A wild Superman theory suggests Milly Alcock’s Supergirl will be an antagonist in James Gunn’s DCU movie; and what’s more exciting, she may already have appeared in the trailers. Expectations for Superman and the rest of the DCU’s Gods and Monsters chapter are naturally high, as dozens of famous and obscure characters are set to make their return in a variety of movies and shows. The DC Universe is offering a new take on DC Comics’ ninety-year history in live-action and animation, taking the biggest step with the Man of Steel’s DCU introduction on the big screen.
David Corenswet’s Kal El won’t be the only hero who will make a grand debut in James Gunn’s Superman. Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, and Metamorpho are also making their first big-screen appearance as the Justice Gang, who will help Superman fight multiple villains in the movie. But aside from Superman‘s four confirmed heroes, Supergirl might also appear for the first time in the DCU during Superman. However, Milly Alcock’s Kryptonian hero may be introduced as a villain.
The Hammer Of Boravia In Superman Could Be A Known Character
The Hammer Of Boravia’s Abilities Are Suspiciously Similar To Superman’s
In usual James Gunn fashion, Superman is packed with several villains and heroes. Apart from Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, Maria Gabriela de Faría’s the Engineer, Ultraman, and the kaiju, Superman also introduces an antagonist who seems to be an original DCU creation. The Hammer of Boravia is an armored, masked juggernaut with super strength, heat vision, and flight abilities. Apparently, the Hammer of Boravia represents the fictional country of Boravia in its war against Jarhanpur, and Superman’s intervention in the conflict inspires the Hammer to attack Superman and Metropolis.
However, the fact that the Hammer of Boravia possesses almost the exact same powers as Superman raises suspicions, and the fact that the mysterious villain wears a helmet that conceals their idenтιтy has spawned a few theories. Bizarro, Doomsday, and Superboy Prime are three DC characters with similar powers to Superman who could be revealed to be manipulated by another villain to terrorize Metropolis under the guise of a foreign warrior. The Hammer of Boravia’s armor would look extremely similar to Lex Luthor’s iconic power suit if it had a green-and-purple color scheme, so Lex Luthor is another strong candidate for the person inside the suit.
Supergirl Matches The Hammer Of Boravia’s Powers In Superman
The Hammer Of Boravia Displays The Same Abilities As Supergirl
While Superman could reveal that a famous DC villain is secretly inside the Hammer of Boravia’s suit of armor, James Gunn could deliver an even bigger twist by revealing that Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El a.k.a. Supergirl is the Hammer of Boravia’s real idenтιтy. The Hammer of Boravia displays at least four of Supergirl’s superpowers (super-strength, flight, and heat vision), and it’s still too early to introduce Krypton-adjacent villains like Doomsday and Superboy. Supergirl is set to star in her own movie a year after Superman, and introducing her as a twist antagonist in the DCU’s first movie would help raise hype for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.
How Lex Luthor Could Have Made Supergirl Into The Hammer Of Boravia
Lex Luthor Might Be Controlling Kara Zor-El
If Supergirl really is the Hammer of Boravia, there are many ways Superman could reveal the antagonist’s true idenтιтy and explain how Kara turned into a villain. ᴀssuming Lex Luthor is behind Kara’s villain twist, it’s possible that Luthor is the one who found her pod after it landed on Earth, and his hatred for Superman inspired him to turn the Man of Steel’s cousin into a living weapon he could control. If true, then the Hammer of Boravia’s suit of armor could serve the double purpose of concealing Kara’s idenтιтy and keeping her under Luthor’s control through unknown means.
When Superman steps in, Luthor could seize the opportunity to eliminate him using the only weapon that can match his power: another Kryptonian
Otherwise, Luthor might have captured and neutralized Supergirl off-screen before the events of Superman. Rather than using technological or mystical brainwashing, he could have manipulated or threatened her into serving his interests in Boravia. When Superman steps in, Luthor could seize the opportunity to eliminate him using the only weapon that can match his power: another Kryptonian. Luthor might even attempt to position the Hammer of Boravia as Superman’s replacement, only for the public to turn against the villain before Superman unmasks her.
There’s Some Comics History For Supergirl Working With Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor Once Created And Controlled A Version Of Supergirl In DC Comics
Following Supergirl’s death and a DC multiverse reboot in 1985’s monumental Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event, DC Comics introduced a brand-new version of Supergirl named “Matrix”. This Supergirl wasn’t Superman’s Kryptonian cousin, but a synthetic being created by an alternate-universe Lex Luthor. Designed as a hero and inspired by the original Superman, Matrix possessed a unique powerset that included shapeshifting, telekinesis, and invisibility, rather than traditional Kryptonian abilities. Matrix eventually rejected Luthor’s control and crossed into the main DC Universe, where she sought to forge her own heroic idenтιтy alongside Superman.
Supergirl’s Hammer of Boravia twist wouldn’t have to affect Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow‘s adaptation of the eponymous DC Comics storyline, as the upcoming DCU movie could take place before the events of Superman. The fact that Krypto is already on Earth in Superman supports this idea.
After arriving in the main DC Universe, Matrix took up the Supergirl mantle and briefly worked for that timeline’s Lex Luthor, who sought to use her as his personal enforcer. However, she eventually broke free from his influence and made a name for herself. In a later arc, Matrix merged with a human girl named Linda Danvers, creating a new version of Supergirl that more closely resembled the classic character. While this Supergirl incarnation appeared in storylines as influential as The Death of Superman, later DC reboots phased her out in favor of a more familiar version of the hero due to her convoluted origin and lore.
Supergirl As Superman’s Villain Before Turning Good Feels Like A James Gunn Twist
James Gunn Has Mastered The Skill Of Switching Characters’ Allegiances In Superhero Adaptations
While revealing Supergirl to be a secret villain in Superman sounds like a wild idea, it would go in line with James Gunn’s narrative style. Gunn has delivered similar twists multiple times before, and all of them have been effective in subverting expectations and adding a new dramatic layer to their respective stories. Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy delivered at least two such twists. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Peter Quill discovers Ego the Living Planet killed his mother by putting a tumor in her brain, and in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Adam Warlock rebels against the High Evolutionary after leaving Rocket Raccoon on the brink of death.
Over at DC, James Gunn had Peacemaker turn against Task Force X and kill Rick Flag Jr., only for Bloodsport to shoot him in the throat and inspire him to reconsider his values. In Peacemaker season 1, a heroic Chris Smith gets to experience betrayal from the opposite end when Murn is revealed to be a ʙuттerfly in disguise. Likewise, in the DCU’s Creature Commandos, the animated series’ main villain is revealed to be the seemingly innocent Princess Ilana Rostovic. Following this streak of shocking twists, James Gunn’s Superman introducing Supergirl as a brainwashed villain before she regains control and joins Superman doesn’t sound too unlikely.
