Thor’s MCU Arc Proves Superman’s Powers Were Never A DCEU Problem

It's often said that Superman's godlike powers are the main flaw that keeps him from being a relatable DCEU character, but Thor is similarly powerful and still has a proper character arc in the MCU. Despite being the poster boy for superheroes, Superman hasn't met the same success on the big screen as Batman or less popular heroes from Marvel, such as the Guardians of the Galaxy or, at one point, Iron Man. The Man of Steel simply doesn't have half the weaknesses that make viewers relate to other superheroes. However, many comic books, animated shows, and TV shows have confirmed that Superman can be an interesting character despite his invincibility.

Thor, a character who doesn't have as many iconic comic book storylines as Superman and only made his cinematic debut in 2011, has thrived in the MCU. Thor started out as an arrogant prince in pursuit of the Asgardian throne. When punished by Odin and banished to Earth, he found love and humility and learned to be worthy of wielding the mighty hammer Mjolnir by putting nobility over birthright. Later on, Thor returned to Earth and fought alongside other prominent yet less powerful heroes in The Avengers. In Thor: The Dark World, Thor started on his path of tragic losses, including the death of his mother, Frigga. Thor then lost his father and his kingdom in Thor: Ragnarok, only to witness his adopted brother Loki's death immediately in Avengers: Infinity War before falling into a crippling depression in Avengers Endgame due to his characteristic arrogance temporarily ruining the plan.

Thor's constant struggle with his owns selfishness and his inability to adapt to change is what builds his character and it's something that DCEU could learn from when it comes to Superman. This is most evident when Thor chose not to go for Thanos's head in a killshot in Avengers: Infinity War, as limitless amounts of power didn't have a say in his decision to inflict pain on the Mad Titan instead of ending the battle instantly. Similarly, Thor's reluctance to get out of his hut - and his own head - in Avengers: Endgame led him to become "Fat Thor," an alcoholic shut-in who turned a blind eye on his Asgardian potential. It was Thor's inner struggle that forced him to change drastically over the span of seven movies and one cameo. His superpowers never overshadowed his character arc or that of his fellow Avengers, even when he fought side by side with them. In fact, the MCU's careful narrative allowed Thor to fight alongside mortal heroes like Black Widow and Hawkeye with the same dramatic weight, whereas Superman simply swooped in and saved all of his teammates in the theatrical cut of Justice League.

Thor's Transformation in the MCU and Superman's Transformation in the DCEU

Despite Henry Cavill's brilliant interpretation of the character and the appropriate depiction of his childhood in Man of Steel, Superman never truly evolved in the DCEU. Although the scene was controversial, the DCEU made a step in the right direction when Pa Kent refused Clark's help during a tornado. Clark Kent could have been the most powerful being in the universe, but his father knew it was time to go and Clark couldn't do anything about it. Similarly, Superman's last-second decision to kill Zod in order to save innocent lives was also met with controversy, but the moment also set up Superman's inability to avoid death — a moral quandary that can't be fixed with superpowers. Superman's internal conflict had the correct foundations. Unfortunately, it was overshadowed by the relevance his immense power had on the plot of every movie he appeared in.

The last clear hint at Superman's solid character arc is perhaps Superman's helplessness when he couldn't prevent Lex Luthor's terrorist attack in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Superman chose to have a civil conversation with the authorities, knowing full well he was innocent, yet his will to do the right thing led many people to die in front of his eyes. These are the kind of moments that make Superman the ideal superhero, but sadly, they were few and far between in the DCEU. Every time Superman stopped relying on his power, the DCEU reverted him to an untouchable deity, keeping him from having a transformation similar to Thor's tragic MCU character arc.

More: Love & Thunder Is Ragnarok 2, Not Thor 4