The new Superman trailer has sparked a buzz among fans, especially anime enthusiasts, for its intriguing opening scene. The trailer begins with Superman falling from the sky and crashing into an icy expanse, where he lands in a pose that immediately caught the attention of Dragon Ball Z fans. Superman’s position—curled on his side in a small crater—bears an uncanny resemblance to the infamous “Yamcha pose,” a hallmark of failure and defeat immortalized by Yamcha’s death at the hands of a Saibaman in Dragon Ball Z.
The Yamcha Connection
For those unfamiliar, the Yamcha pose originates from a moment in Dragon Ball Z when the character Yamcha meets his demise during a battle against the Saibamen—humanoid creatures cultivated by Vegeta to test Earth’s defenders. The pose, marked by Yamcha lying defeated in a crater, has since become a widely recognized meme symbolizing failure, particularly in situations where success was improbable or doomed by one’s own missteps.
Superman adopting this pose has fueled speculation. Was this an intentional nod to anime fans, or simply a coincidence born from practical staging? While it’s true there are limited ways a body can fall dramatically—side poses allow for slow reveals of injuries or emotional moments—James Gunn, the writer and director of the film, is known for his pop culture savvy. It’s plausible that Gunn included this pose deliberately, playing into the collective consciousness of a generation raised on Dragon Ball Z.
The scene does more than just pay homage to a meme. It establishes a key theme of the film: Superman’s vulnerability. Known for his near-invincibility, Superman is often criticized as being too powerful, making his stories predictable or devoid of stakes. The trailer’s imagery subverts this by showing a Superman who bleeds, struggles, and faces genuine challenges. This isn’t an all-powerful god but a hero who must fight to prove himself, which resonates with both long-time fans and newer audiences seeking relatable characters.
Interestingly, the pose might carry a meta message as well. James Gunn has spoken openly about the immense pressure he’s under with this project, tasked with launching a new cinematic universe and revitalizing Superman’s appeal. The Yamcha-like pose could symbolize Gunn’s own battle against overwhelming odds, a subtle reflection of the stress and stakes he faces as he works to deliver a Superman film that lives up to fan expectations and critical scrutiny.
Whether intentional or not, the choice to mirror such an iconic anime moment is a clever move. It connects the Superman mythos to a broader cultural narrative, one that appeals to fans of both comic book and anime traditions. By referencing a universally recognized meme of failure and perseverance, Gunn might be signaling to audiences that this Superman, much like Yamcha, will rise again to fight another day.
In any case, the trailer sets the tone for a Superman story that feels fresh and human, emphasizing struggle, growth, and perhaps a touch of humor. Whether or not the Yamcha pose was deliberate, it’s already succeeded in sparking conversation and anticipation for the film.