Tom Cavanagh’s Superman and Lois role could tease iconic villain

It had been teased for months Tom Cavanagh would play a mysterious role in Superman and Lois. Speculation ran wild for months as Cavanagh had played several characters in the Arrowverse, including Reverse Flash. The role was revealed in the episode “Sharp Dressed Man”, but this has prompted further theorizing about 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 and helped Lex spin the narrative that he was an innocent man driven by sensational reports. Although this was a modernized take on the character, it was well in line 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 Glorious Godfrey. Created by Jack Kirby for his series The Forever People, Godfrey was a servant of the tyrant Darkseid. Godfrey, a master of rhetoric and mental manipulation, brainwashed mortals into obeying the evil New Gods.

While a minor player in Kirby’s comics, Godfrey took on a major role during the Legends event in 1987. It was here, as TV personality G. Gordon Godfrey, that he turned the people of Earth against superheroes. This was intended to facilitate Darkseid’s efforts to conquer the planet.

A character named Gordon Godfrey appeared in the Justice League animated series episode “Eclipsed”. While he was a similarly sleazy talk show host, he was never confirmed as 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 shows up, it’s to set up Darkseid’s arrival. Admittedly, the evil New Gods are about the only classic DC Comics villains not referenced in Superman and Lois. However, that seems unlikely as 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 host to Darkseid. It’s entirely possible that Luthor is being groomed for a similar role by his assistant, Amanda McCoy, who appears to be steering Lex toward his own ends. It would be a surprising turn of events, but it wouldn’t be a first for the hit show.

Superman and Lois season 4 sent at 8 p.m. ET CW and stream the next day,