TheDCU’s “Gods and Monsters” chapter may not limit itself to introducing godlike heroes and monstrous creatures, but also vintage characters from the olden days.All the projects in the DCU’s “Gods and Monsters” chapterseem to fit its main theme one way or another. For instance, the DCU’s first chapter will introduce a kindhearted, larger-than-life version of Superman and, as well as cosmic heroes like Supergirl, the Green Lanterns, and the futuristic time traveler Booster Gold, plus the morally gray heroes ofThe AuthorityandParadise Lost’s mythical Amazons.
At the same time, “Gods and Monsters” will introduce darker characters likeSwamp Thing’s titular scientist-turned-monster, all the inhuman anti-heroes fromCreature Commandos, and whichever inhuman entities will appear inPeacemakerseason 2,Waller, andLanterns.Teen Titanscould also introduce Trigon through his daughter Raven, andThe Brave and the Boldcould feature a villain like Man-Bat, Clayface, or Solomon Grundy in order to provide a breath of fresh air to Batman’s live-action antagonists on the big screen.
Gods And Monsters Seems To Be Launching The DCU With DC Comics’ Old-School Characters
The DCU Is Introducing Several Characters From DC Comics' Period Pieces
A more subtle theme in the DCU’s “Gods and Monsters” chapter seems to be the DC Universe’s “old days” brought to modern times.Creature Commandoswill introduce Rick Flag Sr., who’s originally a WWII-era hero who leads the Suicide Squad’s predecessor, the Suicide Squadron, after the war. In the comics, the Creature Commandos are also assembled in WWII in the comics, and they’re contemporaries withDaniel Craig’s new DC hero Sgt. Rock. Doc Magnus, who’s set to appear inCreature Commandos, also has ties to old-school DC superhero teams like the Justice Society.
In the comics, Rick Flag Sr. dies while destroying a powerful superweapon called “War Wheel”, which the WWII-era team Blackhawks faced multiple times.
All the old-school characters debuting in the DCU’s “Gods and Monsters” chapter are modernized. The Creature Commandos are active in the present day by order of Amanda Waller, and Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr., while experienced, seems to be in his 50s. If Sgt. Rock is going to interact with other DCU characters in the future, his origin may be changed from WWII to a more recent war. The enchantress Circe is alive and well inCreature Commandos, suggesting that other mythical gods are still around in the present day as well.
The DCU Already Set The Stage For More Modernized Old-School Characters
More Characters From DC’s Early Eras Are Likely To Appear In Gods And Monsters
If future DCU projects continue the trend of Gods and Monsters' first wave of movies and shows, the DCU might introduce more old-school heroes, villains, and teams. Rick Flag Sr. is already set to appear inSupermanandWallerafter his debut inCreature Commandos. Afterward, the DCU could reveal Rick Flag Sr.’s own team, the Suicide Squadron. Likewise,Creature Commandos' Doc Magnus could create his famous Metal Men and cross over with the DCU’s Doom Patrol, possibly with the help of Robotman, who gets rebuilt from scratch by Doc Magnus at one point in the comics.
The DCU could introduce the Justice Society of America, laying the foundations for the present-day Justice League
The DCU could also reviveStephen Spielberg’s scrappedBlackhawkproject. Spielberg’sBlackhawkwould have followed WWII pilot Janos Prohaska and his military unit, the Blackhawk Squadron, either as a standalone movie or a DCEU installment before the creation of the DCU. On a less grounded note, the DCU could introduce the Justice Society of America, laying the foundations for the present-day Justice League. The DCEU’s Justice Society was a highlight ofBlack Adam, but popular castings like Pierce Brosnan’s Doctor Fate and Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman had little chance of returning.
Gods And Monsters’ Old-School Characters Fit The DCU Perfectly
The Justice League Likely Won’t Be The First Instance Of A Metahuman Team
Characters like the Creature Commandos, Sgt. Rock, and the Justice Society suit a universe filled with all kinds of metahumans, supervillains, and vigilanteswith a wide variety of magical, supernatural, and sci-fi origins — all introduced before icons like Superman, Batman, and the Justice League begin to make themselves known. The Justice League signaling a new era of superheroes is an original take on DC lore, as previous DC franchises usually kick off with heroes like Batman, Superman, and Green Arrow pioneering the idea of a superhero in their respective timelines.
You Can’t Ignore The First DCU Release, Thanks To A New Superman Tease
One of the most surprising Superman teases has put a lot more importance on the first DC Universe release, now making it a must-watch.
Introducing characters like the Creature Commandos and the Justice Societyafterthe Justice League is a tricky challenge, as it raises several questions about their existence years or decades before, which is why the Justice Society usually has to be placed in an alternate universe parallel to the Justice League’s. Instead, theDCUcould present a franchise with an expansive history and countless DC heroes and villains scattered across different eras and different parts of the universe.
