Today, the DC cinematic universe’s Man of Steel(y eyes and butt-chin) Henry Cavill posted a close-up image to Instagram, and fans ran wild with speculation. Some have wondered if Superman’s resurrection in the upcoming Justice League film will involve the black Superman suit his character wore in the “Death of Superman” storyline that DC comics ran in 1992.
Of course, it’s not just a temporary change in Supes’s aesthetic that fans are jazzed about: Henry Cavill donning the black suit in Justice League suggests other hallmarks of the “Death of Superman” story, including some Superman-replacement contenders, Superboy and Supergirl. The black suit also means director Zack Snyder is likely adhering his upcoming film to classic comics, and that respect for source text goes a long way with the DC fandom.
Other fans have pointed out that the black suit could simply be Superman’s “regeneration suit”, which Snyder seemed to hint at in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, during the nightmare scene when Superman was depicted with longer hair, wearing a black and silver suit.
It’s no surprise that Zack Snyder, a self-professed fan of the “Death of Superman” storyline would seek to embed it into his DCU films, but for many fans, it’s a thrilling sign of recognizable things to come.
