Those who know me well, know that Superman is my favorite superhero. I grew up reading all sorts of superheroes, and enjoy many of them, but Superman always held a special place in my heart. Sure, he’s nearly infinitely powerful and can fly and all that. But power and flight are table stakes for superheroes these days. Superman’s real superpower was that he chose to do good, to do what was right, because it was right. He wasn’t conflicted. He wasn’t an anti-hero. Superman is hope, incarnate.

God knows we could use more pure good, more hope, in our real world.

So I’ve been eagerly anticipating James Gunn’s reboot of the DC Universe, starting with Superman. Each trailer has indicated more than the previous one that Gunn gets it, that Superman is a man of good more than a man of steel. The powers are a means to an end, that end being to be an example of the best that humanity can be. (Gunn has also remembered that Superman has a dog, Krypto, which makes the whole even more exciting to me).

All the above is to impart just how much this forthcoming movie means to me. And now we get to the title of the blog.

The other night, my wife was trimming our children’s nails. None of our kids particularly enjoy when the nail clippers come out; our 2.5 year old son in particular. So while clipping their nails, we had YouTube playing on our TV set, showing them cartoons and trailers, things they might enjoy, to distract them.

After one trailer (I think the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, our 4.5 year-old daughter likes the animated versions), the “up next” was a trailer for James Gunn’s Superman. “Do you want to watch this one?” I asked. “Superman is my favorite superhero!”

They agreed, and we watched the trailer:

When it was over, our son, who is just learning to speak, squeaks out:

“…more fuperman.”

We ended up watching both trailers, the 5 minute sneak peak, the 2 minute behind-the-scenes short. After each one, “More fuperman! More fuperman!”

For the last two nights, before bed, at least once, we’ve been hearing, “More fuperman!”

I’m guessing that the James Gunn movie would be a bit over the head of a 2.5 year old. I’ll find out soon (mom and dad already pre-purchased tickets for opening day). But he has no idea how happy it makes me to see such a strong, positive reaction to Superman. You could do far worse, son, than to make a beacon of hope one of your north stars.