aggression, are artificially induced by Lex. This isn’t entirely analogous to killing a person with free will or a more autonomous villain.

Currently showing in theaters, you can catch Superman! While you wait for your screening, let’s delve deeper into its box office predictions, where to stream Superman online, its running time, insights on any post-credit scenes, and our take on the ranking of the Superman film series.

You can also read why Robert Pattinson should be the DCU’s Batman.

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2025-07-11 17:49