DC's Bat Problem (And How One Woman Can Fix It)

 

  By now we've all seen Wonder Woman at the box office and our eyes have adjusted to the brightness on display instead of the usual DC 'your grandma just died' color palette'. The movie was exciting, bright, hopeful and everything the Superman movie should of been. Man Of Steel was supposed to kick off DC's universe with a bang. One studio exec said it might be the "biggest movie ever". But then it came and critics panned it and a lot of people hated it. It was dark and colorless and moody. That sounds like another DC character I know.

Look I get it. Zack Snyder and co. were telling a different story with this Superman. One commenter online said it best when he said this is "a Superman post 9/11".  I am aware of the comics Injustice and the dark side of Superman and him becoming this evil God figure which was mirrored in Batman v. Superman. There's nothing wrong with telling that story. But when you're starting a brand new universe for the first time do you really think it's a good idea to use the most popular superhero on Earth and display him as a raging lunatic? Right out the gate Superman blows up a city, is prophesied as a evil alien God and is now dead. Why would WB even think the dark and moody route was the way to go? Because it's Batman's universe and we're all living in it.

Batman for decades has been Hollywood's cash cow. It's basically the only hero they know will guarantee bring in the big bucks at the box office.  They are comfortable with this character because he's been around since Adam West was in tights. So when WB is looking at what Marvel's doing with an interconnected universe and wants to do exactly that, who do they use as the foundation for their universe? Batman. Each movie in the DC universe doesn't have its own separate feel because it exists in Batman's world. Batman's tone, style is felt in every movie because it's what they are comfortable with. And since Nolan's DK trilogy was Bats last outing out, that is the style that defines their universe. That blueprint is still fresh in studio execs minds.  Moody, gritty, realistic, grey-like palette. It's Batman who is recruiting all the Justice League members one by one,. It's Batman who is on all the Justice League Poster front and center. It's Batman who got his debut in this new universe as soon as Superman was just done with his solo flick even though his last movie was only about 3-4 years ago.

Batman. Batman. Batman. They can't even get Superman to lead the Justice League let alone the whole universe.  He gets one film and a half and the motherfucker is already dead.  Poor Clark.

 I mean how can you make a Justice League movie and not show Superman in anything? I know. I know. "He's going to come back in the third act and save everyone!" That isn't the point. Superman should be leading the gang. Superman should be on every poster, Superman should be recruiting every member. Hell it's Batman who should be dead right now. That would of been a twist. Signing Ben Affleck for one movie and killing him off. But that isn't the case. Batman is king, this is his world and he's going to be leading everybody in every movie in every after credits sc-! Oh. Not so fast. Maybe not anymore. And it might be because of her.

Wonder Woman introduced new life into this universe.  It shows WB that Batman isn't the only person that can step up and lead. That Batman's tone isn't the only formula they can work with to be successful. The movie has no echoes of Gotham's grime and is able to flourish on its own, bringing its personal look to the table while other heroes watch from afar. It gave us heart, smiles and courage and that is the kind of leader the DCU needs. If WB wants to keep up with Marvel, it has to bring us new blood. And Wonder Woman is the perfect candidate. The big bucks it brought in showed execs that audiences are hungry for something fresh from them. Putting her front and center would show fans they are making changes from the BvS disaster and learning from mistakes. It gives them a new hero to lean on years from now giving the olds Bats a rest for a change. And lastly it lays down a new foundation to work on. That each movie can stand on its own without Bruce Wayne sticking his head in and darkening the mood.

People weren't expecting Wonder Woman to be this giant hit. They didn't even try to sign Patty Jenkins on for a sequel fearing it would fail. WB can use this little nice surprise to their advantage. Capitalize off it. Show her everywhere, fit her into every after credits scene, give her the best lines, throw her onto posters front and center. Show everyone else in Hollywood a woman can run it all. It sucks Superman isn't in the role he was born for but maybe it's for the better. Having a strong woman lead the charge is exactly what we need now. The DCU doesn't need to belong in Batman's world anymore. She has arrived. And hopefully she's here to slay.