Contains spoilers for “Superman”

James Gunn’s “Superman” brings a novel approach to the iconic superhero, propelling the DC Universe into a new era. The “Superman” trailer is teeming with both heroes and adversaries, each contributing to the plot, but a single character holds an intriguing hidden identity.

Ultraman, a Superman clone fashioned by Lex Luthor, makes his debut disguised in a colossal mech suit known as The Hammer of Boravia, wreaking havoc on Metropolis. Upon exiting the suit, he bears a resemblance to Black Noir from “The Boys” due to his ninja-like attire and silence. Alone, Ultraman seems to possess powers nearly identical to Superman’s, and by the film’s conclusion, we uncover the reason.

Once Ultraman’s mask is removed, David Corenswet’s visage is revealed. Luthor explains that the cloning process left Ultraman with diminished intelligence compared to an average person, making him easier to manipulate while amplifying his Kryptonian abilities. Nevertheless, with strategic thinking, Superman effectively outsmarts his stronger clone.

“Superman” is full of little nods for comic book readers to enjoy, but Ultraman’s origin in the movie is one of the biggest deviations from the source material. Not to be confused with Ultra-Man, a completely separate character in the DC universe, Ultraman was first introduced in 1964. Originally, he came from an alternate universe where he and a group called the Crime Syndicate of America took over Earth-Three. Ultraman didn’t start interacting with the heroes of the main DC universe until after he’d taken over an entire world, so he was a natural enemy for characters like Superman. The “New 52” DC Comics story reboot refreshed Ultraman’s origin story and gave him the name Kal-Il, but in the current continuity he’s still an alternate-universe version of Superman.

It’s not surprising that David Corenswet plays Ultraman in James Gunn’s “Superman,” but making Ultraman a clone was a great change from the comics. Instead of weighing “Superman” down with the mass of yet another multiverse, the cloning story gives Ultraman the powers he needs in a way that’s quick and easy to explain. Ultraman is really just a side villain in the movie, and his origin in the DCU lets us keep our attention on the real evil mastermind, Lex Luthor. Check out Looper’s review of “Superman” to see how well we think the movie sets up the DCU for success.