February 2025 – a new Superman comics series from Dan Slott finally hits store shelves. Most fans got to see the original cover, featuring characters from all over the Man of Steel’s publication history. However, a lucky few got the official variant cover, which features the latest live-action Superman, David Corenswet… alongside James Gunn, who now calls the shots in the revamped DCU.
Now, it’s not the first time we’ve seen guest stars on the cover of a comic book. Remember when Jerry Seinfeld appeared on a cover with Superman and Batman? That said, it seems as if James Gunn is now in everything DC-related. And I mean everything – from comics, to TV shows, and even animated cameos, the DCU might as well be the Gunniverse from now on.
Granted, there’s nothing wrong with the idea of a Gunniverse: after all, the Snyderverse engraved Zack Snyder’s visual panache all over its films. However, there’s a line between a director’s creative imprint and turning the creator into a literal mascot. Gunn’s new status as the apparent king of DC feels less like a behind-the-scenes overhaul and more like a metatextual experiment.
It almost feels as if Gunn is turning himself into the Uatu of the DC Universe: an all-knowing entity keeping the very fabric of the Megaverse together. For all we know, he might have his own “Stan Lee moment” in the upcoming Superman film. The difference being that not even The Man himself ever blurred the lines as much between creator and character this aggressively.
What’s most puzzling about this “Insert James Gunn everywhere” marketing tactic we’re seeing is the timing. Gunn’s live-action DCU hasn’t even fully launched yet, and already his presence looms larger than the heroes he’s meant to elevate. While Snyder’s influence was felt through tone and aesthetic, Gunn’s is becoming literal: his face, voice, and style are now interwoven into DC’s marketing, storytelling, and merchandise. It’s a risky gambit.
That said, there’s a reason why Gunn gets so much recognition. Gunn’s name carries weight with fans, and his irreverent, offbeat style could help distance DC from its recent struggles – even if he risks overshadowing the characters he’s trying to represent. Perhaps this is the natural endpoint of Hollywood’s auteur-driven era, where directors aren’t just storytellers but franchises unto themselves.
Sure, at some points, it can feel as if the DCU is a vanity project for Gunn, but the filmmaker’s track record speaks for itself. He somehow resurrected The Suicide Squad and later brought a character like Peacemaker into mainstream popularity, which, to be honest, is just as difficult as turning Polka-Dot Man into a layered character. Gunn is an expert at turning franchises into experiences, just as he did with the Guardians of the Galaxy before he joined DC.
His behind-the-scenes TikTok videos, candid Instagram posts, and willingness to engage with trolls make him feel less like a studio suit and more like the guy at your local comic shop arguing about All-Star Superman. At a time when comic book films are losing that unique “spark” that made them relatable in the first place, and progressively turning more and more into corporate projects, that sort of relatability is pure gold for fans. So why not let some of that spotlight and relatability spill over onto your characters? Now that is a cinematic universe I’m sure most DC (and Marvel) fans would love to see.
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