All 8 DCU Characters Who Appear In James Gunn's HBO Max Superman Series' New Episode

Published Oct 3, 2026, 5:10 PM EDT Felipe Rangel is a Movie and TV Journalist ScreenRant. He has been writing about movies and TV since 2021. Felipe joined ScreenRant in 2022, working across different teams, covering everything from breaking news to features to reviews and more. Felipe is a writer who is an avid film and TV fan, with superhero movies and series being his biggest passion. He graduated from college in 2019, having studied Journalism. Before college, he spent a month studying at the Oxford English Centre. His superhero knowledge expands to the comics, with his undergraduate thesis being "Politics Reflected In American Comics." Sign in to your ScreenRant account This Superman spin-off series, executive produced by James Gunn, just returned with a new episode on HBO Max, and it features quite a few characters who have already appeared in the new DC Universe. One of the biggest problems of the DCEU movie timeline was the fact that key heroes went years without appearing in the shared universe. Even Superman suffered from that. Henry Cavill tried to get a Man of Steel sequel off the ground for years, to no success, and ended up being replaced by David Corenswet when the new DCU took shape. At least now, Gunn is ensuring that fans get to see their favorite characters multiple times in the DCU Chapter One. For instance, Corenswet's Superman had a cameo in 2024's Creature Commandos, led 2025''s Superman, had a supporting role in 2026's Supergirl, and will lead 2027's Man of Tomorrow. That is four DCU appearances in as many years. Other characters, such as Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner in Superman, Peacemaker season 2, and Lanterns, have also shown up several times throughout the DCU's first few projects. Metropolis · Daily Planet Edition SupermanTrivia Challenge 🌏OriginsLast son ☠VillainsKneel! ⚡PowersInvincible 🎥FilmsBelieve 💫LegacyHope UP, UP AND AWAY! → 01 Before he was Clark Kent, Superman was born Kal-El on a distant planet doomed to destruction. His parents Jor-El and Lara placed him in a rocket ship as an infant, sending him across the cosmos to Earth. What is the name of Superman’s home planet? AThanagar BKrypton CApokolips DOa ✓ Correct! Krypton was a scientifically advanced planet that exploded due to its unstable core. Jor-El, Superman’s father, was the only scientist who foresaw the catastrophe and managed to save his son by launching him toward Earth in a small spacecraft. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Krypton. Thanagar is Hawkman’s homeworld, Apokolips is Darkseid’s domain, and Oa is the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps. Krypton’s destruction is the defining event of Superman’s origin story. NEXT → 02 Superman’s greatest love is a fearless, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who works alongside Clark Kent at the Daily Planet. She’s known for her relentless pursuit of the truth and for being one of the few people who sees both the hero and the man. Who is she? ADiana Prince BLana Lang CLois Lane DCat Grant ✓ Correct! Lois Lane has been Superman’s primary love interest since her debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938. A brilliant investigative reporter, she’s as iconic as Superman himself — tough, smart, and unafraid to chase the biggest stories in Metropolis. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lois Lane. Diana Prince is Wonder Woman, Lana Lang is Clark’s high school sweetheart from Smallville, and Cat Grant is a gossip columnist at the Daily Planet. Lois Lane is Superman’s iconic partner. NEXT → 03 Despite being nearly invulnerable under Earth’s yellow sun, Superman has one famous weakness — a radioactive mineral from the remnants of his destroyed homeworld. Exposure to it drains his powers and can even kill him. What is this substance called? AKryptonite BVibranium CNth Metal DRed Sun Ore ✓ Correct! Kryptonite is the irradiated remnants of planet Krypton. Green Kryptonite is the most common and deadly variety, but there are many other types — Red Kryptonite causes unpredictable behavior, Gold Kryptonite can permanently strip his powers, and Blue Kryptonite affects Bizarro. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Kryptonite. Vibranium is from Marvel’s Black Panther universe, Nth Metal is tied to Hawkman, and Red Sun Ore isn’t a real DC substance. Kryptonite is the iconic green-glowing mineral that is Superman’s ultimate weakness. NEXT → 04 In 1978, a then-unknown actor donned the cape and made the world believe a man could fly. His portrayal of Superman became the gold standard for superhero films and he starred in four Superman movies. Who is this legendary actor? AHenry Cavill BBrandon Routh CTom Welling DChristopher Reeve ✓ Correct! Christopher Reeve’s portrayal in Superman: The Movie (1978) is widely regarded as the definitive live-action Superman. His performance perfectly balanced the heroic confidence of Superman with the endearing clumsiness of Clark Kent, setting the template every Superman actor has followed since. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Christopher Reeve. Henry Cavill played Superman in the DCEU starting with Man of Steel (2013), Brandon Routh starred in Superman Returns (2006), and Tom Welling played young Clark in TV’s Smallville. Reeve was the original big-screen Superman. NEXT → 05 Superman’s greatest enemy isn’t a superpowered alien — he’s a brilliant, ruthless human billionaire who believes Superman is a threat to humanity’s potential. This bald-headed genius has been Superman’s archenemy for over 80 years. Who is he? ABrainiac BLex Luthor CDarkseid DDoomsday ✓ Correct! Lex Luthor is the ultimate foil to Superman — where Superman represents hope and selflessness, Luthor represents ambition and ego. Despite having no superpowers, his genius-level intellect and vast resources make him Superman’s most persistent and dangerous adversary. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lex Luthor. Brainiac is an alien android who collects cities, Darkseid is the god-like ruler of Apokolips, and Doomsday is the monster who famously killed Superman. But Lex Luthor is the definitive archenemy — Superman’s dark mirror. NEXT → 06 After crash-landing on Earth as a baby, Kal-El was found and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, a kind farming couple. They raised him with strong moral values in a small rural town. Where did Clark Kent grow up? AGotham City BMetropolis CSmallville, Kansas DCoast City ✓ Correct! Smallville, Kansas is the quintessential American small town where Jonathan and Martha Kent raised Clark with heartland values of honesty, compassion, and humility. It’s the foundation of who Superman is — not the powers from Krypton, but the character instilled by his Kansas parents. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Smallville, Kansas. Gotham is Batman’s city, Metropolis is where Clark moves as an adult to work at the Daily Planet, and Coast City is Green Lantern’s home. Smallville is where the Kents raised Clark on their farm. NEXT → 07 As Clark Kent, Superman disguises himself as a mild-mannered reporter working at Metropolis’s most famous newspaper, alongside Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen. Their editor-in-chief Perry White runs the newsroom. What is the name of this newspaper? ADaily Planet BDaily Bugle CMetropolis Star DGotham Gazette ✓ Correct! The Daily Planet, with its iconic globe on the rooftop, is one of the most recognizable fictional newspapers in pop culture. Working there gives Clark Kent both a cover identity and a way to stay informed about threats to the city and the world. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is the Daily Planet. The Daily Bugle is Spider-Man’s Marvel universe newspaper, the Metropolis Star and Gotham Gazette are lesser DC publications. The Daily Planet — with its spinning globe — is Superman’s journalistic home. NEXT → 08 This Kryptonian military commander was banished to the Phantom Zone for treason before Krypton’s destruction. He escaped and came to Earth seeking vengeance, famously demanding that others “Kneel before” him. His iconic portrayal by Terence Stamp cemented him in pop culture. Who is this villain? ABizarro BParasite CMetallo DGeneral Zod ✓ Correct! General Zod is one of Superman’s most terrifying foes because he has all of Superman’s powers but none of his morality. Terence Stamp’s portrayal in Superman II (1980) made “Kneel before Zod” one of the most quoted villain lines in film history. Michael Shannon later reimagined the role in Man of Steel (2013). ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is General Zod. Bizarro is a flawed clone of Superman, Parasite drains powers through touch, and Metallo is a cyborg with a Kryptonite heart. General Zod is the Kryptonian military leader whose cry of “Kneel before Zod!” echoes through decades of Superman stories. REVEAL MY SCORE → Mission Complete Your Kryptonian Record / 8 Are you the Man of Steel — or still stuck in a phone booth? ↻ FLY AGAIN In the middle of all that is Krypto Saves the Day! Season 2, which just released a new episode on HBO Max this Thursday, October 1. The animated series of shorts is not canon to the DCU, as confirmed by Gunn. However, it is directly inspired by the franchise, with several characters who look close to their DCU counterparts, as well as character dynamics and scenarios like the Supergirl movie's space bus ride, being used by the series. Now, multiple DCU characters have shown up in Krypto Saves the Day! Season 2, episode 2, including: 8 The Engineer The Engineer was played by María Gabriela de Faría in Superman, being one of the villains working with Lex Luthor. Alongside Ultraman, she fought Corenswet's Superman in the DCU movie, with the Engineer's technological enhancements also being how Lex managed to get a hold of the message Jor-El and his wife left for their son, Kal-El, and translate it. As such, she was crucial to the main plot of the movie. In Krypto Saves the Day! Season 2, this animated version of the Engineer does not show up because of an evil plan. Angela Spica has a quick cameo as she turns her right hand into tongs to flip the sausages she has on the grill in a barbecue in the park. Initially, the DCU announced a movie for The Authority, the team the Engineer is a part of, but that has been put on the back burner. Gunn claimed her DCU future would be revealed in 2027's Man of Tomorrow. 7 Baby Joey Baby Joey is a minor DC character and the son of Metamorpho. He debuted in the DCU in Gunn's Superman movie, being used as blackmail to keep Metamorpho in check. However, Superman broke out of Lex's interdimensional prison, rescuing both Metamorpho and Baby Joey while doing so. Now, the adorable green baby has made his comeback in the non-canon Superman spin-off series on HBO Max. Baby Joey is another DCU character to make a cameo in Krypto Saves the Day! Season 2, episode 2, appearing with his dad, Metamorpho. Baby Joey can be seen wearing a diaper and laughing as Metamorpho is about to feed him something out of a spoon. Krypto and his new robot friend dig tunnels around them, which shocks Metamorpho. Baby Joey's DCU future is unconfirmed. As mentioned, Metamorpho is one of the DCU characters who show up in the latest episode of Krypto Saves the Day! Season 2, doing so with his son, Baby Joey. Given how sad their role in Superman was, it was great to see Metamorpho and Baby Joey in a happy scenario, having a picnic in the park without a care in the world. As far as his DCU future goes, Anthony Carrigan's Metamorpho could appear alongside the rest of the Justice Gang, the team he joined at the end of Gunn's Superman movie, in 2027's Man of Tomorrow. Additionally, according to a recent report from Murphy's Multiverse, Metamorpho will appear in HBO Max's upcoming series The People v. Gorilla Grodd alongside Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, and Maxwell Lord, though that has yet to be confirmed. 5 Lobo Jason Momoa finally got to play Lobo, the DC character he spent years saying how much he loved and wanted to get the chance to play, leaving Aquaman behind to enter a new universe in 2026's Supergirl. Lobo was an agent of chaos in the DCU movie, operating by his own rules, though he did end up helping Supergirl and her companion, Ruthye, against Krem of the Yellow Hills. Lobo was one of the DCU characters on the list who had already appeared in Krypto Saves the Day! Season 2's first episode, where he rode his motorcycle in space and looked at Kara and Krypto from afar. In episode 2, Lobo is on Earth, and Krypto runs after his bike with the Super Dog's new robot friend. The latter eventually uses a magnet to catch the bike, but accidentally sends the vehicle and Lobo flying into a nearby apartment. Lobo's DCU future has yet to be confirmed. 4 Krypto As the name of the Superman spin-off series on HBO Max makes it easy to figure out, Krypto is the star of the show. The character not only appears in all episodes of both seasons of Krypto Saves the Day!, but he is the focus of every single one of them. As for his DCU future, that is also an easy question to answer. After all, Supergirl was back on Earth with Superman at the end of her solo movie. As such, when Kara shows up to help Clark in Gunn's Man of Tomorrow, Krypto should be by her side. 3 Lex Luthor Lex Luthor makes his Krypto Saves the Day! Season 2 debut in episode 2. The animated series sees Lex create the robot dog that ends up befriending Krypto, though the villain originally wanted to see him destroy Superman. Lex ends up being attacked by both Krypto and the robot he created. As far as his DCU future goes, Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor is ready for an upgrade. Gunn has confirmed that Lex will be the co-lead of Man of Tomorrow alongside Corenswet's Superman. Lex will also don his war suit from DC Comics as the villain reluctantly works with Superman to stop Brainiac. 2 Supergirl Supergirl is one of the biggest DCU characters to show up in the animated series inspired by Gunn's franchise. Kara sports a different suit in the show, without the many lines of the live-action design. In episode 2, Supergirl and Superman fight a giant monster together. Kara also appeared in episode 1, where Supergirl and Krypto went on a space bus ride similar to that of DC's Supergirl movie. As for her DCU future, Milly Alcock's Supergirl is confirmed to return in Man of Tomorrow, now having decided to make Earth her home. 1 Superman Via MovieStillsDB Finally, the main character of the DCU, Superman, makes his debut in Krypto Saves the Day! Season 2 in episode 2. As mentioned, the Man of Steel shows up to fight a threat that is reminiscent of the kaiju in the 2025 Superman movie, with Supergirl and later Krypto and his robot friend helping him. Corenswet will return as Superman to lead 2027's Man of Tomorrow, which will finally put the hero against Brainiac in a live-action movie. Based on how much the DCU is banking on Superman, a trilogy led by Corenswet, at the very least, is to be expected. For now, Krypto Saves the Day! holds down the fort while waiting for new DCU releases. First Film Man of Steel First TV Show Peacemaker Cast Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Cara Delevingne, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Zachary Levi, Dwayne Johnson, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett, Rosie Perez, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong, Ewan McGregor, Idris Elba, John Cena, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Xolo Mariduena Created by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson Character(s) Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Shazam, Darkseid, Amanda Waller, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Deadshot, Deathstroke, Black Canary, Black Adam Movie(s) Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, Shazam!, Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, Zack Snyder's Justice League, The Suicide Squad, Black Adam, Shazam! The Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, Superman, The Brave and the Bold