Warning: Spoilers for "Time" from The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special ahead!DC has confirmed that Steel, the alternate Superman, deserves a place in the DC Extended Universe. Steel was one of the four Supermen who arrived in Metropolis after the real Man of Steel’s death, helping to safeguard the city until the real Superman returned. In the years since he has been a staunch ally of the Superman family and in The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary edition, readers see Steel on the day Superman died, and his heroics prove he has a place in the DCEU.
Steel is John Henry Irons, a former weapons designer who, after seeing how destructive his handiwork was, left his employers and went off the grid. Eventually, Irons came to Metropolis, where he worked in construction. While working on a skyscraper, Irons slipped and fell, and would have died if not for the intervention of Superman. Not long after, the Man of Steel fell in combat with Doomsday and to honor Superman’s spirit, Irons constructed a suit of armor and helped protect Metropolis. When the real Superman returned, Irons adopted the name “Steel,” becoming a trusted ally, lending his scientific and technological expertise to Superman and his allies. Today, Steel works more behind the scenes, with his niece Natasha now wearing the armor; now, a new story shows that Steel was always a hero–and deserves a place in the DCEU.
The story, titled “Time,” is written by Louise Simonson, illustrated by Jon Bogdanove, colored by Glenn Whitmore and lettered by Rob Leigh, and opens on the day Superman died. As Superman and Doomsday rage across Metropolis, John Henry Irons is helping people escape from a collapsing building. He manages to survive the collapse, and continues wandering the streets of the city, helping people every step of the way. Irons helps first responders work through rubble and helps residents evacuate a building before it explodes. Finally, Irons finds Superman–only he is too late, and the Man of Steel has died. A bystander comes up to the distraught Irons, telling him another building has collapsed, and people need to be evacuated. Through his grief and confusion, Irons gets up. He tells the bystander that Superman saved his life a few weeks prior, and now he is going to pay Superman back. Irons lifts his hammer and begins chipping away at the building, ready to help people once again.
Steel's Heroism Should Get Him to the DCEU
Steel’s heroic trek through a crumbling Metropolis evokes the opening of Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, in which Bruce Wayne runs through the streets of the city while Superman and Zod fight above them–and Steel’s heroism during this time shows he needs to be in the DCEU. The DCEU did a Death of Superman story, and while it played out differently than the comics, Steel could still have a place in the next Superman film. Steel’s presence would not only give Superman a huge boost scientifically and technologically, but also be a huge win for representation as well.
Steel had one film outing before, starring Shaquille O’Neil, but it was a commercial and critical disaster, and one that shortchanged the character. However, if the character were to return to the big screen, there is a potential to redeem him and show the rest of the world that Steel, a one-time Superman replacement, is worthy of inclusion in the DCEU.