Supergirl was THAT BAD?

Episode Summary – The Xeroforhire PodcastIn this episode, XERO discusses the reported poor box office performance of the upcoming Supergirl film, making it clear that he is not reviewing the movie itself because he has not seen it. Instead, he examines why he believes audiences rejected it, focusing on marketing decisions, pre-release publicity, and broader trends in modern superhero films.He argues that lead actress Millie Alcock’s promotional comments distracted from the film and became part of the story surrounding its release. While acknowledging that some of her remarks were misunderstood, he believes the controversy hurt audience interest. He also criticizes media outlets for dismissing negative reactions as “toxic fandom” rather than considering that audiences may have simply disliked the marketing or the film itself.The discussion expands into a critique of recent superhero movies in general. XERO explains that he was already turned off by Supergirl’s portrayal in the recent Superman film, saying the character failed to inspire him. He contrasts this with female heroes he considers strong and admirable, arguing that audiences respond better to competent, aspirational characters than to protagonists defined by trauma or self-destructive behavior.He then turns to other recent comic-book films, including Thunderbolts, expressing disappointment that major studios have, in his view, mishandled beloved characters and stories. This frustration, he says, motivated him to build his own superhero universe rather than rely on Hollywood to tell the kinds of stories he wants to see.The final portion of the episode focuses on the growth of the Apocalyptiverse project. XERO shares updates on his expanding website, including an interactive terminal system inspired by his fiction, multiple mini-games, comics, stories, and future video projects. He notes that he has been less active on social media because he has been busy creating and is happier focusing on building his own universe. He closes by celebrating his website surpassing 10,000 views and invites listeners to join the world of Rivers through the Apocalyptiverse website.Timestamps* 00:00 – Introduction and why he isn’t reviewing Supergirl* 01:25 – Learning about the film’s reported poor performance* 02:40 – Why he believes the movie underperformed* 04:07 – Millie Alcock, promotion, and “toxic fandom”* 06:16 – Why he chose not to watch the film* 08:42 – Comparison to other recent superhero movies* 09:46 – Why he began creating his own superhero universe* 10:55 – Updates on the Apocalyptiverse website and interactive features* 12:09 – Upcoming comics, games, and video projects* 12:39 – Why he’s spending less time on social media* 12:59 – Celebrating 10,000 website views and closing remarks This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xeroforhire.substack.com/subscribe