The Elseworlds’ DC vs. Vampires saga is one of the best crossover events that DC Comics has published in recent years. Its brilliance lies in taking the well-worn idea of turning heroes into villains and adding a creative twist, where their unethical actions are less a question of pure evil intent, though there is certainly an element of that, and more a result of the need for survival. As in real life, when one is forced into a situation of survival or demise, there are incredible acts and compromises to long-held values that one will make to stay alive. DC vs. Vampires‘ exploration of how “turned” heroes and villains navigate these choices is top-tier content.

While this Elseworlds saga is a DC Universe-wide event, certain characters, such as Wonder Woman, play a more prominent role. To be sure, once she’s turned, Wonder Woman eventually becomes the second most important vampire in their community. As a result, the DC Universe’s toughest warrior is transformed into its most brutal enforcer. Given broad authority to carry out her duties, she performs them with heart-crushing singularity. Her transformation exemplifies just how extreme a new convert can become, especially when their survival is on the line.

Vampire Wonder Woman Strikes Fear in the Hearts of Humans and Heroes

Wonder Woman is the DC Universe’s preeminent combat specialist — and this isn’t just empty praise. In Justice League of America (2006) #13, the Caped Crusader himself called Wonder Woman the best melee fighter in the world. So it’s no surprise that her presence on the battlefield gives any opponent pause. But whatever fear they may have felt before is nothing compared to the terror they’ll experience when faced with Wonder Woman as a vampire, completely unbound from the values, principles, and discipline that once restrained her warrior’s urge to crush her enemies and see them kneel before her.

[ RELATED: DC Announces New Elseworlds Batman Series Coming This Summer (And We’re Excited) ]

In Matthew Rosenberg and Nikola Cizmesija’s DC vs. Vampires: World War V – Darkness and Light, one of the most terrifying expressions of Wonder Woman’s brutality as a vampire occurs when she literally tears the Green Lantern Corps’ Guy Gardner in half with her bare hands. This enraged reaction is triggered by Guy Gardner killing her disciple Harper, despite his best efforts to avoid taking action. It’s a shocking scene that fans could never envision her committing under normal circumstances, even while fully understanding her immense potential for such violence.

If her unleashed pugilistic prowess wasn’t scary enough, what’s even more terrifying is how skewed her moral compass has become as a vampire. Indeed, whereas before it acted as a guardrail that ensured Wonder Woman chose honor over success, compassion over aggression, and justice over injustice, now her life is dominated by her selfish desires, without regard for how they impact others. Outside of fulfilling the commands of her master, the Queen of the Vampires, Barbara Gordon, Wonder Woman’s actions are driven solely by self-interest.

Drawing again from Rosenberg and Cizmesija’s work in Darkness and Light, we see Wonder Woman slaughter a man while letting her underlings feed on his wife. Then, upon discovering their children hiding, she takes the daughter – Harper, to serve as her pet vampire. She even initially parades her around the community with a dog collar and leash. While she ultimately comes to regard Harper as a sort of daughter, one of the reasons she brutalizes Guy Gardner for killing her. Nevertheless, she always treated Harper more like a slave than an actual family member. It’s hard viewing for Wonder Woman fans, but this portrayal shows just how terrifying she’s become as a vampire.

Wonder Woman’s Corruption Shows Us Just How Good She Was Before Being Turned

Before her transformation, Wonder Woman was one of the foundational pillars of the DC Universe. She was celebrated as a symbol of truth, justice, hope, and compassion. At the same time, she was raised as a warrior, and ultimately became one of the greatest in history. As such, Wonder Woman has always possessed an extraordinary capacity for violence, ferocity, and brutality. In fact, bloodlust is a defining trait of the Amazon tribe, and Wonder Woman epitomizes the ideal Amazonian.

So, the rage and ferocity she shows in DC vs. Vampires – her true danger – was never about the supernatural abilities she gained by becoming a vampire. She always possessed those intense emotions. The crucial difference is that her vampiric transformation liberated her from the virtues and practices that once served to control her raw, monstrous power. The only true “force multiplier” was the addition of a vampire’s inherent survival instinct, which amplified Wonder Woman’s transformation into a truly terrifying force of nature.

Seeing her as the unstoppable predator she becomes in DC vs. Vampires is a testament to her unmatched discipline and the immense mental strength she exerted to suppress such primal urges. It retroactively proves just how much effort it took for her to remain true to her principles before her transformation, revealing the depth of her honor, courage, and strength as a warrior.

The post From Amazon Princess to Vampire Thug: How DC vs. Vampires Created Diana’s Most Terrifying Form appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Milly Alcock admits that she was once she had secured the role of Supergirl in the DC Universe, her honest reaction was “absolute fear.” The 25-year-old just graced the cover of Elle, with a profile interview about her rise to mainstream fame from House of the Dragon to Sirens to Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. She had gone through the long and secretive audition process with many other hopefuls, but once she came out on top she was left with even more terror for what came next. Thankfully, Alcock said that she sees fear as a major part of acting, and overcoming it as a part of her job.

Alcock recalled that DCU mastermind James Gunn was the one to inform her that she got the role as Supergirl, via text. “I was kind of in disbelief,” she said. “I was initially like, ‘What have I done?’ I then invited all my friends over to the house and we drank champagne.” The actress explained how this new fear moved in to take the place of the fear she felt throughout the audition process.

“During a screen test, you’re in a room with all the other women [vying for the same part] and you’re all dressed as the character,” she explained. “[The studio] will get you lined up in the makeup truck and put the same makeup on you all and then test you on a stage. For Supergirl, it was myself and another girl. It was really scary; I thought I was going to vomit! But it’s just fear! That’s what happens! This job has been a journey of overcoming my own fear.”

[RELATED: Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow Set Photos Show Milly Alcock In Costume (& S Logo)]

Later in the interview, Alcock mused on the nature of fame, and balancing that with the craft of acting. It sounds like public scrutiny is a major reason for her “absolute fear” of taking on a big role like this, but she takes it all in stride as part of the job. Alcock is already expected to be a major part of the DCU — she will make her debut this summer with a brief appearance in Superman, then her movie Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will hit theaters on June 26, 2026.

Those two movies have already been filmed, and we can be reasonably certain we’ll see them along with Peacemaker Season 2. Lanterns is also filming now, and expected to premiere in early 2026. Beyond that, the future of the DCU is all speculation. The franchise has a Clayface movie in pre-production and five more movies in development, along with up to five more seasons of TV in development. Most of that will contribute to the story arc called Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, which we don’t know much about yet.

Alcock is poised to be one of the most prominent faces of this burgeoning franchise, and her “healthy” fear might be one of her greatest strengths in that role. Superman hits theaters on July 11th, while Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is currently scheduled for June 26, 2026.

The post Milly Alcock’s Reaction To Landing Supergirl Role Will Surprise You: “What Have I Done?” appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In the DC Comics Universe, superheroes come in all shapes and sizes, with diverse power levels, skills, and abilities. Even the weakest heroes typically possess fighting capabilities that far exceed those of an average human. However, in a universe where superpowers –like flying, running at super speeds, and possessing godlike strength — are commonplace, heroes who lack such abilities are rarely considered “meta.” Nowhere is this distinction more evident than with characters like Black Canary — a hero who consistently punches above her weight class yet is rarely recognized as an “A-list” hero, that is, until now.

Tom King and Ryan Sook’s Black Canary: Best of the Best series not only chronicles how Dinah Lance proves herself to be the DC Comics Universe’s most dangerous melee champion, but also argues that hand-to-hand combat specialists like herself, her mother Dinah Drake, and even Lady Shiva deserve greater recognition and respect as true experts of the ultimate superhero skill, namely taking out opponents.

The Black Canary Has Always Been A (Low-Key) Contender

Black Canary has long been at the forefront of DC’s unarmed, non-superpowered heroes. Beginning with Dinah Drake — the original Black Canary — she has, pound for pound, stood as one of DC’s greatest vigilantes for over eight decades. Unlike Batman, whose limitless resources can fund advanced technologies to augment his abilities, Drake relied solely on her martial arts mastery, unwavering determination, and police training to fuel her crime-fighting prowess. These skills not only made her a formidable hero but also earned her a place in the era’s premier superhero team — the Justice Society of America. As such, she brought a different type of mentality — a grittiness — to “superheroing” that no hero with superpowers could ever understand.

[ RELATED: I Think Black Canary Is DC’s Most Underrated Hero (Here’s Why)]

As the saying goes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree — and such is the case with Drake’s daughter, Dinah Lance, the current Black Canary. Not only has she carried on her mother’s distinctive hand-to-hand combat style, but she has also elevated it to new heights. Like her mother, Dinah’s exceptional skills have earned her a place on this generation’s premier super-team, the Justice League. However, as Best of the Best suggests, the key difference between mother and daughter lies in their mindsets. Having witnessed her mother’s struggles as a hero — and endured the intensity of her mother’s training — Dinah grew into a more mentally resilient hero. Yet, her brand of heroism is also shaped by a healthy dose of skepticism and pragmatism.

Despite their determined efforts to serve and contribute to the fight against crime, neither Dinah Drake nor her daughter, Dinah Laurel Lance, has ever been considered “blue-chip” hero material by editors or fans. During her tenure as the Black Canary, Drake remained a capable but junior superhero, often stepping in when the narrative required. As for Lance, despite clearly surpassing her mother in martial prowess, recognition of Black Canary’s combat abilities has remained limited, rarely elevating her to the status of a top-tier hero. For many fans, her defining trait has been her unique superpower — her “Canary Cry” — rather than her impressive fighting skills.

Black Canary Didn’t Just Win She Dominated

King and Sook’s Best of the Best finally gives Black Canary the recognition she deserves for her non-superpowered combat prowess. Though it took everything she had, she defeated Lady Shiva — even if, bound by her agreement with Savage, she ultimately surrendered the fight. This victory stands as the clearest testament to her hand-to-hand combat skills, which Sook’s artwork vividly portrays throughout the series. From her grueling training sessions with Wildcat to sparring with Batman himself, every drop of blood, sweat, and tears underscores her relentless dedication to the art of fighting. More than anything, it proves just how badass she is when “throwing hands.”

Beyond showcasing Lance’s physical prowess, the series also highlights the other qualities that define the greatest melee fighters: mental toughness, tactical acumen, and resilience. After all, simply choosing to fight a “stone-cold killer” like Lady Shiva is bold enough — but having the willpower to endure Shiva’s brutal onslaught, ultimately outlast her, and break her after securing a “side win” over Savage speaks volumes about Lance’s mindset. Her toughness is undeniable, but so is her healthy skepticism toward heroic titles. The series proved that not only is Lance Shiva’s physical equal, but she is also her mental superior.

Black Canary Proves That Non-Superpowered Heroes Matter

The series wasn’t just about Black Canary’s ascent to becoming the greatest hand-to-hand combat specialist in the DC Universe — it also explored the role of non-superpowered characters within the hierarchy of the DC superhero community. The fight itself presents a compelling case for significantly elevating the status of heroes like Black Canary, who rely on skill rather than superpowers. Lance demonstrates that, with rigorous training and unwavering dedication, an elite fighter can stand toe-to-toe with even those considered superpowered.

Black Canary also demonstrated that common human traits such as courage, determination, and loyalty could be superpowers under the right conditions. In some ways, this serves as a tribute to her mother. It highlights the unwavering dedication, hard work, and considerable luck required to be a hero without relying on inherent superpowers. Moreover, it honors Drake’s legacy as a formidable hero who, through training, ingenuity, and experience, could dish out punishment as effectively as anyone else.

From a fan’s perspective, Best of the Best also proves that there is a lot more story left to be told about Dinah Lance’s Black Canary — and other non-superpowered superheroes. There is no need to infuse these stories with cosmic threats or world-ending stakes. Simply focusing on the personal and, at times, brutal challenges of characters who rely solely on their innate abilities and training can be just as compelling and engaging as the more fantastical stories.

The post Black Canary is Officially DC’s Most Lethal Fighter (But There’s a Catch) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Comics are littered with storylines that captivate readers, with some even in contention for the greatest comics ever told. These tales can come in the form of short stories, one-shots, and expansive stories that take up multiple issues. Fans always remember the great stories, but what about the storylines that begin but never come to a satisfying conclusion? There are a lot of factors affecting a comic book storyline being abandoned, from creative issues behind the scenes or a publisher deciding to end a title prematurely. These storylines end up being forgotten about by the general public, but not by the most loyal of fans.

We’re tracking down the seven storylines in comics that wound up being abandoned. Some of the entries will be familiar to superhero fans, while others took place in creator-owned comics. What they all share is a collection of fandom that would love nothing more than to see these stories get a proper ending.

7) Meet Alpha, Spider-Man’s New Sidekick

Before Spider-Boy, there was Alpha, a young teenager named Andy Maguire, who just happened to be named after live-action Spider-Man actors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Alpha debuted in 2012 for Spider-Man’s 50th anniversary, and gained his powers after an accident during one of Peter Parker’s experiments at Horizon Labs. Instead of gaining the strength, agility, and stamina of a spider, Alpha was seemingly as powerful as Superman.

This power went to Alpha’s head, as he quickly became a hated figure in the eyes of Spider-Man fans. Marvel had big plans for Alpha when you look at how he was promoted and pushed in marketing materials. The publisher wound up dialing back Alpha’s powerset while also giving him a limited series that ended up going nowhere. Alpha eventually faded back into obscurity, never to be heard from again.

6) Batwoman’s Marriage to Maggie Sawyer

Batwoman was one of the early success stories of DC’s New 52, with the creative team of J.H. Williams III and Haden Blackman helping to redefine Kate Kane and firmly establish her as a member of the Bat-Family. Much of the praise came from their storytelling and the types of stories being told within Batwoman, like her relationship with her girlfriend, Maggie Sawyer. In fact, their partnership was leading to the two characters getting engaged and married, but DC put a stop to it before it could happen. This left Williams III and Blackman frustrated, leading to their decision to step away from Batwoman.

Williams III and Blackman stated that the changes to their planned story arcs in Batwoman came at the last minute, causing them to have to alter over years of planning and plotting. That romantic relationship in Batwoman was one of its key storylines, but wound up on the cutting room floor.

5) Whatever Happened to Morning Glories?

The early 2010s saw the release of Morning Glories from writer Nick Spencer and artist Joe Eisma. The comic starred kids who attended Morning Glory Academy. Our lead of six teenagers were brilliant but troubled, and Morning Glory Academy also dabbled in nefarious affairs that included murder, torture, and the supernatural. The series ran for 50 issues split up into two seasons, but Season 3 has yet to be released.

Morning Glories was a success with critics and readers alike, though Season 3 was never released, with the creators saying the title is on an extended hiatus.

4) Someone Is Pretending to Be a Mutant in the X-Men

There was once a time when Wolverine was very much dead. Never one to turn down a reason for an event comic, Marvel milked The Death of Wolverine into several spinoff titles and miniseries, one of which was Hunt for Wolverine: Adamantium Agenda. The comic followed Wolverine’s teammates on the New Avengers — Iron Man, Spider-Man, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage — as they kept their promise to Wolverine that if anything bad should ever happen to him, they’d make sure his body wasn’t used for evil purposes.

Of course, if stolen DNA is involved, then Mister Sinister is never too far behind. There’s also a database that contains the DNA of all mutants, but our heroes discover that the DNA shows that an unknown member of the X-Men isn’t a mutant, and that they have a sleeper agent in their ranks. This was an exciting development at the time, but the storyline was dropped as the X-Men comics continued to move towards Wolverine’s revival.

3) Miles Morales Was Supposed to Become a Spy

Brian Michael Bendis, one of the co-creators of Miles Morales, ended his run on the web-slinger and at Marvel Comics by setting Miles Morales up to get a codename and a new status quo as a super spy. Miles was wrestling with growing up and deciding what kind of hero he wanted to be. Miles’ father had a past that included being an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D, and it looked like Miles was going to follow in his footsteps.

Cable from the X-Men even tried to recruit Miles, and stated that he had “seen the future of international espionage,” and Miles was at the center of it. You’d think there would have been a payoff to all of this, but alas, there was not. It’s a shame, because after Bendis departed Marvel, the publisher relaunched a new Miles Morales Spider-Man series and forgot all of that espionage setup happened.

2) Duke Thomas and Gotham Girl Live Happily Ever After

When Tom King started his run on Batman, he introduced two new superheroes to Gotham City — Gotham and Gotham Girl. The siblings got their powers through experimental treatments. The side effects of this treatment meant that the more they used their powers, the quicker their life spans would decline. Gotham eventually died after fighting Batman and the Justice League, with Gotham Girl falling under the same evil influence of Bane and Psycho Pirate.

An interesting development from Gotham Girl’s time with Batman is the relationship she built with Duke Thomas/Signal. King even teases that Duke and Gotham Girl end up together in the future, but it’s a future that readers never got to see happen. You would think there would be a story arc where we jump into the future to see what happens to these young heroes, but it’s something we miss out on.

1) R.I.P. to the X-Men’s Krakoa Era

Last but certainly not least is the Krakoan era of the X-Men comics. Jonathan Hickman revolutionized the X-Men franchise when he kicked off a bold new era of storytelling, transplanting the X-Men and the majority of Marvel’s mutants to the soverign island nation of Krakoa. Hickman stated that he had a long outline of stories planned out, with House of X and Powers of X setting up several plots that could be picked up at any point, such as the previous lives Moira MacTaggert lived through using her mutant powers of reincarnation. There were also threats from Earth and space, like the anti-mutant organization Orchis and the alien Phalanx.

Marvel abruptly ended Jonathan Hickman’s run on X-Men with the four-part Inferno series. Several creative teams picked up the story threads that Hickman set up, bringing them to a close in the Fall of X after the Hellfire Gala. So you can say that the Krakoa era got a proper send-off, but it wasn’t the finale that Hickman envisioned.

The post 7 Comics Storylines That Were Totally Abandoned appeared first on ComicBook.com.

After more than two decades since DC’s Wonder Woman and Batman last shared the page with Marvel’s Thor and Iron Man, fans of both publishers, who have contributed more than anyone else to the development of the superhero comic genre, were thrilled earlier this year by the announcement of a new DC-Marvel crossover. While details of the event are emerging, the rich history of collaborations between these two comic book titans promises a legendary tale that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on both universes. With the collaboration set to drop sometime this year, there’s no better time than the present to revisit past DC–Marvel crossovers, which were once a frequent occurrence, to understand the potential impact of the upcoming event on both universes.

A great place to start a review is with the Amalgam Comics series — arguably the most creatively ingenious fusion of DC and Marvel characters in the history of their collaborations. It’s a concept that undoubtedly deserves a second chance to showcase how exceptional these two superhero universes can be when combined with imagination and flair.

What are Amalgam Comics, and Why Did They Work?

The Amalgam Comics series was unprecedented, not only as a crossover event, but also in the way it was organized. It was an extreme crossover event that happened in the midst of a broader, more standard DC-Marvel collaboration. Specifically, in 1996, DC and Marvel collectively published a crossover mini-series entitled DC vs. Marvel (for DC fans) and Marvel vs. DC (for Marvel fans), which pitted the heroes of the two universes against each other, with the loser having their universe erased from existence. Naturally, the series featured some of the strongest and most popular characters facing off against one another. Needless to say, the series was an exciting bit of fan service, exploring stories that fans had been debating amongst themselves for decades and giving them a voice in the outcomes of specific battles.

[ RELATED: Marvel and DC Are Getting a Brand-New Crossover (and Sooner Than You Think) ]

However, in a major twist to the crossover genre, DC and Marvel introduced a “sub-crossover” event between the third and fourth issues of the main series, collectively known as the Amalgam Comics series. In this unique storyline, several superheroes involved in the larger contest were literally merged together to create entirely new characters. For example, Batman and Wolverine were combined to form Dark Claw, Darkseid and Thanos became Thanoseid, and Spider-Man and Superboy fused into Spider-Boy.

There were a total of twelve character combinations, each given a one-shot comic book to explore their stories in depth. However, in DC vs. Marvel #4, the merged heroes and villains were separated back into their original individual forms. In 1997, Amalgam Comics returned with a new 12-issue series that further examined the possibilities of combining DC and Marvel heroes. Like the first iteration, the 1997 series offered an exciting glimpse into the compelling superhero storytelling that emerges when DC and Marvel bring together their collective experiences and expertise.

Why It’s Time for the Return of an Amalgam Comics Series

With DC and Marvel already in agreement to bring forth another inter-universe event, the Amalgam Comics universe model would be ideal. It’s the perfect tweak to the traditional crossover model for a superhero comic book fandom that’s grown accustomed to the multiverse concept. More than just a crossover, it’s a fusion of styles, concepts, and characters that brings a genuinely fresh take on long-held ideas. This approach gives creators maximum creative freedom to come up with intriguing hero-villain combinations that resonate with both DC and Marvel’s contemporary fan bases.

Moreover, is there a better way to revitalize a title or character than by injecting a fresh take on an old vibe? Take Amalgam Comics’ hero Super-Soldier, a fusion of Superman and Captain America. He perfectly combined their “goody two-shoes,” patriotic hero personas. Fans familiar with Clark Kent and Steve Rogers as the “boy scouts” of their respective universes could easily see how their archetypes complemented each other. Naturally, Super-Soldier’s nemesis – the Green Skull – is an equally compelling mix of Lex Luthor and the Red Skull. Indeed, the combinations proved far more interesting than the individual parts alone. Indeed, Super-Soldier’s popularity with fans played a significant role in his appearances in both iterations of the Amalgam Comics series.

What this all means is that the Amalgam Comics series is the perfect choice to fulfill the promise of a brand-new DC-Marvel collaboration. It has all the essential elements of a classic crossover series: high-stakes threats centered around a compelling conflict, epic action sequences, and intense battles. Most importantly, it features fascinating characters who truly embody the spirit of a crossover. Indeed, with Amalgam Comics, the creative possibilities are endless. DC and Marvel—bring it back. You won’t regret it.

What Amalgam characters do You want to see? Let us know in the comments!

The post Marvel and DC Need to Bring Back Amalgam Comics appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Penguin executive producer and showrunner Lauren LeFranc shares what would need to happen for a second season of the acclaimed The Batman spinoff show to happen. Speaking with Deadline, LeFranc discussed her work on the critically acclaimed show and offered her thoughts on a potential continuation. Though The Penguin was conceived as a limited series, she would be open to making another season as long as the creative team found the right story to tell. LeFranc is in the process of figuring out what that narrative could be, while progress continues to be made on other The Batman-related shows.

“Beyond Colin [Farrell], it depends on whether there’s a story that we can make richer than what we’ve already done,” LeFranc said, also highlighting how pertinent star Colin Farrell’s availability is to The Penguin Season 2. “I fully arced everything. I’m in the process of exploring what that would be, if there will be more.”

The Penguin earned widespread critical acclaim, including numerous award wins and nominations for Farrell and Cristin Milioti. That level of success caused fans to wonder if HBO would move forward with a second season, especially after DC’s Sgt. Rock (which was set to star Farrell in the titular role) was delayed, possibly opening up the actor’s schedule to make more Penguin.

[RELATED – More The Batman TV Spinoffs Are on the Way (But What About Part II?)]

However, The Penguin Season 2 does not appear to be imminent. LeFranc’s comments are very similar to those made by studio executives, including Warner Bros.’ Channing Dungey. In April, she admitted that “there’s nothing in the works at the moment” and reiterated that The Penguin was meant to be a limited series. That can be reflected in the show’s Emmy campaign, as HBO submitted it in the Outstanding Limited Series category. That implies the network does not intend to move forward with a second season.

It’s encouraging that LeFranc has not shut the door completely on a Penguin Season 2. Like any good creative, she’s keeping herself open to all opportunities. The larger question is whether or not the right story for a second season ever materializes. The Penguin acts as a bridge between the first two films of Matt Reeves’ Batman Epic Crime Saga. Farrell seems to be reprising the role in The Batman Part II, which doesn’t premiere until 2027. Any narrative arc for The Penguin Season 2 would likely be influenced by that film. It took Reeves a long time to finish the Batman Part II script and there could be changes down the line, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens with Oz Cobb on the big screen in a couple of years.

Given how beloved The Penguin was, most fans would probably be disappointed if a second season never got off the ground. However, it would arguably be more disappointing if The Penguin Season 2 was made and didn’t live up to the high standard set by the first season. Unless LeFranc and her collaborators can figure out a compelling story, The Penguin should remain a limited series. That way, its place and legacy in the larger franchise would be cemented. Right now, the priority for everyone involved with the Batman Epic Crime Saga should be getting The Batman Part II to theaters.

The post The Penguin EP Reveals What’s Needed for Season 2 to Happen appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The beautiful thing about fictional stories is that they don’t need to follow the same rules as real life. Stories are artistic expressions where it never matters if something is accurate. Stories can still hold weight and express fundamental emotional truths about reality, yet they don’t have to be pulled down by pesky things like physics or scientific possibilities. Superman is, by definition, a man who shouldn’t exist, making him a “super man.” It’s physically impossible for someone of relatively small stature to lift as much weight as he does, and he is literally defying gravity every time he’s flying.

What makes Superman a beautiful creation is that he can do anything we imagine him doing. He is literally the impossible man, highlighting humanity’s boundless creativity and endless possibilities. Even though we understand the difference between fiction and reality, we will still highlight certain things about Superman that make no sense. This list isn’t a criticism of the character himself, and it is more like a loving analysis of the aspects of Superman that defy everything we know about science.

1) No One Can Fly Like That

There are multiple avenues for something to fly, including wings and jet propulsion. However, the way Superman flies makes no sense. He essentially wills himself to float in the air without added appendages to help him stay in the air. He can pretty much break the rules of gravity and float above Metropolis City without a care in the world. There is pseudo-science that explains Superman’s defying gravity. Some continuity explains Superman’s flying as telekinesis or some sort of mild anti-gravity powers he emanates from within himself. One of the most widely accepted pseudo-sciences for Superman’s power is that he surrounds himself with an invisible aura, or particles, that give him the capabilities to do anything he sets his mind to.

2) Superman Has an Impossible Grip on Heavy Objects

Superman’s super strength is improbable as it is, but his grip and balance defy science. Many strong, normal people can lift heavy things, yet you always need a good grip to hold onto things. You can’t just lift a car with the palm of your hand, the vehicle will tip over without a strong grip or good balance. Superman holding up collapsing buildings wouldn’t work because, even if he has the strength to hold it, the building would fall apart around him unless he’s pushing forward its fortified spot. The pseudo-scientific invisible aura also explains how Superman can accomplish these feats. Superman subconsciously expands his aura to surround whatever he’s carrying or holding so that the things he’s in contact with have his durability. The object he touches becomes an extension of himself, allowing Superman to hold everything intact.

[RELATED – Superman: David Corenswet Celebrates Wrapping Filming]

3) Aliens Wouldn’t Look Like Us (At Least Theoretically)

We and the other living things on Earth look the way we do because we evolved into something suitable for this specific planet. Our limbs, organs, and facial features are the results of what was needed to live specifically in the World. Even though we haven’t met other life on other planets, the odds of aliens looking exactly like us should, theoretically, be nearly impossible. The odds of another planet that is exactly like Earth are low, and the odds of aliens evolving the same way as us are even lower. We are the result of cosmetic coincidences that have led to us becoming cognitive beings with complex thoughts. The possibility of aliens like Superman and Kryptonians almost feels like an impossibility.

4) Kryptonians Should’ve Just All Lived Under a Yellow Sun

Superman was sent to Earth because he looked human, and the radiation of the yellow sun would imbue him with superpowers. Most of the Superman canon establishes that the citizens of Krypton are normal people without superpowers. Nonetheless, if the effects of the yellow sun on Kryptonians were common knowledge, why wouldn’t Krypton find a planet with a yellow sun they could all live on?

Certain continuity attempts to explain this situation, with the most likely assumption being that there was no hospital planet close enough to Krypton that had a yellow sun. Another theory is that the wider Krypton population didn’t know the effects of the yellow sun, yet somehow Jor-El knew about it in most situations. If someone like Jor-El knew about yellow suns, looking for a planet with one would certainly have been top priority for Krypton.

5) His Random Powers are Nonsense

As mentioned before, whatever powers a writer can think of, Superman has them. This motto was especially true during the Golden and Silver Age of comics, when creators would come up with random abilities to give Superman for the sake of the plot. While his superstrength, flight, durability, super speed, enhanced senses, and heat vision are core principles of the character, creators would often add in a random ability like hypnosis or memory-wiping kisses to his arsenal. The only limitations were the writer’s imagination, so as long as they could think of it, Superman would will himself to have these powers.

The most ridiculous random power Superman displayed in classic comics was being able to shoot out miniature clones of himself from his palms. These mini Supermen would have the same powers as he. The power is not only nonsensical, but the comic also doesn’t explain how it works. The Superman cloning powers have rarely, if ever, been brought up again, and for good reason; it’s silly. Nevertheless, these superpowers exemplify Superman’s endless possibilities and how the character works as a symbol for creativity.

The post 5 Things About Superman That Make No Sense appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Bruce Wayne and Jason Toddd have had a pretty rocky relationship ever since the latter’s death and prodigal return. The two have clashed several times over the years, usually because of Jason’s anger over how Batman chooses to handle Gotham City’s laundry list of villains. Red Hood has been all over the morality spectrum, going from hero to villain and back again more times than anyone should have to count. Batman’s “Hush 2” storyline has once again pit father against son as Jason Todd joins the evil Thomas Elliot’s side in his twisted game to bring down the bat. Except this might just be their final clash, as Batman #160 revealed that Jason Todd is dying, and only Hush has any chance of saving him. If he even plans to. And if Hush lets Jason die, I’m done.

Hush Said Three Robins Die Tonight

So, how did we get here? This whole confrontation started in Batman #158, when Batman stumbled upon the Joker attempting to flood the Gotham City reservoir with Joker fish. While trying to stop the madman, Batman was knocked into the water and the Joker was kidnapped, only for the Dark Knight to be resuscitated by Talia al Ghul. Batman looked into why the Joker would be repeating an old crime, only to stumble into a conspiracy orchestrated by his childhood friend turned enemy, Thomas Elliot, Hush. Hush forced Batman to take a dying Joker to the Batcave for observation, only for Jason Todd to attack Batman and kidnap the clown alongside Hush.

The end of issue #160 showed Batman confronting one of Hush’s goons while Nightwing battled Red Hood. However, this too was all a part of Hush’s game, as Hush was able to take Damian Wayne hostage, while the Joker grabbed Jason’s guns and pointed them at the two former Robins. Hush promised that no matter what Batman did, three Robins would die tonight. Even worse, is that Joker might even have to send Jason back to the grave, as Hush revealed that Jason is dying. His brain is deteriorating to the point that not even the Lazarus Pits could save him, and his fate rests in the grimy hands of Hush, the world’s greatest surgeon. I am so mad about that.

So Jason Todd is Dying… Again

Once again, it would seem that DC wants to kill Jason Todd, and honestly? They need to stop. “Hush 2” has been nothing more than a continuity-ignoring nostalgia fest, and it would seem that they intend to keep that train going by bringing back the only part of Jason’s character that anyone seems to remember. Ever since he was quite literally cheated out of life by a phone vote, Jason Todd has been remembered as the Robin who died, something that stuck even when he returned. It’s something that left Jason bitter and when Jason first came back from the dead, this was understandable. Dying like he did gave him every right to be upset, however, the years since have not been kind to the poor boy.

[RELATED: This Fan Favorite Batman Story Isn’t The Masterpiece It’s Made Out to Be (And I Will Die on This Hill)]

Jason has been a villain, then redeemed himself, then remembered he was angry over his death and became a villain again. This cycle repeats over and over in every comic he stars in, dragging him into conflict after conflict with the Bat Family over issues that they have long since resolved or put behind them. Jason being back and an active member of the Bat Family has such incredible storytelling potential, but DC has refused to do anything interesting with it. Now they threaten to kill him again, and I cannot stand here and say nothing while they continuously torture him like this. Jason’s original death was an impactful moment because nothing like that had ever happened before, and it fundamentally changed Batman as a character, but that can only be true for the first time.

If Jason died again today, frankly speaking, it wouldn’t have a tenth of the impact it did back in the day. Not only because literally every other Robin (and most comic book characters in general) have died and returned, but the only consistent character trait Jason has had since his return is that he died. He is literally only defined by his death, and while he’s attempted to grow past it several times, he is always dragged back down to being the angry little man he was right after his resurrection. Take the end of the “Gotham War” arc, for instance. Despite its many flaws, this storyline ended with Jason and Bruce reconciling for everything they’ve done to each other, and even had Jason literally sacrifice himself to bring down Zur-En-Arrh. This was a beautifully resonant moment, because Jason faced and overcame his greatest fear and the thing that separated him and Bruce, and used it as a statement of his love and loyalty to his father. He was immediately brought back with Lazarus Resin, but the point stands.

Now, instead of Jason having overcome his death, he’s right back where he started and is dying again. Gosh, Jason Todd is a character that DC has never known what to do with, but killing him again will only make things worse. Jason deserves to be allowed to grow and change as a person beyond this one event in his life, but DC keeps dragging him back to the starting point. Killing Jason again wouldn’t give them a way to interestingly change the character, it would just make his existence way worse for no reason. If Jason is supposed to be interesting, he has to change, and literally starting this cycle again is the worst possible thing they could do.

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One of the more intriguing characters in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film is the brash yet endearing Green Lantern known as Guy Gardner, and bringing that beloved character to life is the ever-talented Nathan Fillion. Fans have seen several glimpses of Gardner in the trailers, and Fillion’s take on the character is catching their attention. That will likely only increase when the film actually releases, but you might be surprised who inspired his take on the character. Fillion was speaking with the DC Studios Showcase Official Podcast, and that’s when he revealed which sitcom legend inspired his version of Guy.

Hosts Frankey Smith, Tyler Coates, and Coy Jandreau had a few questions for Fillion regarding bringing Guy Gardner to the big screen, including how he blends Gardner’s braggadocios nature with his more endearing qualities. That’s when Fillion revealed that he looked to Golden Girls’ Sophia for inspiration, who was brought to life by the amazing Estelle Getty.

“You know, I took my inspiration from the oldest cast member from Golden Girls, where she just, whatever she wanted to say, just there was no filter. She just said, Thank you, Estelle Getty. Thank you. Just whatever it is, there it is, he’s just gonna say it. Part of his origin was he was at one point hit by a bus, and was in a coma. So I just say that’s the thing that flipped the switch. That’s the thing that caused a little bit of brain damage. Now he’s just…off a little bit,” Fillion said.

The crew also asked about Gardner’s trademark bowl haircut, which Fillion was intent on bringing to the big screen. “There was some talk about different hairstyles. There was some talk about some different types of things we were going to go. I was team bowl cut the whole way. It’s canon. It’s set. I said, If we don’t do a bowl cut, we’re going to hear about it,” Fillion said.

[RELATED: Superman Makes the Man of Steel His Own Worst Enemy and I’ve Never Been So Excited]

Fillion was also asked if there were higher stakes in playing a character that is’t as mainstream, and Fillion actually felt the opposite. “I think if anything else there’s a freedom. I think the real stakes and that kind of stress would probably be on David. You know, you’re playing Superman. Good luck. People have a lot of expectations. But if you’re coming in with something that’s a little fresh for some people, it’s all on you. Like, hey, I get to decide how this is gonna go,” Fillion said.

Smith then asked a question all of us Lantern fans want to know, and that’s about the constructs Guy will use in the film. When Smith asked if we’ll see any constructs in the film, Fillion said, “Absolutely”, but when asked what they are like, Fillion had to tease things a bit more vaguely. “Exactly what you’d expect from Guy Gardner. I mean, if you said, ‘Hey, there’s an emergency. We need a Green Lantern,’ Guy Gardner is the guy you hope you don’t get,” Fillion said. “There’s thousands of them out there, all over the universe. ‘God, please not Guy. Not Guy.’ You got Guy. ‘Damn it! Damn it!'”

Superman soars into theaters on July 11th.

Are you excited for Fillion’s take on Guy Gardner? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things Superman and DC with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Nathan Fillion Based His Superman Character on a Surprising Sitcom Legend appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It seems like we can expect more TV shows set within Matt Reeves’ Batman universe following the success of The Penguin. The world of Batman is one rich for exploration and that is proven by all of the adaptations we have gotten over the years. Not only are there nearly a hundred years of comics to pull from, but we’ve seen so many cartoons, movies, and video games that all have radically different takes on the character. Adam West’s Batman, for example, is a far cry from the Robert Pattinson Batman. He’s a very adaptable character and one that audiences keep yearning to see. Not only that, but Batman’s villains also make for rich protagonists too.

The Penguin expertly proved this last year as it was one of the best TV shows of 2024. The huge success of the show has caused people to wonder if we will get a second season of The Penguin, but HBO doesn’t seem to know right now. They have submitted the show to awards shows as a limited series and have been cagey about what the future holds in store for Oz on the small screen. It seems like there not only needs to be a story, but a willingness from Colin Farrell to step into that makeup once again. It’s expected he will return in future films, but as a lead in his own show? It’s anyone’s guess right now.

HBO Is Developing More TV Spin-Offs for The Batman

However, HBO seems interested in at least finding other shows within that world. The Penguin showrunner Lauren LeFranc spoke to Deadline noted that not only are they beginning to explore if there’s room for The Penguin Season 2, but also the potential for other Batman spin-offs. LeFranc revealed that they’re in the “early stages” of developing other spin-offs in the Matt Reeves Batman universe, but neglected to share any specifics. We already know that Joker, Riddler, and Catwoman all exist in this world, all of whom may be ripe for their own limited series.

When HBO began developing The Penguin, it was also working on shows around the Gotham City police department and Arkham Asylum, but those projects ended up being scrapped or shelved. It’s possible they return, but it’s hard to say right now. A show around Jim Gordon would be interesting, but it was sort of done to an extent with Fox’s Gotham. That said HBO could probably do a much more effective version of a Gordon-led show with its writing and budget.

HBO’s interest in continuing to develop spin-offs for this universe should give hope to those who feared that The Batman Part 2 isn’t actually happening. The movie has been delayed many times, causing some to think DC’s new leadership is throwing it all out in favor of making something that connects to its new universe. However, if that were the case, it seems unlikely they’d continue to invest resources into developing new TV shows in that very specific world.

It was recently reported that Matt Reeves would turn in a draft of The Batman Part 2 by Memorial Day, which was earlier this week. James Gunn had also noted that he received promising updates on the film just prior to this and is expected to have gotten pages from the script before being handed a full draft. Only time will tell what happens, but it seems like things are on course right now and it’s believed that The Batman Part 2 will start shooting sometime in early 2026 for a 2027 release.

What Batman characters would you like to see get a TV show? Let me know in the comments.

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Superman director James Gunn has debunked recent rumors concerning the film’s run time. On the social media platform Threads, a fan asked the filmmaker about headlines claiming Superman is 122 minutes long (2 hours, 2 minutes). Gunn cleared things up by confirming that is not the movie’s official running time. According to him, there are still a handful of VFX shots to finish before the final picture is locked and ready to go. The plan is for that work to be completed this coming weekend, meaning Superman will be ready to hit the big screen in the near future.

“That is not correct,” Gunn said when asked about the Superman run time. “It’s almost totally locked – meaning we’re just finishing a couple VFX shots over the weekend – but that’s not the running time.”

Speculation about Superman‘s run time started to spread earlier this week when it was claimed that international distributors had learned the information ahead of tickets going on sale soon. The reported run time was noteworthy because it would have made Gunn’s reboot the shortest Superman film in nearly 40 years. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace is only 90 minutes long.

[RELATED – David Corenswet Had Hilarious Response to James Gunn’s Superman Casting Call: “Prove It”]

As the first theatrical release in the DC Universe franchise, Warner Bros. has been busy giving Superman a major marketing push. The studio recently unveiled a new official trailer that established some of the film’s themes and teased some hard-hitting action sequences. Looking to build off spring box office hits such as A Minecraft Movie and Sinners, WB is very excited for Superman, which is arguably the studio’s most important release this year.

The rumored Superman run time raised some eyebrows considering all that’s on the film’s plate. Serving as the introduction to the DC Universe for most of the moviegoing audience (save for the people who watched Creature Commandos on Max), Superman will laying a lot of foundation for the shared universe moving forward. The titular Kryptonian is just one superhero appearing in the film, and some of those other characters are set to return in future DC Universe projects (see: the Peacemaker Season 2 trailer). A lot can be accomplished in two hours (which is how long it took Gunn to make viewers fall in love with the Guardians of the Galaxy), but an argument can be made Superman needs a little more breathing room in order to properly establish all of its key elements. It’ll be interesting to see what the final run time actually is.

It would be surprising if Superman is shorter than what the rumors indicated. Even though Gunn is eschewing the classic Superman origin story and just jumping right into the action, the film still has to acclimate viewers to a whole new universe and different iterations of famous characters. Running under two hours would run the risk of short changing things, though a protracted run time presents its own hurdles. Ultimately, what it boils down to is how well Superman is paced and constructed on a storytelling level. Gunn has knocked multiple comic book adaptations out of the park in his career, so Superman will hopefully be a continuation of that trend.

The post James Gunn Debunks Controversial Superman Rumor (But What’s the Truth?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Whether it’s horn-rimmed glasses worn by George Reeves’ Clark Kent in The Adventures of Superman or the bumbling, mild-mannered disguise adopted by Christopher Reeve in Superman: The Movie, the Man of Steel knows what it takes to protect a secret identity. But in James Gunn’s Superman movie starring David Corenswet in the title role, there’s another character with a well-guarded mystery identity: the Hammer of Boravia, one of several villains making their way into the DC Universe.

The gold-armored avenger of Boravia has been identified as such in everything from the film’s toyline to a Daily Planet newspaper photographed on the set, but curiously, there’s no word on who’s portraying the hi-tech terrorist seen trading blows with Superman in the trailers. The same goes for Ultraman, yet another masked mystery man clad in an identity-concealing costume who appears to be in league with General Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) and Superman’s nemesis Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult).

RELATED: Superman Trailer Breakdown: Justice League Cameo, Villains & DCU Easter Eggs Explained

And like the Hammer of Boravia, the identity of the actor playing Ultraman is being kept under wraps. But a Funko figure appears to reveal a SPOILER: the Hammer of Boravia and Ultraman are one and the same.

A new look at the second wave of Superman Funko POP! figure series — exclusively revealed by ComicBook — shows the Hammer of Boravia and a limited-edition chase variant Ultraman displaying the number 583, suggesting that the two figures are the same character, just in different suits. (Meanwhile, Mr. Terrific is 584, and the Guy Gardner Green Lantern is 585.)

The latest Superman trailer hinted that the Hammer of Boravia is a precursor to Ultraman: he can be seen unleashing what Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent described as an “ocular laser strike” on the LordTech building, which resembles Superman’s heat vision. In the comics, Ultraman is, essentially, an evil Superman with similar powers, including his red-eyed heat vision. Ultraman can also be seen accompanying Luthor and another powered meta-human, Angela Spica/the Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría), as they invade Kal-El’s Fortress of Solitude in the arctic, implying that Luthor is also behind the so-called Hammer of Boravia.

No surprise there: Gunn has already confirmed that Superman’s archoe is the movie’s main villain. “The primary protagonist of Superman is, shockingly, Superman. The main villain of Superman is, shockingly, Lex Luthor,” the writer-director shared on Threads in response to rumors that Ultraman is Superman’s evil clone.

Superman — starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Nathan Fillion as the Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, with Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, María Gabriela de Faría, Wendell Pierce, Alan Tudyk, Neva Howell, Pruitt Taylor Vince, and Frank Grillo — is only in theaters July 11.

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DC Comics has a certain reputation among superhero fans, creating heroes and villains that are much more powerful than their marvelous counterparts. Even back in the Golden Age, DC had powerful heroes and villains. People like to talk about how Superman wasn’t as powerful, but he was surrounded by heroes like the Spectre, Doctor Fate, and Green Lantern, all who could do basically anything they wanted at any time. Nearly every superpowered hero seemed to have super strength, and powers levels just kept increasing into the Silver Age, when the heroes of the DC Multiverse would reach their apex of power. Superman was throwing planets and flying through time, the Flash was powerful enough to transcend time and space, and villains like Brainiac were shrinking entire planets. All of that is before we get into villains like the Anti-Monitor.

Powers levels went down after Crisis on Infinite Earths, but they eventually started buoying back up as time went on. Nowadays, it’s closer to the days of the Silver Age, when the powers of heroes was whatever they needed to win the day, and the villains were just a little more powerful in order to challenge the heroes. These seven DC characters are among the most overpowered out there, and the fact that they’re so common in DC stories shows just how ridiculous the power levels of the DC Multiverse can be.

7) Wally West

This entry could really go to any of the Flashes, but Wally has been the fastest, most powerful Flash for a long time. Wally West’s power level is kind of insane to think about. He was the first Flash to learn the secret Speed Force and mastered the use of its powers in ways that no one else had before. Wally was able to pull feats of speed that other speedsters could only dream of, and was able to use the energy of the Speed Force in ways that were impossible for anyone else. Wally was the first person to master draining an object of its speed, a power he taught to every speedster that could do it. Wally could completely remove the Speed Force from someone, freezing them like a statue. He ran many, many times the speed of light, and can pull off the infinite mass punch, an attack that could basically kill just about anything the Justice League or he faces. He was able to become so fast that he could transcend Zoom’s ability to manipulate the speed that time moved at. Wally gained the ability to make duplicates of himself, all with his power level. Wally West is massively OP for a hero that is always around. He could beat most threats to the world all on his own.

6) Swamp Thing

Alan Moore made many characters great, but the first in the United States was Swamp Thing. Moore increased Swamp Thing’s powers to ridiculous levels. Making him the Avatar of the Green made him into a near unstoppable force of nature. The only way to actually affect him was to affect the energy wavelength that his consciousness operated on, otherwise he could move from any plant and grown it into whatever form he wanted, all while controlling all the plant life in his general vicinity. Swamp Thing has been shown beating Superman on numerous occasions, using the power of the Earth against Krypton’s most powerful man. Swamp Thing has tackled demons and monstrous forces of decay, operating on a scale that most heroes wouldn’t understand. Swamp Thing’s power level are far beyond the stratosphere; he hasn’t been in any actual danger in ages.

5) Superman

Superman and overpowered go together like chocolate and peanut butter, and have for decades. As referenced above, Superman wasn’t unstoppably powerful right away. Instead, he grew in power as creators threw more and more powerful foes at him until he reached the heights of his power in the Silver Age. Since then, Superman’s power has waxed and waned in main continuity, but he’s usually capable of still moving planets and has the potential to be a time-traveling, reality altering god like the Prime Superman is if he spends enough time under yellow sunlight. Superman is as powerful as the story needs him to be, which means that sometimes you’re getting a reasonably powered Superman and other times you’re getting a Superman who could destroy galaxies by sneezing (I’m pretty sure that actually happened in the Silver Age). Superman has faced the greatest threats and always come through, his power levels morphing whenever they need to. Superman is the definition of an overpowered hero, but luckily he’s one of the best.

RELATED: 7 DC Comics Moments I’m Still Not Over

4) Doctor Manhattan

Doctor Manhattan was the only superpowered being on his Earth, gaining complete control over matter and physics. Doctor Manhattan could take apart things with a glance and was obsessed with the workings of the universe, using his powers to do experiments he never would have been able to do as a human. Doctor Manhattan’s power level grew as he came to understand more of how everything worked, and the way he perceives time means that he technically knows everything that he’s ever going to know in the past, present, and future. By the end of Watchmen, Doctor Manhattan had survived being disassembled at a molecular level for the second time and decided that he was going to explore the universe, perhaps even create some humans. This led him to the Bleed, where he passed into the DC Multiverse and reached his ultimate form. He used his powers to change space and time, removing elements from existence and using the multiverse as his petri dish, creating the New 52. This is an insane amount of power, much further beyond anything he had while he was in Watchmen. Doctor Manhattan was one of the most powerful beings to ever pass through the DC Multiverse, an all-powerful god of science missing the one thing the DC Multiverse gave him — wonder.

3) Darkseid

Darkseid is the God of Evil, a living force of entropy and control. Darkseid has one desire in all creation — to gain control of the Anti-Life Equation and take control of every living thing. Darkseid wants to be the only free will in existence, using his power to chain everything to himself. Darkseid is both a physical being of immense power, able to singlehandedly defeat any and all of Earth’s superheroes in physical combat, and a being that is enmeshed in the fabric of the DC Multiverse. You can kill Darkseid’s body, it is possible. However, you can’t kill Darkseid because he is in everything. Everyone who misuses their power to hurt others is one of Darkseid’s people. Darkseid is always there, ready to be recruited into whatever big event that creators need him for. Darkseid is constantly an existential force of destruction, and when he gets the Anti-Life Equation, he’s pretty close to unstoppable. Darkseid is just that kind of villain, an overpowered force of destruction unlike anything that the universe has ever seen.

2) The Anti-Monitor

The Anti-Monitor kicked off a fine tradition of villains who were powerful enough to destroy universes. Comics are full of villains with high kill counts, but the Anti-Monitor easily takes the cake. He destroyed every universe he came across for ages, winnowing down the Multiverse in a bid to gain enough of it to transform into anti-matter and flood all of reality. The Anti-Monitor is more powerful than the mightiest Kryptonian and can create entire armies of lackies from his shadow. He is in charge of the antimatter universe of Qward, where the Weaponeers create weapons for him that can destroy universes with one shot. He can release waves of anti-matter that can burn away everything in their path. The Anti-Monitor is basically as powerful as whatever story calls him to be, and makes even the most powerful Marvel villains look like child’s play. Sure, Galactus eats planets and chews up Celestials, but the Anti-Monitor was able to destroy entire universes and wrestle with the Spectre, a reality-altering titan, defeating him handily, and creating an entire universe as a trap for the heroes. That’s an insane amount of power, but that’s just what the Anti-Monitor at full power can do.

1) Perpetua

The cosmology of the DC Multiverse is frankly insane. There’s the various gods of the different worlds, there the Presence and his angels and Lucifer and his demons. There’s the Endless, the New Gods of New Genesis and Apokolips, and survivors of elder gods’ old wars littered across the multiverse. There’s the Monitors, the Anti-Monitor, the World-Forger. There’s the Gentry and the Empty Hand. There’s the Great Darkness. Greater than all of these, though, are the Hands. The Hands build multiverses, creating little infinite clusters of space time all over creation. Long ago, one Hand created a multiverse meant to conquer all of the other ones. This was Perpetua and her creation was the DC Multiverse. The other Hands banded together and imprisoned her beyond the Source Wall, but she was able to break when the Justice League broke open the Wall in Justice League: No Exit. Perpetua saw her creation and wanted control of it back, so she worked with Lex Luthor and the Legion of Doom, as well as the Batman Who Laughs, in a bid to spread doom through the galaxy, making veryone chose her darkness. Perpetua is powerful enough to create entire multiverses. Her weapon of choice is throwing planets at foes of her scale. Perpetua’s powers are on a scale that can be hard to grasp, and it was only thanks to the actions of many, many beings that the DC Multiverse, and the greater Omniverse, was able to survive Perpetua’s wrath.

What DC characters do you think are the most overpowered? Sound off in the comments below.

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The comic industry has lost a titan in Peter David. David’s passing is a tragedy. He was an amazing creator, and spent years working on the greatest characters in comics. Peter David was a man of multiple talents, writing everything from Star Trek novels to cartoons. David’s time on The Incredible Hulk for twelve years completely redefined what the character could be. Throughout the ’90s, The Incredible Hulk was extremely popular, and David’s opinion column, “But I Digress…” in CBG allowed readers to get to know him like they did few other creators. He was responsible for some of the greatest stories for multiple characters — Hulk, Spider-Man, Supergirl, Aquaman, Jamie Madrox — and left behind a body of work that will stand among the greatest comics of all time.

We’re here to talk about David’s work. This list will contain both entire runs and individual stories from those runs that are especially good. David’s runs were things of beauty, truly epic stories that were masterpieces of tone and character. You knew you were in for a treat when it came to his books, as he was going to take characters you never thought about much and make them into obsessions. All of Peter David’s work is worthy of praise, but these ten works are the best of them, books that you need to get your hands on.

10) Fallen Angel

David’s Supergirl ran for years, but he still had stories left to tell with the character after it was finished. This led to him and artist David Lopez creating Fallen Angel, a book that took many of the ideas behind David’s Supergirl and continued them. The book starred Lee, a superheroine known as Fallen Angel in the city of Bete Noire. The city itself is as much a character as Lee herself, a shifting landscape of perfect order during the day and complete corruption by night. Lee battles against the machinations of the Magistrate, as readers are drawn through one of the darkest and rewarding narratives ever. Fallen Angel was published by DC Comics and IDW, and it can be a bit tough to find. However, it’s definitely worth the hunt. David’s work on Fallen Angel is some of his best.

9) “The Death of Jean DeWolfe”

“The Death of Jean DeWolfe” is Peter David’s second professional comic work, and what a work it is. Police captain Jean DeWolfe, one of Peter Parker’s closest friends, is found dead and Spider-Man swings into action to find the killer. Daredevil gets involved when Matt Murdock is brought in to represent a group of muggers that Spider-Man brought in. The villain is revealed as the Sin-Eater, and Spider-Man is faced with a foe that he wants to kill. “The Death of Jean DeWolfe” is a Spider-Man classic and showed off what David was capable of with superheroes. Working with artist Rich Buckler, David created a page turning mystery that transforms midway through into a completely different story. This is one of the most beloved black Spider-Man costume series, and it led David to write for all four Spider-Man titles of the ’80s and ’90s — The Amazing Spider-Man, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Web of Spider-Man, and The Spectacular Spider-Man — and it’s all because of this classic story.

8) Supergirl

Post-Crisis Supergirl is an interesting story in itself, but the basics are this — in the post-Crisis DC Universe, Superman was the only Kryptonian. Supergirl was Matrix, a shape-shifting, protoplasmic being that took on her form after meeting her on an alternate Earth. David’s Supergirl kicked off with Supergirl saving the life of Linda Danvers, and the two beings merged. The mystery of who Linda Danvers was as a person is a major mystery in the series. Supergirl’s life as Linda changes her, and David takes the characters in directions that no fan ever thought they would have gone in. David paid homage to the Supergirl ideas of the past while completely remaking the character from the ground up. David worked with a lot of great artists over the run of Supergirl, which ran for 80 issues over seven years, but kicked the book off with his former artistic partner Gary Frank. Frank’s art is amazing, and every issue he draws looks fantastic. Supergirl is a perfect example of David taking a character that no one thought of very much and made her into a star.

7) Hulk: The End

Peter David is widely considered the best Hulk writer of all time, so Marvel gave him the honor of telling the last Hulk story. Hulk: The End re-teamed David with artist Dale Keown, to tell the story of the Hulk in the far future. Humanity is long extinct and the Hulk will not let Bruce Banner die. He is followed over the insect ridden planet by a device from an alien race, recording his actions as he tried to kill himself over and over again. It is just as dark as it sounds and is all the better for it. David captures the despair of both the Hulk and Banner, the last sentient being on Earth, trapped with the person they both hate the most. Keown’s art was at another level than it was when he worked on The Incredible Hulk with David, and Hulk: The End is page after gorgeous page of Hulk action, with images you’ll never forgot. Hulk: The End is the perfect ending for the Hulk, David’s final word on a character he changed forever.

6) Aquaman: Time and Tide

The post-Crisis DC Universe was a fertile places for new takes on old characters and David’s time working with Aquaman were one of the highlights of ’90s DC. David got the go ahead to completely reboot everything about Aquaman, starting with The Atlantis Chronicles (a truly excellent reimagining of the DC Atlantean lore) and soon got his chance to the do the same to Aquaman with Aquaman: Time and Tide, along with artist Kirk Jarvinen. Time and Tide was a new kind of Aquaman for the extreme ’90s, and David was able to use the lore that he had established before to give readers a new Aquaman. This story pit the Atlantean monarch against Ocean Master, beginning a new chapter in their decades long rivalry, and setting up the villain as Aquaman’s greatest foe, a position that was usually held by Black Manta. David’s Aquaman is the perfect version of the character, and Jarvinen’s art is fantastic, giving readers brilliant underwater action. Time and Tide was the perfect reimagining of Aquaman, and is worth the effort of hunting down.

RELATED: Aquaman’s Voyage Into the Fantastical is Paying Off in a Major Way (Review)

5) Spider-Man 2099

Marvel’s 2099 comics were one of the ’90s most beloved line, and a big reason for that is Spider-Man 2099. Peter David, kicking the series off with legendary artist Rick Leonardi. David showed off his cyberpunk chops with Spider-Man 2099, the story of Miguel O’Hara fighting against the corporation that he used to work for — Alchemax — and the changing world of the Earth of 2099. David showed the limits of what could be done with this new setting, and Spider-Man 2099 is an example of perfect superhero goodness. Miguel O’Hara is a brilliant character, one that David presents to the reader from every angle. He also faithfully recreates the villains of Spider-Man for the future, his love for the character shining through all the time. The ’90s weren’t the greatest decade for Spider-Man fans but for 44 issues, readers got some of the best Spider-Man comics of all time from a master of the character.

4) Young Justice

The Teen Titans didn’t do very well in the ’90s, the glories of the past not enough to keep readers interested. By the mid ’90s, DC had introduced an all-new slate of teen sidekicks — Tim Drake, Cassie Sandsmark, Conner Kent, and Impulse — and they got to be pretty popular. DC gave Peter David and Todd Nauck a chance to make the teen heroes a big deal again with Young Justice. As a concept, Young Justice is basically just the Teen Titans under a different name, with David taking the young heroes to a boarding school environment, which was a nice touch. Young Justice was sold as the Robin/Superboy/Wonder Girl/Impulse book, but characters like Arrowette, Empress, and Secret kept readers coming back. Unlike the Teen Titans, Young Justice got their own Justice League mentor, with David bringing in Red Tornado. Young Justice was the epitome of what teen superheroes could be, with David proving that he could do teen heroes better than anyone in the industry.

3) X-Factor

Peter David wrote three separate runs on X-Factor since 1991. He wrote X-Factor (Vol. 1) #70-89, X-Factor (Vol. 3) #1-50, 200-262 (it reverted to legacy numbering), and All-New X-Factor #1-20. The first one premiered during the X-Men line’s 1991’s reboot, and was easily the most well-written X-Men book on the market at the time. His team was a masterpiece of character, digging into each and everyone one of them, making them better heroes. X-Factor (Vol. 1) #87 was the therapy issue, a comic which completely reinvigorated Quicksilver as a character. X-Factor (Vol. 2) was the Madrox book, spinning out of David’s work on MadroX, and saw X-Factor evolve into a detective agency. It’s constantly brilliant, and probably the best of the three. All-New X-Factor was X-Factor as a corporate superhero team, now with a hundred percent more Gambit. Peter David was a master of team storytelling, and his time on X-Factor gave readers some of the greatest team comics ever.

2) Aquaman

Aquaman was basically dead by the time the ’90s got underway. SuperFriends had ruined the character for an entire generation of DC fans, and no one had been able to make the character popular again. Peter David had seemingly taken it upon himself to fix Aquaman and make him a big deal again, with aforementioned The Atlantis Chronicles and Time and Tide setting up the pieces for a new Aquaman ongoing series. David and artist Jim Calafiore were able to make Aquaman one of the best DC comics of the mid ’90s, which is actually quite impressive even thought it doesn’t seem like it should be. David immediately threw a curveball at readers by having piranhas eat off Aquaman’s hand. This new hook handed Aquaman was a stone cold bruiser, and David threw him at everything from supervillains to sea gods. It was an amazing read every single issue, 44 issues of awesome Aquaman action.

1) The Incredible Hulk

Peter David wrote The Incredible Hulk for 12 years, working with artists like Todd McFarlane, Dale Keown, Gary Frank, Liam Sharp, Mike Deodato Jr., and Adam Kubert. David’s run kicked off with issue #331 and ending with issue #448. There are so many amazing issues throughout David’s run and he changed the Hulk forever, introducing readers to some of the most important pieces of Hulk lore. He changed the relationship between the Hulk and Bruce Wayne forever, digging into the psychology of the Hulk in a way that no other writer had tried to. He was able to write every kind of Hulk over his run, from the genius scientist Hulk to the monosyllabic savage Hulk. Every Hulk writer after his has used ideas that David laid the seeds for. He found a way to make Rick Jones vital in the ’90s, which is quite a feat. There are multiple eras throughout David’s run, and there’s something for everyone in this run. Personally, my favorite issues came from Gary Frank and Adam Kubert’s time with Peter David, but it’s all amazing.

What’s your favorite Peter David series (sorry Captain Marvel and Star Trek: The Next Generation fans, those are excellent too)? Sound off in the comments below.

The post 10 Greatest Peter David Comics appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The enthralling roller coaster of DC’s Absolute Universe kicks off the next chapter of Wonder Woman’s story in it with Absolute Wonder Woman #8, itself part one of the book’s new story “As My Mothers Made Me”. While not as action heavy as Diana’s literal emergence from Hell itself in the beginning of Absolute Wonder Woman, that’s by design with Diana finding her footing in mankind’s world in the aftermath of her first big battle. The issue’s biggest asset, however, are the multiple twists it introduces that set up Diana’s journey in the Absolute Universe as one that is just getting started.

When “As My Mothers Made Me” begins, Diana has made a new home for herself in Gateway City after here defeat of the monstrous creature, the Tetracide, but while she has several new human friends including Steve Trevor, Etta Candy, and Barbara Minerva, Diana still yearns to find her Amazonian sisters from her homeland of Themyscira whom she never got to meet due to her upbringing in Hell. Meanwhile, the sinister director of Area 41, Veronica Cale, prepares to throw a curveball in Diana’s direction with help from the captive Doctor Poison, the two having both a secret weapon and a tool of enticement to catch Diana off guard.

Absolute DC has excelled as a collective Elseworlds story for all of DC, and Absolute Wonder Woman #8 picks up the ball from Diana’s Absolute debut in both an understated and impactful way. If the first seven issues of Absolute Wonder Woman placed great emphasis on Diana as a warrior, the eighth is all about achieving peace in her new home as she primarily focuses on finding the sisters she never met in the home she’s building for herself.

RELATED: 7 Biggest Changes Absolute DC Has Made To DC’s Trinity

While Steve, Etta, and Barbara don’t have a big role to play other than being impressed by Diana’s big magic trick of the issue, the villainous cabal that Veronica Cale and Doctor Poison more than makes up for it. Re-imaging Doctor Poison as a sentient cloud of gas assuming a rough human form through a containment suit is just the latest brilliant DC character makeover the Absolute Universe has treated readers to, while Veronica’s role in the story shows her with a surprisingly Amanda Waller-esque persona in her talent for pulling strings to make villains into her pawns.

Hayden Sherman and Jordan Bellaire’s artwork keeps the cave painting-like quality that has been Absolute Wonder Woman‘s visual bedrock enthrallingly vivid, but like any great part one of a comic book story, “As My Mothers Made Me” saves its strongest punch for its last couple of pages. Suffice it to say, Diana being called upon to face an old enemy is just the appetizer to the real shocker of the twist in its final panel. An absolutely splendid cliffhanger is how Absolute Wonder Woman #8 chooses to wrap up part one of “As My Mother Made Me” – one that sets the stage for Diana’s new big challenge and that reminded me of how and why DC’s Absolute Universe has been consistently knocking it out of the park from day one, as it is sure to do for millions of other readers.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Absolute Wonder Woman #8 is on sale now from DC.

The post Absolute Wonder Woman Was Already Great And It’s Only Getting Better appeared first on ComicBook.com.

James Gunn’s first entry into the new DC Studios line-up, Superman, is set to burst into theaters on July 11th 2025, but not without some super Funko Pop figures. As you have probably noticed, the film is stacked with characters, and this second wave of Pops fills in a lot of the gaps left by wave 1. Comicbook has your first official look at these figures, and you can check them out below!

It all starts with the Superman and Fortress of Solitude Pop Moment and the Metamorpho with Baby Joey Pop & Buddy. You’ll also find a Pop Plus of the Engineer. Look out for the Hammer of Boravia where you’ll have a 1 in 6 chance to score the DC Ultraman chase. There’s also Guy Gardner, Mr. Terrific, and a Battle Damaged Superman. You can take a closer look in the gallery below. Pre-orders are live here at Entertainment Earth and here on Amazon now. You might also find them here at Hot Topic at some point in the next 24 hours.

• Superman Superman and Fortress of Solitude Funko Pop! Moment 
• Superman Hammer of Boravia w/Chase Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure
• Superman Funko Pop! Mr.Terrific
• Superman Guy Gardner Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure: 
• Superman Metamorpho w/ Baby Joey Funko Pop! & Buddy 
• Superman The Engineer Funko Pop! Plus Vinyl Figure
• Superman Superman (Battle Damaged) Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure – Funko Exclusive
• You can keep tabs on all of the latest Funko Pop releases right here via our weekly roundup.

The first wave of Pops from the new Superman film was released on April 18th and featured a total of 5 Pop figures. That included a 10-inch Jumbo Superman, Krypto, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and a standard Superman in both Pop figure and Keychain form. If you’re excited about the new DC Studios and James Gunn’s Superman, then head over and check out the entire wave now. Pre-orders are available here on Amazon and here at Entertainment Earth.

If you’re interested in action figures based on the new Superman film, McFarlane Toys has you covered. They’ve announced their second wave of Superman figures, and pre-orders are also expected to go live today. Details and direct links for each of the new figures are all available right here. Inside the list you’ll also find a breakdown of the McFarlane Toys Wave 1 releases.

Written and directed by Gunn, Superman stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent, the Superman himself, opposite Rachel Brosnahan as intrepid reporter Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as the Man of Steel’s archnemesis, Lex Luthor. Since this is the first entry into the new DC universe, you can also expect to see superheroes Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Guy Gardner Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan), and The Authority’s Angela Spica/The Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría). 

Superman hits theaters July 11, 2025.

The post Superman 2025 Movie Funko Pops Wave 2 Unveiled (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The San Diego Comic-Con in July is an annual tradition bringing many joys to pop culture aficionados. For many years, particularly from the mid-2000s to the late-2010s, it’s also become a glorious home for big movie news and trailer premieres. Within the hallowed space of Hall H (a must-visit room at the convention), Marvel Studios, Warner Bros., Lucasfilm, Legendary Pictures, and countless other entities have launched major Earth-shattering events that gave ordinary people exciting glimpses into the future. This is the event where Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’s title was revealed, for instance, and the first Iron Man trailer premiered and set the world ablaze.

In recent years, though, movies and TV studios have begun to dial back their commitment to dropping big news exclusively at Comic-Con. Partly this is due to films like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Brigsby Bear bombing despite costly Comic-Con presences. COVID-19’s upending of the entertainment industry is even more impactful in this regard. Plus, the dialing back of quantity in some franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe means there’d be less to show off at Comic-Con panels. Reflecting this trend, DC Studios is only, much to the inevitable chagrin of fans everywhere, bringing one project to 2025’s Comic-Con.

What DC Studios Title Will Appear At Comic-Con?

Given that 2025’s San Diego Comic-Con occurs from July 24-27, 2025, Superman (which opens two weeks earlier on July 11) won’t be part of the event. Instead, DC Studios co-head James Gunn announced on Threads that the outfit will only bring Peacemaker season two to this event. Gunn and Cena will headline a panel dedicated exclusively to this HBO Max program. However, Gunn confirmed he would be open to discussing any project stewing at DC Studios during the panel.

Peacemaker’s sophomore season drops in August 2025, just a few weeks after SDCC 2025. That makes it logical to focus heavily on those upcoming eight new hours of DC Studios programming. Still, fans will inevitably be frustrated that one of the first DC Studios SDCC panels isn’t as jam-packed with projects as a typical Marvel Studios panel. In 2019, for instance, Kevin Feige and company showed up to promote a barrage of Phase Four projects for both the big and small screen, not to mention announce a Blade reboot that still hasn’t materialized.

Gunn’s DC Studios, meanwhile, is keeping things smaller and contained for now in its SDCC 2025 plans. After all, there isn’t much else the outfit could show. June 2026’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow just finished shooting, but it’s also deep into post-production. There isn’t much completed footage they could show off. The only other post-2025 DC Studios movie with a confirmed release date, Clayface, won’t start shooting until October 2025. Meanwhile, highlighting fellow DC Universe TV show Lanterns may distract from Peacemaker’s second season.

Gunn and company seem intent on ensuring this returning HBO Max program doesn’t lose its specialness. Also, announcing too many projects before they’re ready has hampered many other franchises. A more focused SDCC 2025 panel can help DC Studios avoid that problem.

[RELATED: New Teen Titans Go! Movie In the Works With DC Studios, Says WB Exec]

The DC Universe’s Future Is Still In Flux

Still, the sparse DC Studios SDCC 2025 slate is bound to lead some DC fans to start grumbling simply because, whether intentionally or not, it reflects how uncertain the franchise is until Superman drops. With the proposed Sgt. Rock movie currently shelved, Supergirl is the only post-Superman DC Universe movie that’s actually been shooting before this James Gunn directorial effort hits theaters. Other potential features in this franchise beyond the 2026 title, Clayface, are still a mystery.

This tactic can’t help but feel like Gunn and other DC Studios heads are holding back a bit to see how the public responds to Superman. This blockbuster has been building plenty of hype, but could still backfire financially and critically. If that happens, Warner Bros. would be back in its mid-2010s spot of having a bunch of DC blockbusters on the docket despite audiences expressing disinterest in the characters. Thus, the immediate focus on the future is a follow-up to the beloved 2022 TV show Peacemaker, which can exist separately from Superman.

It’s an understandable move to ensure the DC Universe doesn’t get too ahead of itself. However, it is still likely to irritate long-time followers of these characters. After all, it’s been years since Gunn’s initial announcement of the DC Universe’s Phase One projects, and there’s been minimal movement on productions like The Authority or The Brave and the Bold. An SDCC 2025 panel focused solely on Peacemaker Season 2 is bound to exacerbate those concerns. For now, though, these fans are left to be patient and try to enjoy Gunn and Cena’s amiable rapport at this forthcoming SDCC 20225 panel.

Peacemaker’s second season begins airing on HBO Max on August 21st.

The post DC Studios Only Bringing One Project to Comic-Con (& Fans May Be Disappointed) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new chapter in the thrilling saga of DC’s Man of Steel is now underway in Superman #26, and while all eyes are on the future, Superman never abandons the critical threads of the past. This key element has made Superman one of the most gratifying series in DC’s current library, as past events always feel meaningful without becoming obstacles to fresh concepts and ideas. It’s resulted in a book that rewards longtime readers with additive layers to characters, relationships, and alliances while also consistently pushing the story forward into new territory, and over two years in this series still feels as powerful as ever.

Superman #26 deals directly with the fallout of Mercy’s big gamble that set a murderous and crazed clone (X-El) on a rampage across Metropolis, and writer Joshua Williamson takes some time to catch up with several different areas of the Superman family and the book’s extended cast. It’s become a trademark of the series and is a credit to how much investment has been made in the rest of the cast, as Lois, Lex, Mercy, and Lena have all become just as important to the overall story and just as compelling as Big Blue.

Lena Luthor is especially great throughout the issue and makes an immediate impact during the book’s opening pages thanks to the brilliant work of Eddy Barrows, Alejandro Sanchez, and Ariana Maher. Luthor has been on the receiving end of no shortage of scoldings over the years, but you feel every painful word in Lena’s justified evisceration of him, just as you can’t shake the feeling that something is off with Lois after her back-to-business shrug-off of not having powers. Everyone feels remarkably human in this series, and it’s part of what successfully grounds the bigger superhero spectacle of it all.

That leads us to the direct threat of this issue, which isn’t actually coming from Lex or Mercy this time around. Williamson leans into other aspects of Superman and his personality that we don’t always get to see and creates a freight train of internal conflict in the process, and then we also get key characters from earlier in the run (including one of my absolute favorites) showing back up in unexpected ways.

[RELATED: DC Reveals Four New Kryptonites in Black Label Superman Series]

There’s also a grand plan in place, with two interludes building upon the two most recent arcs and setting up big confrontations down the line. Those who have been paying attention to not only Superman’s main series but also All In overall will be excited to see both of these story elements in play, and it once again goes to show how deftly the series balances its macro level storytelling and the moments in between that gets you invested in the first place. Superman has been on an all-time run over these last two years, and as the next era begins in earnest, I can’t see a future where that is going to change.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Superman #26 is on sale now.

What did you think of Superman #26, and what do you want to see next from the series? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Superman Makes the Man of Steel His Own Worst Enemy and I’ve Never Been So Excited appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…finally Tom Welling in the Superman suit! DeviantArt user Buffy2ville created strikingly realistic fan art of Tom Welling, who played Clark Kent on the WB/CW series Smallville for 10 seasons, as an aged Superman in full regalia, flying through a city scene. The GIF depicts a present-day Welling, 48, sporting the classic Superman side part hairstyle and a take on the Supersuit similar to the one from Zack Snyder’s DC Extended Universe films, such as Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, as he soars through what could very well be Metropolis.

The animated image is wish fulfillment for Smallville fans, who increasingly bemoaned the show’s “no tights, no flights” rule for its star, the longer the young Superman series went on. Seeing a present-day version of Welling in tights and flying is the stuff of Smallville fantasies. The show’s creators, Al Gough and Miles Millar, were strict about Smallville‘s version of Clark Kent never donning the iconic red cape. Instead, the series focused on how Clark became the famous superhero.

Welling Fan Art Flies in the Face of Smallville’s Cardinal Rule

That rule became tough to follow once Clark graduated from high school and presumably college in the show, and began working at The Daily Planet. He started dating his love Lois Lane (Erica Durance), and by Season 9 of the series, “no flights, no tights” had become somewhat of a hindrance for Smallville, rather than a fresh, guiding principle for the show. The writers tried to skirt around it by having citizens of Metropolis dub Clark “The Blur” and giving him not one, but two, cool jackets that were decidedly not capes.

RELATED: James Gunn Superman Trailer Reimagined as Smallville TV Intro

During the show’s series finale, we got the closest we would ever get to seeing Welling in the supersuit. In Smallville‘s final scene, Welling’s Clark dashes to the top of The Daily Planet building to diffuse “a bomb in an elevator uptown.” As Clark prepares to save the day, we see the Superman costume’s chest plate under his dress shirt and tie.

This Fan Art May Be the Only Time Fans See Welling in the Supersuit in Live-Action

When Welling reprised his role in Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two, it was back to the flannel shirts his character was so well-known for. His Clark wasn’t even Superman anymore. He revealed to Superman & Lois’s Clark (Tyler Hoechlin), Lois (Bitsie Tulloch), Iris West-Allen (Candice Patton), and Lex Luthor (Jon Cryer) that he gave up his powers to have a family with Lois.

The only other way we may see a version of Welling in Superman’s blue tights and red cape is through an animated sequel series he’s developing with Smallville co-star Michael Rosenbaum. However, given the recent WGA Writers Strike and the new leadership at Warner Bros., the Smallville sequel’s fate is uncertain, despite Rosenbaum telling Deadline that “the whole [Smallville] cast would like to do it.”

Smallville is now streaming on Hulu.

The post Tom Welling Soars Again as an Aged Superman In Smallville Revival Fan Art appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When it comes to the biggest Batman comic book storylines of all time, Batman: Hush is always in the conversation. Stories such as The Dark Knight Returns, The Long Halloween, Death In The Family, The Killing Joke, and Batman: Year One stand at the top of the food chain for the Dark Knight, with the introduction of the villainous Hush standing side-by-side with many of them. Thanks to DC announcing that the original creative team of writer Jeph Loeb and artist Jim Lee returning for a sequel storyline, many were expecting a new golden era of the Bat but unfortunately, they might get anything but with the latest issue, Batman #160.

Much like the title of this review suggests, Batman #160 throws an incalculable amount of characters, storylines, and action-packed scenes readers’ way. To start, Bruce is having some difficulty in wrapping his head around the Red Hood’s current alliance as Jason Todd and Hush seem to be working in tandem. On top of this, Tommy Elliott’s big comeback has spawned new villains for the Dark Knight to fight as Hush has been putting his surgical skill to good use. The issue also injects subplots involving Commissioner Gordon, Nightwing and Batgirl teaming up with the Riddler, Damien Wayne hitting the scene with Bane, Tommy creating new villains for Bruce to fight, and all these elements stirred into a chaotic pot. Unfortunately, all of these plotlines find themselves almost doing battle with one another by the issue’s end.

[RELATED: This Fan Favorite Batman Story Isn’t The Masterpiece It’s Made Out to Be (And I Will Die on This Hill)]

The original Hush storyline, much like The Long Halloween and its sequel Dark Victory, did an adept job of juggling an avalanche of Batman’s villains into one storyline. Specifically, it did this by typically spending an issue seeing the Dark Knight take on one of his rogues gallery within the backdrop of an overarching mystery that is unfurling. Here, Loeb takes a far more chaotic approach in that countless villains are smacking against one another for panel time in a way that might have seemed more in line with the grand finales of these respective stories. This methodology worked as something of a pay-off to what had transpired before in the original Long Halloween but unfortunately, it almost appears as though Hush 2 is throwing everything at the wall relatively early.

The Hush sequel has an issue in giving you time to breathe and percolate on the many plots that are interweaving with one another. It’s all too fast and far too furious in comparison to Loeb’s past mysteries that worked so well, such as The Long Halloween with the methodology for introducing the nefarious Holiday. To say nothing of the fact that we are once again retreading the idea of whether or not the Joker should still be alive and how far Bruce Wayne should go in saving the villain’s life. This of course leads me to my next big issue with the issue.

We really need to have a discussion about Jason Todd in the DC Universe. For me personally, I think that there has never been a good enough storyline, aside from Batman: Under The Red Hood, that felt like Jason’s resurrection was justified in the face of his initial death’s impact on the DC universe. That’s a personal preference for yours truly but it’s one that feels exacerbated here in Hush 2 because readers are once again dragged into a villainous take on the Red Hood, which is territory that has been explored time and time again. Yes, Jason wants the Joker dead but that fact has been mined to death, and seeing him once again coming to blows with Bruce over this fact doesn’t feel fresh anymore. It’s a hard sell that Jason, who is a murderer, is allowed to walk free and fight for Gotham but him switching sides again pushes the believability of the universe to its breaking point.

On a positive note, Jim Lee once again proves himself to have not missed a beat since he was drawing far more often for both DC and Marvel Comics. Lee’s work makes each of these characters truly feel as though they are gods walking the Earth, which is fantastic for the DC universe as a whole. There’s a reason why in plenty of marketing and promotional material, Jim Lee’s artwork feels like the “go-to” for Batman and his villains and the artist proves that here. Scott Williams’ inks and Alex Sinclair’s colors on the issue greatly accentuate Lee’s linework here, and if nothing else, I really am looking forward to seeing more of what Hush 2 has to offer in the art department.

Hush 2 is a storyline that I believe will need to be judged when all is said and done, ie once the arc is finished and readers can read it in a single afternoon. Reviewing the arc piecemeal feels like a tough scenario though it’s one that still needs to be done. As it stands, I wouldn’t recommend this sequel for readers looking for the next big Batman book and while it is flawed, there are good enough aspects to bring me back to see how it all wraps.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Batman #160 is on sale now from DC.

The post Batman’s Hush Sequel’s “Everything But the Kitchen Sink” Approach Just Isn’t Working appeared first on ComicBook.com.

DC Comics set the standard for what superheroes could be decades ago. Their Golden Age superheroes made a huge impact on the comic buying public of the late 30s and 40s, and they decided to put all of them in one place. This created the comic superteam as we know it and it would reach its ultimate iteration with the Justice League. The Justice League took the DC heroes of the Silver Age — Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman — and combined them with Martian Manhunter to create the greatest team in the history of the DC Multiverse. The Justice League is on a level of their own, and took superheroes to another level. The popularity of the Justice League was so much that it got Marvel back in the superhero comic game. That’s right, the Justice League is so powerful they basically created the entire Silver Age Marvel Universe to compete with it. There is no other team on the level of the Justice League in comics. Sure, the Avengers are more popular because of the MCU, but the Avengers would never exist without the Justice League.

The example of the Justice League has been taken up by multiple heroes over the years, and the DC Multiverse is full of amazing teams. While most of them aren’t on the level of the Justice League, there are some teams that are. They’ve become icons in their own right, their legacies reaching much further than they could have possibly imagined. These three DC teams are the best the publisher has to offer that aren’t the Justice League, groups of heroes who have accomplished feats that other hero teams could only dream of.

1) The Justice Society of America

The Justice League is DCs greatest team, but they aren’t DC’s first. That distinction goes to the Justice Society of America. The original superteam consisted of Green Lantern (Alan Scott), the Flash (Jay Garrick), Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific I, Wildcat I, Doctor Fate I, the Sandman I, Hourman I, Starman I, Black Canary I, Johnny Thunder, the Atom, and Wonder Woman, with Batman and Superman joining the team. They were the protectors of the American homefront, battling the Ultra-Humanite and the Injustice Society of America, taking down Nazis, and basically helping protect the world at what many thought was its most desperate moment. The Justice Society went above and beyond the call of duty and created an entire generation of superhero fans.

As everyone but Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman faded away, the Justice Society would disappear as well, and the team’s big guns would see their mantles passed down to new heroes. Soon, the Justice League, created by the amazing Gardner Fox, the same man who created the Justice Society, would take its place as DC’s foremost team. The Justice League would presage the return of the Justice Society, as fans got the greatest crossover of the Silver Age in Justice League of America (Vol. 1) #21, beginning a raft of crossovers between the two teams that would make Earth-Two one of the most vital parts of the Silver and Bronze Age DC Multiverse. The Justice Society was a hit with fans, and soon they got their own sidekicks and teen characters, Earth-Two becoming a going concern throughout the ’70s and ’80s in books like the returning All-Star Comics and Infinity Inc. as well as back-up stories across DC’s line. However, the Justice Society wasn’t able to take advantage of the creative renaissance of Crisis on Infinite Earths and it faded away. However, as legacy became more important to the modern age DC Universe, the heroes of the Golden Age and their descendants would start to pop back up, leading to one of the best team books of all time: JSA.

JSA took the surviving heroes of the original JSA — Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, and Wildcat with Hawkman rejoining down the road, combining them with legacy heroes like Jack Knight, Hawkgirl, Hector Hall as Doctor Fate, Stargirl (although she was called Stars at first), Sands, Black Canary II (the story of Black Canary is super interesting, but for another time), Doctor Mid-Nite III, Mister Terrific II, Jakeem Thunder, Hourman II, Power Girl, and many more. It was a team of multiple generations, each one teaching the other the ropes. It was brilliant and made a whole new generation of readers fall in love with the Justice Society. Since then, the Justice Society have had a loud corps of fans, constantly taking DC to task anytime their favorites are gone for too long. If the Justice League is the current defense force, than the Justice Society is next line of defense, combining wisdom and power in a very potent package.

2) The Legion of Superheroes

The Legion of Superheroes is another team that predates the Justice League and has had arguably as large an impact on the lore of the DC Multiverse as the Justice League. The Legion of Superheroes first appeared in 1958’s Adventure Comics #247, when the team’s three main members — Lightning Boy (he’s the best of the three and I won’t hear anyone say otherwise), Cosmic Boy, and Saturn Girl — came back in time to meet Superboy, whose adventures would show them that teenagers could make a difference in the universe. The Legion of Superheroes is a force of teenagers from around the 31st (well, 30th century during their 20th century appearances) century who all wanted to be like Superboy. They used the powers their races had and took on simplistic superhero names, and so the Legion of Superheroes was born.

RELATED: 7 DC Comics Moments I’m Still Not Over

People think the X-Men are complicated, and they are, but they took a lot of ideas from the Legion (and artist Dave Cockrum, whose original designs for several X-Men came from characters he wanted to put into the Legion). The Legion is massive, with well over thirty members, and half of the fun of the team is labyrinthine network of relationships between team members. Legion stories star a bunch of beautiful hormonal teens all in the same building (and the pre-Crisis Legion headquarters had no windows), so the fireworks fly at times. There are little cliques within the Legion as well, and that’s before we get to the Legion of Substitute Heroes of the Espionage Squad. Getting into the Legion is one of the most daunting propositions in the superhero comic fandom.

The changing tides of DC continuity destroyed the Legion of Superheroes’ popularity, as all of the changes to the history of the DC made it so the team kept being rebooted. In fact, in the 21st century alone there were five reboots, with six Legions (including the Darkseid Legion appearing in the DC All-In publishing initiative) having appeared since the year 2000. Comics can be confusing enough, but the Legion of Superheroes take that to the next level. However, that doesn’t change just how amazing the Legion of Superheroes are. Are they terribly convoluted? Of course. Are some amazing stories from creators who truly have a passion for the series? Absolutely. Give the Legion a try and see (plus, the more people who buy Legion books, the better chance that we’ll get a another reboot).

3) The Teen Titans

The Teen Titans weren’t the first teen superteam — Marvel had their own Young Allies team of teen sidekicks in the Golden Age — but they are definitely the most popular. Fans loved the sidekicks of the DC Multiverse in the Silver Age, with Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Speedy, and Wonder Girl becoming very popular with young readers. DC decided to put them together, with Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad coming together as the Teen Titans in 1964’s The Brave and the Bold #54. Soon, Speedy and Wonder Girl would join the team and they would get their own solo series after appearances in anthology books across DC’s publishing line. Soon, new members like Lilith, Bumblebee, Mal Duncan, Gnarrk the Caveboy, Golden Eagle, Hawk and Dove, and others joined the team and they became the swinging teen teams of the ’60s. Later Teen Titans mastermind writer Marv Wolfman would even write some of the issues of the original Teen Titans before the book was cancelled. However, that was only the beginning for the Teen Titans.

In 1980, writer Marv Wolfman and artist/co-writer George Perez teamed together to bring the Teen Titans back as the New Teen Titans in the book of the same name. Robin, Kid Flash, and Wonder Girl were joined by new teen heroes Raven, Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy. A sensation was born and New Teen Titans became the bestselling DC book on the stands, standing toe to toe with the X-Men at the height of their powers at the top of the sales charts. The New Teen Titans were the perfect teen team, and fans loved them for it. Their popularity faded as the ’80s went on, but the Teen Titans became an important part of the superhero ecosystem of the DC Universe. The New Teen Titans would eventually become the Titans, grown up superheroes working side by side with their mentors battling the greatest threats around. The Teen Titans has also returned as a sidekick/teen team, with Cyborg, Raven, Starfire, and Beast Boy teaming with legacy heroes and training them as superheroes.

The Teen Titans are far below their old heights, but that doesn’t change their place in the DC Universe. Trinities are a big deal in the DC superhero community; there’s Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman as the leaders of the community. Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, and Hawkman are the Trinity of the Golden Age heroes. And there’s a Trinity of teams — the Justice League, the Justice Society, and the Teen Titans. Each of them play an important role — the Justice League are the stars, the Justice Society are the keepers of the flame, and the Teen Titans are the new generation. They are massively important to the whole community.

What DC teams do you think are better than the Justice League? Sound off in the comments below.

The post 3 Best DC Teams That Aren’t the Justice League appeared first on ComicBook.com.

While it’s no secret to DC Comics fans that there is more than one Green Lantern, what is less widely known is that there was a Green Lantern who operated independently, outside the oversight of the Green Lantern Corps, and without needing its Central Power Battery. He wasn’t an intergalactic law enforcement officer with a mandate to protect and serve his “beat,” but rather followed his own personal code of conduct and crime-fighting methods – a private investigator in contrast to the Corps’ model police force. Despite being an exception to the typical role and rules of Green Lanterns as portrayed in contemporary stories, this independent Green Lantern remains an important figure in Green Lantern lore, with a long-lasting impact on the meaning of being an Emerald Gladiator.

Debuting in All-American Comics #16 in 1940, Green Lantern is one of the DC Universe’s oldest characters. While Hal Jordan is widely known as the Green Lantern of the modern era, his fateful meeting with Abin Sur wouldn’t occur for another 19 years after the character’s initial arrival on the comic book scene. The Green Lantern, who first appeared over 85 years ago, was actually Alan Scott — the original Green Lantern — whose origin story was unlike any that followed.

The Power of Alan Scott’s Green Lantern Has Strong Occult and Supernatural Elements

Alan Scott wasn’t gifted his Green Lantern abilities—they found him. After surviving a catastrophic accident involving the train he was working on as an engineer, Scott realizes that luck had nothing to do with his survival. Instead, it was the mysterious green lantern he discovered in the wreckage. Forged centuries earlier from a meteorite that struck Earth, the lantern held immense power. As Scott would later understand, the meteorite served as a repository for unstable and dangerous magic gathered from across the universe. Over time, these various forces combined, giving rise to a sentient being known as Starheart.

[ RELATED: DC Gives Alan Scott’s Green Lantern a Heartbreaking New Origin ]

The day of the accident, Starheart essentially chose to bond with Scott. As a result, not only did it protect him from the harm that other passengers and colleagues on the train suffered, but it also granted him access to its immense power. Following Starheart’s instructions, Scott forged a ring from the metal of the lantern, which he then wore. Like later Green Lanterns, Scott was able to harness Starheart’s power through the ring, but it wasn’t solely his willpower at work. Since Starheart is sentient, it influenced both what it was willing to do and subtly affected how Scott responded to certain situations.

For instance, in Justice Society of America #8, Green Lantern faces off against the villain Ian Karkull. When Karkull gains the upper hand, the Starheart itself intervenes—protecting Scott in a way his own willpower could not. This reveals a crucial distinction: Scott’s ring isn’t merely a tool for channeling his abilities but a conduit through which he and the Starheart collectively wield their combined power—his technical prowess and its ancient magic. This mystical connection sets Scott apart from later Green Lanterns, whose abilities are rooted in technology rather than arcane forces. Indeed, Scott’s Green Lantern was more like a Jujustu Kaisen sorcerer wielding cursed energy than Hal Jordan wielding a sophisticated piece of tech that digitised his willpower.

The Legacy of Alan Scott’s Green Lantern and Why It Still Matters

While all Green Lanterns tend to grow more competent as they gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their rings, and their interactions, Alan Scott’s development diverged significantly. He didn’t merely improve; he became fundamentally stronger. This is because, as Scott became more familiar with the Starheart, an entity unto itself, the more it integrated with him. This progression reached a point where Scott could tap into the Starheart’s powers without necessarily needing his ring. Conversely, as the Starheart grew accustomed to Scott, it became more willing to let him harness its power without restraint. Ultimately, as documented by his transition into the Sentinel, Scott’s powers stemmed more from his intrinsic integration with the Starheart than from the power granted by his ring.

But Scott’s legacy extends beyond being the iconic Green Lantern wielder. His presence also influenced how the DC Universe regarded the Green Lanterns going forward. To be sure, Scott was not just a hero, but a pillar of the community, as modern-day audiences would view him. Indeed, he was a founding member of the Justice Society of America – the precursor to the Justice League. He was a mentor to Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern who defined the role, and he played a significant, if subtle, influence on future generations of Lanterns.

When considering the full scope of Scott’s legacy as a Green Lantern, it’s clear he was an outlier — one whose influence shaped how the world perceives and understands the Green Lantern hero. He exemplified adaptability, proving that a hero can evolve with the times and remain relevant. The 2023 reboot of his story, which reimagines him as LGBTQ, reinforces this idea. Beyond his status as a hero with one of the biggest hearts, however, Scott stands as a perfect embodiment of timeless heroism.

The post 85 Years Later, the Original Green Lantern is Still Iconic appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Supervillains have become big business over the years. Marvel and DC Comics have been pumping out villains since 1938, giving readers every kind of enemy they can imagine. As comics have grown in complexity, villains have also grown as well. The best villains have become more multi-faceted, often more so than the superheroes they fight, and this has seen a funny little thing happening over the decades — villains getting their shots at redemption, often teaming with heroes that they tried to kill. This is just how it works when a character gets more fleshed out; fans want more and more of them, and the best way to do that is to redeem them. Oftentimes, these redemptions would end and the villains would go back to being monsters, their time as heroes a thing of the past. While this is fine with many villains, they’re better as villains usually, there are some who should give up the evil ghost forever.

These villains have shown what their potential is on the side of angels, and it’s greater than what they can do as a villain. There are some iconic villains who have been villains for so long that giving them long runs as heroes would allow them to become something completely new. They deserve for their redemption arcs to permanent, leaving evil behind and becoming heroes… or if not heroes, at least something more than they would have been as a villain.

7) Captain Cold

The Rogues are an amazing villain team. Look at every other supervillain team out there; all of them fall to problems with everyone being amoral monsters who don’t care about anyone but themselves. The Rogues face off against the most powerful heroes around, and have had to learn to work together against the Flash Family, using their powers and technology in concert to slow the fastest man alive down to a crawl. The Rogues work together, and have respect for each other, which starts at the top with Captain Cold. Leonard Snart isn’t a mass murderer, and he hasn’t ever wanted to take over the world. He’s just wanted to make money hand over fist. Captain Cold is the perfect villain for a redemption. Captain Cold is a very entertaining character to read about, a great leader who understands how to use the Rogues as weapons against the Flashes. He knows when to use the carrot and when to use the stick. Captain Cold also has an edge to him that would make the man in the parka a very dangerous villain to deal with. Captain Cold could easily slot into a heroic role — he’s done it several times and it’s always fun — and fans would be able to spend way more time with him.

6) The Lizard

Curt Connors was a professor and teacher at Empire State University, and his classes were some of Peter Parker’s favorites. Connors has lost his arm in an accident and devoted his life to bringing the reptilian ability to regrow limbs to humanity. He started experimenting on himself, and had a breakthrough, allowing himself to regrow his arm. However, it also ended up transforming him into a ravening monster. As the Lizard, Connors would gain amazing physical abilities, but lost his humanity. Sometimes, the Lizard is an amoral scientist who hisses a lot, but other times he’s a wild monster with no trace of Curt Connors inside of him. The Lizard is actually a perfect character for a redemption; he just wanted to help people and work to make life better. It wouldn’t really take all that much to redeem the Lizard — basically just allow him to keep control of his mind when he transforms into his monster form, with him struggling against the beast inside of him. The Lizard is a character that could have gone either way — his origin is the same as multiple science based superheroes — and making him a hero would give him something to do besides go after Spider-Man in a near-animalistic rage.

5) Brainiac

Brainiac is a villain that most people don’t think of in redemption arcs, and that’s why he’s so perfect for it. Brainiac is one of the most frightening beings in the DC Multiverse, a monster obsessed with knowledge who has traveled the universe, shrinking worlds, then destroying everything else in the solar system. Brainiac would seemingly be impossible to redeem, and that’s sort of why him getting a redemption would be so much fun. Imagine if Brainac decides to undo what he did to the universe, trying to help recreate the worlds he’s destroyed, all while enemies who wanted revenge tried to go after him. Brainiac is a fascinating character, and giving him a redemption arc would be very difficult. It would definitely take a lot of work, but that work is definitely worth it. Brainiac has a ton of potential in a non-villainous role and it would be amazing to see him reach his potential outside of going after Superman.

RELATED: 7 DC Comics Moments I’m Still Not Over

4) Moonstone

Moonstone is in interesting place in the Marvel Universe. She started out as a C-list villain battling enemies like Ms. Marvel, and eventually ended up joining the Masters of Evil, alongside Baron Zemo. Moonstone participated in Masters’ greatest battle against the Avengers in the story “Under Siege”, and would become enmeshed in one of Zemo’s greatest plans — the Thunderbolts con. This was the beginning of the redemption of Moonstone, a process that has gotten stutters and stops ever since. Moonstone became the leader of the Thunderbolts who didn’t want to be villains any more. Moonstone battled against Zemo and became Hawkeye’s second in command when he took over as the team’s leader, showing that she was actually pretty good at being hero. The eventual dissolution of the Thunderbolts would see the end of her time as a hero. She would rejoin the team during Civil War, but she didn’t have any of the character development that she had before. She was back to being a villain, and while it was definitely entertaining at times, she’d have been much better to have continued the redemption arc that she had started years ago in the late ’90s. Moonstone is a fine villain, but would make for an amazing hero if she was given the chance.

3) Deadshot

Deadshot is basically in the same boat as Moonstone. Deadshot was a Batman gimmick villain in the ’50s — his was gunslinging gambling dandy — but was transformed into a more high tech mercenary in the late ’70s. Deadshot became more popular as a criminal mercenary and was soon made a member of the cast of Suicide Squad. Deadshot came to shine here and eventually would even get a sad backstory and a daughter that humanized him. Deadshot has been nominally on the side of the heroes for a long time, but he’s always something of a villain. It’s honestly kind of mystifying, especially when one looks at Deathstroke and his various redemption arcs. Deadshot would make the perfect anti-hero/espionage hero. That’s basically been his role for years, but it seems like there are times when DC decides that all of his redemption needs to go away so that Deadshot can be a villain for a short time before returning to the Suicide Squad or the Secret Six. Deadshot is tailor-made for a complete redemption, and would make for a better hero than he has a villain.

2) Doctor Doom

Doctor Doom is the greatest supervillain in the Marvel Universe. The only one that comes close to him is Magneto, but it’s harder to call Magneto a supervillain than it is Doctor Doom. Doom has been a constant thorn in the side of the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, battling them whenever he feels like challenging himself. A funny thing has happened to Doctor Doom over the years. He was given a tragic backstory, the love of the people of Latveria, and a softer side that made readers enjoy him as something beyond the hyperbole spouting, third-person pronoun using villain. Doom’s become something beyond what he was and the best way to keep showcasing new facets of the character is to complete his redemption. Allow Doom to be something of a hero — his turn in Infamous Iron Man and Marvel Two-In-One was supremely entertaining — with him getting to hang out with Valeria Richards, save the world to show everyone how amazing he is, and making fun of Reed Richards every chance he gets would be very entertaining. Doom as a villain hunting anti-hero is the way to go if Marvel wants to push Doom in new directions.

1) Sabretooth

Sabretooth is a brutal monster, and is Wolverine’s greatest villains. Sabretooth has played a unique role in the history of the Marvel Universe. He’s one of many superpowered mercenaries, and a mutant who loves the fact that his powers have made him an immortal that never has to face the consequences of his actions. Sabretooth’s popularity exploded, along with any character who was somewhat adjacent to Wolverine, and Marvel started to put him in more places, giving him chances on X-Factor and the X-Men many times over the years, as well as his own solo series. There are a lot of people who would argue against Sabretooth getting redemption, but giving him redemption would show that no sin is unforgivable. Sabretooth makes for an excellent hero or anti-hero, and it might be time to just pull the trigger on this change, taking the character to another level.

What villains do you think should get redemption? Sound off in the comments below.

The post 7 Comics Villains Who Deserve Redemption appeared first on ComicBook.com.

DC Comics introduced some of the first comic book supervillains. These enemies took a page from the pulp villains of the pre-superhero comic industry, and were often mad scientists. The most dangerous villains of the old DC Universe were mad scientists like the Ultra-Humanite, and other foes using high tech weapons and machines to menace the heroes. Mad scientists became the key villains of superhero comics and DC kept creating villains with super intelligence. They make for good foils against most superheroes; superheroes are usually titans of physicality, so pitting them against enemies whose greatest abilities come from their mind and hard work is a perfect juxtaposition.

Over the years, DC has created super-smart villains of the highest order. Some of these villains have become world-reknowned for their intelligence, creating all manner of technology to give the heroes a run for their money. Some of these villains are the smartest on Earth, but that doesn’t mean much in a place as vast as the DC Multiverse with worlds well beyond our own. There are enemies with intelligence on an unfathomable scale, their intelligence making them a challenge for the greatest heroes. These seven villains are DC’s most intelligent, outsmarting everyone they put their intellect against.

7) The Brain

The Brain was once a mysterious mad scientist, an accident reducing him to a brain in a nutrient jar. He formed the Brotherhood of Evil and became a crimelord of the highest order, eventually giving a gorilla human intelligence, naming him Monsieur Mallah. The two became inseparable from that point forward, and the Brain began his wars against both the Doom Patrol and the New Teen Titans. The Brain was a brilliant strategist and inventor, creating weapons specifically made to menace superpowered heroes. The Brain’s more of a general intelligence than anything else. He’s smart enough to run a successful crime ring and keep a team of supervillains from killing each other, and can pull off some impressive feats of science that few others could. He’s a cunning villain, often times a little too smart for his own good, and his bombastic nature has allowed his enemies to get the best of him many times over the years. However, he’s smarter than he gets credit for.

6) Vandal Savage

Vandal Savage isn’t some a scientist, but that doesn’t make him any less intelligent. Vandal Savage is one of the Justice League’s greatest villains, a Cro-Magnon man that found a meteorite whose radiation made him into a superhuman. Vandal Savage has been able to survive over a hundred thousand years of human history, learning everything he’s needed to be a force of brutality in the world. Vandal Savage has certainly created many pieces of technology over the years — he’s known for taking credit for all kinds of things throughout human history, but it’s hard to know if he’s lying or not. However, Savage is undoubtedly intelligent. He’s been able to survive and build nearly untold resources in his time on Earth. Vandal Savage is a master strategist who knows how to trap heroes in the machinery of his intelligence. He’s proven to be a challenge for the most intelligent and skilled superheroes on the planet, and has even been shown just as powerful in the far off 853rd century. Vandal Savage has a reputation as a brute, but he’s much more cunning foe than he gets credit for being.

5) T.O. Morrow

T.O. Morrow may not seem like he belongs on this list. There are seemingly more intelligent villains out there than a cheesy old Justice League villain, right? Wrong. Morrow is the greatest roboticist on Earth, and there’s no two ways about it. Will Magnus’s Metal Men are great, but they can’t hold a candle to Morrow creations like Red Tornado and Tomorrow Woman. Morrow is best at creating the minds of robots, and there’s something about his methods that allow him to create actual sentient beings. Morrow’s creations are more than just programmed to do a certain thing and have a personality while doing it. Morrow’s creation grow beyond their programming, becoming fully-fledged humans in every way that counts. Every time Morrow designs a robot to fight the Justice League, he ends up doing such a good job of making their minds that they are able to transcend their programming and choose not to follow his orders. That’s amazing, and it makes Morrow one of the most intelligent DC villains ever.

RELATED: 10 Worst Justice League Members

4) Desaad

The most intelligent New God is Metron, but calling him a hero or villain is beyond him. Metron is sometimes villainous, but it all serves whatever his mysterious purpose is at all times. However, the next smartest New God is the chief torturer of Darkseid, the monster known as Desaad. Desaad’s skills come mostly from vivisection and creating weapons, but there are few beings in the DC Multiverse who can match him. Desaad didn’t always create the technology that he uses, but he always figures out a way to use it in the smartest ways possible. He’s learned to work with Element X, the mysterious element that basically does whatever the New Gods need it to, and is the chief creator of Apokolips’s massive stockpile of powerful weapons. Desaad makes sure parademon armor is as deadly as possible, and is constantly coming up with new ways to hurt anyone who Darkseid wants him to. Desaad is as prone to failure as the rest of Darkseid’s court — any place where the fear of the leader is paramount isn’t going to have the most efficient people around, because they’re serving instead of innovating — but seeing as how he loves to hurt people as much as Darkseid does, he’s mostly proven successful over the years.

3) Lex Luthor

Lex Luthor is the smartest villain on Earth, and one of the most intelligent beings in the entire multiverse. Lex has mastered basically every scientific discipline on the Earth and is a master inventor. He’s the best at creating Kryptonite based technology, all to destroy the Kryptonians he hates so much. Luthor has mastered every piece of alien technology that has come across his desk, all in an effort to prove that humans are the greatest race in the cosmos. Of course, it’s a little more complicated than that. Despite being the greatest mind that humanity has produced, Lex’s arrogance is such that he sees the sum totality of human achievement as his birthright. He is the greatness of humanity and his intelligence proves that he’s the greatest. Lex is at a level where he can create basically anything he needs at any time. If he needs armor that can stand up to Superman, he’ll make it. If he needs to create a new type of laser weapon powered by an exotic alien element, he’ll make it. If he needs to make a few billion dollars, he’ll create some new piece of consumer technology. Lex Luthor can do nearly anything he puts his mind to. On top of that, he’s a cunning strategist, able to come up with multi-faceted plans that take ages to untangle, as well as lead the villains of the Earth in battle against the greatest heroes. Lex’s intelligence allows him to stand even with Superman, which is no small matter. Nobody tell Lex Luthor that he’s the third smartest DC villain, he wouldn’t take it well.

2) Brainiac

Brainiac has changed many times over the years, as the shifting tides of DC continuity have wreaked havoc on Superman. However, one thing stays the same — the villain’s mind. Brainiac is usually some kind of Coluan, a race of aliens known for their intelligence, sometimes a cyborg with organic and technological parts, other times a consciousness inhabiting a mechanical body, traveling the spaceways and stealing entire cities, all in order to take their knowledge. Brainiac is, in many ways, the DC equivalent of Galactus. He’s a cosmic predator, destroying everything in his path, and keeping parts of it so that only he can have the information of entire civilizations. Brainiac’s ship is full of amazing technology that you won’t find anywhere else in the Multiverse. Brainiac is one of the few beings in the entire universe that Superman is scared of, which should rally say it all. Brainiac on other Earths is just as intelligent and frightening, using his 12th level intellect (the highest in the DC Multiverse) to come up with ridiculously powerful weapons and cunning plans that challenge anyone enmeshed in them.

1) Krona

Krona is an interesting character in the history of the DC Multiverse. Krona is a member of the Oan race, after they gained immortality and power over the emotional spectrum, but before they became the diminutive beings they are now. Krona was a scientist who was obsessed with the beginning of the universe, but was held back by the ancient stricture against looking back to the beginning of the universe. Krona decided that rules were for lesser beings and created a machine that could look back to the beginning of the universe. Krona was able to witness the Hand that created the universe, and that breaking of the rules ended up creating the Multiverse. Krona is vastly intelligent. Oan technology was light years ahead of anything in the present day even back then, and Krona was a master of all of it. It’s hard to say that Krona is smarter than someone like Brainiac, because their feats of intellect are so different. However, Brainiac has never created something like Krona has, whereas Krona could definitely create anything that Brainiac did.

Who do you think are DC’s smartest beings? Sound off in the comments below.

The post 7 Smartest DC Villains, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

We may have just gotten a big hint about Metamorpho’s appearance and powers in the upcoming Superman movie thanks to a new toy available for pre-order, but this is far from a cute doll. The shapeshifter is depicted with all four limbs mismatched in terms of size, color, and texture. His left hand has been replaced altogether with a hammer head, but that’s not the part that has fans the most distressed. Here, Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) wears a pair of gray gym shorts, but nothing else. Fans have to wonder what is being covered up here, and how the garment survives his constant changing. Still, many commented their plans to pre-order the figure from McFarlane Toys.

McFarlane’s new Metamorpho figure is reasonably accurate to comic book depictions of the character — both classic and recent. It shows the four quadrants of his body shifted into four different compositions, as his powers allow him to transmute himself into different elements at will. However, the unwieldy shape of the character is different from his usual proportions, at least in his resting state between attacks and movements. Many wondered if the movie would depict Metamorpho as having less control, or simply make him larger at all times.

On top of that, the loose-fitting shorts are throwing some fans off. Metamorpho is most often depicted wearing nothing but briefs and a belt with his emblem on it. Even this is generally regarded as a display of his own creation. In some ways, shorts are more modest and look more natural in a modern setting, but in others they draw more attention and raise more questions.

[RELATED: David Corenswet Had Hilarious Response to James Gunn’s Superman Casting Call: “Prove It”]

Either way, we don’t know for sure whether this is what Metamorpho will look like in the new Superman movie. we’ve seen glimpses of him in the trailers where his proportions are smaller and more human-like, with a defined neck and shoulders. It may be that he only swells up like this on occasion when it will help him in a fight, or perhaps he doesn’t have as much control as in other stories. His inclusion in this movie is one of the big question marks hanging over the story and the future of the DCU.

Metamorpho will be played by Carrigan, and is expected to have a role in the DCU beyond this first movie. He is typically depicted as a hero in the comics — if a tragic one — though he seems to have a more ambiguous role in this movie. Hopefully the story will give him time and space to master his powers and rise to the ranks of the DCU’s superheroes.

Superman hits theaters on Friday, July 11th.

The post Superman Movie Reveals the Full Extent of One Hero’s Powers in a Weird Way (& It’s Gross) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

60 years ago, DC introduced Goldface, who is far and away one of the weirdest rogues that the Flash and Green Lantern have ever had, let alone the weirdest they ever shared. He made his first appearance in Green Lantern #38, which released on May 27, 1965, so he’s a very old villain who emerged in the heart of the Silver Age of comics. He was Green Lantern’s recurring enemy for a good while, before eventually deciding to move to Central City and pit his mettle (and metal) against the Fastest Man Alive. Despite his strangeness, Goldface is actually a great villain and while we’ve gotten to see him come to life in live action thanks to The CW’s The Flash, he’s a character deserves to be brought back on the pages of comics as well.

Origins Against the Green Lantern

Real name Keith Kenyon, Goldface started out as a political sciences student whose father was the head of the Coast City labor union. Keith fought his father on everything, and insisted they should just take what they wanted instead of trying to make things even for everyone else. To that end, he developed and drank a gold-based serum that had been exposed to radiation, which radically altered him. It turned his skin to solid gold, granting him near invulnerability and superhuman strength, alongside the ability to turn things he touched into gold. However, he hid this transmutation ability behind a “gold gun” for many years.

Given that gold is a shade of yellow and Green Lanterns used to be entirely unable to affect anything yellow, Goldface quickly became a formidable enemy to Hal Jordan. He would commit crimes with the ability to walk right through any of the Lantern’s constructs, but was still taken down every time by the superhero. Eventually, Goldface got tired of being the Green Lantern’s punching bag and decided a change of scenery was in order. Thus came his move to Central City to prove himself against the Flash, who was then Barry Allen.

Goldface vs the Flash

Despite his desire to take over Central City’s crime network, Goldface didn’t appear as one of the Flash’s more recurring rogues, although he did have some powerful moments in his few appearances. He initially completely took over crime in the Scarlet Speedster’s hometown, with the Flash torn between fighting the seemingly invulnerable Goldface and dealing with the psychotic vigilante Eradicator. Eventually the Flash managed to throw Goldface in the path of his own gold gun’s blast, knocking him out. He didn’t appear again until the “Trial of the Flash” storyline, where it was revealed that Goldface murdered the Flash’s defense attorney Cecile Horton’s father before he released an ultimatum to force the Flash to stop fighting crime or he’d kill every police officer. Cecile thought the Flash ignored the warning, when in actuality, by his own admission, Goldface killed her father before he announced anything.

[RELATED: Absolute Flash Makes a Major Change to Wally West’s Rogues Gallery]

After that, Goldface did not appear for many years as a Flash villain, and when he finally resurfaced after his release from Iron Heights he had completely reinvented himself. Despite his history as a villain with Green Lantern, when Goldface came to Keystone City, he changed patterns altogether. Instead of putting on a costume to commit gold related crimes, he put on a normal suit and took to the streets to inspire people. He took after his dad and became a leader of labor unions, intent on making sure everyone got their fair pay and protection.

Goldface even became an ally to Wally West when he was the Flash. After Goldface learned that his ex-wife Blacksmith and the other Rogues were planning to take over both Central City and Keystone City in the five-part “Crossover” storyline, Goldface told the Flash about their plans, and even helped join in the fight against the Scarlet Speedster’s worst enemies. Just when it looked like the Rogues had finally beaten the Flash, Goldface re-emerged with the entire population of Keystone City’s unions behind him. Together, the hero and the people fought back against the supervillains and took back their city. Altogether, a massive and awesome shift from Goldface’s old Silver Age villainy days.

Why He Deserves to Come Back

Goldface has never been one of the Flash’s more prominent villains or allies, and definitely isn’t remembered as one of the greats of Green Lantern’s rogues gallery either. Still, there’s a definite charm about him. Goldface has been adapted into both animation and live action in the Justice League Unlimited and CW’s Flash respectively. While in some appearances he’s nothing more than a villain of the week, in others he’s a hilarious character who is championing unions, and that’s a great arc to see happen with any villain. He’s weird, he’s forgettable, and he’s an obnoxiously bright yellow, but I stand by that fact that Goldface deserves respect, and since this is his 60th anniversary, definitely deserves to come back to the scene in some capacity.

The post 60 Years Ago, DC Introduced One of The Flash’s Weirdest Rogues (And They Need to Bring Him Back) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Frank Miller’s 1986 graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns stands as one of the most towering and influential Batman comic book stories of all time, with several of the graphic novel’s core traits helping to explain its popularity. In The Dark Knight Returns, all superheroes have been outlawed by the U.S. government, save for Superman, with the Justice League broken up and Bruce Wayne having spent the last decade retired as Batman. Despite this, a series of unexpected events in Gotham City spur the aging Bruce out of his retirement, leading him to don the cowl once more and leap back into action as Gotham City’s sworn protector Batman.

Ask most Batman fans what their favorite Batman comic book stories are, and there’s an excellent chance that The Dark Knight Returns will be right at the top for many of them, and with good reason. The Dark Knight Returns is not only a seminal Batman story, but one which all but set the standard of public perception of Batman himself ever since. Additionally, The Dark Knight Returns also introduced some new elements and characters into Batman’s canon that fans have been continually enamored with and which have helped define Batman as a character. Here are 5 major reasons why The Dark Knight Returns is so popular to this very day.

1) The Dark Knight Returns Took Batman Back to His Dark Roots

Prior to The Dark Knight Returns‘ debut in 1986, the public perception of Batman was largely synonymous with the Adam West-led Batman TV series of the 1960s. While the show was admittedly a tonally accurate representation of Batman comics in the post-Seduction of the Innocent era of the ’50s and ’60s, Batman had also become far removed from the dark, foreboding creature of the night he began as in Detective Comics #27 in 1939. With The Dark Knight Returns, Frank Miller sought to take Batman back to his roots and Miller, in his own words “gave Batman his b–ls back”.

With the immediate popularity of The Dark Knight Returns, Batman was once again seen in the public consciousness as dark, aggressive, and menacing, striking terror into the hearts of Gotham’s evildoers, and bringing a lot of grit and Bat-style gadgetry to the game. In turn, the success of The Dark Knight Returns helped producer Michael E. Uslan finally convince Warner Bros. to green-light the dark and moody big-screen Batman film he’d spent years pushing for, which eventually became Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989. With that movie’s monumental success, it’s fair to say that Batman’s return to the dark tone of his origins is directly attributable to the influential impact and success of The Dark Knight Returns.

2) Old Man Batman Is a Unique Angle

As one of the senior most heroes of the DC superhero community, Batman is a veteran of crime-fighting, but his age in both comics and live-action and animated adaptations tends to show him either in the ’30s to ’40s range or just starting out in his mid-20s. This helped The Dark Knight Returns stand out even more by not only centering on a 55 year-old Bruce Wayne, but one just coming out of a decade-long retirement as Batman.

Compared DC’s metahuman heroes like Superman and Wonder Woman who age far more slowly than humans, Batman’s human aging process places emphasis on both his strengths and weaknesses. In donning the cowl again at a rather advanced age after 10 years on the bench, Batman is subject to human frailties and mortality in a way the both metahuman heroes and younger human heroes aren’t. At the same time, Batman’s exceptional drive and determination more than compensate for the effects that age and retirement have had, with the Caped Crusader having no difficulty returning to his crime-fighting life, and The Dark Knight Returns giving Batman fans a real novelty in Miller’s Batman story.

RELATED: 7 Best Batman Vehicles That Aren’t the Batmobile

3) Batman Inspires a New Legion of Crimefighters (Who Were Once His Enemies)

One of Batman’s first big confrontations in The Dark Knight Returns is battling a gang known as the Mutants terrorizing Gotham City, and it takes a surprising and very unexpected turn. After Batman soundly beats the Mutant’s leader, the Mutants break apart, with one faction being greatly inspired by Batman to change their looting and gangster activities to a life of crime fighting like their new hero. They even take on the name of the Sons of Batman, but they still have a lot to learn about the Dark Knight’s ways.

As The Dark Knight Returns progresses, Batman takes the Sons of Batman under his wing, mentoring them in his crime fighting philosophy and methods and guiding them away from the reckless hooligans they once were. Moreover, after Batman fakes his death, the Sons of Batman continue to operate under his leadership, showing the greatest power of Batman and of any superhero will always be to inspire people to become the best versions of themselves.

4) The Dark Knight Returns Is a Robin Origin Story As Much as a Batman Returning Story

The Dark Knight Returns may mark a resumed superheroic career for Bruce Wayne, but it is also a superhero origin story for a new Robin, Carrie Kelley. Coming from a broken home and already in deep admiration of Batman, the 13 year-old Carrie ends up saving the newly returned Batman’s life during one of his early conflicts. Recognizing Carrie’s capacity for crime fighting even at her young age is already on the level of his previous apprentices Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, Bruce takes Carrie under his wing as the new Robin.

With The Dark Knight Returns being an Elseworlds tale, Carrie is somewhat of a one-off Robin who, with a handful of exceptions, is largely only featured on Earth-31 (the specific DC Universe in which The Dark Knight Returns and its follow ups take place), but she’s nonetheless become as iconic a Robin as any to precede or follow her. Carrie even goes on to become Catgirl in The Dark Knight Strikes Again and Batwoman in The Dark Knight III: Master Race, exemplifying the story told over the three books is as much hers as it is Batman’s. For as much canonical jewel as The Dark Knight Returns is to Batman, it is also just as significant in acting as a Robin origin story for Carrie Kelley.

5) Batman vs. Superman – Enough Said

The World’s Finest, the two greatest superheroes of all time, the core founders of the Justice League who comprise two-thirds of DC’s iconic superhero Trinity – Batman and Superman finally come to blows in The Dark Knight Returns. Admittedly, the story isn’t the most flattering one ever told for Superman, with the Man of Steel the only superhero still permitted to operate by the U.S. government and acting as their personal weapon, summoned to put a stop to Batman’s renewed activities (along with being responsible for Green Arrow losing his arm, the embittered, aging Oliver Queen becoming Batman’s ally in the story for that reason). That being said, in terms of superhero slugfests, Batman vs. Superman just had to happen sooner or later, and The Dark Knight Returns finally made it happen on the pages of a classic comic book story, with Batman emerging victorious and delivering his iconic warning to Superman to “remember the one man who beat you” before faking his death (which Superman later learns about and plays along in covering up).

The Dark Knight and the Man of Steel’s smackdown is one of the most iconic battles of two superheroes in comic book history, and one that has been adapted multiple times. Jay Oliva’s animated adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns pays tribute to Miller’s story while capturing the battle in all its glory, while Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice acts as a cinematic adaptation of sorts of the story, modifying certain elements while delivering on the epic fight itself as a foundation for the Justice League’s formation. Comic book fans, of course, understand the importance of Batman and Superman’s alliance and don’t want to take sides or see either one harmed. With that said, a good old slugfest of icons is hard to say no to, and The Dark Knight Returns is the embodiment of exactly that in its Batman vs. Superman showdown.

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You’ll believe a man can lie. When David Corenswet answered the call to play the Man of Steel in James Gunn’s Superman reboot, he was skeptical that the co-chief of DC Studios — and the director of Marvel’s blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and 2021’s The Suicide Squad — was actually on the other end of the phone. The actor was in the middle of shooting Twisters and had screen tested for the Superman role in a process that came down to three contenders: Corenswet, Tom Brittney (Grantchester), and Nicholas Hoult (the X-Men movies), who would ultimately be cast as Superman’s nemesis, Lex Luthor.

“I was at home in Philadelphia, I was on a break from Twisters. It was the end of June, beginning of July of 2023. I was already on another phone call — it was exciting, full of intrigue and suspense — when I saw an unknown number pop up with a 310 area code,” Corenswet told Hoult in a joint interview for Wonderland Magazine. “And I said, very politely, ‘Uh, pardon me, I think I need to take this phone call.'”

RELATED: Mission: Impossible Director Details Scrapped Man of Steel 2 With Henry Cavill’s Superman & Green Lantern Movie

While Hoult admitted he will “never answer if there’s an unknown number,” Corenswet said he’s “since adopted that practice.”

“I hadn’t been explicitly warned, but we’d just screen-tested for Superman a couple of weeks earlier, so I was hoping I’d hear something one way or another,” Corenswet said.

“The context makes sense. As for why they didn’t cast me [as Superman] — I kept screening ‘no caller ID’ numbers and they didn’t leave a voicemail,” Hoult joked. (Hoult previously auditioned for The Batman role that ultimately went to Robert Pattinson, and had been cast in the Mission: Impossible villain role that went to Esai Morales when Hoult was forced to drop out.)

“I stepped away and answered the phone, and James Gunn said, ‘David, it’s James Gunn.’ And I said, ‘Can you prove that?’ Because I was in a suspicious mood,” Corenswet continued. When Hoult asked whether Corenswet really said that, he confirmed, “I really said that.”

“I never think I’m being pranked. But in the moment, it occurred to me, ‘How am I supposed to know?’” he explained. “People knew I was screen-testing for Superman, so somebody could’ve pulled [a prank].”

Corenswet shared the news with his inner circle — his mother, aunt, uncle, sister, and his wife — before Gunn confirmed the casting news on June 27, 2023. Gunn also announced that Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) came out of the screen tests with the Lois Lane role over Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton) and Emma Mackey (Barbie).

“The last person I got to tell, a few hours after it was available publicly, was my high school theater teacher, who was the one to convince me to audition for The Juilliard School and is a very close friend,” Corenswet recalled. “He texted back, ‘I’m doing a radio show for this theater thing I’m involved with in Philly. I’ll call you back.’ So, when he was done, I called him and asked, ‘How’s it going?’ He replied, ‘Oh, it’s great! I was talking about this and that David, you know how it is…’ I then said, ‘Oh, did you tell them what it feels like to have your high school theater student playing the next Superman?’”

“And the phone just went dead. Then he exclaimed—I don’t really remember what he said, but it was a really great phone call,” Corenswet said.

As for his own reaction to being cast as Superman, Corenswet said that “confidence was definitely not the feeling. I’d compare it to an astronaut who’s been one for a while but finally gets the call they’re going to the moon. You’re thinking, ‘Well, I’ve still got to go to the bloody moon now!’ So, there’s excitement.”

“Actually, my first feeling … is usually relief when I get a part,” the Superman actor added. “It’s rarely excitement or pride, just relief because I know what I’m doing next.”

Superman — starring David Corenswet as Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman alongside Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, with Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, María Gabriela de Faría, Wendell Pierce, Alan Tudyk, Neva Howell, Pruitt Taylor Vince, and Frank Grillo — is only in theaters July 11.

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James Gunn’s DC Universe has a lot of work to do to right the ship. The big-screen franchise that it’s following, the DC Extended Universe, failed to find its footing, crashing and burning after asking Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to do too much and releasing an uneven cut of Justice League in theaters. There were some salvageable parts of the DCEU, though, including Amanda Waller and Peacemaker, a character Gunn introduced in The Suicide Squad that got enough praise to earn his own spinoff show. However, Peacemaker isn’t the only DC property to find success in recent memory.

The Arrowverse, which ran from 2012 to 2023, consisted of six shows and quite a few seasons of television. Not every episode was a winner, but the franchise had its fair share of great characters, some of whom deserve a chance to thrive in the DCU.

1) The Flash

The Arrowverse’s Barry Allen runs circles around the DCEU’s version, getting a complete arc that sees him go from hesitant hero to multiverse protector. However, the show around him doesn’t do him any favors with its weak storytelling. Continuing Barry’s story in the DCU would allow the character to be at the center of exciting adventures once again without the fear of everything getting bogged down by melodrama.

2) Constantine

Matt Ryan’s John Constantine already survived one cancellation when his NBC show got the ax. The character made the jump to the Arrowverse and thrived in Legends of Tomorrow, which wasn’t afraid to get wacky. Ryan continued to play the character in animated projects, proving that he’s the first person Gunn and Co. should call when they’re ready to bring the character back to live-action.

3) Ray Palmer

Another Legend that shows a fair share of promise is Ray Palmer, aka the Atom. After being a rival of Oliver Queen on Arrow, he joins the Waverider and becomes a crucial part of keeping chaos away from the timeline. The DCU is already bringing in genius-level characters like Mister Terrific, and Ray has all the makings of another great one on the big screen. It also doesn’t hurt that Ray’s actor, Brandon Routh, already has experience playing DC characters in big-budget movies.

4) Deathstroke

The Arrowverse’s heroes get all the love, but the franchise has plenty of great villains as well. One of the more notable is Deathstroke, who starts out as a massive thorn in Oliver’s side before transitioning to an anti-hero role. With the DCEU swinging and missing with its take on Slade Wilson, the DCU would do well to bring back a character that already works.

[RELATED – James Gunn Teases “Really Big” DC Cameo In Peacemaker Season 2 (But Who Could It Be?)]

5) Kate Kane

Kate Kane’s time in the Arrowverse is controversial, to say the least. While she comes out of the gate on fire during the “Elseworlds” crossover, behind-the-scenes issues put her on the sidelines after Season 1 of her solo series. Kate’s story still has plenty of potential, though, and there can never be enough vigilantes in Gotham.

6) Reverse-Flash

There are a couple of versions of Reverse-Flash in the Arrowverse, but Tom Cavanagh’s iteration is one of the most menacing villains in DC history. He’s relentless and always pushes Barry to the edge during their confrontations. The DCU is sure to touch on the origins of Flash’s powers at some point, and when it does, there’s no one better than Cavanagh to help bring the darker portions of the story to life.

7) Jesse Quick

Jesse Quick may seem like any other speedster, but her story in the Arrowverse is pretty heartbreaking. She fights to get back to her father, and after they reunite, the Anti-Monitor destroys their reality. Jesse never gets another chance in the Arrowverse, which is a shame because her attitude stands out in a show full of people who can run fast. Gunn and his colleagues could do wonders for Jesse’s character if they brought her into the fold.

The Arrowverse shows are streaming on Netflix.

Do you think these Arrowverse characters should appear in James Gunn’s DCU? Who else do you think belongs on this list? Let us know in the comments below!

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The Merc With a Mouth will clash with the Dark Knight in a comic book crossover for the ages. Perhaps the biggest announcement to come out of the ComicsPRO retailer summit in Glendale, CA, earlier this year is that Marvel Comics and DC are working on a crossover of their respective superhero universes. Seeing Marvel and DC characters interact used to be a special moment that happened every blue moon, with the last one coming in 2003 with the Justice League and Avengers. Fans have been wanting to find out more details on what DC and Marvel have cooking, and now we know it involves Deadpool and Batman.

Entertainment Weekly announced that the crossover between Marvel and DC will take place in Deadpool/Batman, a one-shot penned by writer Zeb Wells and cover and interior art by Greg Capullo. Deadpool/Batman #1 comes out on September 17th and finds Wade Wilson hired for a mercenary contract in Gotham City, bringing him into the crosshairs of the World’s Greatest Detective. There will also be a lineup of “backup adventures” featuring “exciting Marvel and DC character match-ups,” though details and creative teams will be announced at a later date.

“After writing Amazing Spider-Man for 60 issues, I told Marvel I needed a break,” Wells said. “Marvel told me I could do that or I could write a comic starring Deadpool and Batman with the best Batman artist of our generation. I no longer needed a break. In Batman we’ve found someone who has even less time for Deadpool’s antics than Wolverine, but a city-wide threat from the Joker makes strange bedfellows (literally, if Deadpool had his way). It’s been a blast letting Deadpool loose in Gotham City and watching what happens.”

“Am I dreaming? This crossover is likely to be the high point of my career…and, I’ve had a great career,” Capullo added. “Some of my earliest work (many years ago) was on X-Force, so Deadpool and I go way back. More recently, I spent 10-plus years drawing Batman at DC. The idea that I get to do a crossover event with Deadpool and Batman…If I am dreaming, please don’t wake me!”

[RELATED: You’ll Never Believe These 10 Marvel Characters Actually Exist]

November will feature the DC one-shot Batman/Deadpool by writer Grant Morrison and artist Dan Mora. The story for that comic hasn’t been officially revealed, but there will also be similar “backup adventures” as well. Morrison recently teased that they were working on a top secret Batman project, and now we know it’s Batman/Deadpool.

“I don’t do many comics these days but there was no way I could turn down the chance to work with Dan Mora again, one of my all-time favorite artistic collaborators — and definitely no way I could turn down Batman and Deadpool!” Morrison said. “Expect 4th wall-busting mayhem, owls, blood, blades, and at least one giant typewriter!”

“This is more than I ever imagined I could do in my career, and it is a huge honor to be part of this crossover: it doesn’t happen too often, and I am a huge Deadpool fan!” Mora shared. “When I first worked with Grant, I didn’t know what to expect, but it was an incredible team-up. I always hoped to work with Grant again, and working on Batman/Deadpool is like a dream come true. Grant and I working together on this once-in-a-lifetime project is going to be such a fun experience.”

What do you think about seeing Deadpool and Batman together in the same comic? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Mr. Terrific is about to gain a whole new audience thanks to Superman. The film is part of James Gunn’s new DC Universe and is another attempt to find a winning formula for the Man of Steel on the big screen. However, Superman isn’t the only DC hero to appear in the film. Joining Superman are Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, and Mr. Terrific. This won’t be the first time we’ve seen Mr. Terrific in live action, with the hero also appearing in Arrow. The general audience may not be familiar with Mr. Terrific, so DC is providing more context with a Year One comic.

DC released preview pages for Mr. Terrific: Year One #1 by Al Letson, Valentine De Landro, and Marissa Louise. The comic will jump between the past and present, showing how the death of Michael Holt’s wife and unborn son led him down the path to becoming Mr. Terrific, one of the smartest characters in the DC Universe.

The preview begins with Mr. Terrific filling the reader in on his history, from being a member of the JSA to leading his own superhero team in The Terrifics. A member of the Terrifics, Metamorpho, is also in Superman. While Mr. Terrific may not be a metahuman, he counts his mind as his superpower. We also travel back to the DC All In Special, where Darkseid attacked the new Justice League Watchtower. Darkseid’s death opened a dangerous interdimensional rift that Mr. Terrific has made his job to investigate.

Our final pages travel back in time to the early days of Mr. Terrific, where he’s woken up from his sleep by someone close to him. Mr. Terrific has been holed up in his apartment since his wife and unborn son were killed. After their deaths, Mr. Terrific sold his company to Athena Prescott, an inventor, entrepreneur, and CEO of Prescott Industries. Having Mr. Terrific: Year One jump back and forth from the present to the past is an excellent way to craft the story, and allows readers to see how Mr. Terrific’s choices in the past are affecting him to this day.

Edi Gathegi portrays Mr. Terrific in Superman. He’s a gold medal-winning Olympic decathlete who also has multiple PhDs. He’s part of a long line of legacy heroes, with the original Mr. Terrific using the catchphrase “Fair Play,” which is something that appealed to Michael Holt. Along with his depiction in Arrow, played by Echo Kellum, Mr. Terrific has also appeared in the Justice League animated series

Mr. Terrific celebrated an anniversary in April, with Superman director James Gunn sharing a behind-the-scenes photo of Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific. “Happy Anniversary to Mr. Terrific, who has long been one of my favorite characters,” Gunn wrote in his Instagram post. “It’s been a joy bringing him to the big screen for the first time with my pal Edi Gathegi.”

“THE SECRET ORIGIN OF SUMMER’S BREAKOUT SUPERHERO!” a description of Mr. Terrific: Year One #1 reads. “Brilliant young inventor Michael Holt’s life was destined for greatness… yet everything screeched to a halt when his wife Paula and unborn son were killed in a car accident. The Holts once shared ambitious dreams of using their technology to help others, but after the tragedy, Michael retreats from society and sells Holt Industries to mysterious and craven tech billionaire Athena Prescott. The domino effect of Michael’s actions set off an explosive chain of events that take a not-so-ordinary man from the depths of despair to the heights of heroism! Meanwhile, in the present day, Mr. Terrific continues his research into what became of Darkseid after the events of the DC All-In Special…and comes to realize that his past and the present might be inextricably linked…”

Mr. Terrific: Year One #1 goes on sale Wednesday, May 28th. Let us know your thoughts on the comic in the comments below!

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As the first theatrical release in the rebooted DC Universe franchise, James Gunn’s Superman has a lot on its plate. However, that doesn’t mean the film will have an epic run time. Based on the latest rumors, it sounds like fans won’t have to set too much time aside to watch the Man of Steel’s latest cinematic adventure. Per the X (formerly Twitter) account DC Film News, Superman has a run time of just 122 minutes. According to them, “international distributors have just received the update” ahead of tickets going on sale at some point in the near future.

If true, Superman would be the shortest Superman movie in decades. Some of the recent films starring the character have been quite lengthy. For example, Man of Steel ran for 143 minutes and the theatrical cut of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is 152 minutes. Superman Returns is 154 minutes. The last Superman film to be shorter than Gunn’s reboot was 1987’s Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. The theatrical cut of Justice League is 120 minutes, but that’s more of an ensemble film than a Superman movie.

Interestingly, Superman seems to be going in the opposite direction when compared to this summer’s other major comic book adaptation, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Marvel’s blockbuster is reportedly the longest Fantastic Four movie to date, with a run time of 140 minutes. Superman is more in the ballpark of Thunderbolts*, which clocked in at 127 minutes. It’s also of similar length to Gunn’s first Guardians of the Galaxy, which was 121 minutes.

[RELATED – James Gunn’s Superman May Be More Like Batman v Superman Than Most People Think]

Superman is set to hit theaters in July, ushering in a new era for DC films. Warner Bros. is very excited about what Gunn accomplished, praising the director for “understanding the assignment.” The studio is now in the midst of a big marketing push for the film, releasing a new trailer, showcasing looks at toys, and unveiling news images that harken back to classic Superman films.

At first glance, it might be surprising to see Superman has a run time that’s the shortest the character has seen in years. As showcased in the trailers, audiences aren’t just meeting David Corenswet’s Superman for the first time in the film; there are several DC characters appearing in the movie, including multiple heroes who will have roles in future DC Universe projects. If Superman is “only” two hours, that means there might not be as much time to flesh out the film’s various elements. However, if Gunn could make audiences fall in love with a bunch of C-list Marvel characters in two hours, he shouldn’t have too much trouble getting viewers on board with Superman. If 122 minutes really is the run time, it means the movie should be well-paced, continuously moving forward with the right sense of momentum. Not every blockbuster needs to be two and a half (or three) hours — that can run the risk of overstaying your welcome.

A more efficient run time for Superman could also benefit the film at the box office. Coming in at around two hours means theaters will be able to book more showtimes each day, giving fans numerous opportunities to catch the film on the big screen. Warner Bros. obviously has a lot riding on Superman‘s success, so the studio needs it to be a hit. A shorter run time puts it in a better position to earn more money. That’s not to say this is the only reason Superman clocks in at two hours, but WB is probably very happy this is the case. There will be tough competition from Jurassic World Rebirth and The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July, meaning Superman needs every advantage it can get.

The post Superman Run Time Rumor Makes It Man of Steel’s Shortest Movie in 38 Years (& That Could Be Good) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For Superman Day 2025 back in April, McFarlane Toys debuted a collection of DC Multiverse figures inspired by James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film, which hits theaters on July 11th. Now it looks like a second wave will debut on May 28th. At the time of this update, a Deluxe Theatrical Edition Lex Luthor is confirmed for the drop, though we expect that additional figures will be part of the collection. Here’s what we know…

Back in April, Lex Luthor, Mr. Terrific, and Robot #4 figures were unveiled with a release date expected sometime in June. With the Lex Luthor figure coming a bit early, it’s possible that the other figures will arrive on May 28th as well. Furthermore, it’s only a matter of time before McFarlane releases a figure based on the mysterious main villain in the film as it has already been confirmed through various leaks and might already be on shelves at some big box stores. (SPOILER incoming…) so we could be surprised with an Ultraman figure as well. UPDATE: Ultraman figure confirmed along with your first look at Baby Joey and Baby Kaiju – see teaser images in the gallery below. There are also new Super Powers figures and vehicles.

Pre-orders for Superman (2025) Wave 2 are expected to be available starting at 9am ET / 12pm ET on May 28th here at Entertainment Earth and here on Amazon unless otherwise indicated. Details and direct links for each of the new figure reveals will be added to the list below after the launch, so stay tuned for updates. Inside the list you’ll also find a breakdown of Wave 1 releases. Note that a DC Multiverse Collector Edition Hawkgirl figure was also released today, and can be found here on Amazon.

McFarlane Toys Superman (2025) DC Multiverse and Super Powers Reveals Wave 2 (UPDATING):

• DC Multiverse Superman (2025) Lex Luthor and Baby Kaiju (Coming 5/28 at 12pm ET) See at Entertainment Earth / Walmart / Amazon
• DC Multiverse Superman (2025) Mr Teriffic (Coming Soon)
• DC Multiverse Superman (2025) Robot #4 (Coming Soon)
• DC Multiverse Superman (2025) Ultraman (Coming 5/28 at 12pm ET) See at Entertainment Earth / Walmart / Amazon
• DC Direct Baby Joey (Coming 5/28 at 12pm ET) See at Entertainment Earth
• DC Direct Baby Kaiju (Coming 5/28 at 12pm ET) See at Entertainment Earth
• DC Direct Metamorpho (Coming 5/28 at 12pm ET) See at Entertainment Earth
• Super Powers Mr. Terrific T-Craft (Coming 5/28 at 12pm ET) See at Entertainment Earth
• Super Powers Gold Label 5-Pack Figure Bundle (Coming 5/28 at 12pm ET) – Walmart Exclusive

Wave 1 Superman 2024 DC Multiverse and Super Powers Releases:

• DC Multiverse Superman (2025) Superman & Krypto 7-inch Scale Action Figures – See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon / Walmart
• DC Multiverse Superman Movie Superman 7-Inch Scale Action Figure – See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon
• DC Multiverse Superman Movie Kaiju MegaFig Action Figure – See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon
• DC Multiverse Superman Movie Metamorpho 7-Inch Scale Action Figure – See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon
• Super Powers Superman – See at Walmart
• Super Powers Guy Gardner Green Lantern – See at Walmart
• Super Powers Metamorpho – See at Entertainment Earth / See at Walmart
• Super Powers Mr. Teriffic – See at Walmart
• Super Powers Fortress Playset – See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon
• DC Multiverse Superman Movie Superman 1:6 Scale Posed Figure – See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon

Written and directed by Gunn, Superman stars David Corenswet in the title role opposite Rachel Brosnahan as intrepid reporter Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as the Man of Steel’s archnemesis Lex Luthor. The first film in the newly rebooted DC Universe also introduces a cast of characters that includes superheroes Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), the Guy Gardner Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan), and The Authority’s Angela Spica/the Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría).

The post McFarlane Toys Superman 2025 Wave 2 Figures Include Spoilers appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Peacemaker‘s acclaimed opening dance sequence is changing in its upcoming second season, with series creator James Gunn revealing that the distinctive intro will feature an unexpected new character in addition to the new cast. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly with Gunn and lead star John Cena, the co-head of DC Studios also revealed that the revamped sequence will receive its public debut at Comic-Con this July. Peacemaker‘s opening in the first season helped the series go viral after the first episode. Featuring the entire primary cast, the sequence was set to Wig Wam’s “Do Ya Wanna Taste It,” with actors performing a synchronized robotic dance, all while maintaining impeccably straight faces. This deadpan delivery, combined with the vibrant glam metal anthem, perfectly encapsulated Peacemaker‘s distinctive surreal humor, helping set the tone for the series.

“I’ll give you an exclusive: You get to see Eagly try to dance for the first time,” Gunn stated. “So that’s really something. He is not the best at it, but he tries to really join in the dance sequence at the end. He’s got a little pose this time.” In addition to Peacemaker’s sidekick pet, the new opening sequence will feature the entire new cast for Season 2, as Gunn felt forced to change the opening after the events of Season 1. “We killed everyone in the season, so we kind of had to [shoot a new opening]. Everyone died! Also, we have a lot of new cast members — Tim Meadows is Langston Fleury, Sol Rodriguez is Sasha Bordeaux, and Michael Rooker’s in the cast, Judomaster is a bigger character this time — so I knew that I needed to do a new dance.”

[RELATED: DC Studios Is Headed to Comic-Con & We Already Know One Big Reveal]

“This time around, everybody looked at it through a different lens, knowing how much the audience enjoyed the first one,” Cena added. “[We knew] this is going to be a cornerstone of the show, so let’s dive in. Everyone gave their best in season 1, but I just think people now know the importance of it, and hopefully it shines through in season 2.”

What to Expect When Peacemaker Season 2 Returns

The second season of Peacemaker will find its characters navigating a dramatically changed environment, as Gunn has confirmed a time jump of “a couple of years” will separate the new episodes from the first season’s finale. This multi-year gap is expected to have profoundly reshaped the lives of Christopher Smith nd the 11th Street Kids, particularly after Leota Adebayo’s (Danielle Brooks) public disclosure of Project Butterfly and Amanda Waller’s (Viola Davis) covert A.R.G.U.S. operations. The ramifications of this global exposé are already influencing the broader state of the new DC Universe, as seen in the animated series Creature Commandos, in which Waller struggles to keep her power. In Season 2 of Peacemaker, Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. will be the new head of A.R.G.U.S., pushing this narrative further.

As the father of Rick Flag Jr. (Joel Kinnaman), killed by Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad, Rick Flag Sr. will become a powerful adversary with both institutional backing and a deeply personal motivation to hunt down Smith in Season 2 of Peacemaker. This vendetta will inevitably endanger the entire returning team, including Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), and John Economos (Steve Agee). The psychological burdens on Peacemaker are also set to continue, with Robert Patrick anticipated to reprise his role as Auggie Smith, Peacemaker’s deceased and virulently racist father.

Season 2 is also primed to introduce new characters. Rooker is slated to appear as Red St. Wild, a character Gunn has described as the “world’s foremost eagle hunter” and a specific antagonist for Eagly. The ensemble will further expand with Sol Rodríguez cast as Sasha Bordeaux and Tim Meadows as an A.R.G.U.S. agent. Finally, the Quantum Unfolding Chamber (QUC) technology, a plot device from the first season that will also feature in the Superman movie, is expected to be central to the new season’s narrative, possibly leading Peacemaker to a bizarre encounter with an alternate version of himself.

Peacemaker Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on Thursday, August 21st, on HBO Max.

Are you excited about Peacemaker‘s Season 2 new dancing number? Let us know in the comments below!

The post These Peacemaker Characters Are Joining the Season 2 Dance Opening (One Is Unbelievable) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

James Gunn has confirmed a significant time jump will occur between the first and second seasons of the hit Max series Peacemaker, clarifying that the narrative will pick up “a couple of years” after the events of the initial season. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Gunn underlined that creating a flexible timeframe echoes DC Studios’s broader strategy for building a cohesive and enduring cinematic universe, aiming to avoid the continuity pitfalls arising from rigidly defined timelines. This revelation comes as anticipation builds for the show’s return, which will see John Cena’s titular character officially integrated into the new DC Universe spearheaded by Gunn and Peter Safran. Peacemaker Season 2 is positioned as a key early installment in this revamped DCU, following the animated series Creature Commandos and Gunn’s own theatrical release, Superman, with those stories influencing Christopher Smith’s world.

“I see how difficult, after all my time at Marvel, it is to make things truly fit together, so it’s an unspecified amount of a couple of years,” Gunn stated. This intentionally inexact gap is a strategic choice informed by the director’s extensive experience with Marvel’s interconnected storytelling. Instead of locking DC into specific dates that could become narrative straitjackets down the line, an “unspecified amount of a couple of years” provides crucial breathing room. This approach allows future DCU projects to develop organically without tripping over rigidly established continuity points, a challenge that long-running universes often face. It grants writers and directors the freedom to tell the best stories without making every single timeline detail meticulously align across multiple productions, sidestepping potential plot holes.

[RELATED: DC Studios Is Headed to Comic-Con & We Already Know One Big Reveal]

The first season of Peacemaker concluded with Christopher Smith and the 11th Street Kids successfully thwarting the global threat posed by the Butterflies. However, Peacemaker himself was left to grapple with the haunting specter of his abusive father and his own violent past. Meanwhile, Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) made the shocking decision to expose Project Butterfly and Amanda Waller’s (Viola Davis) A.R.G.U.S. operations to the world. This act, while righteous, shifted the forces of the DC Universe, as we began to see in Creature Commandos. A couple of years passing suggests significant changes for the characters, both in their personal lives and in how the world perceives them after Adebayo’s revelations.

Everything We Know About Peacemaker Season 2 in the New DCU

While the core narrative of Christopher Smith’s journey from the first season will carry over into Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe, certain elements, like the original Justice League cameo, will be adjusted to align with the fresh continuity. Gunn himself penned all eight episodes of the new season and directed three, including the premiere. The returning main cast includes Brooks as Leota Adebayo, Freddie Stroma as Vigilante, Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt, Steve Agee as John Economos, and Nhut Le as Judomaster. Robert Patrick is also set to reprise his role as Auggie Smith, Peacemaker’s deceased father, who is expected to appear in visions or flashbacks that continue to delve into his profound psychological impact on his son.

A formidable new adversary enters the fray in the form of Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr., the father of Rick Flag Jr. (Joel Kinnaman), whom Peacemaker killed during the events of The Suicide Squad. As the new head of A.R.G.U.S., Flag Sr. is positioned as a primary antagonist, leading an operation to capture Peacemaker. His character arc is woven through multiple DCU projects, beginning in the animated series Creature Commandos and continuing with an appearance in Superman before his significant role in Peacemaker. Adding another layer of threat, Michael Rooker joins the cast as Red St. Wild, described by Gunn as the world’s foremost eagle hunter and a specific nemesis for Peacemaker’s beloved animal sidekick, Eagly. The ensemble expands further with Sol Rodríguez portraying Sasha Bordeaux, Brey Noelle as the Batman villain White Rabbit, and veteran comedic actor Tim Meadows as A.R.G.U.S. agent Langston Fleury, alongside David Denman in an as-yet-undisclosed role.

Season 2 will find Peacemaker, post-Butterfly-threat, believing he deserves greater recognition and should be regarded as a true superhero. He even goes as far as interviewing for membership with a superhero group featured in Superman, only to be met with mockery, reinforcing his status as a punchline within the metahuman community. Furthermore, the Quantum Unfolding Chamber (QUC) technology, which played a part in Season 1 and will be further explored in Superman, is teased to be central to the storyline of Peacemaker Season 2, leading him to meet an alternate version of himself.

Peacemaker Season 2 premieres Thursday, August 21st, on HBO Max.

How do you think the time jump will affect Peacemaker and the 11th Street Kids? Share your theories in the comments below!

The post James Gunn Confirms Time Jump Between Peacemaker Seasons 1 & 2 (and How Long) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

James Gunn’s Superman will open the curtain on the upcoming DCU this summer, but the Man of Steel’s new adventure also looks strikingly similar to the DCEU’s second chapter, Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Gunn’s Superman sees David Corenswet take up the mantle of the new cinematic Man of Tomorrow, with the movie’s first proper trailer presenting a glimpse into the conflict he will find himself in with Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor. Outside of these details, there is surprisingly little that is known about the story Superman will tell, which naturally leaves the door open to plenty of fan theorizing. What it has also left the door open to is comparisons with Henry Cavill’s preceding Superman, something that is only becoming more widespread by Superman’s trailer and the story it points to, the movie telling.

To be sure, Superman was always going to face comparisons to Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, and the overall DCEU – not only as the succeeding DC cinematic franchise, but also the circumstances of how the DCEU was ended in favor of the DCU’s beginning. Judging from Superman‘s trailer, it seems that will be an even bigger point of discussion for the new movie with how much it increasingly mirrors Batman v Superman.

Superman’s Plot Bears Some Shockingly Close Parallels to Batman v Superman’s Story

In the newest trailer for James Gunn’s Superman, some key reveals about the movie’s story are made. These include David Corenswet’s Man of Steel incurring the wrath of the U.S. government by intervening in a military conflict on foreign soil, dealing with a significant public backlash in light of his actions, while Lex Luthor hatches a plot involving Kryptonian technology to bring down the Last Son of Krypton. Additionally, the movie’s version of Superman also exists in a world in which other metahuman heroes are present, with Kal-El also taking significant physical and emotional abuse, and finding himself facing an existential crisis of a world sharply divided on his heroic actions, with Superman forced to grapple with the consequences, good and bad, that come with even deeds as noble as his. On top of these challenges, Superman also finds himself battling a monstrous beast at one point in the film.

If that sounds surprisingly similar to Batman v Superman, it should, as Henry Cavill’s Superman faces all of the above in his movie. Indeed, the only major elements from Batman v Superman that seem to have no direct parallel in Superman are the absence of the Dark Knight and the general likelihood that Superman will not die in the movie. Nonetheless, if Superman‘s first teaser indicated some similarities between Zack Snyder and James Gunn’s Supermen, the movie’s first trailer comes incredibly close to positioning it as an unofficial remake of Batman v Superman, minus Batman. With the caveat that there’s surely more to Superman‘s overall storyline than what the marketing has thus far shown, Superman (2025) being so directly comparable to Batman v Superman could have an unintended side effect of making the latter’s shadow an even greater presence of all things DC than it already is.

RELATED: 5 Superman Stories That the DCU Should Adapt

Why Superman’s Similarities to Batman v Superman Could Compound WB & DC Studio’s Snyderverse Problem

It’s no secret that the DCU is kicking off with a burden most superhero franchises would rather not shoulder, that being its immediate predecessor (in this case, the DCEU) being unceremoniously cut off with a not-insignificant portion of its audience less-than-thrilled by that outcome. To be sure, the DCEU was subject to what can be called, in hindsight, a great deal of terrible mismanagement, nearly all of it stemming from Warner Bros. panicked reaction to the polarized response to Batman v Superman. That infamously led to Warner Bros. hurriedly reshooting and morphing Suicide Squad and Justice League to distance both films from the dark and gritty tone of Zack Snyder’s DCEU plans, only to see their efforts blow up in their faces with neither movie winning over detractors, and Justice League outright bombing in theaters.

The subsequent tale of the DCEU was a serious of back and forths between Zack Snyder’s Justice League finally being released after the grassroots #ReleaseTheSnyderCut campaign, Warner Bros. downplaying its release and saying no to release the Ayer cut of Suicide Squad and the explosion of #RestoreTheSnyderVerse calls (1.5 million in a day on Twitter on March 25, 2021), Warner Bros. having no alterative plan to Snyder’s leaving the DCEU without any visible road map, and eventually culminating in Henry Cavill’s Superman comeback in Black Adam being cancelled with James Gunn’s Superman taking its place (along with Gunn’s own DCEU projects like Peacemaker Season 2 being the only things seemingly spared a similar fate).

If Gunn’s Superman ends up falling into the classification of “Batman v Superman with Guardians of the Galaxy humor”, the looming spirit of the Snyderverse could become an even bigger issue for the burgeoning DCU than it already is. To begin with, Gunn isn’t severing ties with the DCEU altogether, with the aforementioned Peacemaker Season 2 carrying over plot points and characters along with offering some kind of explanation of the DCEU-DCU continuity connection/transition (presumably, the scene in Peacemaker Season 2’s trailer of two Peacemakers meeting a room with multiple doorways has something to do with this). Additionally, Gunn and Snyder themselves have already made a teasing acknowledgment that the Snyderverse will never die, via Gunn’s friendly social media photo with Snyder at DC Studios, which (Gunn’s denials to the contrary notwithstanding) any rational person reading the situation easily recognizes as something Gunn and Snyder both fully knew would spark widespread theorizing of the Snyderverse’s possible resurrection. In short, both Superman and the DCU are arriving not only with the Snyderverse hovering right over them, but with the captain of the ship actively reminding the audience of its presence.

Adding in Superman‘s story parallels with Batman v Superman, the movie itself will inevitably enter the conversation around Gunn’s film as a far more direct point of comparison than it was already going to be (a glance at social media discussion of the Superman trailer very quickly shows that the movie’s Batman v Superman parallels have hardly gone unnoticed). If the general story and template of Batman v Superman is enough to launch a new DC Universe, the question of “What was the point of even rebooting?” is likely to become a part of Superman‘s discussion, especially if the biggest difference is a lighter tone and more humor. Above all, Superman having such similarities with Batman v Superman could not only drag the latter front and center into the DCU’s debut, but also bring plenty of #RestoreTheSnyderVerse chatter with it. Now, with all of that said, the nine years between Batman v Superman‘s release to the impending release of James Gunn’s Superman have demonstrated the staying power of the former, even if Gunn’s Superman film is nothing like Batman v Superman.

Batman v Superman Has Stood the Test of Time (& Superman Is Probably Going to Add to Its Longevity)

“Divisive” is a word often used to describe Batman v Superman, and while no doubt spot on, the movie’s detractors have often severely underestimated just how much impact Snyder’s polarizing movie has had in the long run. Going back to the behind-the-scenes troubles of Justice League, the fact that Batman v Superman has accrued just as many fans as it has haters no doubt provided a great deal of fuel to the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut campaign, the movement driven in part by Snyder’s version of Justice League being in sync with Man of Steel and Batman v Superman compared to the mish-mash of the theatrical cut. More generally, love it or hate it, Batman v Superman is talked about, discussed, and debated on a daily basis to an extent that most superhero movies would die to inspire. Nine years since its release, Batman v Superman feels every bit as relevant and immediate as a brand new blockbuster with the amount of energy that is still poured into it by fans and detractors alike. Catwoman? Superman Returns? Jonah Hex? Green Lantern? All DC movies of that past alternately bombed, were received with indifference or outright rejection, and not one has struck the kind of nerve that Batman v Superman has, or has built up a fanbase dying to see the conclusion of their intended stories. In short, Batman v Superman, much like the Snyderverse, is radically different from any other abandoned superhero franchise.

[RELATED: Why Batman v Superman (Ultimate Edition) Is Much Smarter Than You Think]

Additionally, the generally positive reception of Zack Snyder’s Justice League upon its 2021 release also kicked off a gradual but noticeable reappraisal of Man of Steel and Batman v Superman by their critics, with many coming to appreciate both more after seeing their planned (albeit belatedly released) pay-off in the Snyder Cut. Wherever one stands on Batman v Superman, what cannot be denied is that the movie has maintained a strong relevance in the public consciousness. The irony is that, in WB’s repeated efforts to move away from the Snyderverse both tonally and continuity-wise, they’ve instead only made it more omnipresent in the DC lexicon.

In turn, Gunn’s Superman movie could inadvertently add to Batman v Superman‘s longevity with an unexpectedly similar story that also tacitly endorses a lot of the themes of the movie and the questions it asks about Superman’s place in the world. Even with Warner Bros. trying and failing repeatedly to make the Snyderverse a thing of the past, James Gunn’s Superman might end up making it even more relevant than before with the kindred spirit it seemingly has in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (especially if the movie itself isn’t as good as Man of Steel).

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is available to stream on HBO Max, and James Gunn’s Superman will be released in theaters on July 11th.

The post James Gunn’s Superman May Be More Like Batman v Superman Than Most People Think appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Even with the high quality of recent shows like The Penguin and Daredevil: Born Again, it’s always a shame when great superhero TV shows get cancelled before their time. Superheroes have taken up space in many TV shows long before the days of the MCU and the DC Universe, and while these franchises have made superheroes mainstream – they’re now everywhere we turn – there are many other series that we hope get second chances. It would be fantastic to see these shows brought back, revitalized, and rebooted for the modern age of superhero media.

Whether they were developed by Marvel Television before Marvel Studios made its own TV series, or those developed outside of the mainstream DC Universe timeline, or those created outside of either studios’ oversight, some of the best TV shows have been unceremoniously cancelled. Often, this has been in spite of hugely positive reviews, though sometimes not, which means there could be hope for future reboots. Audiences are desperate for original superhero storytelling, and rebooting some of these series is the perfect way to give audiences exactly what they want.

Streaming platforms, including Disney+, HBO Max, and even Amazon Prime Video, and evolving viewer habits have changed the game for superhero TV shows. These streaming services also provide the perfect opportunity for lesser-known and prematurely cancelled superhero shows to get second lives. With studio attention turning to quality over quantity, better character development, and higher stakes, now may be the perfect time to bring some of these much-beloved (and also some of the not-so-beloved) superhero shows back to life with reboots, continuations, or remakes.

10. Legion (2017-2019)

Series creator Noah Hawley apparently always intended Legion to run for three seasons, meaning the series wasn’t technically cancelled. Even so, each season of Legion received critical acclaim and universal praise, so it would be amazing to see it rebooted or continued, perhaps now set in the MCU’s official timeline, alongside the upcoming X-Men movies and series. Legion’s dark but comic narrative, innovative visual design, and remarkable performances, particularly from Dan Stevens and Aubrey Plaza, earned the series its positive reception, and Marvel could definitely capitalize on the series’ huge success.

9. Heroes Reborn (2015-2016)

Heroes Reborn premiered in 2015 as a continuation of Heroes, the popular superhero TV series that ended in 2010. A number of characters, including Noah Bennet (Jack Coleman), returned in the series, bridging the gap between Reborn and its parent show. Unfortunately, despite ending on a cliffhanger and having the potential to expand the Heroes universe perfectly, Reborn was not renewed for a second season. A new spinoff, Heroes Eclipsed, is in development, but it’s a shame that Heroes Reborn‘s own storyline and fresh new characters didn’t get the development they deserved.

8. The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008-2009)

While many want to see Spider-Man: The Animated Series brought back, especially after Marvel Studios’ recent X-Men ’97 revival, it’s actually The Spectacular Spider-Man that deserves a reboot more than its animated predecessor. The Spectacular Spider-Man was originally planned for five seasons, but only saw two released before its cancellation, which means the door should be open for the series to be rebooted. With the animated Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man series performing well for Marvel, and the deal between Disney and Sony still strong, it would be brilliant to see The Spectacular Spider-Man brought back to life.

RELATED: Remembering DC’s Arrowverse & What It Did for Superhero TV

7. Cloak & Dagger (2018-2019)

Released on Freeform between 2018 and 2019, Cloak & Dagger is one of the Marvel Television shows that haven’t been confirmed to be canon to the MCU. While the series was wrapped up nicely, with creators expecting a cancellation due to lackluster viewership, Cloak & Dagger barely explored some of the most exciting aspects of its titular characters. It would be fantastic to see new versions of Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson brought to life in the MCU proper, perhaps fighting alongside Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and his allies in Daredevil: Born Again season 2, setting up their own possible reboot.

6. Misfits (2009-2013)

Released for five seasons on British TV, Misfits told an original and grounded superhero story, as five young offenders carrying out community service gained supernatural powers after a freak electrical storm. Misfits‘ popularity dwindled as the series progressed, especially after the original core cast were replaced following season 3. Even so, the concept of five reprobates gaining powers and becoming reluctant and polarizing heroes is one too interesting and entertaining to leave behind. Misfits deserves a reboot that captures the essence of its first few seasons and ignores the pitfalls of its later years.

5. Alphas (2011-2012)

Alphas is a little-known TV series that introduced a crime-fighting police procedural-style to the typical superhero project, as five superpowered individuals, led by noted psychiatrist and neurologist Lee Rosen, who investigate crimes committed by other Alphas. Alphas‘ fast pace and strong ensemble earned it praise, but, since the series was a product of its time and was slightly underdeveloped, it would be great to see it redone for the modern age. A lot has changed in the last 13 years, so Alphas would surely now be a more well-rounded and thought-provoking show.

4. Powerless (2017)

2017’s Powerless, being set in the DC Universe featured in DC Comics, featured a very interesting concept that deserved more development. Following Emily Locke (Vanessa Hudgens), Director of Research & Development at Wayne Security, Powerless saw her create technology that could help humans avoid becoming collateral damage in superhero battles.

Unfortunately, Powerless got a tragic ending, as its final three episodes were pulled from the schedule before they could release, so Powerless never even got a proper ending. James Gunn and Peter Safran could easily adapt this story for the new DC Universe, giving Powerless a second chance.

RELATED: 10 The Boys Characters You Didn’t Realize Were Making Fun of Marvel

3. Agent Carter (2015-2016)

Following the success of Agents of SHIELD, more Marvel Television projects were put into development, including Agent Carter. The two-season series caught up with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) in the wake of the events of Captain America: The First Avenger, where she took on new threats alongside Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper), Edwin Jarvis (James D’Arcy), and Daniel Sousa (Enver Gjokaj), who eventually crossed over into Agents of SHIELD. Agent Carter could easily be folded into the MCU’s official timeline and rebooted or continued, especially when considering its positive reception among audiences and critics alike.

2. Constantine (2014-2015)

Constantine was retroactively established as a part of the so-called Arrowverse TV franchise, but prior to that, it stood on its own as a strong exploration of the titular DC Comics demon hunter in live-action. After its cancellation, Warner Bros. tried to find a new home for the series, but failed. While Keanu Reeves is expected to reprise his role of Constantine in an upcoming DC Elseworlds sequel, it would be great to see the TV series rebooted for the mainstream DC Universe, bringing demons, magic, and the occult into James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new franchise.

1. Inhumans (2017)

2017’s Inhumans series tried to capitalize on the popularity on Inhuman characters in Agents of SHIELD, but failed miserably. Inhumans is widely regarded as one of the worst things Marvel has ever brought to live-action, and the series’ poor reception has hurt the development of any Inhuman characters since. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw Anson Mount reprise his role of Black Bolt, the Inhuman King, which may have created the perfect opportunity for the series to be rebooted. This might be just what the Inhumans need to get true redemption and finally make their official MCU debut.

After the recent confirmation that the Defenders Saga, which originally released on Netflix between 2015 and 2019, is now canon to the MCU’s main timeline, it’s possible more Marvel Television shows could get the same treatment. This would benefit the likes of Cloak & Dagger, Agent Carter, and even Inhumans, all of which could easily be integrated into the MCU’s official order of events. While it’s unclear what the future holds for the MCU’s TV shows after its already-confirmed projects, it would be brilliant to see some of these shows revived, building on their pre-existing lore or introducing brand-new concepts and characters.

Whether that’s bringing Inhumans into the MCU, folding Agent Carter back into Marvel’s history, introducing mysticism and the occult to the rebooted DC Universe, or bringing back original characters from Heroes, Misfits, and Alphas, it would be great to see any number of these shows rebooted. It’s a huge shame that some of these shows didn’t originally get the attention they deserved, while others were seriously disappointing and need redemption. Superhero TV shows are just beginning to earn back a good reputation, so now might be the perfect time to revive some of these misused and underdeveloped stories.

Which superhero TV shows do you want to see rebooted in the future? Let us know in the comments!

The post 10 Cancelled Superhero Shows That Deserve a Reboot appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Christopher McQuarrie had an impossible mission: get a Superman movie off the ground at DC Films. The Mission: Impossible filmmaker — who co-wrote, wrote, and directed the last four entries in the Tom Cruise-fronted franchise, including The Final Reckoning — had been linked to a potential Man of Steel 2 as far back as 2018, when then-Superman actor Henry Cavill played the mustachioed villain of that year’s Mission: Impossible — Fallout. McQuarrie told ComicBook at the time that he and Cavill had discussed story ideas for a followup to the Zack Snyder-directed reboot that launched the DC Extended Universe in 2013.

“Somebody asked, ‘Would you do it?’ and I said ‘Hey, they know where to find me,'” McQuarrie said of studio Warner Bros. “Nobody’s asked, but you know.”

Asked about his Superman pitch in a new interview pegged to Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, McQuarrie teased, “I’ll never tell. I’ll never tell, but boy, was it f—ing good. It was f—ing good.”

RELATED: Superman Star Nathan Fillion Calls Live-Action Green Lantern Role “A Dream Beyond My Wildest”

“I will tell you, the first 5 minutes of my Superman movie… you remember Pixar’s Up? [The opening was] a sequence with no dialogue that covered that character,” he revealed. “[It] was a set-up, after which you knew exactly what makes Superman tick and exactly what Superman was most afraid of and why Superman made the choices he made. It would have been epic. In five minutes, the scale of the movie would have been absolutely extraordinary.”

In 2018, McQuarrie revealed he met with the first DC Films regime — at the time headed by Warner Bros. executive vice president Jon Berg (Justice League) and DC chief creative officer Geoff Johns (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) — about Green Lantern, which would have been the second feature adaptation after the 2011 film starring Ryan Reynolds as the power ring-wielding Hal Jordan bombed at the box office.

“Green Lantern was what had come to me. And Green Lantern’s a tough one. The power is very challenging, and I cracked it,” McQuarrie told Happy Sad Confused. “It was fun, and watching him learn how to use that power, and giving that power a flaw so that it was not pure invincibility.” (In the comics, the emerald power rings of the Green Lantern Corps are typically weak against the color yellow, but they have another flaw: the rings must be recharged at a power battery before the raw willpower inside is depleted.)

“The whole concept of Green Lantern is the ring has to be recharged, and that’s not a bug — that’s a feature,” he explained. “You only have so much battery life, and that can run out at inconvenient times. That, for me, solved the whole Green Lantern problem. The costume is another thing, and you can figure that out.”

McQuarrie’s concern was “the character, and how do you give that character tension and stakes, and also, how do you do it with Superman?”

“Henry had a take on that, and I suddenly realized how these two characters [Superman and Green Lantern] had amazing similarities, which also allowed for amazing conflict,” he continued. “And an amazing, universe-expanding resolution.”

McQuarrie then likened his Superman/Green Lantern to the epic scope and scale of the action sequences in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. “I hope that anybody who watches this movie, that enjoys the end of this movie, walking away, that’s the feeling I would want you to walk away [with].”

“Because that’s really what Superman is about: it’s about hope, and it’s about being inspiring, and the joy that that character created. I don’t think you need to live in the shadow of [Richard] Donner’s Superman,” he added of the 1978 film starring Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. “I don’t think you need to live in the shadow of John Williams’ score. But you do need to realize that that movie captured better than any other — with respect to everyone that has followed — it captured better than any other the heart of that character.”

McQuarrie went on to say that “the problem with Superman is that when they constantly are trying to create bigger, and bigger, and bigger obstacles for a character with infinite power. Donner understood, and all the best sequences in Superman understand, that Superman’s greatest obstacle is himself. Followed, potentially, by Green Lantern.”

“It’s all right there, just sitting there, waiting for somebody to make it,” he added. But it won’t be McQuarrie: in 2020, he wrote on social media, “I asked once. I will never ask again.”

The restructured DC Studios, now helmed by James Gunn (The Suicide Squad) and Peter Safran (Aquaman), will launch Gunn’s Superman as the first film in the new DC Universe on July 11. Starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, it will also introduce the Guy Gardner Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion). Fillion will first reprise his role in Peacemaker season 2 later this year before returning in HBO’s Lanterns series in 2026 opposite John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler).

The post Mission: Impossible Director Details Scrapped Man of Steel 2 With Henry Cavill’s Superman & Green Lantern Movie appeared first on ComicBook.com.

With Batman: Hush 2 currently playing out in the pages of Batman, now feels like the perfect time to revisit the first one. For over 20 years, Batman: Hush has been heralded as a modern classic. And why shouldn’t it be? The story brought together one of the best writers to ever pen a Batman adventure — Jeph Loeb — and artist extraordinaire Jim Lee. On paper it sounds like a match made in heaven, and for some, it is. For me, however, Hush is a narrative mess with art that doesn’t match the tone of the story and characters that don’t feel like themselves. While I sincerely hope it doesn’t get my geek card revoked, I finally have to speak my truth: Hush is not the masterpiece you think it is, and it’s a hill I’m willing to die on.

Hush, for those who don’t know, is a 12-part mystery that brings Batman face to face with some of his deadliest foes. The story was originally published in Batman issues #608-619 from 2002 to 2003 before being collected into the graphic novel most fans know it as today. Partly told in the past, one of the story’s biggest hooks is retconning Bruce Wayne’s childhood to include a previously unmentioned best friend, Tommy Elliot, the titular Hush. And that’s where my grievances begin.

Look, I have no problem with retcons. I could hardly call myself a DC fan if I did. The problem comes when the retcon throws already established canon out the window. Before Hush, it had long been established that Bruce Wayne was 8-10 years old when his parents were gunned down in front of him. Hush raises his age to around 12-13 years old for seemingly no reason. Why does this matter? Well, for starters, it messes with continuity. DC pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths was all over the place in terms of when events happened, and comics would contradict each other all the time. Post-crisis, however, the editors made a strong effort to keep everything more or less consistent. Honestly, that’s not my biggest problem with the retcon, though. What upsets me more is that Bruce shouldn’t be that mature when his parents were killed.

Losing a parent at any age is traumatic, but there is a sweet spot — just old enough to form lasting memories but before adolescence — where their death would be impactful enough for their child to start dressing up as a flying mammal and kicking clowns in the head night after night. Bruce should also be young enough that his parents are his whole world. He shouldn’t be old enough to be distracted by girls and calculus finals. Also, as long as we’re putting it all out there, he shouldn’t have friends. Young Bruce should be a shy kind of awkward kid who spends more time with his parents than his peers because, again, his origin only works when his parents are pretty much the only important people in his life aside from Alfred — and even that relationship shouldn’t become very familial until Bruce needs a new guardian.

The addition of Tommy Elliot into Bruce’s childhood complicates things in a way that does Batman a disservice. But honestly, Elliot is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my gripes with Hush, so let’s move on to a really controversial opinion: I don’t like the art. Don’t get me wrong, Jim Lee is one of my favorite comic book artists of all time, but his kinetic penciling style is better suited to a bright and colorful team book like X-Men or even Lee’s own Wildcats. His art is too bright, too clean, too comic-booky for Batman, especially Jeph Loeb’s Batman.

Batman is a noirish pulp hero at heart, and Loeb writes him like one. One of the reasons why Loeb’s Batman: The Long Halloween is so good is because of Tim Sale’s moody art style. Sale’s linework is a bit rough, his anatomy is out of proportion, and his panels are dripping with shadow. In other words, the perfect style for Batman and his Rogues. Jim Lee is too busy making sure you can see Batman’s ears through his cowl — easily my least favorite thing about how he draws the character — to ever draw the Joker with a million teeth in his oversized mouth the way Tim Sale does. To put it in simpler terms, Lee’s style doesn’t vibe with the Batman Universe.

After the art, I suppose I should touch on the writing. Jeph Loeb has written two of the best year-long arcs in Batman’s history, Batman: The Long Halloween and Batman: Dark Victory. Both of these stories explored Batman’s early years in new ways, recontextualized old villains, and added value to the overall Batman mythos. Hush, by contrast, feels like a weird hybrid of Batman’s greatest hits and a showcase for Jim Lee’s art. Sure, Long Halloween used all of Batman’s most iconic rogues to tell its story, but they felt like they were there for a reason. Hush shoehorns villains like the Joker and Killer Croc into its narrative basically just so Jim Lee can draw them. Croc, in particular, was subbed out for Bane in the Hush animated movie, and it barely made a difference. On top of that, the “mystery” behind Hush is so convoluted that I can’t really determine which rogues should be there. Maybe they’re all superfluous.

Perhaps Hush‘s biggest crime — besides being a pale Long Halloween imitation — is that it doesn’t get Batman right. Loeb writes The Caped Crusader out of character several times throughout the story. Take Batman’s famous line while he’s fighting a mind-controlled Superman: “Deep down Clark’s essentially a good person…and deep down, I’m not.” You mean to tell me that the same Batman who adopted a parentless tween because he didn’t want him to be alone after his parents died, the same Batman who sat with Ace and held her hand because she was afraid to die, that Batman is a bad person deep down? Sorry, but I don’t buy it. Then again, Hush also sees Batman punching Catwoman full force in her bullet-wounded shoulder to incapacitate her so she won’t stop him from murdering the Joker, so maybe he is a bad guy after all.

Almost all of my problems with Hush would have been eliminated with one simple change: making it an Elseworlds tale. By setting the story in the main Batman continuity, DC presented Hush as a sloppy, ill-fitting arc starring a not-quite-right Batman and a bunch of famous bad guys that didn’t need to be there. Overall, not exactly the modern “classic” everyone makes it out to be.

What do you think of Hush? Am I completely off base, or is it one of the weaker stories in the Batman canon? Let us know in the comments.

The post This Fan Favorite Batman Story Isn’t The Masterpiece It’s Made Out to Be (And I Will Die on This Hill) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s been three years since Paul Dano debuted as the Riddler in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, but fans have only just noticed one brilliant detail in the villain’s costume. Robert Pattinson’s turn as the Caped Crusader revitalized the character after Ben Affleck’s tenure, and Pattinson’s darker and more grounded Bruce Wayne was given a similarly gritty new villain. Paul Dano’s Edward Nashton, aka the Riddler, is the most haunting and unsettling iteration of the villain ever brought to screen, but he still copied a fantastic piece of the Riddler’s more lighthearted live-action history.

The Riddler has often been depicted as one of Batman’s most extravagant and larger than life antagonists, and this was very evident in Jim Carrey’s depiction of Edward Nygma in 1995’s Batman Forever. Carrey’s Riddler sported a skin-tight, bright green, question mark-covered catsuit during his battles against Val Kilmer’s Dark Knight, which was a far cry from Dano’s Riddler, who donned a Zodiac Killer-like trench coat and hood. Even so, Reddit user MGDpro had now spotted that there was one piece of costume that these two wildly different Batman villains share.

Paul Dano & Jim Carrey’s Riddlers Share One Great Costume Element

Eagle-eyed fans of Batman’s live-action history have spotted that Dano’s Edward Nashton wears the same glasses in The Batman that Carrey’s Edward Nygma wears in Batman Forever. The clear-framed, horned, circular glasses worn by Carrey in 1995 highlighted the eccentricities of Nygma, and formed a baseline for his green eye-mask that he sported when in the Riddler’s comical costume. The same glasses had a similar effect for the civilian guise of Dano’s Nashton, whose eccentricities and outsider-like personality were put front-and-center, forming the motivation for his attacks against Gotham’s elite.

Batman Forever is considered one of the weaker Batman movies, marking Kilmer’s only appearance as Bruce Wayne. Nevertheless, it’s great to see Matt Reeves pay homage to Batman’s history, even in something as small as the Riddlers’ eyewear. Surprisingly, this choice was actually a coincidence. Dano revealed during a 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he tried hundreds of pairs of glasses before deciding. “I’m not the guy who’s like, ‘If you don’t see my feet in the shot, I’m going to put on more comfy shoes,'” Dano mentioned, “That’s just not how it works.”

RELATED: 5 Things That Still Don’t Make Sense About The Batman

The fact that this costume choice was a matter of coincidence makes it even more incredible. It perhaps goes to show that both Carrey and Dano had a real handle on who the Riddler is when presenting as a civilian, both tapping into the otherness, eccentricity, and strangeness of the character, though both had very different interpretations of who the Riddler is in his costume and during battle with Batman. It’s possible Dano’s Edward Nashton could return in Matt Reeves’ upcoming The Batman: Part II, and the much-anticipated sequel could pay homage to new periods of Batman’s live-action history.

The Batman: Part II is currently scheduled to be released on October 1, 2027, with Matt Reeves returning to direct and Robert Pattinson reprising his role of Bruce Wayne.

Did you like Paul Dano’s depiction of the Riddler in The Batman? Let us know in the comments!

The post It Took 3 Years For The Batman Fans To Notice A Riddler Detail Everyone Missed appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Michael Rooker takes on a new role in Peacemaker Season 2, and we just got our first look at his outrageous costume. The actor plays Red St. Wild, the world’s foremost eagle hunter, according to James Gunn, and he’s a nemesis not to Peacemaker himself, but to his animal sidekick, Eagly. The new photo was included in Gunn’s interview with Entertainment Weekly, showing Rooker clad as an eccentric hunter adorned with feathers, wielding a cartoonishly large rifle. The actor already played two different characters in The Suicide Squad and Creature Commandos, so it’s not clear if this is the last time we’ll see him take a new role in the DC Universe.

“His name is Red St. Wild, and he’s the world’s foremost eagle hunter who is on a mission to kill Eagly,” Gunn said. “We thought Eagly was probably the most popular character from season 1, and so in season 2, he has his own story with his nemesis, played by none other than the despicable Michael Rooker.”

The photo shows someone who is definitely fascinating enough to become a fan favorite. Red St. Wild wears a bowler cap and a rugged coat, but underneath are an elaborate beaded necklace and a collection of feathers — presumably eagle-hunting trophies. Those, along with the turquoise rings on his fingers and the long braids in his hair, indicate some Native American influence to his design, while the absurdly large gun across his shoulders indicates nefarious intent.

[RELATED: Peacemaker’s Connection to Superman Is Deeper Than DC Fans Thought]

Rooker and Gunn already have a strong track record when it comes to superhero movies. Rooker played Yondu in all three Guardians of the Galaxy movies before making the jump to the DCU. He played Brian Durlin, a.k.a. Savant in The Suicide Squad, but then voiced Sam Fitzgibbon in a single episode of Creature Commandos. Rooker also has a voice-over role in Superman coming this summer — he will play Five, one of the Kryptonian robots that helps Superman construct his Fortress of Solitude.

Creature Commandos was the first official DCU title, though some characters and aspects of The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker will carry over into this continuity. That leaves Rooker’s roles in a tenuous place, but he seems to have no shortage of work. The franchise will really pick up steam when Superman hits theaters on July 11th, and its next title after that is Peacemaker Season 2, premiering on Thursday, August 21st on HBO Max.

The post Peacemaker Season 2 Reveals First Look at Michael Rooker as Eagly’s Nemesis (Yes, Really) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

James Gunn and John Cena just revealed one of DC Studios’ big previews coming at San Diego Comic Con this summer. The duo sat down for an interview with Entertainment Weekly about Peacemaker Season 2, teasing as much as they could about sequence show ahead of its release on August 21st. They promised that there is a new dance scene to take the place of the opening credits from Season 1, and even said that this is one of the previews fans will see at Comic Con in July. That can only been San Diego Comic Con, which runs from Thursday, July 24th to Sunday, July 27th this year.

Peacemaker Season 1 started each episode with a tightly-choreographed by robotic dance number set to “Do You Wanna Taste It” by Wig Wam. It was enough to hook many viewers who were not already sold on this superhero side-story, and it went viral even outside of the show’s viewers on social media. Gunn assured EW that there’s a new dance scene that they’ll get to see sooner than expected.

“You get to see Eagly try to dance for the first time,” he divulged. “So that’s really something. He is not the best at it, but he tries to really join in the dance sequence at the end. He’s got a little pose this time.”

[RELATED: Peacemaker Season 2 Trailer Features Two Justice League Characters (But Does That Make Sense?)]

“This time around, everybody looked at it through a different lens, knowing how much the audience enjoyed the first one,” Cena added. “[We knew] this is going to be a cornerstone of the show, so let’s dive in. Everyone gave their best in season 1, but I just think people now know the importance of it and hopefully it shines through in season 2.”

Asked why they filmed a new opening credit sequence instead of re-using the fan-favorite one from last season, Gunn joked, “We killed everyone in the season, so we kind of had to. Everyone died! Also, we have a lot of new cast members — Tim Meadows is Langston Fleury, Sol Rodriguez is Sasha Bordeaux, and Michael Rooker’s in the cast, Judomaster is a bigger character this time — so I knew that I needed to do a new dance.”

Gunn confirmed that the new credits will also feature a new song, but admitted that he felt conflicted about it. “I really went back and forth an awful lot,” he said. “And at the end of the day, I decided that we use a new song that’s a little bit more about what the season’s about.”

By the time of SDCC, Superman will be out in theaters and the DCU will be in full swing. We may have a much better idea of what’s coming in Peacemaker Season 2 and what role the new characters will have to play in it. Superman hits theaters on July 11th, while Peacemaker debuts on Max on August 21st.

The post DC Studios Is Headed to Comic-Con & We Already Know One Big Reveal appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The larger Arrowverse owes a lot to its namesake, The CW’s Arrow. While the franchise has several shows and web series that focus on various heroes from the DC Universe, it all starts with Oliver Queen getting off of Lian Yu and returning to Starling City to fight crime. Arrow isn’t perfect by any means, having several seasons that lose their way and let their characters down, but it still does a lot more harm than good. One of its best qualities is introducing complicated villains, such as Slade Wilson and Malcolm Merlyn, who have more to offer society than killing or robbing. However, one group deserves most of the credit for making Arrow a spot for bad guys to thrive: the Suicide Squad.

Task Force X forms in the early seasons of Arrow as a way for A.R.G.U.S. to get into the vigilante game. The team returns on several occasions, helping and hindering Team Arrow. Not every episode of Arrow featuring the Suicide Squad is cut from the same cloth, though.

5) Season 7, Episode 14, “Brothers & Sisters”

As Oliver deals with the fact that his sister, Emiko, is now in the picture, John Diggle and Lyla Michaels continue hunting down the elusive terrorist Dante. They can’t do it alone, so they get the Suicide Squad to help out. However, that turns out to be a mistake because Ricardo Diaz betrays the team and ends up dead at the end of the episode.

“Brothers & Sisters” is memorable because it features the death of one of Arrow‘s most impactful villains. But the rest of the episode doesn’t live up to the shocking conclusion, feeling like a misguided attempt to recapture the glory of the show’s early years.

4) Season 7, Episode 11, “Past Sins”

After just learning about Emiko, Oliver’s life gets thrown upside down when the sins of his father come back to haunt him. Most of Team Arrow is dealing with that, while Diggle, Lyla, and Curtis Holt try to get Task Force X up and running. They recruit Diaz, China White, Joe Wilson, and Cupid and work to get them onboard with running missions for A.R.G.U.S.

What makes “Past Sins” better than its fellow Season 7 episode, “Brother & Sisters,” is that the main plot works pretty well, which helps the Suicide Squad side story not stick out like a sore thumb. There are also some solid moments with Diaz where he thinks he’s getting the better of his captors, only to realize he’s not the one in control.

[RELATED –  Arrow Star Thinks Their Character’s Death Was “Political” (Are They Right?)]

3) Season 2, Episode 16, “Suicide Squad”

Despite wanting to focus on helping Oliver take down Slade Wilson, Diggle finds himself at A.R.G.U.S. headquarters with Amanda Waller. She’s putting together a team to take down a warlord and needs his help. Diggle initially isn’t happy to be running with former criminals, including Deadshot, who is responsible for his brother’s death. Still, he finds common ground with them as they stop their target’s plans.

While “Suicide Squad” is the first appearance of Task Force X in the Arrowverse, it’s not the strongest. That’s not to say the episode is bad by any means; it does a great job blending its stories together and showing how The CW is capable of adapting iconic DC teams on the small screen.

2) Season 3, Episode 17, “Suicidal Tendencies”

Diggle and Lyla finally tie the knot in Arrow Season 3 and are ready for peace and quiet on their honeymoon. Unfortunately, A.R.G.U.S. has other plans because they pick up the couple and send them on a mission to save a US senator in Kasnia. The whole thing turns out to be a ruse, though, and Deadshot loses his life in the chaos.

Season 3 is pretty uneven as a whole, but “Suicidal Tendencies” stands out because it refuses to pull any punches. Diggle and Deadshot’s rivalry reaches its conclusion, and despite being from different worlds, they change each other for the better. The action in the episode is also a highlight, showing how formidable Task Force X can be when they work together.

1) Season 2, Episode 23, “Unthinkable”

Slade unleashes his army on Starling City, forcing Oliver and Co. to make some tough choices. He has plenty of friends by his side to help him through the situation, including Diggle and Lyla, who let the Suicide Squad out of their cells to aid in the battle. “Unthinkable” concludes with Slade’s forces down for the count and Team Arrow ready to help rebuild the city.

Arrow‘s Season 2 finale doesn’t give the Suicide Squad much to do, but it’s one of the better episodes in the series. Slade and Oliver’s dynamic is incredible, and there’s enough action to fill an entire season. “Unthinkable” is Arrow at its peak, and it’s nice that Task Force X gets to be along for the ride.

Arrow is streaming now on Netflix.

Do you agree with this ranking of Arrow‘s Suicide Squad episodes? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

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According to James Gunn, DC fans are getting a pretty big cameo in Season 2 of Peacemaker. It’s been three years since Peacemaker debuted on Max, but the wait for Season 2 is almost over. Except this time, the John Cena-starring show will be a part of the new DC Universe spearheaded by Gunn. Preceding Peacemaker are the adult-animated series Creature Commandos and the theatrical Superman, so Peacemaker fans can expect several characters from both projects to make appearances. But apparently, Gunn has an even bigger surprise in store when a mystery character makes a cameo in Peacemaker.

Entertainment Weekly spoke to James Gunn about Peacemaker Season 2, with the prolific filmmaker dropping teases and details regarding everything that will go down in the sophomore season. Without giving too much away, Gunn delivered another bombshell when speaking about Superman guest stars.

“You’ve seen what we call the QUC, the Quantum Unfolding Chamber, in the first season of Peacemaker, and we see more about that technology in Superman,“ Gunn told EW. “The QUC is the center of the story in Peacemaker season 2… We see a lot of different characters from Superman in the [season], [including] Isabela [Merced] and Nathan [Fillion], and Sean [Gunn], and then we see a bunch of other characters later on in the season from other parts of the DCU and from Superman. There might even be one really, really, really big cameo near the end of the show.”

[RELATED: 5 DC Characters With Controversial Origin Stories]

Which DC Universe character will cameo in Peacemaker Season 2?

The first name that immediately comes to mind as far as cameos that could garner that type of build-up is David Corenswet’s Superman. The first season of Peacemaker saw Flash (Ezra Miller) and Aquaman (Jason Momoa) show up in the season finale, while the rest of the Justice League remained in the shadows. The Justice League arrived just as Peacemaker and the 11th Street Gang had defeated the threat of the Butterflies. With Peacemaker having such a strong connection to Superman, it makes sense for the Man of Steel to cameo and give John Cena a pep talk.

However, there’s also a possibility that Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor may take an interest in Peacemaker. Luthor is always scheming to get the upper hand on Superman, and he could see Peacemaker as a tool to achieve his goals. Peacemaker will be juggling how to deal with not getting the respect he deserves from the metahuman community, and Luthor could feed into those insecurities.

“We come into season 2 with Peacemaker knowing that he saved the world from the Butterflies,” Gunn said. “He thinks he’s a big star now, and he should be a real superhero. And we see at the very beginning of episode 1 that he’s meeting with the group of superheroes from Superman, and he’s basically interviewing for membership in the group. But they just mock him the entire time, so he’s not taken seriously.”

Gunn then elaborated on how Peacemaker will struggle with these feelings throughout the season. “He’s still considered a punchline among all of the other metahumans, so he’s starting the season in a bad place,” he said. “As are all of our heroes, all of the 11th Street kids — well, everybody but Vigilante [Freddie Stroma], who just always seems to be okay with everything.”

Who do you think the big cameo is in Season 2 of Peacemaker? Let us know in the comments below!

The post James Gunn Teases “Really Big” DC Cameo In Peacemaker Season 2 (But Who Could It Be?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Absolute Flash is off to the races as it wraps up its first story arc, Wally West having officially become the Flash and taking on the most adorable sidekick ever in the new version of Gorilla Grodd. The Fastest Teenager Alive has come to accept who he is and that his old life is over forever, but that doesn’t mean ghosts from his past won’t be haunting him. Issue #3 has teased the introduction of not just one, but two of the Flash’s most dangerous and deadly villains, and either one of them could easily be the end of the newly minted Scarlet Speedster. 

There’s a Thawne Working for Project Olympus

While the Rogues tried in vain to bring down Wally and his new monkey friend, Wally’s dad Rudy relied on a scientist named Thawne to handle the live feed the military group received from Grodd. Thawne, of course is the last name of Barry Allen’s arch enemy and by far and away the pettiest villain to ever live: the Reverse Flash. While we don’t know for sure that this scientist is the actual Eobard Thawne, especially considering that his mainline counterpart wasn’t born until the twenty-fifth century, there’s always the possibility that this is him, and that can only mean bad news for the Flash.

We know that whatever secret experiment Barry Allen was working on prior to his death is what gave Wally his powers. If this scientist is Eobard Thawne, then this new version of the character could be equally as obsessed with Barry as his original counterpart. Perhaps they’ve worked together for many years, but Barry has always been the smarter, more celebrated, and more beloved scientist. This could easily drive the man to jealousy, and a wild obsession with proving himself better. Following Barry’s horrific death, Thawne might be the one selected to continue Barry’s work, or he might even attempt to complete it in secret. Either way, it’s very easy to imagine Thawne “improving” the experiment and using it on himself, a final getback at Barry who died in his attempt. Assuming it goes horribly wrong, and there’s no way it couldn’t, Thawne would be gifted and cursed with speed rivaling or even exceeding Wally’s. In a final act of proving himself superior in every way, Thawne would chase down the young speedster and demonstrate his superiority by defeating, and possibly even aiming to kill our new hero.

[RELATED: Sorry Barry Allen, But Wally West is Actually the Best Flash]

Even if this scientist Thawne is not connected to the Eobard of the future, Wally’s powers are inherently tied to time in some way. The real Thawne could easily be a descendant of the current day one, and use his ancestor’s notes on Barry’s project to recreate it and travel back in time. As for why he’d do that, we’ll have to wait and see, but I don’t think it’s hard to convince Thawne to dedicate his life to making your life hell, based on past evidence. He might even be attempting to “save” the future by getting rid of Wally, as one of the potential futures Wally saw for himself is becoming a speed-monster in a ruined world. Of course, the second villain is even more dangerous than a morally-charged Thawne.

Barry Allen Might be the Absolute Black Flash

When Wally interrupted Barry’s experiment and gained his powers, he also forged a connection with Barry that he couldn’t break. Terrified of what happened, Wally ran away as fast as he could, accidentally dragging Barry with him. Barry’s body was ripped apart by the force and distance, and by the time Wally stopped he was nothing more than a skeletal husk, his final words begging for Wally to help him. Obviously this image and death are very reminiscent of Barry’s sacrifice in Crisis on Infinite Earths, but I don’t think that’s the only callback here. Based on his design, he also looked a lot like Black Flash, the speedster entity of death.

There is precedent for this, as Barry became the Black Flash immediately following his return from his twenty-year long death in The Flash: Rebirth. The 2006 miniseries, not the 2016 DC-wide relaunch of the same name. I’m all the more convinced Barry might be the Black Flash because of the manner in which Absolute Barry died. He formed a powerful connection to Wally, and Wally’s powers are very tied to the fabric of time. While Barry’s body was ripped apart, it could be that his soul has been lost between the timestream, both dead and living and always connected to Wally. Barry wouldn’t want to hurt Wally or anyone else, but if he is nothing more than a lost soul with a form that’s constantly being torn apart and drawn to Wally, he may not have a choice. If Wally begins to see a dark shape running behind him, then we definitely know who it will be. 

Even if these two classic villains aren’t connected to these two versions of the characters, we still have a lot to look forward to in Absolute Flash. Wally West is kicking it into overdrive with his new friend and new way of life, and I am definitely excited to see where he goes from here.

Absolute Flash #3 is on sale now!

The post Absolute Flash Teases Two Iconic Villains appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Peacemaker is one of the few titles from the old DCEU franchise adopted into the new DC Universe continuity, and according to James Gunn, it’s tied into the story tightly, naturally, and seamlessly. Gunn was already the showrunner on Peacemaker when he took the job as co-CEO of DC Studios and began spearheading the entire DCU. All these new responsibilities delayed Peacemaker Season 2, but in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gunn explained that this also allowed Peacemaker to become more connected to the rest of the franchise. The DCU hits the big screen with Superman on July 11th followed closely by Peacemaker Season 2 on August 21st, and Gunn said the two are “very much connected.”

“Once I was done with Peacemaker, I had to do Guardians 3, and then when I was about ready to jump [back] into Peacemaker, I got hired to be the head of DC,” Gunn explained. “As soon as I got that job, I made a couple of calls, and the first one was to [Marvel’s] Kevin Feige telling him that I’m taking the [job as] head of DC. The second one was to John Cena, and I said, ‘I’m getting this gig, and I still want to do Peacemaker, but it’s going to have to wait. We’re going to have to get Superman working first.'”

Gunn is not only an executive for DC Studios, he’s a driving creative force behind this first batch of DCU titles. He’s the writer and director of Superman, the creator of Creature Commandos, and the showrunner of Peacemaker. He joked that in order to get back to Peacemaker, he just had to “get through this other little movie, this little side project first.” However, working on the two projects back to back also allowed him to forge them together.

[RELATED: John Cena Is on the Run in Peacemaker Season 2 Trailer]

“As soon as I was done writing Superman, I was able to write Season 2 of Peacemaker,” Gunn said. “I know it seems like a long time for other people, but for me it all seems awful short because there was so many things I did in between.” The result is that Gunn was perfectly positioned to see how Peacemaker Season 2 could slot into the continuity and establish itself within the DCU.

“I developed it along the way, in conjunction with the other DC projects that we’re doing, so it’s very much connected to Superman and it’s very much connected to what comes after,” he said. “I had a rough idea of what I was going to do, but it was actually quite different than what the show ended up being.”

At the same time, Gunn assured fans that Peacemaker Season 1 is still very much canon, and it will have an impact on the story to come. The series returns on Thursday, August 21st on HBO Max. Season 1 is streaming there now.

The post Peacemaker’s Connection to Superman Is Deeper Than DC Fans Thought appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Justice League is the ideal that every other superhero team strives to meet. They are the best of the best, the pinnacles of heroism that join forces to protect their world and every other one from all manners of threats. They are the greatest heroes in the DC Universe, and are the ones everyone looks to for leadership and stability in times of crisis. That being said, the Justice League’s roster hasn’t exactly remained the same across its storied career. While there are some heroes that it’s impossible to imagine not being in the League, DC’s premier superhero team has been known to be as flexible as Plastic Man. And with the newly minted Justice League Unlimited manning the Watchtower, their ranks are open to just about every hero across the universe.

However, just because their membership requirements are fairly loose does not mean that every Justice Leaguer is created equal. While every hero has their place on this illustrious team, some can be said to be much more deserving of their seats than others. Even among the gods that man the League, there are some that simply stand above everyone else as fantastic members and the embodiments of what it means to be superheroes. Today, we’ll take a look at the ten best, most important members of the Justice League.

10) Booster Gold

When he first arrived in the present day from the far-flung future, Booster Gold was the farthest thing from a hero. He was a self-centered egoist whose only concern was becoming famous by tricking as many people as possible into thinking he was cool. However, over his many years in our time, Booster learned what it really meant to be a hero. Now he willingly charges into any danger, no matter how deadly, if it means there is a single chance he can help someone. He’s matured into a real hero, and that transformation is exactly why he’s on this list. Booster is an inspiration, showing that it doesn’t matter what your past is or where you’re from. If you’re willing to learn and help then you too can be a hero, and isn’t that the message the Justice League teaches all of us?

9) Black Canary

Black Canary is indisputably one of the greats. Not only is she one of, if not the best hand to hand fighter in the DC Universe, but she is almost indisputably the mom of the Justice League. She was one of the first characters added to the original team’s roster, although her placement in the Justice Society of America demanded some classic comic complicated retcons. Over the years, Canary has not only served as a member more times than almost any other hero, but she’s led the League as its chairperson for plenty of those years, too. Dinah is one of those heroes that never gets as much recognition as she deserves, but she has earned her place among the best.

8) Green Arrow

More so than anyone else, Green Arrow is the everyman of the Justice League. Even compared to other non-powered heroes like Batman and Mr. Terrific, Green Arrow feels much closer to the average man than his fellow heroes. Ollie is constantly in over his head and punching up against cosmic beings and immortal gods with boxing gloves strapped to arrows, and yet through it he keeps the League grounded. He reminds the League that they exist to help the little guy, stopping them from getting lost in the never ending battles and going too far. Not only was he the first hero added to the League’s original roster, but he also heavily petitioned for the League to open up to be more inclusive and progressive. Heck, he petitioned for Black Lightning to be the first Black hero added to the League, and when they rejected him the Emerald Archer was so mad he quit. Green Arrow always keeps an eye out for ordinary people, and that’s something the League will always need.

7) Aquaman

To most people nowadays, Aquaman is a joke character. He’s the guy who talks to fish and is practically useless outside of the water, except none of that is true. Not only is Aquaman a founding member of the original Justice League, but he has more than proven himself as a leader and a badass. When the Earth was threatened by a Martian invasion while the main Leaguers were busy handling a crisis on Earth-2 it was Aquaman who assembled the Justice League Detroit to save the world. Aquaman is a lot stronger than anyone gives him credit for too, considering he’s even been able to stagger Superman with a well placed smack. He is a king who always looks out for his people, and that includes everyone when he’s in the League. Besides, I think we’ve reached a point as a society where we can move past the Aquaman is useless jokes. And besides, psychically commanding any sealife is an awesome power! I said it and I believe it.

6) The Flash

This spot can go interchangeably between both Barry Allen and Wally West, whose tenures on the League are about equally important in my eyes. No matter who the Fastest Man Alive is, you know for sure that he’ll be running alongside his other Leaguers towards any and all danger. Flash is here because he has shown time and again that he is willing to give up anything and everything in order to save the day. Nobody can ever forget Barry Allen’s sacrifice in Crisis on Infinite Earths, which saved the entire multiverse, or Wally West’s more recent solo battle against Eclipso and the sacrifice of his new duplicates. Flash has broken through the barriers of time and dimensions for the sake of helping people, and shows no sign of slowing down now. The Flash is a bastion of hope that always keeps marching forward, and that is exactly what makes a Justice Leaguer a Justice Leaguer.

[RELATED: 10 Greatest Justice League Villains]

5) Green Lantern

Every incarnation of the Justice League needs a Lantern of some kind, and more often than not that void is filled by a will-powered space cop from the Green Lantern Corps. While any Flash could fill the previous slot, I’m going to have to say that our number five spot goes specifically to Hal Jordan. When the team first formed and Superman was more of an ancillary member, Green Lantern was their heavy hitter. Beyond being a longtime and founding member, Hal has been through his own fall from grace. He once became the monstrous villain Parallax, and although that was later retconned away, Hal put everything he had into redeeming himself for his actions. Ever since, he’s pushed himself to be a better hero than ever. Nowadays, Hal represents a true bastion of will that always stands up for justice. No matter the impossible odds or guaranteed failures, Hal flies up with the determination to make something good out of terrible circumstances. Sometimes he needs a little direction, but one thing is certain; Hal Jordan never quits, and neither does the Justice League.

4) Martian Manhunter

For many, it’s impossible to imagine a Justice League without J’onn J’onzz. While Martian Manhunter isn’t a founding member in some incarnations, he is a core and important member. Following his introduction to the team, the only times that Martian Manhunter has not served on the Justice League have been his satellite years where he was pushed to edges of relevance in DC (between 1970 and 1984) and the New 52 reboot. Beyond those times, Martian Manhunter has been a staunch member of the team. Throughout his many years of service, Martian Manhunter has developed from an ordinary hero into the heart and soul of the team, especially in recent years. He is the ultimate representation of one of the League’s core aspects; that anyone can be a hero. Martian Manhunter is a stranger from a much different land than Earth, and unlike Superman, he has always been an outsider in his second world. Still, despite never fitting in or looking anything like earthlings, Martian Manhunter gives his all to save everyone. He helps people because they need it, and he wants to make other people feel a peace he probably never will. That is true, selfless heroism.

3) Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is the archetypal superheroine. Although she wasn’t quite the first, she defined what it meant to be a superheroine, and set a standard that I would argue no other character has ever lived up to as of yet. She has been a member of the Justice League since its inception and has always been one of its powerhouses, but beyond that she is the embodiment of the Justice League’s compassion. Wonder Woman wants nothing more than to bring an end to conflict everywhere, she is an emissary of peace. And yet Diana does not turn away from the evils of the world, but neither does she allow that evil to dissuade her. She sees the universe as it is, all the ugly and beautiful bits that mix together, and chooses to continue fighting for every piece of it. Wonder Woman is amazing, and the shining example of a champion for truth.

2) Batman

The importance of Batman’s place on the Justice League has nothing to do with his longstanding membership, that he is one of the greatest heroes in history, or even that he’s usually the one bankrolling the entire operation. No, Batman is one of the most important members of the Justice League because he is a dark, brooding, vengeful hero who everyone thinks should be a massive loner, except he isn’t. Batman built his legend on fear and operating in the shadows, but he chose to throw that all away to join the Justice League. He stopped focusing on terrifying criminals and thought about how he could inspire everyone to be better, and that’s what the League is. It is a group of people who stand up against injustice no matter what, and inspire others to do the same. Batman is just a man, a man who wanted to bring dark justice to his home, but he became a hero who will fight the incarnation of evil itself to save everyone, and that is the beautiful tale that earned Batman this second place spot. He shows not just that everyone can be a hero, but that everyone can be an inspiration.

1) Superman

There could never be anyone else who stands as the shining example of a Justice League member. Superman is the first superhero, and he is still far and away the best one there is. He is endless kindness, bottomless strength for the weak, a living and breathing better tomorrow. What can be said about Superman’s dedication to helping others that you can’t already quote yourself? He’s more than a hero, more than an inspiration. Superman makes us better people. He is the pinnacle of what a superhero should be, so it’s no surprise that he is the one to stand as the greatest member of the Justice League. Of course, I’m sure he’d argue against that, but that just proves my point even more. 

So there we have the ten greatest members of the Justice League, each who embodies the League’s mission of saving everyone in their own special way. Still, this list is far from able to contain every incredible hero that has made up its ranks. Let us know down below who you think should have made the list!

The post 10 Best Justice League Members appeared first on ComicBook.com.

DC Comics created the modern concept of superheroes, taking the pulp heroes of the early 20th century, mixing them with the two-fisted detectives of noir, and creating something entirely new. Since then, DC has constantly redefined what a superhero comic can be. They created the superteam, made teen heroes important, created the sidekick, had the first mainstream mature readers comics, and many, many other firsts. DC has employed some of the greatest creators of all time, and they’ve given readers stories unlike anything they’ve experienced before, introducing them to characters and situations that stayed with them for years. These stories have often included plot twists that made them even more memorable, changing the game on readers.

Plot twists are something that is very misunderstood in modern critical discourse. A lot of the times, people think of plot twists as just “anything I don’t like”. However, plot twists used correctly can stay with readers forever, and those are the ones we’re discussing today. These seven DC plot twists are the best of all time, taking stories in directions no one would have guessed, making these some of the greatest superhero stories of all time.

7) The Reverse Flash Reveal in “The Return of Barry Allen”

Wally West is the most popular Flash, but that wasn’t always the case. Wally inherited the Flash mantle after years of no one liking the Flash very much. DC had an uphill battle to get fans to like the Flash again, and Wally-mania wouldn’t truly take until the classic story “The Return of Barry Allen”, by writer Mark Waid and artist Greg LaRocque. Fans were shocked by the return of Barry, and Wally had to deal with the return of his mentor just as he was finding his way as the Flash. However, Barry suddenly decided that he didn’t want to be a hero anymore, and became a criminal, beating Wally down. Wally had to train with Jay Garrick, Johnny Quick, and Max Mercury to find the power to defeat Barry, but he soon realized this wasn’t actually Barry. And then came the plot twist — this was actually Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash, come back in time to replace Barry Allen after his death. This was a mindblowing plot twist: fans were already dealing with the idea of evil Barry, but then this reveal changed the story all over again. Wally’s defeat of Barry’s greatest enemy cemented his spot as the greatest Flash, and this plot twist is one that will never get old.

6) Terra Working with Deathstroke in “The Judas Contract”

“The Judas Contract”, by writer Marv Wolfman and artist/co-writer George Perez, is one of the greatest DC stories of all time and for very good reason. Deathstroke’s attack on the New Teen Titans, using new member Terra as his scalpel, is amazing, the Terra plot twist taking a story that would have just been a standard good Teen Titans story and making it a tale that no DC fan will ever forget. Terra was a fan-favorite character who could be mouthy and a bit of a problem, but it seemed like she was lightening up, gelling with the team more; she even kissed Beast Boy. Readers were ready for her to finally become a true Teen Titan… and then it was revealed that she had been working with Deathstroke the whole time. This is one of those plot twists that retains its impact even when you know it’s coming. It’s an amazing moment not just in DC Comics, but superhero comics in general.

5) The True Enemy in “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?”

“Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?”, by Alan Moore, Curt Swan, and George Perez, is the last story of pre-Crisis Superman. Superman’s enemies start to make some very violent attacks against Metropolis, which is completely unlike them, with even Bizarro killing. Superman’s secret identity is revealed in an attack by Toyman and the Prankster, while Brainiac takes control of Lex Luthor’s body, all of this leading Superman to take his friends and allies to the Fortress of Solitude. This leads to a showdown at the Fortress, one which costs Krypto, Jimmy Olsen, and Lana Lang their lives. Superman is triumphant over the Legion of Supervillains, Kryptonite Man, and the Lex/Brainiac team, and the true enemy shows up — Mr. Mxyzptlk, the Fifth Dimensional imp that had long entertained himself by messing with Superman. Mr. Mxyzptlk then reveals that he changes things up every hundred thousand years to keep himself from getting bored; he’s going from playful to brutal, and he’s been responsible for everything that’s happened to Superman so far. It’s an excellent plot twist, one that no one saw coming when they picked up the book. It’s the most Alan Moore plot twist ever, taking a character that no one thought twice about and adding complexity to him in the most brutal fashion possible.

RELATED: Absolute Superman Tease Brutally Rewrites The Origin Of An Iconic DC Villain

4) The Batman Mindwipe in Identity Crisis

Identity Crisis is one of the most maligned DC events of the 21st century. Written by Brad Meltzer with art by Rags Morales, the book gets a bad reputation because of its fridging and sexual assault of beloved DC character Sue Dibny. The book used the latter development to introduce a major DC plot twist — the Justice League mindwipes. It was revealed that the League had wiped the minds of multiple villains who had learned their secret identities, including Dr. Light, Dibny’s attacker. This was already a massive plot twist, but the book would go further when Wally West realized there was something that Green Arrow wasn’t telling him about the night Light was mindwiped. It was revealed that Batman showed back up to check on Sue while the League was mindwiping Dr. Light. Batman took this very badly, and Zatanna froze him, forcing the League to vote to mindwipe Batman. This took an already pretty big plot twist and took it to another level. Identity Crisis gets a lot of deserved flack for its treatment of Sue Dibny, but the Justice League mindwipes, intensified by the situation with Batman, is a cool DC idea.

3) The Return of Darkseid in “The Great Darkness Saga”

“The Great Darkness Saga”, by Paul Levitz, Keith Giffen, and Larry Mahlstedt, is widely considered the greatest Legion of Superheroes story. “The Great Darkness Saga” sees a group of strange beings with amazing powers attack the Legion and the worlds of the United Planets. The team is constantly trounced by this new threat, before they realize that these beings are based on powerful alien races like Kryptonians, Oans, and the New Gods themselves. The planet Daxam is transformed into an army for these forces, and this billions strong army uses their heat vision to carve their planet into the likeness of their new master — the returned God of Evil Darkseid. This plot twist took an already epic story and brought it to the next level, as the Legion has to team up with the gods of the past to defeat the greatest threat they’ve ever faced. There’s a reason this story has such an amazing reputation, and this plot twist is a huge reason for that. While the Legion isn’t nearly as beloved as it once was, this plot twist is one of the most remembered in Legion history, and gave them a story that is easily among the best DC stories of all time.

2) Alexander Luthor and Superboy-Prime’s True Purpose in Infinite Crisis

Infinite Crisis, by Geoff Johns, Phil Jimenez, George Perez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, is one of the most important DC events of the ’00s. It planted the seeds for the return of the DC Multiverse, as well as more Silver/Bronze Age ideas to the publisher’s characters. It did this by heavily homaging Crisis on Infinite Earths, even bringing back the four heroes of Crisis — Earth-Two Superman and Lois Lane, Earth-Three’s Alexander Luthor, and Superboy-Prime. At first, the quartet seemed like they were still the heroes of old, with Earth-Two Superman recruiting Power Girl to help them save the world from the forces arrayed against it. However, there’s something rotten in Denmark, and soon fans learn who has been behind all of the problems that had been rocking the DC Universe in the days leading up to Infinite Crisis — Alexander Luthor and Superboy-Prime. They had decided that only they could save existence by creating the perfect universe, and the only way to do that was to harness of the energies of the old multiverse through the heroes that had come from those Earths. Infinite Crisis kicked off with the reveal of the heroes of the Crisis, and its reveal of Luthor and Prime’s true actions and motivations change the course of the story completely.

1) The Dark Future of “Rock of Ages”

“Rock of Ages”, by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter, is one of the greatest Justice League stories of all time. The story kicks off with the Justice League battling the Injustice Gang — Lex Luthor, Joker, Mirror Master, Circe, Dr. Light, and Ocean Master — in a winner takes all battle, one instigated by Lex after he found an object of great power. However, partway through this, Kyle Rayner, Wally West, and Aquaman are pulled away from the fight by the New God Metron, who takes them to WonderWorld, and tells them that the Justice League are going to destroy something called the Philosopher’s Stone and it’s going to lead to the most terrible future imaginable. They’re sent home to warn their teammates, but instead of going to Earth in the present, they go to the ruined Earth of the future. Suddenly, the entire tenor of the story changes as Wally, Kyle, and Aquaman have to figure out not only how to get home, but also how to stop the Justice League from making this future happen. It takes an already brilliant story and makes into something even better, which is quite a feat.

What DC plot twists stand out in your mind? Sound off in the comments below.

The post 7 DC Plot Twists That Still Have Us Shook appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Arrowverse gets a bad rap for “ruining” characters. The franchise throws important figures from DC Comics into shows that feature their fair share of melodrama, cringeworthy moments, and wild storylines, and it’s hard to look past it all. However, the Arrowverse has some genuinely great characters, such as Oliver Queen, who goes from small-time vigilante with a hankering for killing to a god-like figure that saves the multiverse from annihilation. Part of what makes the Arrowverse’s Oliver so easy to like is that he doesn’t have a movie counterpart, but plenty of characters that appear on The CW also show up on the big screen.

Batman has a small role in Batwoman and even shows up during the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover. Unfortunately, he never gets enough screentime to give him a fair shot to outdo the likes of Michael Keaton’s Dark Knight. These Arrowverse characters, however, leave their movie versions in the dust.

1) Superman

Christopher Reeve’s Superman is the gold standard of big-screen superheroes; there’s no doubt about that. However, his movies don’t explore a major aspect of the character: his family. Superman & Lois, while only loosely connected to the Arrowverse, shows what life is like when Clark Kent has to navigate being a father and hero. His character grows so much during the show’s run, proving there’s more to the Man of Steel than his strength, like the DC Extended Universe would have you believe.

2) The Flash

Despite having plenty of potential, the DCEU’s Flash is an uneven character who never finds his footing in Zack Snyder’s franchise. The CW’s Barry Allen, on the other hand, is one of the few positives on a show that struggles for most of its run. His character grows into a leader ready to sacrifice everything for the people he loves, and there’s nothing more heroic than that.

3) Deathstroke

While the heroes get all the love, the Arrowverse is also home to some great villains. Slade Wilson is one of the franchise’s best, tormenting Oliver Queen before turning over a new leaf and helping his old friend take down Prometheus. The DCEU doesn’t have as much luck with Deathstroke, shoehorning him into a few scenes to tease stories that never come to pass.

4) Iris West

In The Flash, Barry needs all the help he can get to protect Central City, and his best ally is his wife, Iris West. She’s always by her husband’s side, and despite some weird choices in the later seasons, there really isn’t much to complain about when it comes to her character. The big screen The Flash tries to piggyback off that momentum by having its own version of Iris, but it sidelines her for most of the story, and she never gets another chance to show what she’s got.

[RELATED – 10 Best Episodes of Arrow According to IMDB (Half of Them Are From One Season)]

5) Katana

2016’s Suicide Squad brings together a group of bad people when the world needs them most. Despite not being a villain, Katana comes along for the ride and helps Task Force X defeat Enchantress. However, the character has little depth, unlike the Arrowverse version, who helps Green Arrow numerous times, including after losing the fight with Ra’s al Ghul, despite holding a grudge against the hero.

6) Deadshot

Another character that plays a major role in Suicide Squad is Deadshot, played by Will Smith. He’s a mercenary who wants to get home to his daughter and will cross anyone he has to in order for that to happen. Despite being one of the better parts of a bad movie, the DCEU’s Deadshot can’t hold a candle to the Arrowverse version, who has a fantastic arc that sees him sacrifice himself to save the rest of his team.

7) Martian Manhunter

Martian Manhunter’s claim to fame in the movies is that he’s present in all of Snyder’s DC films but waits until the last moment to reveal himself. Things are very different in the Arrowverse, with J’onn J’onzz being one of Supergirl’s best allies and going on various adventures that help him come to terms with being one of the last Martians.

Do you think the Arrowverse did these characters better than the movies? Who else do you think belongs on this list? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 7 DC Characters the Arrowverse Did Better Than the Movies appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The decision by DC Comics to bring the Elseworlds imprint out of retirement is proving to be a choice that was long overdue. Much like its earlier iteration, the return of Elseworlds has produced more than a few compelling storylines that are sure to eventually become DC classics. One standout new title generating no small amount of positive attention is Matthew Rosenberg and Otto Schmidt’s DC vs. Vampires. Embracing Elseworlds’ core principle of “out-of-continuity” exploration to the fullest, DC vs. Vampires is loaded with fascinating twists and interesting examples of beloved heroes being transformed into monstrous versions of themselves. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than with Wonder Woman.

In the story, Wonder Woman is turned into a vampire by an already transformed Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern. Once turned, she ascends the ranks of the vampire hierarchy in a way that is both captivating and controversial. While some fans appreciate the fresh take on exploring Wonder Woman’s darker side, others argue that her transformation feels awkward and inconsistent with her original character. This raises the question: Was turning Wonder Woman into a vampire a stroke of creative brilliance or a major misstep?

As a Vampire, Wonder Woman Embodies her Most Formidable Version

One of the more intriguing elements of the DC vs. Vampires series is the creative ways the story integrates a hero’s original powers with their new vampiric abilities. In the case of Wonder Woman as a vampire, the story is spot on. Rather than focus on the powers Wonder Woman already shares with vampires, such as superhuman strength and speed, immortality, and enhanced healing, the story instead emphasizes the mental changes that turning incurred on Wonder Woman. Indeed, as an Amazonian, Wonder Woman already has the bloodlust of a warrior, but when combined with a vampire’s voracious thirst for blood, she exhibited an overwhelming compulsion that helped morph her into a truly terrifying killer.

[ RELATED: DC vs Vampires Has Introduced a Radical Version of the New Gods ]

There was also her warrior’s code, which honored loyalty to one’s leader and teammates, a principle she demonstrated with brutal effectiveness throughout the series. Moreover, her position of power in the vampire leadership also rings true of her character. To be sure, vampire or not, Wonder Woman was always going to be at or close to the center of power. Ultimately, the series has effectively demonstrated how turning Diana into a vampire made her an even more formidable force.

It’s Unlikely That Wonder Woman Could be Turned Quickly

Conversely, where the story fell flat was its depiction of how easily a centuries-old, battle-hardened demigod could be duped by a classic vampire mind trick and succumb to vampirism with almost no resistance. According to the series, after an already-turned Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern kills the Flash, Diana begins to suspect his involvement when he tries to “rizz” her near the site where the Flash’s body was discovered.

Wanting to uncover the truth, Diana uses her magic lasso to bind Jordan. This, however, proves to be a mistake. While the lasso compels Jordan to tell the truth, it also appears to make Diana more susceptible to believing his version of the truth. Jordan then uses his vampire hypnosis to deepen that susceptibility, ultimately convincing Diana to submit to his bite without a punch thrown.

Given her demonstrated mental toughness, discipline, and resistance to psychological manipulation, her rapid submission feels highly implausible. Furthermore, even after being bitten, Diana’s inability to resist her bloodlust or the commands of her vampire queen feels deeply out of character for Wonder Woman, a hero who is widely regarded as one of the foundational pillars of the DC Universe.

Amazons and Vampires may be the Perfect Combination

Elseworlds titles aim to provide fans with more creative options by granting authors and artists the license to reimagine characters and themes unlikely to be explored within the mainstream DC timelines. DC vs. Vampires, for instance, delves into the question of what would happen if heroes were transformed into vampires. Within this series, Wonder Woman offers a compelling example of both the advantages and disadvantages of alternate reality storylines.

On one hand, her transformation amplifies her power and presence, establishing her as an undeniable force in DC vs. Vampires, much like her original incarnation. This creative stroke of genius deepens her character’s portrayal across both realities. On the other hand, the circumstances of her turning and the ease with which she embraced her new vampiric state present a puzzling inconsistency. This could be seen as a form of character assassination, potentially dimming the luster of the Wonder Woman legend.

Naturally, reactions to such bold deviations can be divided, particularly as the story unfolds. However, at the very least, it casts the Princess of Themyscira in an entirely new light – and that perspective can’t be all that bad – from a fan’s perspective.

The post Is DC vs. Vampires’ Vampire Wonder Woman a Stroke of Genius or a Character Assassination? appeared first on ComicBook.com.