Warning - This article contains spoilers for Zack Snyder's Justice League .
After a disappointing theatrical release back in 2017, Zack Snyder's Justice League appears poised to set things right. The four-hour-long version of the DC superhero team-up is reinforced by Snyder's original vision, meaning that the film is rich with vastly different elements from story beats all the way to certain character arcs.
One of the characters that received better treatment in the Snyder Cut is Henry Cavill's Superman . After a CGI-infused debacle about the actor's mustache, the Man of Steel makes a triumphant return (literally) in Zack Snyder's Justice League , armed with the black suit and a captivating narrative .
Among other things, the visionary director made sure that his Justice League pays tribute to his past DCEU entries. That said, it looks like it didn't disappoint based on an extended look at the impact of Superman's demise during Dawn of Justice .
AN EXTENDED LOOK AT SUPERMAN'S DEATH
The opening credits of Zack Snyder's Justice League featured an alternate look at Superman's death from 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
The scene showed the final moments of Clark Kent while the Kryptonite spear is being pierced through his body by Doomsday.
In addition to what was presented in the previous film, it also showcased the fact that Superman's death scream ultimately woke all the Mother Boxes on Earth (in Atlantis, in Themyscira, and in Silas Stone's apartment), seemingly serving as a green light for Apokolips to invade Earth.
Alongside the scream, the Snyder Cut also included a brief appearance from Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor during the character's “communion” with Steppenwolf.
A WORLD WITHOUT SUPERMAN
From the get-go, Zack Snyder's Justice League established the fact that a world without Superman presents all kinds of troubles, and Bruce Wayne is clearly aware of that. During Dawn of Justice , the impact of Superman's death was only shown through the eyes of the people of Earth, but its larger effect on the world was revealed in a captivating way in the Snyder Cut.
Given that it was confirmed that Superman's death scream activated the Mother Boxes on Earth, this should add a whole new meaning to the hero's role as protector of the planet.
In a way, it points to the idea that the Man of Steel's mere presence on Earth is a warning for invaders, and his death effectively erased that notion. This means that conquerors like Darkseid, and even future foes like Brainiac were made aware that Earth is ripe for the taking.
In the film, the death of Superman was also used as a narrative tool to bring the Justice League together, mainly from Bruce Wayne's efforts. The playboy billionaire took it upon himself to gather the members of the League to fight for a common goal while also preserving his promise to keep the world safe, even without the Last Son of Krypton.
As expected, Superman was resurrected during Zack Snyder's Justice League , and his triumphant return created a sense of protection.
This is fitting since the hero is mostly portrayed as a symbol of hope, and many would agree that there was a feeling of relief when the Man of Tomorrow showed up in the final battle against Steppenwolf. The same was true for the other members of the League, considering that everyone agreed that they needed Superman to fend off the threat of Apokolips.
While the Snyder Cut teased a grim future ahead for Superman based on the Knightmare sequence, the heroic return of the character should preserve the idea that the world is safe (for now).
