Writer David S. Goyer weighs in on Superman killing Zod in the climax of "Man of Steel."
While the 2013 blockbuster kicked off DC's Expanded Universe of movies, the film was still received with mixed reviews. One particular scene that has been scrutinized by critics is Superman's decision to kill General Zod to end their highly-destructive Battle of Metropolis.
The controversial scene has been defended previously by director Zack Snyder.
"You can't just have superheroes knock around and have there be no consequences," Synder told Entertainment Weekly.
Now, the "Man of Steel" writer follows suit and offers his thoughts in an interview with Nerdist.
"The way I work, the way Chris [Nolan] works, is you do what's right for the story. That exists entirely separately from what fans should or shouldn't think of that character. You have to do what's right for the story," Goyer explained. "In that instance, this was a Superman who had only been Superman for like, a week."
Goyer's point is that Superman was not yet, at the time, the hero we all know him to be like in the comics. Furthermore, he was going up against Zod who is a member of the Kryptonian military who has been bred to kill.
"He wasn't Superman as we think of him in the DC Comics...or even in a world that conceived of Superman existing. He'd only flown for the first time a few days before that. He'd never fought anyone that had super powers before."
"'You can have your race back, but you have to kill your adopted race,' the moral, horrible situation to be in is to actually be forced to kill, not wanting to, the only other person from your race," he added. "Take Superman aside, I think that's the right way to tell that story."
