David Corenswet may be the face of James Gunn’s new Superman—a portrayal that could very well rank among the greatest on-screen iterations of the iconic hero—but amidst the stellar ensemble cast, it's Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific who truly steals the spotlight.

As the third most intelligent man in the DC Universe, Gathegi’s portrayal of Michael Holt’s Mister Terrific doesn’t just stand out—it shines. In a film brimming with remarkable performances and stunning visuals, his character cuts through the noise with a magnetic presence and one of the most striking superhero costumes in the movie. Clad in red, white, and black, and marked by the bold “T” emblazoned across his face, Gathegi embodies the brilliance and charisma of a hero whose mind is as sharp as his suit is sleek.

Yet, there’s one subtle detail about his costume that might slip past the casual viewer—a pair of embroidered words stitched into the sleeves: “Fair Play.”

This phrase, never explicitly explained in the film, may at first glance appear to be a brand or slogan, which seems oddly out of place for a character like Mister Terrific. After all, a genius of his caliber wouldn’t likely be endorsing corporate sponsors. Instead, “Fair Play” carries a rich historical weight—one deeply rooted in the legacy of the Mister Terrific mantle itself.

In fact, the Mister Terrific seen in Gunn’s Superman isn't the first to bear the title. Gathegi portrays the second iteration of the character—Michael Holt—who made his debut in 1997, taking up the heroic torch from Terry Sloane, the original Mister Terrific from the Golden Age of comics (first appearing in 1942).

Sloane’s version of the hero wore the phrase proudly across his tunic, a tribute to the Fair Play Club, an initiative he founded to combat juvenile delinquency and street violence. When Holt inherited the identity, he didn’t just take the name—he embraced the philosophy. “Fair Play” became more than a motto; it was a guiding principle, etched not only into his moral compass but also into the fabric of his earliest crime-fighting outfits, including a rugged leather jacket bearing the same phrase across the back.

While the modernized suit we see in the film may look sleeker and more high-tech, the inclusion of “Fair Play” on his sleeves is a powerful nod to the legacy behind the mask. And given James Gunn’s rumored plans for future storytelling—including a potential TV spin-off centered around Mister Terrific—this small but significant detail could open the door to deeper exploration of Holt’s journey and the heroes who inspired him.

Imagining a series that delves into how this brilliant mind devised his own unique approach to justice—or even flashbacks featuring Terry Sloane—is enough to spark excitement. Just like the razor-sharp edge of Terrific’s jacket, Gunn has the talent to weave these threads together seamlessly.

Let’s hope he does.