One of the interesting surprises from this summer’s hit movie Superman, was that its most popular character was not the so-called protagonist, Superman, but rather the amazing Mr. Terrific. Naturally, some of Mr. Terrific’s “rizz,” especially among fans who only know the DC cinematic universe (DCU), comes from the fact that they had never seen him before. However, for fans of the DC Comics universe, his exceptionalism on and off the battlefield is nothing new. Indeed, while he doesn’t command the spotlight like Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman, he has definitely proven himself to be a reliable top-level hero who is equally comfortable taking out foes with his brains, brawn, or tech support.
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While Superman offered an intriguing glimpse into Mr. Terrific’s character, fans have made it clear they want more. With confirmation of a Superman sequel, along with the upcoming Supergirl film and Lantern television series, there’s more than ample opportunity for DC Studios head James Gunn to greenlight an expanded role for Mr. Terrific in the evolving DCU. If that happens, several key moments from the DC Comics universe could provide a “terrific” opportunity to introduce DCU audiences to what longtime comics fans already know about the legend of Mr. Terrific.
5) The Terry Sloan Effect
Despite his association with cutting-edge technologies, Mr. Terrific is actually a Golden Age hero – or at least the original one was. As revealed in The Spectre (1992) #54, before Michael Holt was born, there was Terry Sloan, who, like Holt, was a smart and wealthy businessperson who was also extremely athletic.
Bored and uncertain about his life’s purpose, Sloan found his calling during an unexpected encounter. When a group of young wannabe gangsters attempted to attack him, he made a pivotal decision. Determined to demonstrate that glorifying criminal behavior was not the right path, Sloan became a masked vigilante. His goal was to provide a better role model for youth, showing that heroism doesn’t require superpowers.
Sloan adopted the name Mr. Terrific and became one of the top non-powered heroes of his era, even serving with the Justice Society of America (JSA) until he was ultimately killed by the Flash while possessed by the Spirit King.
Holt’s Mr. Terrific mirrors the origin of Sloan’s hero – a smart, wealthy martial artist who, after his wife is killed in a car accident, feels there’s nothing left to live for. However, an encounter with street punks and the Spectre changes his mind, reviving his hope to continue Sloan’s legacy as the modern version of Mr. Terrific. Notably, in JSA (1999) #70, the two characters meet through a significant time-travel storyline. Although this story isn’t particularly relevant to a specific Superman storyline, it’s a crucial element in understanding Mr. Terrific’s character and mindset. Given his potential prominence in Gunn’s DCU, a detailed flashback or solo exploration would be essential for character development.
4) Leading the Justice Society of America
Just a few years after embarking on his career as a superhero, Mr. Terrific earned one of the profession’s most coveted roles: a position with one of the oldest superhero teams in comicdom — the Justice Society of America (JSA). Even more remarkably, shortly after joining the team, as revealed in JSA (1999) #27, he was elected its chairperson — a role held by only a handful of members throughout the organization’s long history.
Previous chairs include such legends as Jay Garrick’s Flash, Carter Hall’s Hawkman, and Alan Scott’s Green Lantern. The position is highly significant, awarded based on a hero’s proven ability, respect among their peers, and skill in effectively leading a team of powerful alpha personalities. Mr. Terrific held the chair longer than any other member except Hawkman, who served for over a decade.
This story gives Mr. Terrific a healthy amount of gravitas that wasn’t apparent in his depiction in the Superman movie. Highlighting this in future DCU iterations would help justify why he was so high-powered in the film. To be sure, more than a few viewers were shocked that a character they’d never heard of could be so effective and “so smooth,” especially in his interactions with Superman. Including his leadership of the JSA in future DCU projects will illustrate that his experience in taking on threats, leading heroes, and speaking truth to power isn’t a quirk but a basic tool in his arsenal.
3) Mr. Terrific and the Terrifics
A great way to dive into Mr. Terrific’s backstory is through his adventures with the Terrifics, a team he founded after the Dark Nights: Metal crossover event. He brought the group together to investigate a signal he detected coming from the Dark Multiverse.
This team is unlike any other. The four members — Mr. Terrific, Plastic Man, Phantom Girl, and Metamorpho — are bonded together after a tragic accident, and must remain in close proximity to each other. If they separate, they risk losing their powers and their lives. This unique situation forces them to develop an asymmetrical fighting style that requires a high degree of trust and harmony, something that doesn’t come naturally to all the members. Throughout their adventures, with more room to improvise than he would have on a team like the JSA, Mr. Terrific shines in his roles as leader and benefactor,
Beyond Superman introducing half the team, The Terrifics would be an interesting addition to the DCU as a standalone film or television series. This would be an excellent opportunity to delve deeper into the dynamic between Mr. Terrific and Metamorpho. Furthermore, including Plastic Man — one of DC’s most recognizable heroes — would add to its appeal.
Even without the full team, Mr. Terrific has plenty of memorable moments from the Terrifics that could help establish him as a key DCU character. One effective approach would be to highlight how he transforms science into a superpower — a central theme of the series. Showcasing this in the DCU would emphasize the versatility of his technology, offering something new and fresh to the superhero film genre. Including parts of this time with the Terrifics would also highlight his ability to manage quirky personalities and would allow for more of a cosmic, sci-fi adventure, leaning into his inventor side.
2) Mr. Terrific’s Role in Checkmate Reform
After the Checkmate organization was corrupted during the Infinite Crisis event, Mr. Terrific was brought in to “clean house and right the ship.” He initially served as senior advisor to the head of the administrative and diplomatic divisions, but eventually inherited the position of White King when Alan Scott, the previous holder of the role, stepped down. In both positions — advisor and leader — Mr. Terrific drew on his intellect and technological expertise to stabilize the organization, revitalize it, and infuse it with his “fair play” philosophy. It was an intriguing chapter for a man who views the world in black and white, yet found himself operating in one steeped in moral gray.
Not only would including this chapter of Mr. Terrific’s life in the DCU be a compelling step into the world of spies and covert operations — something Gunn, considering his affinity for morally complex characters like Peacemaker, would probably love to explore — but it would also expose a different side of his personality beyond pure intellect. Instead, it would illustrate his strategic thinking, interpersonal skills, and how far he would go to break his own rules for the greater good. Introducing this storyline would allow the DCU to incorporate spy-thriller elements while expanding Mr. Terrific’s role from a geeky genius to a tactical mastermind.
1) Putting Batman in his Place
The genius of Mr. Terrific lies in the fact that he is, at his core, an ordinary human who uses his wealth, elite athleticism, and advanced technology to accomplish feats typically reserved for superhumans, metahumans, gods, and aliens. If that sounds similar to another well-known hero in the DC Comics universe, you would not be mistaken. If Batman is the aristocrat of the superhero world, then Mr. Terrific is its startup founder — disruptive, brilliant, and unapologetically modern.
However, Batman is believed to hold one clear advantage over Mr. Terrific – namely, experience. He rarely enters a situation without first studying his opponent, the environment, and the circumstances in detail. He fights only when the probability of success is high and, perhaps most importantly, he rarely admits defeat.
So, it should come as something of a surprise — as revealed in Tom King and Andy Kubert’s Superman Up In The Sky #6 —that Superman, of all people, believes that Mr. Terrific is smarter than Batman. conducting a threat assessment of the team. To be sure, Mr. Terrific is widely considered, in the DC Comics universe, as one of its smartest characters, so Superman’s statement is not just a compliment. Further evidence that he he smarter than Batman comes from Lex Luther – the self-professed smartest man in the world. In Infinite Frontier: Secret Files #4. Luthor confesses to agreeing to join forces only because Mr. Terrific thinks he’s “smarter and more capable” than him. Naturally, knowing his personality, Luthor would not have given the comment any thought unless he believed it to be true
While his intellect is on full display in Superman, these moments provide essential context for truly appreciating the scope of Mr. Terrific’s brilliance — and why it should not be dismissed as mere pride or “bluster.” Future portrayals in the DCU would serve to emphasize that Mr. Terrific is far from a fly-by-night hero. He is someone recognized as intellectually equal to, if not superior to, Batman — one of the most brilliant minds in the DC Comics universe.
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