It Was Superman’s Film, However Mister Terrific Stole The Present 

I walked out of my IMAX screening of Superman final Sunday feeling two issues: immense satisfaction that DC lastly, lastly, made a contemporary Superman film that really understands Superman, and that I instantly want a film, TV present, animated collection, and online game all about Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific. Judging by viewers reactions and newly revealed plans for the character, I’m removed from alone in that feeling.

A report from the Wall Road Journal reveals Superman director and DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn is contemplating spin-offs for Superman characters Jimmy Olsen and Mister Terrific. Superman acts as a reboot for DC’s lengthy beleaguered cinematic universe. The movie units up a brand new establishment the place Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Inexperienced Lantern are the inaugural members of the “Justice Gang,” which is clearly being set as much as develop into the long-lasting Justice League down the road. 

This information of a possible Mister Terrific spin-off is smart to anybody who’s seen the film and loved it. Mister Terrific steals virtually each scene he’s in, with one of many most important highlights being a one-shot motion sequence with him single-handedly taking down a platoon of Lex Luthor’s armored goons utilizing solely his T-Spheres and fists. Me and my finest good friend, each avid DC Comics followers, had been laughing and nudging one another like we had been comics-obsessed youngsters once more each time Mister Terrific lived as much as his title. 

For individuals who haven’t spent their childhood, 20s, and now early 30s avidly consuming DC Comics like myself, you won’t be instantly accustomed to Mister Terrific. He’s a grasp martial artist, engineer, and his genius-level mind makes him one among, if not the neatest individual within the DC Universe. 

Gathegi brings Mister Terrific to life in a efficiency placing the right stability of confidence and intelligence. He epitomizes Black cool, and as quickly as you see him, you simply need to be him. Will I be strolling round this fall rocking a Mister Terrific jacket? Most likely! 

Gathegi is not any stranger to comedian e-book motion pictures, having starred as Darwin in 2011’s X-Males: First Class. I keep in mind being 19 years outdated and so completely happy seeing a Black man as one of many formative members of the X-Males. Quick ahead an hour into the film, and I used to be left with a stank face after Darwin was unceremoniously killed. (Spoiler alert for a 14-year-old film, I suppose?) 

Making his demise extra egregious was the truth that his entire mutant energy was that he couldn’t die. 

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gathegi defined how he known as out the optics of the one Black member of the X-Males dying throughout manufacturing. “I known as my brokers to say, ‘Hey, hear, I’ve an issue with the truth that this character is the one Black character within the movie apart from Zoë Kravitz’s character. I’m additionally the one mutant who meets an premature demise midway by the movie,’” Gathegi advised THR.

​​“It was 2009 on the time, and I used to be like, ‘Killing the Black man first is so performed out. I can’t do that.’”

Gathegi says the movie’s producers reassured him that his character wasn’t completely dying (that is comedian books in any case, nobody ever actually dies) and that he would return for future sequels. When the collection bought to 2016’s X-Males: Apocalypse and Gathegi by no means bought the decision to swimsuit up, that’s when he knew for sure his time among the many mutants was over.

Gathegi’s destiny in X-Males: First Class had me fearful that Mister Terrific could be handled the identical means. Whereas I’ve lengthy cherished the character from his appearances in exhibits like Justice League Limitless, Arrow, and his improbable characterization in 2021’s Unusual Adventures comedian, he’s not at all an A-list hero. 

Hollywood can’t even get a Blade film off the bottom, so I had no motive to suppose there have been plans for Mister Terrific past this film.

I used to be extremely relieved to see Mister Terrific not solely make it to the top, however be important in stopping Lex Luthor’s plot. When he confirmed up within the movie’s climax, mushed a white man within the face and declared “I’m goddamn Mister Terrific,” I used to be combating the impulse to face up, clap and salute my superpowered Black king. 

Whereas Gathegi’s hopes of being a recurring mutant had been dashed, he advised THR he sees Mister Terrific as a pendulum swing “in the wrong way.”

“With X-Males: First Class, the message that I acquired as an actor and as a person of colour on this world is you may be probably the most highly effective mutant on this planet and so they’ll by no means allow you to attain your full potential,” Gathegi advised THR. “Whereas with Mister Terrific in Superman, the message that I’m receiving is you may be some of the clever characters within the universe, and you may make a distinction. You may assist save the world. It’s a unique stage of dialog.” 

The potential affect of Mister Terrific is clearly not misplaced on Gathegi. “I’m so excited to encourage an entire era of Black youngsters with this new superhero,” he stated in an interview with the DC Studios Showcase podcast. 

Since Mister Terrific made his silver display debut final weekend, the web has been abuzz about his scene-stealing flip. Throughout all social media, there have been memes, fan edits, and explainers about why Mister Terrific is so cool, and why he’s resonated a lot with Black males particularly. 

This video from consumer Americandemonslayer, speaks on how Mister Terrific labored as a improbable illustration of a Black superhero, along with being extremely comics correct.