DCU’s Superman prequel makes one big question about the Man of Steel’s powers and how they might affect him in the movie seem even more important for the film to answer. Superman’s powers are some of DC’s most elaborate and most expansive, with Clark Kent getting a wide range of mindboggling abilities added to his skillset over the years.

The DC Universe’s Superman movie looks as though it will bring many of these abilities to the big screen once more, based on what we’ve seen thus far of the story and how it shows off Kal-El’s powers. However, what’s been teased of Superman has raised a pressing mystery about the nature of one of these powers, especially with the film’s prequel in mind.

Superman’s Having Red Eyes In The DCU Trailer Raised Some Questions

The Superman trailers have raised several questions about the DCU’s Man of Steel. While this is largely regarding what the specifics of Clark Kent’s civilian and superhero life are like, these previews have also created several interesting mysteries regarding the hero’s powers in this universe and at this point of his hero career as well.

One of the most unusual of these questions revolves around several scenes showing Superman with red skin all around his eyes, as though something has damaged or even lightly burned his skin. The fact we see this more than once – and in such a prominent place – naturally makes it something of a pressing question.

The main theory about this Superman trailer detail is that this in some way reflects Superman’s use of his heat vision. This is partly because the clips of him with the red sore-looking skin around his eyes and him using heat vision are right next to each other in the June 11 trailer, and partly because this would explain the specific area that’s become irritated on Superman’s face.

While speculation arose about the idea that this was to show Superman potentially being new to heat vision – or having potentially never even used it before – Superman‘s prequel challenges this idea. However, in doing so, it makes the matter an even more engaging mystery that we will eventually get to see the answer to.

Superman’s Prequel Makes The Heat Vision Question Seem Even More Mysterious & Important

Interestingly, the subject of heat vision is given some attention in the official Superman prequel novel Superman: Welcome To Metropolis, making this matter all the more interesting. Since the prequel novel appears to be canon to the universe, its story – and the ways it depicts Superman’s powers – are interesting to note going forward.

When Superman faces off against Metallo for the first time in the book, he decides to use heat vision against his enemy. This by itself is interesting, since it shows Superman has used this power before, and that this reaction in the Superman trailer isn’t simply the result of him breaking out the power for the first time.

More interesting still, Welcome To Metropolis sees Metallo reflect this attack back at Superman. After this, the book mentions “Luckily, Superman was unharmed by his own heat blasts.” While interesting in this context, the line raises more questions about this topic than it answers, to some degree.

This could be taken more than one way, since it’s possible the line denotes Superman actively needs to dodge his own heat blasts if reflected, though it could perhaps also mean he’s resistant to his own heat vision, even if that’s less likely. Whatever the case actually may be, this currently only makes the matter all the more mysterious, especially since the book doesn’t note any side effects from Clark using heat vision.

Superman’s Trailer Teases Other Reasons Using Heat Vision Gives The Hero Red Eyes

The mystery of what happens so Superman’s face in the movie and whether this tied to his heat vision is still very much an ongoing one – and one that’s likely to persist as such until the movie itself releases. However, the trailers do make some other explanations for this Superman movie detail seem possible.

First and foremost, the fact that Superman is shown using his heat vision in spectacular fashion means this may explain why the skin around his eyes gets so red. Having to use this power in a greater capacity than usual could be a fair explanation for why this happens in the DCU movie.

On a not dissimilar level, the fact the Superman trailers show us that the Man of Steel will be exposed to Kryptonite suggests another route the story could take with this particular detail. Since we also see Superman with this red mark on his face lying almost unconscious as Mr. Terrific speaks to him, this being the effect of being weakened by Kryptonite could make a lot of sense.

With Superman‘s theatrical release coming on July 11, 2025, the answer to this question should mercifully be provided very soon. Until then, though, it’s definitely a pertinent one for both the 2025 movie and the DCU’s future, since the Man of Steel’s powers will no doubt be an important part of the franchise going forward.