Review by C.J. Bunce
One of the best written looks inside the DC Comics universe of films arrives this week with Abrams Books’ Superman: The Art and Making of the Film, available for pre-order now here at Amazon. As much of an introduction to James Gunn’s selection and beginnings as the head of the new DC Universe–basically the Kevin Feige of DC movie properties–the book by James Field walks readers through the rationale and choices made by Gunn for the next decade of DC movies. Featuring interviews with Gunn, producers, production leads, and cast members, including a foreword by star David Corenswet and introduction by Gunn, this overview of the film is for fans of decades of movies featuring the Man of Steel.
The new DCU seems to be comparable to DC Comics’ New 52, that big shake-up and reboot of DC Comics’ monthly series 13 years ago. It’s no surprise to see that Gunn’s influences in creating the script for the movie goes back to focus on Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s New 52 series All Star Superman. A very different Superman from the one fans knew over the previous 75 years, it explains why the 2025 movie is so different from the movies featuring Christopher Reeve and George Reeves. The New 52 was all about veering away from the canon of the publisher’s key properties, and this movie accordingly had its own share of changes in continuity.
Readers will learn about the creation of the new roles for Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, Lex Luthor, plus Guy Gardner, Mr. Fantastic, Hawkgirl, and the supporting players. It’s always surprising to learn how Gunn and his producing partners seem fairly new to the pantheon of superheroes and supervillains, and speak as if Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan, and Zack Snyder’s eras simply didn’t exist, and nobody ever thought of pairing Superman with a super dog.
Visually this book is a mirror image of the format of Marvel’s vast “art of” library. Readers will dig into the making of the Fortress of Solitude and re-introduction of the Hall of Justice from the Super Friends era to DC Comics on the screen.
Nearly all of the artwork in the book outside a thumbnail storybook layout is digitally created. It’s far more a “making of” the movie focused on developing the movie, characters and plot than a book of concept artwork. As a souvenir chronicle of the film it will be an easy pick for those who love this new version of Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Metropolis, and the new twist on the supporting players.
It’s the best look inside the DC Universe in years. Order Superman: The Art and Making of the Film, available for pre-order now here at Amazon. It’s coming to bookstores tomorrow. James Gunn’s Superman is now streaming on HBO Max.
