One of the most exciting and most anticipated things about James Gunn’s upcomingSupermanmovie is the introduction of fan-favorite yet underrated DC characters into the DCU, including, perhaps most notably,Green LanternGuy Gardner. Despite being a hero, Guy is typically a character that fans love to hate. With his character as part of the lineup, Gunn has the perfect opportunity to do something hilarious in cinema that will makeSuperman(2025) pure perfection.
Ever since it was revealed thatGuy Gardner would be one of the heroesfeatured in theSupermanmovie, comic fans have been buzzing with excitement and sharing their expectations for the character. Simply put, Guy Gardner at his best is an overconfident jerk who annoys his fellow heroes as much as he saves the day.
Given Guy’s distinct and well-known personality, fans were thrilled to hearNathan Fillion, the actor playing Guy, confirm that the character will indeed be a“jerk”in the movie.With this confirmation in mind, there is one Green Lantern scene from Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis’sJustice League#5 (1987) that perfectly captures Guy’s essence and deserves a spot in theSupermanmovie, even if it needs a slight tweak to fit.
What Is Green Lantern Guy Gardner’s Famous & Fan-Loved“One Punch”Scene?
Comic Page Comes fromJustice League#5 (1987) by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire, Al Gordon, Gene D’Angelo
MostGuy Gardner fans are well familiar withJustice League#5 and its famous moment simply known as“The Punch.”In this issue,Guy Gardner and Batmanget into an argument, with Guy demanding that the Dark Knight hand over leadership to someone who actually knows how to lead, implying, of course, that he means himself. After a few hilariously cutting remarks from Batman, Guy loses his cool and demands a fistfight to settle things. Captain Marvel tries to talk Bruce down, but Batman tells him to stay out of it.
In true Batman fashion, Bruce goads Guy until he’s the first to make a move.Guy lunges at him, but before he can land a punch, Batman knocks him out cold with a single hit.Captain Marvel, Mister Miracle, and Blue Beetle all witness the moment, with Ted Kord nearly falling over from laughter at Bruce’s brutal and efficient takedown. Martian Manhunter and Black Canary arrive moments later to find Guy unconscious on the floor. After learning what happened, Dinah is visibly disappointed that she missed the chance to see Guy get put in his place.
Later, Batman fills in Wonder Woman and Superman on the incident. Diana finds it amusing, while Clark is initially shocked and tries to take the moral high ground, reprimandingBatman for hitting a fellow League member. As Superman begins to argue about the optics, Bruce cuts him off, pointing out that Miracle and Beetle laughed, and even J’onn smiled. Eventually, Superman drops the stern act and asks if it felt good to punch him, which Bruce confirms. Wonder Woman then shares that Black Canary was so delighted by the whole thing that she faxed her a photo of Guy knocked out. With its perfect mix of comedy and character dynamics,it’s no surprise that this scene has become one of the most iconic moments associated with Guy Gardner.
With No Batman, How Could the“One Punch”Scene Work In James Gunn’sSupermanMovie?
While the exact scene from the comics can’t happen inSuperman(2025), since Batman hasn’t been introduced in James Gunn’s DCU yet, fans would still love to see Guy Gardner get a well-deserved punch to the face from a fellow hero. WithNathan Fillion confirming that Guy Gardnerwill be portrayed as a jerk, audiences can expect him to antagonize other heroes in the film, just as he often does in the comics. That’s why it would be incredibly satisfying to see a typically calm and non-superpowered hero put Guy in his place with a well-timed punch. Of the confirmed characters in the movie, Mister Terrific stands out as the best option.
Although Batman isn’t available to deliver the punch, Mister Terrific is a fitting alternative. Like Bruce, he has no superpowers, is highly intelligent, and tends to be one of the more composed and mature members of the Justice League. Because of these similarities, a moment where Mister Terrific knocks out Guy would carry the same kind of weight and humor as the original scene. While the setup would need to be adjusted to fit the story, fans would still enjoy a nod to this iconic moment (even if it’s just a brief or cut scene) that helped defineGreen LanternGuy Gardner’s character.
Green Lantern
Green Lantern is the name given to multiple enforcers of intergalactic justice in the DC Universe. Green Lanterns can harness the cosmic energy of willpower, and create unique spectral objects to face off against their enemies. Though some Green Lanterns have assisted with the Justice League, they primarily belong to the Green Lantern Corps.
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
