The Summer of Rebirth: Why DC's Comeback Has Me More Hyped Than Ever
Alright folks, strap in. Because what we’re heading into isn’t just the Summer of Superman. Oh no. It’s the Summer of Superman, the Summer of Peacemaker, and—if we're being honest—the long-overdue resurrection of DC's live-action universe. That’s right. DC is rising from the ashes like a phoenix with abs carved out of hope and a cape billowing in destiny.
I said this in my Peacemaker Season 2 teaser reaction, and I’ll scream it again here: I haven’t been this excited about DC in over a decade.
Let’s address the elephant in the spandex—“But Slav, what do we really have coming?”
Oh, I dunno... just a brand-new Superman movie. A second season of Peacemaker. Supergirl. Lanterns. A fully rebooted, fully connected cinematic universe built from the ground up. And, more importantly, a clear, unified vision behind it all.
Superman is Hope (Again)
Let’s start with the Big Blue Boy Scout. Every frame, every update, every whisper about James Gunn’s Superman has oozed sincerity and reverence. It’s not trying to be grimdark for grimdark’s sake. It’s not winking at the camera like every line is a meme. This feels like what the superhero genre needs right now: something bold, heartfelt, and hopeful.
Marvel’s Thunderbolts? Fun! Cool. I had a good time.
But Superman? This feels like an event. Something mythic. Something generational.
And then… enter Peacemaker.
Yes, Comedy Has a Place in Capes
Look, I’m not here for the "Peacemaker’s a joke character now!" brigade. Because guess what? He’s always been a little unhinged. What James Gunn did was pull that core out, dial it to eleven, and wrap it in trauma, toxic masculinity, daddy issues, and dancing. It works because it’s real. It's loud. It's ugly. It’s human. And yes—it’s hilarious.
Comedy doesn’t mean disrespect. It means variety. Gunn hasn’t neutered Peacemaker. He’s evolved him. And if you can’t see that, maybe go reread a comic or two. Characters grow. Universes adapt. Just ask literally any comic book ever written.
Supergirl & Lanterns: The Next Wave
Let’s be honest—Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow has massive potential. Millie Alcock is a rising star, and casting Momoa as Lobo? Chef’s kiss. I’m cautiously optimistic, because the source material is phenomenal, but I won’t pretend like we know everything yet.
Now Lanterns? Different story. The casting of Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart? That’s heat. That’s range. That’s the buddy-cop space mystery we’ve been waiting for since the Green Lantern Corps were done dirty in 2011.
The Gunn Difference
But let’s not ignore the key piece here: James Gunn.
This ain’t 2016. This isn’t Geoff Johns awkwardly shoehorning optimism into a universe that was never built to be optimistic. This isn’t six producers, three studio heads, and a partridge in a pear tree all fighting over which direction the movies should go. This is one guy with a plan—and a producer (Peter Safran) who knows how to get the studio suits to shut up and let creatives create.
And for all the people yelling “BUT JAMES GUNN LIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA!” —yeah, probably. But who cares? Every director lies. Every studio spins. I’m not investing in his tweets, I’m investing in the vision. I’m investing in the consistency we’ve sorely lacked for years. If this is a lie, at least it’s one that’s finally entertaining.
We've Been Here Before—But This Time Feels Different
Look, I’ve been hurt before. I liked the Snyderverse. I saw the potential. But let’s not rewrite history—it collapsed under its own weight. There was no cohesion. Too many egos, not enough direction. And the fans? Torn apart like Gotham on discount Joker gas.
This? This feels different. There's direction. Patience. Structure. Momentum.
I know it’s hard to trust again, especially after a decade of false starts. But if you can’t muster a little hope now—when Superman himself is flying back onto the screen, when Peacemaker is kicking in the fourth wall, when Lanterns and Supergirl are gearing up to launch—then maybe superhero movies just aren’t for you anymore.
Because I’m damn excited.
I’m buzzing like the Fortress of Freaking Solitude’s crystal core.
This is the Rebirth of DC in live-action. It’s happening right now. And I, for one, am not going to waste a single second of it.
So buckle up, true believers. Grab your helmets, charge your rings, and polish those capes. Summer 2025 is just the beginning.
And if that doesn’t get your heart racing—go cry about it in a corner. We’ve got a multiverse to build.
