Chapter 210: Superman 2014 pt.3
Reddit post on r/Superman
Adler destroyed this fraud
Just saw this. This is what happens when a host tries to sound smart with recycled film bro takes and gets destroyed by someone who actually knows stuff.
[Link to clip]
(Video title: Daniel Adler shuts down host's take on Superman)
Transcript:
Radio Host:
I've always thought... Superman didn't become Superman. He was Superman. You know? Clark Kent's the disguise. His alter ego is Clark Kent. That's the costume. The glasses, the suit—he wears that to blend in with us. And what's Clark Kent like? Weak. Insecure. A coward. That's how Superman sees us. He's mocking us.
Daniel Adler (looking confused):
Did you just quote Bill from Kill Bill?
Host:
What?
Daniel:
That's Bill's monologue in Kill Bill 2. Word for word, almost. The whole thing about Superman wearing a suit to mock humanity?
Host (backpedaling):
Well, so... Tarantino agrees with me then?
Daniel (grinning):
No.
(Co-host laughs.)
Daniel continues:
I think Tarantino knows exactly what Superman is. People just assume he's speaking through Bill—but that's Bill's view, not Quentin's.
That speech? It's not about Superman. It's about Bill. It shows you who he is. A killer. A megalomaniac. He doesn't get humility or compassion. So he sees Superman's humanity as mockery. He's projecting himself onto Superman.
That idea—that Superman wears Clark Kent to mock us? That's how Lex Luthor would think.
Co-host (laughing):
He's not wrong.
Daniel:
That's someone so obsessed with power, they can't imagine anyone choosing to live without it.
Superman's not mocking us. He is us. He's both Clark and Superman. He was raised here. On a farm. Went to high school here. Got his heart broken here. He's not pretending. He chooses to care. He chooses to be human.
Co-host (genuinely moved):
That's kinda beautiful.
Daniel:
It is. That's why he's the greatest.
(Video ends with the co-host shifting to ask about The Revenant.)
Comments:
u/Johnpesym:
I don't know why so many people still don't get this scene. I've seen so many people quote Bill's speech like it's gospel. They genuinely think that's what Superman is—just some cold alien pretending to be nice. Like Adler said, that's what someone like Bill (or Lex) thinks Superman is.
u/Theasseater:
Adler handled this beautifully. Perfect guy to write the movie. Can't wait to see it come out tomorrow.
u/l3xicon:
He's kinda right though—Bill does sound like Lex Luthor in that scene. That whole superiority complex, misreading compassion as weakness, thinking empathy is a mask.
u/cinema4two:
I don't care how unlikely it is—I need Adler and Tarantino to collaborate on something someday.
u/Jimthegiant:
Man, I just hope this movie finally makes people see Superman again. Ever since the Injustice comics blew up, people think the "evil Superman" trope is all he's good for.
.
.
.
Superman Soars: Opening Weekend Crushes Expectations With $718 Million Global Debut
Superman has rocketed past opening-weekend projections, raking in a jaw-dropping $232 million domestically and $486 million from international markets, for a total global haul of $718 million.
The film—the third major installment in the DC cinematic universe—arrived on a wave of glowing early reviews, with a screenplay by Daniel Adler and Scott Snyder and direction from Brad Bird. Even with high hopes, few predicted numbers this strong.
Box-office breakdown
Domestic (U.S. & Canada): $232 M
International: $486 M
China alone contributed an estimated $95 M, signaling huge overseas interest.
European markets—particularly the UK, France, and Germany—also turned out in force.
Industry insiders say the unprecedented marketing campaign clearly paid off.
Superman currently holds a 92 % score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics and fans praising its emotional weight, character-driven storytelling, and the standout performances of Henry Cavill, Rachel Brosnahan, Corey Stoll, and William Fichtner.
Trouble for the Competition?
Marvel's Thor: The Dark World is set to release next week, but observers are already questioning how it will fare in the wake of Superman's box-office blitz. Unless Thor 2 turns out to be a surprise critical darling, the God of Thunder may struggle to find breathing room against the blue-and-red juggernaut now dominating theaters worldwide.
.
.
.
Thor 2 Stumbles Out of the Gate With Disappointing $125 Million Global Debut Amid Superman Surge
Marvel's newest entry, Thor: The Dark World, has slammed into a thunderous wall. The film opened to a modest $55 million domestically (low by Marvel's standards) and $70 million internationally, for a global total of $125 million—well below Disney's internal projections and industry forecasts, which had expected at least $80–90 million domestic.
Much of the blame is being placed squarely on Superman, which continues to dominate theaters in its second week after last week's record-shattering debut. The DC icon's critically acclaimed return—hailed as a modern superhero masterpiece—has siphoned attention and audiences away from Marvel's Norse god.
Superman drew a staggering $718 million worldwide in its opening frame and is still riding strong word-of-mouth and fan enthusiasm. Against that blue-and-red juggernaut, Thor 2 simply couldn't compete for the spotlight.
Compounding Marvel's woes is Thor 2's lukewarm reception from both critics and fans. The film currently sits at 61 % on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus pointing to a lack of narrative focus, an underwhelming villain, and tonal inconsistency. Online spaces are flooded with comparisons to Superman, almost invariably in the latter's favor.
Social-media sentiment hasn't been kind, either. Hashtags such as #ShouldHaveWaited trended briefly over the weekend as disappointed fans aired their grievances.
While this isn't the end of the world for Marvel Studios, many observers are calling it the company's first major stumble since its winning streak began with Iron Man.
.
.
.
[SUPERMAN REVIEW by JakeTalksComics]
[OPENING – Jake on cam, upbeat tone]
Jake (grinning ear to ear):
"Well… that was quite an experience."
[Intro music kicks in – short animated intro with JakeTalksComics logo]
Jake:
"What's up, guys! JakeTalksComics here—and this is it. This is the review for Superman, and what a movie it was…"
"Seriously, I was buzzing after walking out of that early preview. It exceeded all my expectations."
"Now, before I get into the review, check out my previous video about my experience at the early screening—I got to meet Daniel Adler himself! Talked to him for a while, so check that out because I got some scoops from the man himself. But now, let's get into this…"
[CUT TO TITLE CARD: Spoiler-Free Review]
Jake:
"So here's the deal. Until the six-minute mark—no spoilers. After that, I'll warn you before I dive into the nitty-gritty. But trust me—if you haven't seen the movie yet, go see it. You're going to want to."
(Jake begins the review, sharing how much he loved it. He talks about how Daniel Adler and Scott Snyder wrote a great script, and Brad Bird turned that into a masterpiece. He then starts sharing his thoughts on the acting and the characters.)
Jake:
"Henry Cavill? He, umm… nailed it. I think we've found our modern-day Superman. He really brought his A-game. I know some people were saying he wasn't that great of an actor, but I didn't see that here. There were one or two scenes where he felt a little off, but man—he was good."
"Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane is also solid. Sharp, assertive—she has her moments. I feel like her character will get more development in the next movies. It's not that she wasn't developed here, but Clark and her dynamic was done so well that I kind of wanted more of them together."
"Then Corey Stoll as Lex? My GOD. I was disappointed every time one of his scenes ended because I just wanted more."
"I'll get to Metallo later—I've got lots to say about that."
(The video continues with Jake discussing the cinematography and visuals.)
Jake:
"Some of the cinematography in this movie? Chef's kiss. I'll be going back to see the movie a couple more times just because it looked so good. Some scenes felt like they were ripped straight out of the comic books—without ever breaking immersion. You could see how much love and care went into making this film."
"Now, for the pacing—I felt the first act was a bit slow. It sets up Clark's life in Metropolis, his relationship with Lois, and the investigative stuff leading to Metallo. But it was all worth it. The movie builds a very solid foundation, and once it takes off, it takes off."
(Jake continues talking about character development before getting to Metallo.)
Jake:
"Okay, I have to talk about Metallo. This version of John Corben is very different from the comics—and honestly? I think it works better."
"In the comics, he's usually more cartoonishly villainous—a guy who becomes a cyborg and hates Superman because... reasons. But here? He's a tragic character. Okay, maybe not all of you will feel the same, but I really did. He's a decorated soldier, manipulated by the government and LexCorp. After the inciting incident, you see him slowly lose his humanity. He literally can't eat food anymore. Can't sleep. Can't feel anything. It's all shown in gruesome detail—and you feel bad for the guy."
"You watch his breakdown happen in real time. Funny enough, after the screening, Jeremy Jahns said, 'That movie could've been called Metallo if you trimmed the Superman scenes.' And he's not wrong. They really made a great antagonist, and I'm sure audiences will remember that guy…"
[Jake stares at the camera]
"I'm looking at you, Marvel."
[CUT TO – Jake, pointing at the time stamp]
Jake:
"Alright, spoiler-free section is done. Hit pause if you haven't seen the movie. Go watch it. Seriously. It might be the best of the DCU so far."
[Text on screen: SPOILERS AHEAD – TURN BACK NOW]
(The video continues, Jake does a full, spoiler-filled breakdown of the movie. He then gets to his thoughts on Metallo.)
Jake:
"So the government sees these strange events…."
"and after Wonder Woman's reveal, they freak out and look for a deterrent. So, they team up with LexCorp and try to build their own weapon. Enter: John Corben."
"The early exo-suit stuff honestly looked like Iron Man armor—it legit looked like Iron Man when I first saw it. All the HUDs and everything."
"Well, like I talked about before, Corben by the end has lost any shred of humanity. And it shows in that horrifying scene that seriously sent chills down my spine. He walks out of molten steel—completely metal, a skeleton with glowing green eyes. The movie really shows off the Kryptonite effect, too. It emits this low, creepy sound that just makes it unsettling."
Jake (shudders):
"Dude looked like the Terminator by way of a horror movie."
Jake:
"The whole tone of the movie shifts in that final battle. The first encounter was your typical good guy vs. bad guy fight, but this one? It was haunting."
"And I loved how they ended it. Clark, even while he's weakened, is still trying to protect some trapped civilians—he's literally holding up a collapsing building. He's exhausted, but he's still trying. Just Superman being Superman. Meanwhile, Metallo isn't enjoying it—no, not enjoying. By then, he has no feelings at all."
"And then all that buildup around Metallo's character—you know, showing his past, what his life was like—it all leads to this moment where he's reminded of his sister. And only those memories break through. He becomes lucid for just a moment. Just long enough to redeem himself."
"I love that this is where Lex's mask slips. He's screaming at Corben to kill Superman, but instead, we get this beautiful scene where Metallo rips out the Kryptonite, throws it away, and helps Supes save the civilians—and Superman himself—before letting himself be buried in the collapsing building."
"I think it was great. And I don't think Metallo should be brought back. I don't want Lex finding his body again… and resurrecting him or something."
"Superman's character is wonderfully done in the end. He tries to save Metallo in those final moments—just like he's been trying to reach him since their first encounter. Clark never gives up."
"They nailed Superman's personality here. He's not just the guy who punches meteors and saves kittens—though he does that too! He's the Big Blue Boy Scout. The man who believes people can change. And that belief? It actually works on Corben in the end."
(The video then shifts to discussing Easter eggs and other details.)
Jake:
"YES. Superman and Clark sound different. Clark's got that casual, slightly nervous tone, while Superman? Full-on deep, commanding presence. That's such a smart move. Helps sell the whole dual identity."
Jake (laughs):
"There's this hilarious scene where Clark's practicing his Superman voice in front of the mirror before meeting Lois for the 'date' slash interview. He's like, 'I am Superman… no, deeper…' I lost it. Great touch."
Jake (earnest):
"Jonathan and Martha Kent—Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell. Just... perfect. They feel like actual Midwestern parents. Like real people who genuinely shaped Clark into who he is."
"Oh—and yes. Confirmed: She made the Superman suit. That theory? 100% true. And I love it even more now. Just something a mom stitched together for her son."
Jake:
"Okay, now for some very big Easter eggs…"
"First off, some footage from the Wonder Woman movie was shown to Corben by Sam Lane to demonstrate what really got the government scared."
Jake (rubs his hands together, smiling):
"And then—we got an Aquaman tease! Yes! It's a blurry image, but you definitely see a man in very Aquaman-like armor coming out of the sea."
Jake:
"Is it Aquaman? Maybe. Or maybe just an Atlantean. Who knows? Well, the U.S. government in the DCU knows."
Jake (clapping):
"GREEN LANTERN. Okay, it's not much—it's literally just a streak of green light shooting across the night sky. And everyone in the theater missed it because of what was shown next."
Jake (yelling):
"BUT THE BIGGEST ONE—DR. FATE! DR. FUCKING FATE!"
Jake:
"Where did that come from? It was so unexpected!"
"So is Dr. Fate going to be in the Justice League? Maybe! Adler teased seven heroes during last year's Comic-Con panel and all that has been filled. Maybe Dr. Fate is involved in the Justice League?"
"Or maybe it's nothing. But I do have some theories…"
(The video continues with some more details being examined before Jake focuses on Daniel Adler's cameo.)
Jake (mock-conspiracy tone):
"Now let's talk about the important question: Who is Daniel Adler playing in the DCU?"
Jake (leaning back, arms crossed):
"Like with Stan Lee, we joke that he's the Watcher or the One Above All, right? So what's Adler?"
"In this movie, he's seen as the guy who seems to work at the Daily Planet and takes Superman's photo after he saves the plane. It was kind of a funny scene where Jimmy completely misses what happened because he was stuck in the elevator. Also, you can see—when the newspaper is shown with the Superman reveal—if you really squint, and I tried, under the photo it says: 'Photo by Daniel Adler.' That was kind of cool."
"I also think I saw other names associated with the movie here and there—especially in the newspaper segments—but I'll do a detailed breakdown after I watch the movie a couple more times."
Jake (thinking, playful):
"Again, getting back to who Adler could be… what if he is the Presence? Or… what if… what if he's Destiny? One of the Endless? The dude just shows up, always in the background when key things happen. He's the guy chronicling everything."
Jake (laughs, shaking his head):
"Okay, that's probably too much… but now that I've said it, I kinda want Adler to turn out to be, like, Destiny's intern or something."
Jake (smiling wide):
"Anyway, another great cameo. At this point, I'm just gonna assume Adler's showing up in every DC movie. And I'm cool with it."
Jake:
"Okay, before I wrap this up—let's talk about that post-credit scene."
[CUT TO: Low-lit face cam, dramatic pause.]
Jake (excitedly):
"Brainiac is coming."
Jake:
"I think it's the perfect setup for the next movie. We got a very grounded villain in this one—well, by Superman standards—and I'm sure Brainiac can be used to explore more of Superman's alien origins."
Jake (smirking):
"I'm not even going to break it all down here—because I'm saving that for a separate full video. There's so much to talk about when it comes to Brainiac: what version we're getting, how he connects to Krypton, and how dangerous he is."
Jake:
"But just know this—from the looks of it? He's coming straight for Superman."
(The video ends with some final thoughts.)
Jake:
"Really liked this movie, and I hope they continue this perfect run they seem to be on with these three movies. Very excited for Flash, and I've got a video coming up about it—so see you guys later. Don't forget to like and subscribe!"
[Video ends]
.
.
.
[Reddit Post – r/comicbooks]
[Title: Holy shit, Thor 2 stood no chance.]
This was a bloodbath.
I don't think I've ever seen a more one-sided comparison between two superhero movie releases. Superman is on track to hit a billion soon, got glowing reviews, and actually has people talking about the character again. Meanwhile, Thor 2 feels like… it's like Marvel just gave up on it.
Not to start a conspiracy, but go look at the marketing. Compared to Iron Man 3 or Avengers, Thor 2 was basically silent. It felt like Marvel knew it wasn't their strongest outing and just quietly threw it out there. Even Chris Hemsworth's Instagram post felt like a vague confirmation of this theory of mine.
We've been hearing rumors since last year about major production problems—studio interference, rewrites, a director change, and fights over the tone. Honestly, it shows. The movie feels patched together. It's not terrible, but it's not memorable either.
And of course, people were going to compare it to Superman. Both dropped within two weeks. Both center on iconic characters. But Superman was just… on another level. Better writing, stronger direction, and it had an emotional core. Not to mention great villains with Metallo and Lex. Even the biggest Marvel fans in my friend group are admitting they liked Superman more.
Also, this might be the final head-to-head between them for a while. I actually made a list of their upcoming releases to see if this might be the last direct clash for a bit:
Upcoming DC Films:
May 2015 – The Dark Knight
July 2015 – The Flash
March 2016 – Aquaman
July 2016 – Green Lantern
May 2017 – Justice League
Upcoming Marvel Films:
April 2015 – Captain America: The Winter Soldier
August 2015 – Guardians of the Galaxy
May 2016 – Avengers: Age of Ultron
July 2016 – Ant-Man
Looks like they've kinda spaced things out. Maybe they talked behind the scenes and agreed not to do another head-to-head? Wouldn't surprise me after this.
Anyway, just wild how this played out. I hope Marvel ups their game—competition is good overall. You can't just phone it in when the other studio is bringing their A-game.
What do you all think? Do you think Marvel intentionally left Thor 2 to die? Or was it just bad timing?
Replies:
u/Maxwdock:
Yeah, I agree—Thor: The Dark World reeked of studio interference. I think the director (was it Alan Taylor?) has been throwing shade at the production since, like, last month.
u/ReleCut:
They should've just delayed it to December. No way it was gonna hold up next to Superman. Even just two extra weeks might've helped.
EDIT: Yeah… never mind. Just checked box office projections—Superman is gonna own December too, lol.
u/Speedic:
It's kinda sad that there won't be any real DC vs. Marvel head-to-heads this phase. I kinda liked the fighting between the fandoms before the movies came out.
u/Flaruce:
Finally—maybe this ends the stupid box office/review dick-waving contest between the fandoms. Y'all realize we can just enjoy both, right? It's not a sports league.
u/MetaKnight2099:
You'd think a Thor sequel would get more love. Guess Marvel saw the writing on the wall.
.
.
.
Tweet by Daniel Adler
@DanielAdler
One billion dollars. Fastest ever. Record-breaking.
Thank you to every single person who showed up, who believed in this movie.
I'm beyond grateful. #Superman
Top Replies:
@Krypn83
Congratulations, man!! You wrote a GREAT Superman. Respect!
@Loaserves
Let's go for 2 billion, baby! Everyone go watch it two times—I'm going for my fifth tomorrow!
@Thearbiter
YOU MADE THE WORST SUPERMAN YET. He's literally crying to his parents. This isn't Superman—it's Superwimp.
@Faeddts
@Thearbiter Oh look, a Marvel troll got lost again.
@Batorever
@Thearbiter DC just destroyed Thor 2 and you're here crying about it. Just concede defeat, my guy.
@Marvelnewshub
Thor 2 was great, okay?! It's Marvel's fault for abandoning it. No marketing, no push, no hype. With a proper rollout, it could've stood toe-to-toe with Superman.
@HalJordanGlowUp
@Marvelnewshub LMAO the excuses are unreal.
"iF mArVeL mArKeTeD iT"—bro, just say the movie flopped and move on.
@Hanmish2334
I liked Thor 2, tbh. But yeah, Disney kinda left it to die.
@TruopeDC
Marvel: Let's release a half-baked sequel.
DC: Releases a generational masterpiece.
.
.
.
Post in a popular superhero forum
Title: Kevin Feige Congratulates Superman on Its Massive Success
Feige was recently quoted when asked about Superman crossing $1 billion. He said:
"Huge congratulations to Daniel Adler, Brad Bird, and the entire Superman team. They clearly made a movie that resonated with audiences around the world. I loved the movie—it's good to see superhero films thriving again. And well, it's always good to have competition."
Top Comments:
MovieBuff9:
Do you think Adler and Feige actually talk behind the scenes?
Jimthedestoryer:
I really want Adler to do a Marvel movie one day.
FanTiller:
That's impossible and you know it…Maybe if Fox gave him a lot of money to write Fantastic Four or something.
Hankdad:
Breaking Bad meme
Top image – Jesse Pinkman, excited and gesturing:
"Daniel Adler: So hear me out, Phase 8 — we do Amalgam. We merge the universes."
Bottom image – Walter White, exhausted and staring in disbelief:
"Kevin Feige: Daniel... what the fuck are you talking about?"
.
.
.
Superman Ends Box Office Run with $2.2 Billion — DC Studios Breaks Records
After months of dominating the box office, Superman has officially concluded its global theatrical run. The film has soared to an astounding $2.2 billion worldwide, making it the third highest-grossing film of all time, trailing only Avatar and Titanic.
This marks a historic moment for Stardust Entertainment and DC Studios, as Superman becomes their first film to cross the coveted $2 billion threshold—a milestone that, until now, had been exclusive to two films by director James Cameron.
The success of Superman is not just a commercial win, but a symbolic one. The Man of Steel, long absent from his days of dominating the screen in the '80s, has now made a triumphant return, with some insiders even suggesting the movie could earn Oscar nods for its cinematography and score.
Here's a breakdown of the film's box office performance:
Domestic Total: $847 million
International Total: $1.375 billion
Final Global Total: $2.2 billion
.
.
You can read up to chapter 220
p.a.t.r.eon.com/Illusiveone (check the chapter summary i have it there as well)
Also some Xtra content like Big Bang Theory crossover....