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The two hidden references to classic Man of Steel lore inside DC Studios' new Superman trailer

You probably caught the reference to Clark Kent's old job, but there's an even older piece of Superman history referenced onscreen...

If anyone was wondering if 2025’s Superman would contain deep Superman lore cuts for the longterm fans, the teaser trailer offered a twofer with one single shot showing an international incident on a television screen.

“Boravian Troops Amassing at Border” reads the ticker on a screen showing the face of the small boy who, earlier in the trailer, raises a flag with Superman’s insignia on it. The name of the network showing the report is “GBS News,” which likely makes a generation of fans — namely, those who grew up reading Superman comics in the 1970s and ‘80s — very happy indeed: GBS stands for Galaxy Broadcasting System, the network that employed Clark Kent as a reporter and news anchor for many years when DC Comics tried to update the career of Superman’s alter ego.

But wait, that’s not the only easter egg from that screen… nor, indeed, the most deep cut. The country where troops are gathering is Boravia, an European country Superman has visited in comic book form… all the way back in 1939’s Superman #2. In that story, titled ‘Superman Champions Universal Peace!’ Superman travels to Boravia, a country torn apart by civil war, where he forcibly “convinces” the leaders of the different factions to come to peace, having seen the destruction that the war was causing for the regular citizens of the country.

Suddenly, that ticker about troops amassing at the border feels a little more weighted, doesn’t it…? (It's not an Easter Egg, but we suggest you look at who made the television in that scene, as well...)

Superman arrives in theaters July 11, 2025. Superman (1939) #2 is available to read on DC Universe Infinite Ultra.


James Gunn's Superman is flying into theaters soon enough, and Popverse has all you need to prepare. Refreshing your cinematic memory with our Superman movie watch order, learn what we know about the upcoming Superman movie, Superman's S-Shield through the ages, and read about what DC is doing ahead of their flagship hero's triumphant return.

Graeme McMillan

Graeme McMillan: Popverse Editor Graeme McMillan (he/him) has been writing about comics, culture, and comics culture on the internet for close to two decades at this point, which is terrifying to admit. He completely understands if you have problems understanding his accent.

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