The Internet Is Not Impressed With 'Batman V Superman'

It seems like every step forward Warner Bros. takes with the upcoming Man Of Steel sequel, they take two steps back – first, we get a glimpse at a frankly awesome-looking Batmobile and Batsuit (and the rise of a simply wonderful meme), and then … we find out the movie has been officially titled Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice.

Understandably, there has been some backlash. The litany of complaints that has emerged on Twitter and other corners of the internet in the few hours since the news was made public traverses the entire spectrum of severity, from whining about the choice of “v” over “vs” – which, it must be said, is a perfectly legitimate alternative, regardless of the internet's insistence on making Law & Order and/or Roman-numeral jokes about it – to far more valid questions over the title's clunkiness and '90s-cartoon aesthetic, and befuddlement at the decision to give Superman second billing in his own freaking sequel (yes, typically in court cases and fights, the challenger receives first mention, but come on. This was supposed to be a Superman film).

As some commentators have mentioned, the overwhelming impression from the title is a shoehorning-in of too many ideas for one film – it's a Superman sequel, a crossover, an origin film/prequel … and completely unsubtle in its intent, a fact that has not been lost on the audience.

Cue "WHY DON'T THEY JUST NAME IT WORLD'S FINEST" complaints in 3... 2... 1... #BatmanvSuperman

— Regi Arandityo (@regiandra) May 21, 2014

I also enjoyed Iron Man v Thor: Dawn of Avenging http://t.co/yOrdOTuyIq via @verge #batmanvsuperman

— Bryan Bishop (@bcbishop) May 21, 2014

I had no idea @ZackSnyder's BATMAN V SUPERMAN was going to be a courtroom drama. #BatmanVSuperman

— Charles Skaggs (@CharlesSkaggs) May 21, 2014

"Dawn Of Justice" was one of the Twilight books right? #BvS

— Matt Dodge (@Matt_Dodge) May 21, 2014

We could have had gods. We're getting Mortal Kombat characters. #BvS

— Michael Nixon (@michaelnixon) May 21, 2014

If there's anyone alive named "Dawn Justice," her day just got significantly shittier.

— Matt Singer (@mattsinger) May 21, 2014

Instead of "Dawn of Justice", they could have gone with "We're Rushing to Catch Up". Well, that's sub-TEXT, not sub-title.

— Jeff Cannata (@jeffcannata) May 21, 2014

“We saw how much people liked The Amazing Spider-Man 2” being a big ad for the third movie and thought, yeah, that's IT."

— Russ Fischer (@russfischer) May 21, 2014

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Four ideas overstuffed into one title, so it's probably very fitting for the movie.

— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) May 21, 2014

You complain now. But just wait until Marvel announces Captain America 3: Dusk of Due Process. #DawnOfJustice

— Nick Rogers (@nickrogers79) May 21, 2014

"Batman vs Superman vs Predator" #DawnOfJustice #BatmanvsSuperman

— Cameron Lovas (@Cameronlovas) May 21, 2014

It has not been a universal panning, however, with some vocal pockets of the fandom voicing their unwavering - if not heightened - support for the film in the wake of the announcement. There are countless examples from both camps across the #BVS, #BatmanvsSuperman, #BatmanVSuperman and #DawnOfJustice hashtags if you care to join the conversation on either side of the fence.

Still, none of this acknowledges the real truth behind the news – regardless of the title, we're all still going to go and see the film, because even if we openly mock DC/WB about it from here, we're all just as excited for the eventual Justice League film as they are.

Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice stars Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill as the titular combatants, with Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Jeremy Irons as Alfred, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White and Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor.

The film will be released in the US on May 6, 2016. An Australian release date is TBA.