Who Is Mister Terrific? Origin, Powers & DC Universe Future Explained

Among the DC characters appearing in Superman is Mister Terrific, a superhero whose debut has interesting implications for the movie. Rather than focus solely on the exploits of its titular character, it’s been confirmed that James Gunn’s Superman reboot cast includes multiple DC heroes. Clearly, the director isn’t just drawing from Superman’s own personal corner of the DC Universe when crafting the Big Blue Boy Scout’s next big-screen story.

Following the casting of David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan as Superman and Lois Lane respectively, the upcoming DCU movie added a Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner), Isabel Merced’s Hawkgirl,

Anthony Carrigans Metamorpho, Milly Alcock’s Supergirl, and Sean Gunn’s Maxwell Lord. Gunn promised a lived-in superhero world, and his cast is absolutely delivering.

And then there’s Edi Gathegi, who is playing Mister Terrific, a character who’s admittedly a less recognizable name than some of those he’ll share a screen with. However, his addition is noteworthy nonetheless, as his comic connections suggest he could have a bright future.

Superman: Legacy artwork next to James Gunn and David Corenswet

Superman: Release Date, Plot Details & Everything We Know

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Mister Terrific In Superman (2025) & DC Universe Explained

Who Plays Mister Terrific In The DCU?

Former X-Men actor Edi Gathegi plays Mister Terrific in Superman. He previously played Darwin in X-Men: First Class, and is more recently known for his role in For All Mankind. The actor spent the pre-production period intensively working out to bulk up for his superhero role in the DCU.

Hints at how he’ll fit into the story can be found in Gathegi’s age and the other casting announcements. Gathegi is 44 years old, which implies that he’ll be playing an experienced superhero. That could also be the case for Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner since the actor is 52 years old.

If that’s true, there’s a good chance that Green Lantern and Mister Terrific (and possibly Hawkgirl) are members of an existing superhero team during the timeframe of Clark Kent’s emergence as Superman. That team may or may not be the Justice Society, especially when keeping in mind that Hawkgirl and Mister Terrific have deep JSA connections.

Mister Terrific’s Comics-Accurate Costume Revealed

With Superman in production on outdoor sets in Atlanta in June 2024, the first look at Mister Terrific was revealed by set photos. Gathegi was seen wearing Mister Terrific’s immediately recognizable black, white, and red leather jacket, with “Fair Play” written down the sleeves, as well as “Terrific” across his back. He also wears a black t-shaped face mask covering his eyes, nose, and mouth.

Which Version Of Mister Terrific Is In Superman?

Until the first look at Mister Terrific from the set, it wasn’t entirely clear which Mister Terrific the director was using. Michael Holt always made the most sense, though, considering that James Gunn teased Mister Terrific’s DCU debut with a tweet in 2022, and the comics-accurate leather jacket look is clearly evidence that the DCU and Superman will feature Michael Holt.

Mister Terrific’s DC Comics Origin & History Explained

Mister Terrific is a name primarily associated with two DC Comics superheroes, the first being Terry Sloane. Introduced in 1942’s Sensation Comics #1, Sloane was a man of exceptional skill and wealth. But despite everything he had, he lacked a sense of true fulfillment.

Looking to fill that void, Sloane created the Fair Play Club to help troubled youths and developed the superhero alter ego, Mr. Terrific. As Mr. Terrific, Sloane served as a member of two DC superhero teams, the All-Star Squadron and the Justice Society of America. In most versions of DC canon, Terry Sloane’s Mister Terrific is treated as a representative of a bygone era.

DC’s modern take on Mister Terrific – as well as the most well-known version of the hero – is Michael Holt. Taking up the mantle in the 1990s to become the second Mister Terrific, Holt has a backstory quite similar to Sloane’s. Like his predecessor, Holt was an extremely successful businessman who carved his own path in the world.

But when a tragic accident cost the lives of his wife and unborn child, Holt was desperate to find a new purpose and ended up choosing the life of a superhero. Following in the footsteps of the original Mr. Terrific, Holt joined the reformed Justice Society and became one of its most important members.

Mister Terrific’s Powers Explained

Neither version of Mister Terrific possesses any real powers. In a way, their vigilante activities mirror their business careers; both Michael Holt and Terry Sloane are essentially self-made superheroes. Due to diligent training in several areas, Holt and Sloane share Olympic-level physical traits and all sorts of other skills, including hand-to-hand fighting. The vast number of talents Mr. Terrific has acquired stems from his almost unnatural capacity for learning.

What sets them apart, and what makes Holt the more powerful of the two characters, is his advanced technology. Holt is equipped with what he calls T-Spheres, mechanical devices that hover in the air and aid him in combat. Thanks to the various functions Holt added to the T-Spheres, he can use them to cloak his position from radars and satellites, making it easier for him to enter an enemy compound without being detected.

They’re also useful for combat, as they can explode, discharge electric blasts, carry him through the air, and more. Undoubtedly, the T-Spheres are a crucial part of his arsenal and, ultimately, what makes Holt unique from Sloane.

Mister Terrific In Past DC Adaptations

Mister Terrific, specifically the Michael Holt version, has made his mark on the DC Universe, headlining his own comics, playing roles in major comic storylines, and appearing in various DC media over the years. He’s been an ally to the Justice League in a handful of cartoons and animated movies, including Justice League Unlimited and Beware the Batman.

His most high-profile appearance (before Superman), is unquestionably his role in Arrow. The CW’s Green Arrow show reimagined him as Curtis Holt but stayed true to the basic premise of the character by drawing on his intelligence and adapting his T-Spheres. In the series, Mister Terrific was a member of Oliver Queen’s vigilante group, Team Arrow, doing his part to help Green Arrow save Star City across several battles.

As for where the Mister Terrific identity came from, it was established that Curtis – like his comic counterpart – got the name from Terry Sloane. But in the Arrowverse, Sloane’s Mister Terrific was a professional wrestler and not a full-fledged superhero.