3. Kneel Before Him
It can certainly be argued that we have traveled this Superman vs. General Zod path before. And while on it's face this concept feels old and somewhat lazy as a rehash of what's been done before on film, it's initially forcing us to ask questions such as "where is the ingenuity?" or "where are the original ideas for a new Superman film?" But a closer look at what's in store for us come June 14th will put those concerns to rest. Nolan and Goyer's planet of Krypton will be a world where offspring are genetically engineered and natural conception and birth are discouraged, even outlawed. But it will also be a world that is crumbling upon itself due to civil war. And so the great scientist Jor-El will send his only son, a son of illegal and natural conception, off into the heavens towards a planet that will, he believes, ultimately embrace him despite his alien heritage. And it's this choice for Kal-El's natural genesis and unavoidable exile that leads General Zod to ultimately hunt him down on Earth in Man Of Steel. As seen in the most recent Man Of Steel trailer, Zod is in custody, presumably on Krypton, and he vows to find Kal-El, whom he believes is a fugitive from justice. This new take on the Superman/General Zod conflict is everything their Superman II cinematic dynamic was missing from the story. With that film, General Zod comes to Earth merely for payback, seeking retribution on Superman for the sins of his father Jor-El who had Zod and his minions imprisoned in The Phantom Zone. With this new film, their engagement takes a much more intimate tone for the two of them: General Zod seeks only what's best for what's left of the Kryptonian race, but Kal-El is of illicit birth and must be dealt with accordingly. By coming to Earth, Zod will pit the survival of Clark's adopted home against Superman's obedience under Kryptonian law. This more personal encounter, even moreso than in Superman II, will have us all invested in the endgame as Superman seeks to end Zod's reign of terror across the globe and also protect the planet he now calls home. But what kind of support, if any, will Superman have?