Summary
- Ultraman is a villainous version of Superman from Earth-3, showing darker origins and magical immunity.
- Ultraman uses green kryptonite as a performance enhancer, gaining strength and power at a cost.
- Ultraman is weaker in sunlight and is portrayed as a lonely monster, contrasting Superman's heroic nature and strong relationships.
Alongside Lex Luthor and the Engineer, Ultraman is one of several villains confirmed to be battling the Metropolis Marvel in James Gunn’s Superman. Ultraman represents a villainous version of Superman from Earth-3, but the film may be taking a radically new direction from what fans of the character expect.
Kal-Il, Ultraman, serves as a dark reflection of Kal-El, Superman. Yet they are not identical. Not only do they originate from separate dimensions, but their lives have unfolded differently since they were infants and adults. These differences provide fans with an idea of what to expect from the character in live-action form.
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7 The Justice League Vs. The Crime Syndicate
Imagine If The Justice League Was Pure Evil
Both Superman and Ultraman are leaders of a team comprised of metahumans and skilled individuals, but where the Justice League fights for good, the Crime Syndicate is just as evil as it sounds, first appearing in Justice League Of America Vol. 1 #29.. When they aren’t just committing crimes for the thrill of it, the Crime Syndicate practically controls Earth-3 and even strives to conquer other Earths in the multiverse.
Ultraman and the Crime Syndicate even worked together with Lex Luthor in hopes of destroying their counterparts on Earth-2 and the Prime Earth. They even turned out to be the true villains in the Forever Evil series during the New 52 era. This could be a hint of what is to come in James Gunn's DCU if Superman is successful enough.
6 Kryptonite Allergy Vs. Kryptonite Enhancement
Ultraman Uses Crystals As Performance Enhancers
Even if someone has never watched a Superman adaptation or read a comic book, they likely know that Superman’s most famous weakness is green kryptonite from his homeworld. It emits a form of radiation that drastically weakens Superman’s health and powers, giving him a reaction comparable to a human having a fever.
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It is the complete opposite when Ultraman is exposed to green kryptonite in the comics. The radiation from the crystals not only enhances Ultraman’s already impressive strength, but gives more power to his abilities like heat vision and speed. This comes at the cost of his body suffering immensely when it wears off, making kryptonite more like a drug for Ultraman.
5 Hopeful Origins Vs. Darker Origins
Their Upbringing Is Important In Shaping Their Personas
Instead of being sent to Earth to be a beacon of hope and good, Kal-Il of Earth-3 was sent away from the dying planet of Krypton with the intent of being the strongest being, no matter what. That is a less altruistic version of Krypton, which, combined with being raised by toxic versions of Jonathan and Martha Kent, led to Kal-Il, also known as Clark Kent, being a darker character.
There are many evil versions of Superman, and Ultraman is one of the prime examples. He has no desire to do good, nor is he under the impression that what he does is a good thing. He accepts that he is evil and even enjoys inflicting pain on his victims. This raises the question whether Ultraman in the movie will be from Earth-3, or a dark clone of Superman.
4 Magical Weakness Vs. Magical Immunity
Magic Is No Trouble For Ultraman
In most versions of the DC Universe, Superman’s alien physiology can be bypassed by magic. Powerful magic items such as Aquaman’s trident or spells from Zatanna can hurt him almost as easily as a shard of kryptonite. Magic, kryptonite, red sun radiation, and even atomic radiation have been shown to have major negative effects on Superman.
Ultraman, however, has a natural immunity to magic. This is yet another perk of being almost the complete opposite of his heroic counterpart, which partly makes him more dangerous. Even Wonder Woman, who is more magic-based, would struggle more against Ultraman than she would against Superman.
3 The Power Of The Sun
Ultraman Is Practically A Creature Of The Night
Ultraman is at his most powerful during the night when the moon shines on him, enabling him to fight faster and harder. This stands in stark contrast to Superman, who derives his strength and abilities from the radiation of Earth's yellow sun. This radiation grants him powers such as superhuman strength, flight, heat vision, and other extraordinary abilities that make him the Man of Steel.
Where Superman is still strong during the day or night, Ultraman is weaker when exposed to the sun. Using too much of his power in the sunlight will quickly drain his energy. This could be why Ultraman is seen wearing a black suit that covers him from head to toe in James Gunn’s Superman, so that he can remain powered in broad daylight.
2 Many Friends Vs. No Friends
Superman Is Often Defined By Those Around Him
On the one hand, Ultraman embraces what he is: a villain. He loves to inflict pain, and he leads the Crime Syndicate so he can take over the Earth. However, Ultraman is not happy. The Crime Syndicate is not a family of close friends, with Owlman being a sociopathic nihilist, Superwoman being a power-hungry maniac, and the rest of the syndicate being dysfunctional.
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During the Rebirth era, Jon Kent, as Superboy, found himself on Earth-3. He was captured by Ultraman, who went from torturing the young hero for information to expressing his own feelings about his life. This suggests that Ultraman might have had the potential to become like Superman, but his upbringing transformed him into a sad and lonely monster. In contrast, Superman is known for having strong relationships with people in his life, including Lois Lane and his close friend Batman.
1 Heroic Vs. Cowardly
Nobody Can Count On Ultraman
Most versions of Superman are the symbols of hope who would never act like a coward, especially when it means doing the right thing or saving the universe from the destruction of a villain. Whether that means charging right towards his own death at the hands of Doomsday, Superman will never back down, which is part of what makes him an admirable hero.
Meanwhile, Ultraman is the epitome of a coward in his universe. At the first sign of being overwhelmed, he will retreat from the battlefield, even if one or more of the Crime Syndicate dies as a result. He also likes to use people as pawns, having them do as much as possible before he finally joins the fight, similar to what is shown with Homelander in The Boys universe.
Superman
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- July 11, 2025
