Reign of the Supermen

• Directed by Sam Liu
• January 13, 2019 (limited) / January 15, 2019 (digital download and Blu-ray)
• Based on the DC storyline The Death of Superman by Mike Carlin, Dan Jurgens, Roger Stern, Louise Simonson, Jerry Ordway, and Karl Kesel

Voice Cast

• Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman, Hank Henshaw-Jerry O’Connell
• Lois Lane-Rebecca Romijn
• Lex Luthor-Rainn Wilson
• Kon-El/Conner Kent/Superboy-Cameron Monaghan
• John Henry Irons/Steel-Cress Williams
• Hank Henshaw/Cyborg Superman-Patrick Fabian
• Bruce Wayne/Batman-Jason O’Mara
• Diana Prince/Wonder Woman-Rosario Dawson
• Victor Stone/Cyborg-Shemar Moore
• Hal Jordan/Green Lantern-Nathan Fillion
• Barry Allen/The Flash-Christopher Gorham
• J’onn J’onzz/John Jones/Martian Manhunter, Ron Troupe-Nyambi Nyambi
• Uxas/Darkseid-Tony Todd
• Bibbo Bibbowski, Eradicator-Charles Halford
• Perry White-Rocky Carroll
• Cat Grant, Becky-Toks Olagundoye
• Jimmy Olsen, Steve Lombard, Eric-Max Mittelman
• Jonathan Kent, Cemetery Worker-Paul Eiding
• Martha Kent, President Joan Dale, Watchtower Computer-Jennifer Hale
• Dabney Donovan, G. Gordon Godfrey, Droid #2, Snakey Doyle-Trevor Devall
• Mercy Graves, Droid #1, Sullivan-Erica Luttrell

After the apparent death of Superman, several new people present themselves as possible successors but one has a dangerous plot behind the image.

Reign of the Supermen picks up six months after its predecessor. There are multiple Supermen zipping around Metropolis but no one knows which if any is the real Superman. This film would work best for a viewer that knows zilch about The Death of Superman storyline from which it draws inspiration or even the previous film Superman: Doomsday though that diverges greatly in the later half from what is presented here. Still though for those with knowledge of either there is plenty to enjoy.

Sam Liu is one of the best directors to ever join forces with DC animation. He manages to nicely balance drama and action creating a much deeper film when one could easily have made one that was quite superficial and still be successful. I do think this story needed a third film to deepen the mystery involving the multiple Supermen which is the best yet underserved element.

Despite needing a third film for complexity, Reign of the Supermen nicely truncates certain comic book elements from the original storyline. It’s a little bit of a montage and informational but it works well here. You do not feel too shortchanged.

Originally in the comics it played out over several issues of the assorted Superman titles. Here the questions get answered in a relatively short time with the reveal of a greater plot and stopping it dominating the movie instead. An understandable decision but the mystery was the best part originally.

The movie is much more a Darkseid invasion plot rather than a mystery involving multiple Supermen. Once that is out in the open there is a distinct descent into chaos. You get the feeling anything can happen with the climax though frenetic having a discernable ebb and flow. You understand how the battle is going rather than it being just a bunch of punches and explosions.

As a character Superboy is a bit on the icky side. Just a horny, overstimulated kid at times. He does experience some commendable growth not only leaving the hormones behind but Luthor as well. The portions of the story that intersect with Lex make for some of the darker moments. Poor Dabney…

This does an excellent job of demonstrating Lois Lane being as strong as any superpowered individual despite not having any super gifts. She’s skilled and able in her own way of being equal to someone that can fly or whatever. I enjoyed the character moments with her and Wonder Woman. There’s some chemistry between the two characters. Makes me lament that in this fictional universe we did not get more of that. It humanized a character that when portrayed can come off as a bit stiff.

I could not help but notice that President Joan Dale in The Reign of the Supermen looks a lot like Hillary Clinton. Not against having a favorite but putting them in a film in the hopes of looking prescient never works. It is always better to go with a fictionalized version of whoever is the president at the time rather than to voice your hopes and dreams for who will win. I can think of a few recent movies that did that making them a source of mockery from detractors and instantly dated.

In a fascinating yet logical twist Luthor finds himself helping the heroes. Luthor is the only mind on Earth that can use a Mother Box to retrieve the Justice League that has been sent elsewhere by Darkseid. Luthor is not helping because it is the right thing but instead just protecting his own interests. Like always he is in it for his personal benefit.

This manages some great one-liners. Superman saying after his return, “Over my dead body.” Steel saying to two Darkseid drones, “Mind if we kick your ass?” Truly funny stuff that doesn’t hurt anything. Humor should be like bacon when used in conjunction with action: it makes it better.

Hank Henshaw being the ultimate villain has some understandable motives. He got his wife into the situation that cost her life but refuses to take any responsibility. Henshaw blames everyone but himself and is eager to exact revenge no matter what. It is done such that you could (but will not) feel sympathy for him.

Reign of the Supermen is an excellent conclusion to a two-part story. Exciting and action packed. Worth a watch!