SPOILER WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Justice League, out today.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice may have ended with the death of Superman, but the movie itself closed with a faint ray of hope in the form of the dirt rising from his grave. As an audience, and this being a film based on comic books, we all knew that there was simply no way that Superman could be gone for good. After all, the next big movie in the DC Extended Universe of movies was already confirmed to be the superhero team-up extravaganza, Justice League. Surely, such a movie wouldn't happen without Big Blue as one of the team's members. He is, after all, the team's leader, their main source of inspiration and easily their biggest powerhouse.

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Therefore, it was no big secret that Superman would be a part of the film, and it certainly isn't a spoiler for anyone. While the trailers, posters and banners for the film never showed him, it was perhaps the least well-kept secret that Superman was the sixth member of the Justice League, given that Henry Cavill himself never pretended otherwise. While it was nice of the marketing department to play the mystery card and actually allow Superman's return to be a genuine surprise in the film, the true mystery would always be how exactly he came back to life. Well, now that we have seen the film, we have the answer.

Just like in the comic books, Superman had died following a devastating and brutal battle with Doomsday. But while Clark Kent was brought back to life thanks to a Kryptonian regeneration armor in the source material, the movie's return played out much more differently. It was a bit more complex and ingrained in the story, and it directly involved the rest of the Justice League members. Bruce Wayne may spend the better part of the first third of the movie trying to recruit Barry Allen, Arthur Curry and Victor Stone to his cause, but he very well understands the kind of power they are going to face, and that none of them are powerful enough to stop what's coming. He knows that the one thing they neede, that the entire world needs, is Superman.

When Steppenwolf and his Parademon forces come into the possession of two out of the three Mother Boxes they need to unleash their hellish plan on Earth, Cyborg brings the final Box to his new teammates. Before long, Bruce theorizes that the alien technology that they now possess is an energy source the likes of which they have never seen before. He believes that, in the stasis chamber of the Kryptonian ship located in Metropolis -- the same ship and chamber where Lex Luthor used General Zod's body to create Doomsday -- a Mother Box discharge could reanimate the dormant cells of Kal-El and that this could, theoretically, be used to return Superman to life.

Batman v Superman Lex Luthor in Kryptonian ship chamber

Various members of the League are quick to protest, like Diana and Arthur who believe that there is no way of knowing that what they would bring back would truly be him. Diana warns that this could very well lead to another Doomsday situation, and that perhaps it would be better to let the Kryptonian rest. Barry Allen names the famous Stephen King novel Pet Sematary as an example of how things could turn very badly. But Victor Stone, who understands the Mother Boxes better than all of them combined, thinks that Batman is right, and that this plan could work.

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Barry and Victor dig up Superman's grave, and finally the six Leaguers enter the Kryptonian ship in Metropolis with the Mother Box and Clark Kent's body. No one is exactly certain that what they are about to do will work, but they go through with it because they know the situation is dire, and because they have hope. Aquaman lays Clark's body in the Kryptonian waters of the ship, but a complication presents itself when Cyborg realizes that the ship's power is too low, and that there isn't enough energy to get the process going. As the lightning-powered Flash, Barry is quick to say that the electrical discharge from his powers might just do the trick. All he needs is to cover enough distance, and to activate the Mother Box at the exact same time as it touches the water.

flash justice league running

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Barry has five seconds to complete this task, but he only needs one. One second for him to travel the entire length of the Kryptonian ship, and pass on an electrical charge to the Box when it hits the water. Barry's timing is perfect, and the sequence appropriately amazing. The Box touches the water exactly as it is powered, and the chamber activates with an energy blast that tears through the spaceship.

Before long, a resuscitated Kal-El is hovering above the ground, Batman's theory proven to be correct. But so was Barry's Pet Sematary prediction. His mind not fully restored yet, Clark attacks the rest of the Justice League, and while they all try their best to contain a wrathful Kryptonian, the truth of the matter is that neither of them is strong enough to stop him. The only thing that can do that is Batman's "big gun:" Lois Lane. Batman, the man who plans everything, even managed to plan that. Alfred is quick to arrive on the scene with Lois in tow, and her presence is enough to calm Clark down.

Justice League trailer Superman

After a bit of reconnecting at his farm, Clark reunites not only with Lois, but with his mother as well. The realization that he had a second chance at life isn't lost on him, and this prompts Superman to return, brigher and more hopeful than ever.

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The comic books brought Superman back to life in a solitary manner, something that he accomplished simply thanks to his heritage. But the movie managed to turn it into a team effort, something that was truly appropriate and quite inspired in a film titled Justice League. This is something that led to Clark quickly recognizing Flash, Cyborg and Aquaman as his new friends and this, in turn, led to a solid team dynamic made only stronger thanks to the return of Superman.