Superman isn’t even out yet, but I think Guy Gardner might be my favorite DCU superhero after one moment from the trailers. Superman trailers have been ramping up ahead of the movie’s release on July 11, with each one revealing more and more about what audiences can expect. Among the most significant reveals is the colorful cast of characters that will feature in Superman, which includes a host of superpowered individuals, both heroic and villainous, forming groups such as Maxwell Lord’s Justice Gang.

One such character is Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner. Guy Gardner is one of the many Green Lanterns in DC Comics, a collection of Power Ring-bearing superheroes who can create any construct they can conceive of with their rings. He is also one of the less famous, typifying James Gunn’s habit of spotlighting lesser-known comic book characters in his celebrated movies. Now, after a recent Superman teaser, I also think he might be my favorite superhero.

The DCU’s Decision To Make Guy Gardner Its First Green Lantern Was Met With Some Divided Responses

Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner Sports A Comics-Accurate Hairstyle

Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner was revealed to be one of the lesser-known superheroes joining the cast of Superman alongside Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl and Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific. Suffice it to say, Guy Gardner isn’t nearly as well-known as the likes of Hal Jordan or John Stewart. Given that fans were anticipating the arrival of newly cast renditions of DC’s most famous superheroes and villains, some felt that Guy Gardner was supplanting the far more popular Hal Jordan in the DCU’s inaugural movie.

Nevertheless, Gardner’s arrival was also met with approval. Guy Gardner’s brash personality more starkly contrasts with Superman, and it wasn’t long before fans began to theorize that he would take on a more villainous, or at least combative, role. His comics-accurate appearance was also met with a mixed reaction, with many fans respecting the decision to faithfully adapt the character, while others suggested that his bowl-cut hairstyle diminished the character due to its unflattering appearance. Now, it appears as though Nathan Fillion is additionally leaning into a comics-accurate adaptation of his personality.

The Latest Clip Of Guy Gardner’s Superman Role Has Convinced Me The DCU Is About To Get The Character So Right

Guy Gardner’s Middle Finger Is The Perfect Illustration Of His Personality

A short teaser video posted to X by @DCFilmNews covers much of the same footage that has been shown in Superman trailers, with a few extra seconds added. I’m glad these moments were added, as it affords us a more detailed look at Guy Gardner’s superpowers as he welds his Power Ring to bat away encroaching military personnel and vehicles. While the sH๏τ of him projecting a giant hand waving has already been seen, the sH๏τ of a hand lifting a tank with its middle finger extended is new.

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This is the perfect illustration of Guy Gardner’s personality. In DC Comics, Gardner is notorious (and beloved) for being one of the most abrasive, brash, and cocky superheroes on the DC roster. This personality is a wildly entertaining anтιтhesis to characters like Superman, whose moral virtues are archetypal. A boisterous character like Guy Gardner will be a breath of fresh air in a genre renowned for spotlighting such righteous characters as Captain America and Spider-Man.

I’m So Excited To See How The DCU Handles Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern Story

Guy Gardner Is A Particularly Compelling Character

None of this is to say, of course, that Guy Gardner is still not worthy of the superhero mantle. Even in trailers for Superman, he seems to be operating as a superhero under Maxwell Lord’s purview, fighting alongside Mister Terrific and Hawkgirl as part of the Justice Gang. In fact, even Guy Gardner’s DC Comics story sees him wield a yellow power ring and continue his heroics, becoming the first and only person to wield a yellow power ring in a heroic manner.

This depth of character begs for a live-action adaptation, and I can’t wait to see how Superman will handle Guy Gardner’s story. Gardner can be a hilarious character for his brashness, and both Nathan Fillion and James Gunn are perfectly placed to adapt this into live-action. I only hope that Guy Gardner will survive the events of Superman to see his character develop even further in future DCU installments.

Source: DCFilmNews/X