It had been teased for several months that Tom Cavanagh would play a mystery role in Superman and Lois. Speculation ran wild for several months, as Cavanagh had played multiple characters in the Arrowverse, including the Reverse Flash. The role was revealed in the episode “Sharp Dressed Man,” but this has prompted further theorizing on yet another villain appearing in the series finale.
“Sharp Dressed Man” introduced Tom Cavanagh as talk show host and news commentator Gordon Godfrey. Lex Luthor gave an interview to Godfrey, claiming that Superman and Lois had orchestrated a propaganda campaign against him. Godfrey offered a sympathetic ear, helping Lex spin the narrative that he was an innocent man railroaded by sensationalist reporting. While this was a modernized take on the character, it was well in keeping with the Godfrey of the comics.
Godfrey in the comics and other adaptations
Before the name was used on Superman and Lois, Gordon Godfrey was the Earthly alias of Glorious Godfrey. Created by Jack Kirby for his series The Forever People, Godfrey was a servant of the tyrant Darkseid. A master of rhetoric and mental manipulation, Godfrey brainwashed mortals into obeying the evil New Gods.
While a minor player in Kirby’s comics, Godfrey took on a major role during the 1987 Legends event. It was here, as television personality G. Gordon Godfrey, that he turned the people of Earth against superheroes. This was meant to ease Darkseid’s efforts to conquer the planet.
A character named Gordon Godfrey appeared in the Justice League animated series episode “Eclipsed.” While a similarly sleazy talk show host, he was never confirmed to be part of the New Gods. However, political pundit G. Gordon Godfrey was confirmed as a servant of Darkseid in the Young Justice animated series. This raises questions regarding Godfrey’s appearance in Superman and Lois.
Will Darkseid appear in the Superman and Lois finale?
Typically, when Gordon Godfrey appears, it is to set up the arrival of Darkseid. Certainly, the evil New Gods are about the only classic DC Comics villains not to be referenced in Superman and Lois. It seems unlikely, however, given that season 4 has been devoted to building up Lex Luthor and a showdown with the Man of Steel’s greatest enemy.
On the other hand, the comics offer another interesting possibility that would fit the story of Superman and Lois season 4. The build-up to the Final Crisis event saw the New Gods taking over prepared human hosts, with cop Dan Turpin becoming the host of Darkseid. It is entirely possible that Luthor is being prepared for a similar role by his assistant, Amanda McCoy, who seems to be steering Lex toward her own ends. It would be a surprising swerve, but it would not be the first for the hit show.
Superman and Lois Season 4 airs at 8 p.m. ET on The CW and streams the next day,
