After 25 Years, DC's Most Underrated Hero Is Making a Stand As Superman Promises to Make Mr. Terrific Shine

The release of the trailer for James Gunn's Superman film has set the Internet abuzz, in no small part due to its vibrant cast composed of many underrated DC characters. One standout inclusion is a long time coming, with Edi Gathegi bringing DC Comics superstar Mister Terrific to life in his first appearance on the big screen.

The Superman trailer has generated a lot of discussion for its willingness to dip into DC's more obscure cast of characters, with Krypto the Super Dog, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Hawkgirl all given premier billing. The appearance of Mister Terrific near the trailer's end is a welcome surprise, as this marks his big-screen debut despite being a major player in DC Comics for decades.

Despite being relatively obscure outside the comics, Mister Terrific is a lynchpin character in the DC universe, serving as the backbone for many critical superhero organizations, like the Justice Society of America and the Justice League.

Mr. Terrific Makes His Movie Debut in Superman - But Who Is He in DC Comics?

Super-Genius Michael Holt Is the Backbone of the Contemporary DC Universe

Created by Charles Reizenstein and Hal Sharp, the first Mr. Terrific - the genius Olympian with the motto of "Fair Play" named Terry Sloane - debuted in 1941's Sensation Comics #1. Despite his tenure in the Justice Society, Mister Terrific fell into relative obscurity until the name was passed to Michael Holt in The Spectre #54 by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake. Now, as the genius mind behind the cutting-edge research company Terrifitech, Michael Holt simultaneously fights for justice with his signature "T-Spheres" while providing critical support for a significant portion of DC's superhero community.

Contemporary comics are quick to turn to Mister Terrific in times of crisis, as he's become one of DC's top innovators, placing him in the company of Batman's Waynetech, the Superman-backed Steelworks, and Blue Beetle's Kord Industries. Mister Terrific is integral to much of DC's superhero infrastructure: he has served as the JSA's chairperson, mentors younger heroes like Kid Flash, and was a key member of the superhero resistance during Mark Waid and Dan Mora's Absolute Power event. Currently, he is one of the key architects and overseers of the new "Justice League Unlimited" Watchtower space station.

Mr. Terrific Is Long Overdue for a Film Appearance

One Of DC's Most Important Characters Has One of the Smallest Film and TV Presences

For all that Mister Terrific does in the comics, his film and TV presence is startlingly anemic. Although Mister Terrific has made appearances in the DC Animated Universe as early as Justice League Unlimited and as recently as the Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths animated movies, his televised role as a supporting character does not do justice to the impact of his comic-book counterpart. Additionally, Mister Terrific has only had a single live-action iteration, with the character played by Echo Kellum in the CW's Arrow and its connected "Arrowverse" shows from 2015 to 2020.

Mister Terrific's inclusion in Superman promises to be a major step in bringing the character's pop culture presence more closely in line with his role in comic continuity. This role is a major win for one of DC Comics' biggest characters, who has gone largely unheralded in other media - until now. There is a lot to be excited about when Superman finally hits theaters, but one of the biggest wins has to be Mister Terrific's big-screen recognition, which he's been missing for over twenty-five years.