Man of Steel
Summary
2013’sMan of Steelhas many Easter eggs and references that are still being uncovered a decade after the picture show kicked off theDCEU . As the first picture show of Zack Snyder ’s shared universe of discourse , Man of Steelintroduces Kal - El a.k . Clark Kent ( Henry Cavill ) is a youthful man using his superhuman ability to help those in need and hiding his existence from the world before at long last becoming Superman . WithMan of Steelacting as a Superman source story , it also lay out up legion other movies in the DCEU , including Superman ’s own subsequent appearing inBatman v Superman : Dawn of JusticeandZack Snyder ’s Justice League .
Despite focusing onHenry Cavill ’s Superman , Man of Steelincludes numerous vamper and confidential information about other character and element of the DC Universe , such as Wayne Enterprises and LexCorp . However , other reference to mythology , religion , and risible Holy Scripture traditional knowledge are more subtly integrated intoMan of Steel ’s narration , often requiring just the right circumstance to be by rights understood . Here are 10 bigMan of SteelEaster eggs that are quite well-to-do to miss .
While the DCEU did not fend the run of time , Man of Steel ’s climactic ending in 2013 adequately set up the future of the franchise via Superman .
10Superman On Fire Is A Moses Reference
A Reference To The Burning Bush
Clark Kent ’s first big rescue scene inMan of Steelsees him pull a group of worker from a flaming oil rig , with Clark ’s body immerse in flames without any burn being inflicted upon the Kryptonian submarine . This moment reference Moses see the burning bush in the Book of Exodus , which offers the verbal description of " although the bush was on fire , it was not being exhaust . " Superman is often portray as a Jesus public figure in many adaptations , and Snyder ’s DCEU movies surely emphasize him as a Christ - corresponding superhero across several shots .
Cast
9Man Of Steel Has An Aquaman Reference
It’s Not Just The Whales When Clark Is In The Ocean
Henry Cavill ’s Superman and Jason Momoa ’s Aquaman eventually become ally inZack Snyder ’s Justice League , butMan of Steellays down some former reference book to the King of Atlantis . The hulk who inspect Clark in the sea after he rescues the oil workers have now and then been hypothecate to have been mail by Arthur Curry , butMan of Steelhas another fundamental Aquaman computer address when Zod ’s Black Zero ship come . As General Calvin Swanwick ( Harry Lennix ) start organizing preparedness for the arrival of General Zod ( Michael Shannon ) , he issues the command , " The discussion of the day is trident , " a key reference to Arthur ’s touch weapon .
Henry Cavill Superman appearance
Release Year
2013
Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice
2016
Justice League
2017
Zack Snyder ’s Justice League
2021
Black Adam
2022
8The Polar Bear Is A Reference To Superman Lives
Kevin Smith Was Told He Needed Polar Bears In His Script
In the aspect where Clark Kent meets the A.I. hologram of his Kryptonian Padre Jor - El ( Russell Crowe),Man of Steelincludes a abbreviated snap of a polar bear . While this might seem like a throwaway moment , it actually hearken back to Tim Burton ’s unproduced Superman pic , Superman Lives , on which Kevin Smith dish up as an other writer . In the filmAn Evening with Kevin Smith , Smith speak of some of the rather odd requests made by manufacturer John Peters , which Smith says at one point included receive the planned villain Brainiac visit the Fortress of Solitude and Peters intimate that " polar bears derive at him , and he just f — ing kills one , and one turn tail aside . "
7Superman’s First Flight Pays Tribute To His History Of His Powers
Superman Originally Couldn’t Fly
While flight is one of the first powers that derive to mind for Superman , the Last Son of Krypton could n’t vaporize when he was first created in 1938 . During his early days , his stories in Action Comics and the Max Fleischer Superman animated trunks pick up Kal - El make immense leaps from build to build . valet of Steelincorporates this aspect of Superman ’s history into its First Flight tantrum , with Henry Cavill ’s Superman making monolithic saltation across the arctic terrain , struggling to take flight of stairs . Of course , Clark finally succeeds in sailplane up , up , and away ina perfect DCEU Superman motion-picture show moment .
Man of Steel ’s end sport Superman making a very controversial conclusion , but a decade later , it has been shown to be the good choice .
6Man Of Steel Makes A Big Smallville Reference
The Movie Has A Chloe Sullivan Easter Egg
In the prospect in which the young Clark Kent ( Dylan Sprayberry ) is corner by a gang of rowdy inMan of Steel , Clark ’s father , Jonathan , witnesses the incident from deep down of Sullivan ’s Truck & Tractor Repair . The use of the name Sullivan for the establishment is an Easter testicle for one of the more recent supporting characters of Superman lore , Chloe Sullivan . Played by Allison Mack and introduced as Lois Lane ’s cousin-german on the TV seriesSmallville , Chloe Sullivan is an original theatrical role make forSmallville . Ultimately , Chloe ’s grandness to the Superman mythos is exemplified by herMan of Steelshoutout .
Chloe Sullivan finally debuted in DC Comics in 2010 ’s Action Comics # 893 .
5Clark’s Bully Is Another Smallville Reference
The Fordham Boy Is A Nod To Whitney Fordman
Clark ’s master puerility bully inMan of Steelis Whitney Fordham ( Robert Girdhisch ) , who draw his namesake fromSmallville ’s time of year one character Whitney Fordman ( Eric Sullivan ) . Both versions of Whitney are high schooling jocks who pick on Clark , butSmallville ’s Whitney has a more openhearted arc of viewing Clark as a rival for the affections of Lana Lang ( Kristin Kreuk ) before the two finally make their serenity . Man of Steel ’s more fast-growing translation of Whitney , by line , bet more into Snyder ’s theme of Superman dealing with xenophobia , Whitney having find Clark rescue a bus topology full of children from drown and have it away something is different about him .
4Booster Gold Gets A Shoutout In Man Of Steel’s Final Fight
There’s A Sign For Blaze Comics
A turn of DC heroes and villains are obliquely referenced inMan of Steel , one of them being Michael John Carter , a.k.a . Booster Gold . Man of Steel ’s Booster Gold Easter Egg is a blink - and - you’ll - miss - it moment in Superman ’s final showdown with General Zod , with a sign for Blaze Comics being visible as the two Kryptonians fly towards each other . With Blaze Comics being the publisher of the in - persistence Booster Gold comics in the DC Universe , Man of Steelmakes a quick reference to one of DC ’s more comedic superheroes .
3The World Engine & Kryptonian Ships Homage Superman Lives
They Look Like Giant Spiders & Beetles
Another of the most well - know stories of Kevin Smith ’s unfulfilled Superman playscript is the request Smith says producer John Peters made for Superman to fight a giant wanderer . WhileMan of Steeldoesn’t let in any elephantine arachnoid , the Kryptonian ships and the World Engine have some decidedly insect and spider - same design , with the small ships resemble giant beetles , and the World Engine itself ( which Superman battle duringMan of Steel ’s third deed ) inquisitively resemble a spider . In the end , this is a nice nod to Superman flick traditional knowledge made byMan of Steel .
2023 ’s DC multiverse movieThe Flashincludes a cameo by Nicolas Cage ’s Superman , who was to seem inSuperman Livesand who is interpret combat a gigantic spider in the picture ’s Chronobowl climax .
2There’s One More LexCorp Easter Egg That Goes By Quickly
It Can Be Seen In Superman & Zod’s Final Fight
Man of Steelincludes legion signal for LexCorp , the transnational corporation run by Superman ’s patronizing - nemesis Lex Luthor ( later played by Jesse Eisenberg inBatman v Superman . ) However , a third LexCorp logo is very fleetingly go through inMan of Steel ’s climactic battle between Superman and General Zod , specifically at the construction site where Zod finally masters his magnate of flight of steps . Though the LexCorp house is easy to escape in the midriff of the massive Kryptonian do run on , it ’s another big reference to one of the greatest supervillains ever created .
1Man Of Steel Lays The Groundwork For Martian Manhunter
The Interrogation Scene Is Full Of Hints
One of the biggest twists ofZack Snyder ’s Justice Leagueis the reveal thatGeneral Swanwick is in reality a cloaked J’onn J’onzz , a.k.a . Martian Manhunter . The eventual release ofZack Snyder ’s Justice Leagueshows him in his full Martian form . Despite this having start as a rooter theory that Snyder ladder with in his cut ofJustice League , Man of Steel ’s interrogation picture already sets the foundation forSwanwick bring out himself as Martian Manhunter . One major speck is dropped when Superman breaks his manacle and walk towards the two - fashion mirror , scaring everyone on the other side into retreating - except for Swanwick , who stands his ground .
The shot then contract back to Superman reckon his own reflection , subtly allude to the fact that an alien is on both position of the mirror . Even legion dig of Swanwick inMan of Steelpresent him under an oddlyMatrix - esque green tint . In an audience withCinemablend , Snyder himself even states thatMan of Steel ’s inquiry scene " inhale the whole possibility " of Swanwick ’s big reveal inZack Snyder ’s Justice League . Ultimately , whether beginning as a devotee hypothesis or not , Man of Steel ’s Martian Manhunter steer absolutely place up one of the biggest Snyderverse twists .
