Superman: Legacy Has a Chance to Right One of the Superhero Genre's Biggest Wrongs

Superman: Legacy will feature Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, who will hopefully fare much better than the actor's controversial X-Men movie character.


More members of the cast for Superman: Legacy have been revealed, and this goes beyond just the Man of Steel's usual supporting cast. Fellow heroes from the Justice League are seemingly already established, with one of them being Mr. Terrific. Played by Edi Gathegi, the DC hero isn't the actor's first foray into superhero movies.


Gathegi also portrayed Darwin in X-Men: First Class, though the role was a sadly short one. The fate of the character was something that rubbed many fans the wrong way. Thankfully, his presence in the new DC Universe movies can become far more prominent, especially if Mister Terrific has the same ties as his comic book counterpart.


X-Men: First Class Did Edi Gathegi Dirty


Based on a character that debuted in X-Men: Deadly Genesis #2 (by Ed Brubaker and Pete Woods), Darwin's presence in the prequel X-Men: First Class was, so far, his only major role outside the comics. In fact, his only other appearance was a cameo in the cartoon Wolverine and the X-Men, speaking to the mutant's obscurity. As his name might suggest, Darwin (real name Armando Muñoz) has the ability to evolve to survive any threat. For instance, his skin would become flame retardant against fire, while he would grow gills underwater (as seen in the movie). This logically should have made him the most resourceful and important mutant in Charles Xavier's first initial group of X-Men in the Fox X-Men Universe. But he didn't stay alive for very long.


In the middle of First Class, Darwin is attacked by the villainous Sebastian Shaw. Shaw's power allowed him to absorb energy and force to convert it into strength for himself. He had done so against a blast of energy shot at him by Alex Summers, aka Havok, using it offensively by putting it into Darwin's mouth. The latter's body shifts and mutates in an attempt to find the right defensive evolution. Sadly, it isn't enough, with the energy destroying him as he takes on a rocky appearance. This scene has been heavily criticized by fans, as it made no sense given Darwin's powers. There was nothing to suggest that he'd be unable to adapt to Havok's energy, and it made the previously established fact that he could adapt to anything seem anti-climactic. Add in the fact that some felt it was too close to the infamous "Black guy dies first" trope in movies, and Darwin's death became a notable sore sport for the X-Men film.


Mister Terrific Can Be Huge for the DCU


While Mister Terrific might not be an A-list hero, especially outside the comics, he's still a prominent part of the DCU whose presence in Superman: Legacy has a lot of potential going forward. Mister Terrific, a.k.a. Michael Hoult, is the third-smartest man in the world, with his scientific genius being employed for all manner of incredible inventions. He took the name Mister Terrific after being inspired by the story of Terry Sloane, the first man to use that name. He would thereafter become a major part of the Justice Society of America, though he also has ties to the Justice League. These combined resources mean that Mister Terrific can appear throughout various DC Universe projects and fit in, as showcased by his planned appearance in Superman: Legacy.


Whether he gets a solo movie or TV show, Mister Terrific could be used to showcase the Justice League's roster while also connecting to the long legacy of the Justice Society. The latter might be just as necessary to establish, as it's now unlikely that the JSA from the failed film Black Adam will be returning in any capacity. This is a huge step up from Darwin, who himself was never a major part of the comics. Given how much DC Studios' creative lead and Superman: Legacy director James Gunn has his proverbial finger on the pulse of superhero movies, he likely realizes how important it is to give Gathegi a lot of worthy material. Not only will this be reverent to Mister Terrific's fanbase, but it will also keep from repeating the mistakes made with Darwin. Given how much Gunn seems to love the character as a whole, Gathegi's terrific new superhero will likely be hanging around the DC Universe for quite a while.

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