Michael Rosenbaum, who famously played Lex Luthor on the TV series Smallville, turned down an offer to appear as the character in the Arrowverse's "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event. While fans were disappointed, Rosenbaum explained his decision was a matter of self-respect.

According to Rosenbaum, the offer from Warner Bros. came at the last minute with three key problems:

1. No Script: He was given no script and had no idea what his character would be doing or saying in the scene.
2. No Details: He had no information on the context of the cameo or how it would fit into the larger story.
3. No Money: The financial offer was negligible and, in his view, disrespectful for the time and legacy he would be bringing back to the role.

Rosenbaum described the studio's offer as a "slap in the face" and felt they were simply trying to get a quick, cheap cameo without the professional courtesy of a proper script or fair compensation. He clarified that he would have "died to do it" if he had been approached with a good script and a respectable offer, but ultimately had to decline based on how it was handled.

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The article reviews and praises a clip from a fan-made, proof-of-concept film titled Fantastic Four: First Steps.

The central argument is that this short clip perfectly captures the true essence of the Fantastic Four by focusing on their family dynamic, something previous film adaptations have struggled with. The clip shows Reed Richards and Sue Storm on a space mission having a heartfelt video call with their young son, Franklin, who is back on Earth with the robot H.E.R.B.I.E.

This touching family moment turns ominous as Franklin's powerful psychic abilities manifest, allowing him to sense the terrifying approach of the world-devourer, Galactus.

The author praises the fan film for:

• Prioritizing Family: It establishes the Fantastic Four as a family first, a core element of their identity in the comics.
• A Perfect Introduction: Using Franklin's childhood fear to introduce a cosmic threat like Galactus is seen as a brilliant and effective storytelling choice.
• An Ideal Blueprint: The article concludes that this approach—grounding an epic, cosmic story in a personal, emotional moment—is the "perfect first step" and an ideal model for how the official MCU Fantastic Four movie should begin.

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The article from Nerdist highlights that James Gunn's upcoming film, Superman, will focus on two central themes: Superman's identity as an immigrant and his fundamental kindness.

Gunn's approach will explore the duality of Superman's heritage—how he balances being the last son of the aristocratic Kryptonian society with his humble upbringing by Kansas farmers. The article frames this as a classic immigrant narrative, where an outsider must reconcile their ancestral roots with the culture that adopted them.

This marks a significant shift from recent, darker portrayals of the character. Instead of a conflicted, god-like figure, Gunn's version will emphasize "basic human kindness" and compassion as Superman's defining trait and greatest strength. His goodness is not a weakness but the very core of who he is, inspired by the love and values instilled by his adoptive human parents.

Ultimately, the article sees Gunn's vision as a hopeful and necessary return to the optimistic essence of the character, promising a film that champions decency and compassion.

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The article argues that Superman's most significant and enduring power is not his physical strength, flight, or heat vision, but his profound kindness and unwavering moral compass. While his physical abilities are impressive, it is his choice to use them for good—grounded in his human upbringing as Clark Kent—that truly defines him.

The author contrasts Superman with more cynical or gritty superheroes, positing that his clear sense of right and wrong serves as an essential moral anchor. His heroism isn't born from tragedy or a desire for revenge, but from a genuine and compassionate desire to help others. The article highlights that Superman's greatest feats are often small acts of empathy, such as comforting someone in despair, which demonstrate that his true mission is to be a symbol of hope.

Ultimately, the piece concludes that Superman's greatest legacy is his ability to inspire humanity to be its best self, proving that true strength lies not in physical power, but in compassion and the consistent choice to do the right thing.

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This article provides an overview of Brand New Day, a controversial and significant era in Spider-Man comics that began in 2008. It served as a "soft reboot" for the character, fundamentally altering his status quo.

The key points are:

• Origin: Brand New Day was the direct result of the preceding storyline, One More Day. In that story, Peter Parker and Mary Jane made a deal with the demon Mephisto to save Aunt May's life. In exchange, their marriage was erased from history and the world forgot Peter's secret identity, which he had revealed during Civil War.
• New Status Quo: The reboot returned Peter Parker to a more classic, back-to-basics version of himself:
• He was single again and his romantic history with Mary Jane was gone.
• His secret identity was restored.
• He was a broke, struggling freelance photographer.
• His friend Harry Osborn, who had died, was mysteriously alive again.
• He returned to using his mechanical web-shooters instead of organic ones.
• New Villains and Stories: The era was known for introducing major new villains like the crime lord Mister Negative and the new goblin-themed threat, Menace. It also brought back classic foes like Norman Osborn and the family of Kraven the Hunter.
• The Controversy: The article emphasizes that Brand New Day was highly controversial. Many fans were angry that Marvel used a magical "deal with the devil" to undo decades of character development, especially the beloved marriage between Peter and Mary Jane.
• Legacy and MCU Connection: The Brand New Day era lasted for about two years before transitioning into the Big Time storyline. The article concludes by pointing out that the ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home has left the MCU's Peter Parker in a very similar situation—anonymous, broke, and alone. This suggests that the Brand New Day comics could serve as a major inspiration for the next Spider-Man movie.

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Actress Rachel Brosnahan, who will star as Lois Lane in the upcoming DCU film Superman, has publicly expressed her strong interest in portraying a version of the character who becomes Superwoman.

This idea is directly inspired by the acclaimed and fan-favorite comic book storyline from Grant Morrison's , where Lois Lane temporarily gains all of Superman's powers for 24 hours.

Adding to the excitement, DC Studios co-head and Superman director James Gunn responded positively to a fan's post about this possibility on the social media platform Threads. While not an official confirmation, Gunn's apparent agreement has fueled speculation among fans that this popular arc could be adapted for the new DC Universe, offering a fresh and powerful take on Lois Lane's character.

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The Nerdist article explains that the "Pocket Universe" in DC Comics was created to solve a major continuity problem following the 1985 storyline Crisis on Infinite Earths. This event merged all of DC's parallel worlds into a single timeline, which erased Superman's history as the teen hero Superboy. This was a problem because the origin of the 30th-century team, the Legion of Super-Heroes, depended on them being inspired by Superboy.

To fix this, a story revealed that the Legion's villain, the Time Trapper, had created a "Pocket Universe" containing a replica of Earth where Superboy's adventures still took place. This allowed the Legion's history to remain intact.

The story took a tragic turn when that Pocket Universe's version of General Zod and two other Kryptonian criminals escaped the Phantom Zone and proceeded to destroy their entire Earth, killing everyone, including its Superboy. The mainstream Superman was called in to help but arrived too late.

After a brutal battle, Superman defeated the three villains. With no way to imprison them and facing their threat to do the same to his Earth, Superman made the shocking and controversial decision to execute them using Green Kryptonite. This act of killing, even to save his world, caused Superman immense psychological trauma, leading to a breakdown and a self-imposed exile in space. This dark event became a defining moment in Superman's character history, showcasing the immense weight of his responsibilities.

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The article highlights a "stealth cameo" by the classic DC villain Mr. Mxyzptlk in the first episode of the new animated series, My Adventures with Superman. The character appears briefly as an unnamed, short man in a purple suit and bowler hat, first at a food cart and later observing Clark Kent.

The article provides a history of the character, explaining that:

• Who He Is: Mr. Mxyzptlk is a powerful, reality-warping imp from the 5th Dimension. He is one of Superman's oldest and most formidable foes, not because of physical strength, but because his "magic" can alter reality in any way he can imagine.
• His Motive: He is typically portrayed as a mischievous prankster rather than a purely evil villain. His goal is to annoy and challenge Superman out of boredom.
• His Weakness: The only way to defeat Mxyzptlk is to trick him into saying his name backward ("Kltpzyxm"), which banishes him back to the 5th Dimension for a set period. This turns his encounters with Superman into battles of wits.

The cameo in My Adventures with Superman is significant because it suggests the show's creators are intentionally setting up major villains early. Mxyzptlk's inclusion signals that the series will embrace the more fantastical and "weirder" elements of the Superman mythos, challenging the hero's intelligence and not just his physical power.

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