The shifting tides of leadership at WB have been a constant factor over the past few years, with each regime having their own ideas on how to tell stories in the DC Universe (DCU) and all seem to conflict with each other, resulting in an overarching narrative that doesn’t seem confident in where it is going.
This is evident with Zack Snyder’s 5 part arc that began with Man of Steel and would have ended with Justice League part 3, and former President Walter Hamada’s focus on abandoning this arc halfway through in favor of focusing on lesser-known DC characters like Batgirl, Supergirl, the Birds of Prey, and Black Adam, with reports suggesting that some of these characters would have even replaced the main Justice League.
Fortunately, with the recent shake-up regarding Discovery's acquisition of Warner Bros, now known as Warner Bros. Discovery, fans can now expect a 10-year plan for the DCU with James Gunn at the helm. Even with inner turmoil regarding leadership and vision over the past year alone, and with 2022 being surprisingly sparse regarding theatrical releases of DCU films, seeing as how Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, and The Flash were delayed into 2023 with Batgirl being scrapped entirely in its post-production stages, there have still been some remarkable moments capturing what’s great about these beloved characters on screen. Although most of these films are currently available on HBO Max, there are some moments that may be considered spoilers for those trying to avoid them.
Krypto teases Anubis (DC League of Super-Pets)
The DC League of Super-Pets movie, directed by Jared Stern, was released on July 29 and hosted iconic voices like Dwayne Johnson as Krypto, Superman's dog, and Kevin Hart as Ace, Batman's dog. The story focuses on the pets of DC characters, some had originated in the comics, and revolves around these super-animals as members of the Justice League were kidnaped. The nature of its protagonist allowed for the writing to poke fun at its own characters in ways similar to what the Harley Quinn show does, aiding to its fresh take and success.
The after-credit scene revealed the DC anti-hero Black Adam and his dog, Anubis, as well as a comedic back and forth between Anubis and Krypto that makes light of the idea of an anti-hero. Iconically, Black Adam, his dog Anubis, and Krypto were all voiced by Dwayne Johnson, who made his debut as the anti-hero in Black Adam, which was released after this animated film came out. To further this, Dwayne Johnson was also instrumental in bringing back a well-known DC hero that has been on the sidelines for far too long.
Damian meets Jonathan Kent (Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons)
Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons, directed by Matt Peters, released on October 7. The movie, like Super Pets, is about inexperienced sidekicks teaming up to face a threat that attacks DC heroes and the world. Damian Wayne, Batman's son, partnered with Jonathan Kent, Superman's son, must save countless people, including their fathers, from Starro's control, a super villain mind-controlling starfish from another world called Star Planet.
This iteration of Robin was born and raised in The League of Assassins to become the ultimate weapon by his mother Talia al Ghul, daughter of the demons head, Ras al Ghul. Batman takes Damian in, as per Talia's wishes in his debut of Grant Morrison's iconic Batman run in the comics, which acts as the premise for this movie, as Damian Wayne becomes the new Robin. Damian Wayne stays true to his character by terrorizing everybody and anybody he comes into contact with, especially when meeting his peers for the first time, as in Batman and Son by Grant Morrison, Damian beats Tim Drake to the brink of death.
A scene from the film shows Damian throwing a batarang at Jonathan immediately after being introduced, in order to test his superpower abilities, and later shows him pushing Jonathan off the edge of a batcave platform. However, the arc of Damian is in the inner turmoil of his own upbringing that must be conquered so that he can work together with others, which ultimately leads to Damian becoming a better hero. Even so, Damian's superiority complex over other people allows for fun interactions, often resulting in him poking fun at them.
Batwoman and Catwoman team up (Catwoman: Hunted)
Batwoman is finally done justice in Catwoman: Hunted, directed by Shinsuke Terasawa, which was released on February 8. In the film, Selina Kyle, known as Catwoman, is voiced by Elizabeth Gillies and Katherine Kane, Batwoman, is voiced by Stephanie Beatriz, adding a level of confidence and light-heartedness to these complex and interesting characters. The film revolves around a series of events that begins with Selina stealing the Cat's Eye Emerald, which lands her in-between multiple villains, Interpol, and most notably Batwoman. The animation and writing fires on all cylinders, which builds on some much-needed respect towards Batwoman's character, after the critically panned Batwoman series on the CW and the mixed reception of Batman: Bad Blood.
Selina Kyle was also a stand-out in The Batman, released shortly after Catwoman: Hunted, which brought the character closer to her origins in Frank Miller's Batman Year One, but the character of Batwoman doesn't have as much in terms of content that accurately represents her outside the comics. Finally, Catwoman: Hunted reflects a Batwoman that fans can love, as the writing nails the stoic and comedic aspects of her personality shown through her fighting style and interaction with Selina Kyle, as they keep score while fighting ninjas.
Superman Returns (Black Adam)
Dwayne Johnson debuts as the anti-hero in Black Adam, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, and released on October 21. The film acts as an origin story for Black Adam while also introducing the Justice Society, a team of heroes who are brought in by Amanda Waller, Director of Government agency A.R.G.U.S, to capture Black Adam. The film received mixed reception from critics and audiences, but nonetheless, was still seen as a fun and action-packed addition to the DCU. Despite this, the after-credit scene is what has everyone talking, bringing excitement to the future of the DCU.
The after-credit scene saw the return of Henry Cavill's Superman, as he comes face to face with Black Adam, thanks to Dwayne Johnson and his negotiations with WB. Up until this point, former President Walter Hamada was reported to have been keeping Superman on the sidelines, leaving the character's future unclear. The 2017 theatrical release of Justice League was a betrayal to not only Superman, but all the DC characters showcased in that film, which was what ultimately led to their epic redemption in the 2021 release of Zack Snyder's Justice League. However, according to the prior regime at Warner Bros, Zack Snyder's Justice League was never supposed to release, even going as far as to call it a mistake despite the film's success.
Although the scene itself is epic, the writing does represent certain issues with the overarching world of the DCU. Such as, Superman presumably working with Amanda Waller, which has had no setup, and Superman's one line of dialogue being oblivious to the events of the prior films by characterizing Black Adam as a threat that makes the world nervous like never before. Despite these nitpicks, the after-credit scene of Black Adam is more than the sum of its parts, as it represents the return of Superman from the character's shaky purgatory state. However, it may not have been in the way that fans hoped, as James Gunn announced a new direction for the franchise with a Superman reboot.
Batman at the crime scene (The Batman)
The Batman was directed by Matt Reeves and released on March 4. The film takes place in year two of Batman's mythology, and marks the first time that the character's intellect has truly been put to the test in this noir-driven detective story that showcases a psychologically damaged Bruce Wayne that uses Batman as a tool towards vengeance on the criminal underworld that took his parents from him. However, it is in Robert Pattinson's performance and Matt Reeves's attention to detail that this interpretation of the character truly shines through, as the story challenges his perception on what being a hero is, and what must be realized in himself for Batman to truly represent a force of good in Gotham.
The moment in question takes place in the first act of the movie, and what's so great about it is in how Batman's mannerisms, relationship to the GCPD, intellect, and trauma are all put on display in this one scene that takes its time. The pacing is slow and methodical, the score is subtle with the constant sound of pattering rain from the sky above, the lamps in the background are dimly lit, and the horror of the crime scene is what is expected from an unforgiving city like Gotham.
The camera steadily tracks Batman as he works his way through the crime scene, and the audience is put into the character's head-space while Batman picks up on clues that even the trained experts weren't able to uncover. Towards the end of the scene, the camera stays focused on Batman as he stares into the eyes of a grieving child while reflecting on the loss that gave his life purpose. The scene is a masterclass of filmmaking that represents The Dark Knight in the best light.
Robert Pattinson and Matt Reeves ground the character in a point of view that emphasizes the character's psyche, which aids itself to the world of The Batman existing exclusively in Gotham, outside the broader context of the DCU. The sequel for The Batman has been confirmed, as well as The Penguin series on HBO Max, which has been reported to act as a bridge between the first movie and the eventual sequel.