Man Of Steel Artist Defends One Of Zack Snyder’s Most Controversial Scenes

Besides working with Zack Snyder on «Man of Steel» and «Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,» Jay Oliva has directed a number of DC animated films, including «Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox» and «Justice League Dark.» As one of DC’s most consistent creatives, and one of Snyder’s most prominent collaborators, fans should digest his take as one of authority when he defends the sequence he helped bring to life. Oliva continued his response on X by suggesting a scenario that would have seen bystanders saved (if there were any to begin with). «But I can also say that whatever bystander was in danger the flash came in and whisked them away to safety throughout the destruction of metropolis,» Oliva said, adding that Doctor Fate or any other DC hero would have also helped.

Over a decade after the release of «Man of Steel,» fans still debate Superman’s actions and the resulting destruction, and maybe they’re not wrong. Scientist and disaster expert Charles Watson worked with Buzzfeed following the film’s release to deduce just how much the damage to the city would have cost, estimating the initial repairs at $700 billion. Watson also estimates that 129,000 known people would have been killed during the attacks, with nearly a million people injured.

While Oliva is fair to defend that one sequence, it doesn’t undermine the fact that Superman is partially responsible for the destruction of Metropolis. The silver lining here, however, is how Snyder tied Superman’s destruction into the film’s sequel, «Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.»