Summary
- In the climactic battle of Superman ’78, the Man of Steel inspires Metallo to be a hero in a powerful moment of compassion and understanding.
- When Metallo asks why Superman believed he could survive a kryptonite-powered villain, Kal-El explains that he doesn’t; “I Believe in You.”
- The spirit of Christopher Reeve’s original movie Superman is alive and well, with this inspiring climax a perfect fit for his movie portrayal.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Superman ’78: The Metal Curtain #6The comic book sequel to the 1978 Superman film series just featured a moment that perfectly captured the heart of Christopher Reeve’s take on the iconic hero. The finale to Superman ’78: The Metal Curtain sees the Man of Steel end his conflict with Metallo in a way only a true hero can.
In Superman ’78: The Metal Curtain #6 by Robert Venditti and Gavin Guidry, Superman is in Moscow in a final bout with Metallo. Unfortunately, the powerful, kryptonite-powered menace has Clark on the ropes as Metallo inundates Superman with blasts of powerful radiation.
Despite the pain he’s in, Superman tells Metallo that he still believes he can be a hero. Superman’s words help Metallo see through the propaganda he’d been fed and allow Metallo to rebel against his superiors. To ensure no one is hurt by the kryptonite, Metallo takes to the skies and sacrifices himself to destroy the armor and kryptonite.
Superman Inspired One of His Greatest Enemies to Be Better
Superman ’78: The Metal Curtain is the second miniseries in the Superman ’78 franchise, a sequel to the Richard Donner-directed movies. This story saw the Soviet Union come into possession of kryptonite and use it to create their own champion, Metallo, as part of an effort to displace Superman as the world’s greatest champion. The Russian government had several agents pose as American soldiers and tricked Lex Luthor into selling them a war suit. With the powerful suit and kryptonite, a Soviet soldier embarked on his mission to defeat Superman and secure Russia’s place on the world stage.
The Superman ’78 franchise has been praised for capturing the same optimistic feel and charm as the Richard Donner movies. While the rest of the series has plenty of little moments that show how well the creative team understands what made the original series work, Superman’s words to Metallo are possibly the best moment in Superman ’78: The Metal Curtain. Clark saying that he believes in Metallo demonstrates the core of Superman’s character. Superman is someone who never gives up on anyone and believes that everyone, even those who have lost their way, can be better.
The Spirit of Superman ’78 is Absolutely Timeless
Some may look back on the older Superman movies and not find them as relevant as more modern-day films featuring the Man of Steel. But as this pivotal moment between Superman and Metallo shows, the idea of Clark wanting the best for everyone, including his villains, is something that is absolutely timeless.
The Richard Donner movies understood that one of Clark’s greatest strengths was compassion and understanding. Seeing Superman extend that to those warped by propaganda like Metallo is an inspired choice and something that perfectly fits the character Christopher Reeve portrayed.
Superman ’78: The Metal Curtain #6 is available now from DC Comics.
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Superman ’78: The Metal Curtain #6 (2024) |
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