Who Is Ultraman in James Gunn’s Superman? Identity Finally Revealed

James Gunn’s Superman reboot threw fans a curveball when Ultraman showed up. The mystery around who was inside that mask kept everyone guessing. Some thought it might be Supergirl gone rogue. Others whispered about Apollo from the Authority. Some folks even crossed their fingers for Doomsday.

Now that the movie’s out, we know the truth. It’s not Apollo. It’s not Kara. It’s not some random alien. It’s actually Superman himself — kind of.

Who Really Is Ultraman?

Turns out Ultraman is a clone. Lex Luthor cooked him up using a single strand of Clark Kent’s hair. That’s classic Luthor. If he can’t beat Superman the regular way, he’ll build something that can. But this clone isn’t just a carbon copy. He’s twisted. He’s brainwashed. Luthor pulls the strings by barking out coded commands. When Ultraman first hits the screen, he’s the so-called Hammer of Boravia, knocking Superman around like he’s nothing.

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By the end of the movie, Ultraman sheds the armor. He teams up with the Engineer for a second brawl with Supes. But Clark turns the tables by breaking Lex’s mind control. Then he does what he does best — finds another way. He doesn’t kill Ultraman. He tosses him into a dimensional rift. That’s it. For now.

Is Ultraman Like Bizarro?

Comic fans hear “Superman clone” and think Bizarro. And they’re right to. Bizarro’s been around since the late 50s. He’s Superman’s weird mirror. In comics, Bizarro is broken. He says the opposite of what he means. His powers flip too — freeze vision instead of heat vision, stuff like that. He’s iconic in his own goofy way.

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Ultraman’s roots are different. The name comes from Earth-3 in DC comics. There, Ultraman is Superman’s evil counterpart. He’s part of the Crime Syndicate — basically a Justice League made of villains. Owlman, Power Ring, Johnny Quick. All the worst versions of heroes you know.

Gunn mixing Bizarro’s clone story with Ultraman’s Crime Syndicate name is classic him. He loves stitching comic history together and adding his spin. That dimensional rift Ultraman got tossed into? Comic fans are already wondering if he’s headed to Earth-3 or Bizarro World. Maybe he comes back weirder. Maybe there’s a twisted Justice League waiting for him.

Gunn said the next Superman flick won’t be a straight sequel. Supergirl’s next up. But that doesn’t mean Ultraman’s story is done. Peacemaker season 2 is around the corner too. That show is rumored to mess with alternate realities. Feels like the perfect place for Ultraman to pop back up.

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For now, he’s floating in the void. But if you know comics, clones never stay gone. Especially when they’re wearing that big S on their chest.