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Aug 27, 2023

Blue Beetle Fixes Two Major Man of Steel Mistakes

Blue Beetle is its own thing, but there are skillful cuts that allow director Ángel Manuel Soto to rectify a couple of mistakes Zack Snyder made. The following contains spoilers for Blue Beetle, now

Blue Beetle is its own thing, but there are skillful cuts that allow director Ángel Manuel Soto to rectify a couple of mistakes Zack Snyder made.

The following contains spoilers for Blue Beetle, now playing in theaters.

As much as Blue Beetle is a breath of fresh air, there are nods to the other DC movies that preceded it. Xolo Maridueña's Jaime Reyes mentions existing heroes like Batman and The Flash, seemingly acknowledging the existence of the Snyderverse. Of course, seeing as the DC movies are trying to move forward into James Gunn and Peter Safran's vision for the DCU, "Gods and Monsters," these references are subtle.

Still, it's clear Jaime is in some ways tethered to the Zack Snyder movies. There are, for example, a couple spiritual tributes to what transpired in Man of Steel. However, director Ángel Manuel Soto actually improves some aspects of Snyder's Superman movie viewers had issues with, adding nuance to them in Jaime's chaotic life.

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In Man of Steel, Kevin Costner's Jonathan Kent rubbed fans the wrong way. While it's understandable he wanted to keep Clark's secret safe, viewers also weren't happy about Pa Kent asking him to let people die to protect that secret. Pa Kent's depiction lacked altruism, honor and compassion, which was a stark contrast to how the character is depicted in the comics and in other media. Previous Jonathan Kents -- most notably the one from Smallville -- were all about saving people as best one could, so it wasn't a surprise critics and viewers did not respond well to Snyder's more cynical interpretation.

Blue Beetle does the complete opposite with Alberto Reyes (Damián Alcázar). This father constantly encourages Jaime to be his best self and make the world a better place. It's something that passes onto his family as well. They're actually in awe and majesty over the power of the Scarab, so at no point do they discourage Jaime from using his new gifts. Alberto even sets the example when he tips a server well in the opening act, despite the family being broke. When his wife inquired why he was being so loose with cash, Alberto was adamant they needed to help people, no matter their own trials and tribulations.

This informs why Alberto is willing to risk exposing Jaime as the Blue Beetle: he sees it as a gift from God. The Reyes are religious people, which adds heart and a strong sense of family values to the movie. It's why, even after Alberto dies bravely trying to protect his family, they rise up later to battle Victoria Kord's (Susan Sarandon) forces. Alberto wanted them all to be heroes, because it's the right thing to do. This adds endearment and warmth to the father-son bond, which comes full-circle when Blue Beetle's ending has Alberto's proud spirit telling Jaime to embrace the Scarab. All because he's worthy of being Earth's champion defender.

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It's a staple in superhero stories that they don't kill. Sadly, Snyder's Superman broke that rule when he snapped General Zod's neck in the third act of Man of Steel. It upset viewers and critics alike because all Kal-El had to do was cover Zod's eyes to save innocents from his heat vision. In terms of the narrative, many didn't feel like Clark had to go that extreme as well, as he wasn't in that totally berserker headspace.

Blue Beetle revisits the idea of superheroes killing when Jaime catches Carapax. He's the OMAC warrior indirectly responsible for Alberto's heart attack during the assault on the Reyes' home. As such, when Jaime maxes out his powers, he takes a blade to Carapax's throat. However, as he's about to impale him, the Scarab taps into Jaime's mind and shows him Carapax's past -- where he was mentally manipulated and turned into a dog of war. He's a victim Victoria Kord brainwashed, so he doesn't have to die at Jaime's hands. It's not what Alberto would want.

The fact is, Jaime did strike a killing blow. If it weren't for the Scarab, he'd be a murderer. However, Jaime's situation is understandable because Carapax took out the patriarch of his family. Jaime also hated how he was off to college while Alberto struggled financially to keep the bank account afloat. Alberto shouldered a ton of burden, so it's understadable Jaime's emotions got the better of him. He lost time with his father at school and can no longer make up for it. No one condones him killing Carapax, but it's a human move compounded by the fact he wanted to remove the OMAC weaponry from the world. Taking the entire rivalry into consideration, Jaime's inexperience has the depth and rationale Snyder aimed for with his Superman.

RELATED: Blue Beetle Director Explains How the Movie Could Connect to the Booster Gold Series

It's unfortunate that Snyder didn't have a strong handle on the idea of sacrifice and pain, and how that could be used to make a hero better. Had Clark Kent experienced a similar major loss as a consequence of General Zod's actions in Man of Steel, his actions may have been a bit more justified. However, Snyder didn't seem interested in exploring this idea, which made Clark's decision to kill Zod feel more like an attempt at subverting viewer expectations. Jaime, however, does the complete opposite. He's about non-lethality from the start, but he loses himself in the heat of the moment after Alberto dies.

Thankfully, both heroes learn from these experiences in other confrontations. In the case of Superman, he learns this the hard way against an angry Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Jaime learns this from the Scarab. When it comes to the bridge and full context for why these heroes cross the moral and ethical divide, however, it's padded better with Jaime, and it trails right back to parenting. Pa Kent didn't fully work out the concept of godlike powers with Clark. He had him running from them more than anything, which is why Clark hid and let Jonathan die years prior.

Jaime, on the other hand, loses Alberto in a heartbreaking way, which informs his decision to nearly kill Carapax. It's all about establishing proper building blocks, because all these heroes are flawed and vulnerable. Ultimately, Blue Beetle does it best, crafting a reason for Jaime to go dark, with a much better hook from Alberto to bring him back to the light.

Blue Beetle is now in theaters.

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