Content Warning: This article contains references to violence and terrorism.
While the individual stories of Zack Snyder's three DC films are original narratives, they are tremendously reverent in how they take inspiration from the comics to service those narratives. At Comic-Con International 2012, Snyder even called Man of Steel a "mashing" of stories from the comics, seamlessly merged into a single story.
These nods to the source material range from subtle hints, like a familiar sign in the background of a fight scene, to entire plot points and visual motifs. These references extend to dialogue, taking inspiration from some brilliant lines to sell the themes of Snyder's movies while staying true to the diverse spirit of the comics. Some of the best Snyderverse moments are also references too.
Superman's First Flight
As Clark (Henry Cavill) stepped out of the Kryptonian scout ship, clad in his iconic red and blue suit for the first time, Jor-El's encouraging words echoed, "Earth's sun is younger, and brighter than Krypton's was. Your cells have drunk in its radiation, strengthening your muscles, your skin, your senses." Before he knows it, Clark is soaring over grassy fields like a rocket, splitting herds of wild animals.
These elements are derived from Mark Waid's Superman: Birthright (2003). Jor-El says to his wife Lara of their son's future, "A Kryptonian cellular structure will positively drink in the radiation of a star that young. Its energy will strengthen his muscles... his senses, his skin." Later, Clark flies over herds of zebras, flanked by the sun as he then rockets into the sky, just like the film.
Wonder Woman Deflecting Bullets With Her Bracelets
In Zack Snyder's Justice League, when a group of terrorists invaded London's Old Bailey, Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) takes them out and saves the hostages. When the perpetrator turns his machine gun on the hostages, Diana ran the breadth of the room blocking his arc of fire with her divine bracelets.
This bears an uncanny resemblance to a page in Robert Kanigher's Wonder Woman #205 (1975). At a United Nations event, several bad guys take some diplomats hostage when Diana Prince jumps into action as Wonder Woman. On page 8, between the gunmen and the hostages, she makes herself a target to distract the villains, blocking bullets with her bracelets as she dashes across the room.
Jor-El's Speech
Before initiating his first flight, Jor-El (Russell Crowe) gave his son a final powerful speech reflecting on Superman's purpose on Earth. "You will give the people of Earth an ideal to strive towards. They will race behind you. They will stumble. They will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun, Kal. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders."
This directly references the final issue of Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman (2006), where a dying Superman has a vision of his birth father telling him, "You have given them an ideal to aspire to, embodied their highest aspirations. They will race, and stumble, and fall and crawl... and curse... and finally... they will join you in the sun, Kal-El. In time, you will no longer be alone."
"You Are My Son"
In the Kent Farm's cellar, Jonathan (Kevin Costner) revealed the truth of his son's cosmic origins, uncovering the old spaceship that brought him to Earth. Saddened by the reveal of his alien nature, the boy said to his adoptive father, "Can't I just can't keep pretending I'm your son?" With a hug, his father replied, "You are my son." This warm exchange is taken from what should be one of the Man of Steel's best origin stories, Geoff Johns' Superman: Secret Origin (2003).
After learning the truth of his origin, a young Clark runs into the field of corn outside the Kent Farm, upset. Chased by his adoptive father, he says, "I don't want to be different. I want to be Clark Kent. I want to be your son." Jonathan hugs him and says, "Clark... you are my son." It should come as no surprise that a collected edition of the comic includes a forward by David Goyer.
Batman Versus Superman
In Batman v Superman, the Man of Steel arrived to confront the Dark Knight (Ben Affleck) in the pouring rain, seeking his help to find the imperiled Martha Kent (Diane Lane). He soon gives up on trying to reason with the brutal vigilante, and what follows is a ruthless back-and-forth beatdown between the two superheroes.
Basically, everything from the characters' individual moves to Batman's taunting dialogue is taken straight from Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns (1986) when the two superheroes finally met in battle. Even the "My parents taught me a different lesson" speech is adapted almost word-for-word. Snyder's love for this classic comic is shown best in this iconic fight sequence.
Taking Doomsday Into Space
Seeking to avoid a repeat of the catastrophic death toll of Man of Steel, Superman carried the monstrous Doomsday into space to spare Metropolis any further destruction. In a cowardly move, humanity fired a nuclear missile at the two, desperate to kill the large Kryptonian threat while they could. However, the explosion caused Superman to shrivel up into a skeletal husk.
Aside from the titular demise, this scene too references Dan Jurgens' The Death of Superman (1992). There, Superman attempted to carry Doomsday into space, out of Metropolis. Snyder then combines that with The Dark Knight Returns (1986) where Superman endures a nuclear blast and shrivels up into a skeletal figure -- a clever amalgamation of the source material.
Superman vs Steppenwolf
At the climax of Zack Snyder's Justice League, while Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Wonder Woman held off Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), Cyborg (Ray Fisher) went to connect with the Unity. The villain threw off his attackers and brought his electro-axe down on the helpless Cyborg. However, in perhaps the most triumphant moment of the film, Superman blocked it with his indestructible shoulder.
This moment is almost certainly taken from Chuck Austen's Action Comics #814, in which Superman battles with minions of Darkseid. At one point, Steppenwolf, in his older green outfit, slams Superman on the shoulder with his axe from behind. Totally unharmed, the Man of Steel dusts off his shoulder and responds, "Steppenwolf? Hello? Indestructible?"
Superman's Influence On Humanity
In Batman v Superman, talking heads debate the gravity of Superman's influence on humanity. At the same time, the Last Son of Krypton performed various acts in service of the world. He rescued a child from a burning building, dragged a capsized ship across the Arctic, saved a Soyuz crew capsule from a rocket explosion, and helped save several people from a flood.
The imagery of this almost surreal scene is taken from Superman: Peace on Earth (1998) by Alex Ross and Paul Dini, a story in which Superman embarks on a mission to feed the suffering citizens of impoverished countries. It includes some of the exact imagery seen in the film, from burning buildings, submerged houses, and a massive chain over Superman's shoulder.
A Death In The Family
Suspended in the Batcave and positioned so that Bruce sees it every time he goes to work, is the Robin costume. It is torn and scorched, desecrated with a message from the Joker (Jared Leto): "HaHaHa Joke's on you, Batman!" Part of Bruce's motivation is the people he has failed to save, including his treasured sidekick, callously taken from him by his great nemesis.
This detail is a reference to Jim Starlin's A Death in the Family (1988), in which the Joker murders Batman's second Robin, Jason Todd. Snyder's film pays homage to this legendary event in comic history by using it to fuel Bruce Wayne's turn down a dark path, including by making the deceased Robin into this Batman's one and only sidekick, Dick Grayson.
"I Believe You."
In Batman v Superman, Batman fought through nearly two dozen mercenaries before bursting through the wall of the room, where Martha Kent was held hostage. Grabbing a thug's machine gun, he aimed the weapon at the mercenary leader, Anatoli Knyazev (Callan Mulvey). The Russian promised to kill Martha with his flamethrower if he did not drop the weapon, to which Batman responded, "I believe you," and shot Knyazev's gas tank.
This sequence is yet another taken straight from The Dark Knight Returns (1986). An infant was held hostage by a "Mutant" thug when Batman burst through the wall to stun a second thug and grab his machine gun. The other threatened to kill the baby. Batman responded by firing the weapon, saving the kid, and remarking, "I believe you."