"We're talking about a being whose very existence challenges our own sense of priority in the universe. And you go back to Copernicus, where he restored the Sun in the center of the known universe, displacing Earth. And you get to Darwinian evolution, and you find out we're not special on this Earth. We're just one among other lifeforms. And now we learn that we're not even special in the entire universe because there is Superman. There he is, an alien among us. We're not alone."
―Neil deGrasse Tyson[src]

Neil deGrasse Tyson is a world famous astrophysicist, cosmologist and author. In the 2 years following Superman's debut to the world, Tyson would remain somewhat skeptical of the alien superhero, though notably less so than most others.


As Superman continued his heroic career in the 2 years following the Black Zero Event, the world continued responding to Superman and what his existence meant to the world, with the media referring to it as "The Superman Question". The question sparks quite a bit of controversy worldwide, with many being quick to express their opinions.[2]

Neil deGrasse Tyson appeared on the talk show In the Moment, along with Vikram Gandhi, discussing "The Superman Question". While Tyson was seemingly not opposed to the alien superhero, he astutely remarked that Superman's very existence challenged humanity's sense of priority in the universe. Tyson recalled how Copernican heliocentrism displaced Earth and restored the Sun in the center of the known universe, and how Darwinian evolution established that humanity was just one among other lifeforms, instead of being special on Earth. Following on, with the emergence of Superman, humanity learned that it wasn't even special in the entire Universe, as there was now an alien living among them.[2]



  • Superman - viewed as a skeptical figure of controversy


Behind the scenes

  • Neil deGrasse Tyson is a real world astrophysicist and plays himself in the film. He has also appeared in Superman comics to show Superman where Krypton was.


  1. Sometimes the DC Extended Universe alludes to people who exists in our world, and it is assumed they were born on the same day in the universe, for timeline purposes.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice