The article contains major spoilers from Black Adam.Most fans thought Henry Cavill was finished as Superman, but that might have changed with the release of Justice League.
This was a surprise since Superman also showed up in the promidates regarding Man of Steel 2. Few actors could have pulled off the distinctive traits and mannerisms of Superman as well as Cavill.
Henry Cavill Has The Poise Of Superman
DCEU's Superman, above all else, has the poise and determination of his counterpart from the comics. Henry Cavill almost took it to the extreme in the DCEU, but he pulled it back just enough to hit that sweet spot. While he rarely smiled in the early DCEU movies, he loosened up a bit toward the end.
This was important as Superman holds more power in his hands that any other hero. He has to take precise care to ensure that he makes the right decisions and not act on impulse. It is clear he is listening and always considering his next move, and Cavill carried that emotion perfectly.
Henry Cavill Showed Grace As Superman
Superman is not a hero like Batman or the Green Arrow. He shares a lot more in common with someone like Flash. However, while Flash had the kindness and wide-eyed aspirations of a kid, Superman was just a good guy who did what was right. That is something that Henry Cavill played off well.
As one of the best Justice League , Superman was kind, he was generous, and he was always considerate of others. Even when taken in by the military for an interrogation, he wore the handcuffs and kept a smile on his face as he answered questions. He makes everyone around him feel safe, and Cavill gave off an aura of comion that sold that well.
Henry Cavill Showed Clark Kent's Humanity
One of the biggest jokes with Superman is that he can put on a pair of glasses, and no one knows who he is. It is the worst disguise in the history of superhero comics, but it works in the comics, and Henry Cavill makes it work in the DCEU movies.
When Cavill is Superman, he is stoic and determined, rarely smiling unless he has finished up business. However, with Clark Kent, he puts on those glasses and turned into someone else. He smiles, he acts human, and he sells his secret identity perfectly.
Henry Cavill Showed Humility As Superman
One thing that has always existed in Superman comics, movies, and TV shows is his down-home aw-shucks personality. While Superman is an alien, he was raised on a farm in Kansas by two exemplary parents. He was raised with humbleness and a hard-working attitude.
Henry Cavill has proven over the years that he can be the valiant man in the room when the role calls for it. However, as Superman, he dialed things back and show humility and a sense that he knew, despite his powers, he was not better than the people he tasked himself to save.
Henry Cavill Had The Honor Of Superman
If there is one thing that has been both positive and negative for Superman, it is his loyalty. For many years, DC called Superman's mission as "truth, justice, and the American way." That has both helped make him a patriotic symbol, but also a symbol of bygone times so much that his son in the comics no longer uses "American way" in his motto.
In the movies, Cavill's Superman keeps that loyalty. He tells General Swanwick he is as American as it gets. He stood before a congressional hearing as an alien, but also as a loyal American citizen.
Henry Cavill Showed Genuine Emotion To Tragedy
Superman has always been someone who takes the weight of the world on his own shoulders. One of the best Superman stories ever written had him spend time talking to a woman contemplating taking her own life, just to listen to her, and it saved her life. That is who Superman is.
In the movies, Superman always showed great emotion to tragedy. The silence after the explosion killed all the politicians that Superman was speaking to was highlighted by Cavill's emotional response in his facial expressions. That was exactly how Superman should react to this situation, especially when some people wanted him behind bars, yet he never held a grudge and cared for people's life.
Henry Cavill's Superman Showed Care For Others Above All
There was one controversial moment in trait ed onto Clark Kent as he grew into Superman.
Henry Cavill went a long way to show his learning from this. When Lois Lane was in danger, there was pain in Superman's face. When it came time to sacrifice his own life to stop Doomsday, Superman showed his determination, but Cavill's reaction showed that he never once regretted this decision.
The Agony He Showed When He Had To Kill
The one important aspect about the superhero is that Superman does not kill. That was one of the biggest talking points after Man of Steel when he had to kill General Zod. However, while there were plenty of complaints about Superman murdering his enemy, it was Henry Cavill's acting that sold it. He made people believe this was his only decision.
Superman has killed in the comics, but when he does, it is something that pains him more than almost any other hero who makes this fatal decision. When Superman cried out in emotional pain as he snapped Zod's neck, it showed how terrible this was for him, and that helped sell the idea that Superman never wanted this.
Henry Cavill Showed Humor Around Others
In Man of Steel, Superman rarely showed any humor and often acted like an alien when around other people. However, in his later appearances, Henry Cavill was able to loosen up somewhat. When around his mother or Lois Lane, he was able to act like a real person and show humor and was somewhat happy.
As one of the ways Cavill is comic-accurate, Superman, in the comics, is not always serious. When he has a chance, he will lighten up around those he trusts. Moments like giving Flash a smirk as he shows off his powers or when he delivered a one-liner when he met Black Adam is a nice switch-up, and Cavill made that change seamlessly.
Henry Cavill Looks Like Superman From The Comics
One thing that Warner Bros. has almost always succeeded at is bringing in actors who look like Superman is supposed to look like. Christopher Reeve might not have looked exactly like Superman from the comics, but when he put on the suit and got into character, he was Superman. Brandon Routh also pulled off a nice imitation of Reeve.
However, Henry Cavill beats out both for how Superman should look based on the comics. The DCEU couldn't have asked for a better representation of Superman than Cavill, and it is hard to think of anyone else in the role after him.
