#my dccu

[lonelywretchjervistetch]

My DC Cinematic Universe: Superman (Epilogue)

Epilogue: My Adventures with Superman

...Well, holy shit. Just when I was getting worried that nobody would get Superman, along comes one of the best comic-book related products we've seen in years, which delivers me so much of the stuff I wanted in a cinematic version of Superman...and is almost perfect. Yeah, it's definitely not perfect, but goddamn if this isn't one of my ideal versions of Superman.

Y'know, I've considered doing sort of a sum-up of the different major adaptations of the Superman mythos by bringing together all the points made in my essays, but I felt it was too much. For this, however, I think that makes sense. And yes, I'm doing this after only 4 episodes have aired, and yes, I realize that what just happened in the most recent episode is fucking insane and something I desperately want in a Superman story...but I'll at least cover my personal approach, since this show's kinda hot right now. And rarely do I have the chance to jump on a burgeoning fandom, so FUCK IT!

If you'd like to see my previous and insane essays on my preferred version of the Man of Steel, here's the link! Always. Be. Plugging. But if you'd rather hear my opinion of My Adventures with Superman, then check out the section after the jump. But just know that I like it, with a couple of caveats that you've probably already heard about this show.

Clark Kent: Abnormal Superman

Um...did somebody read my essays before I even thought about them, because this is pretty goddamn close to my ideal Clark Kent. He's a big ol' dork with a heart of god who wants to do the right thing, but is also nowhere near perfect in his everyday life and methods. He's a teensy bit clumsy, but still very well-put together. He wants to help when and how he can, and is willing to go along with shenanigans to do so. He has an actual personality, and most importantly, he feels human.

Yeah, this is a dude from Kansas who also happens to be an alien. And good goddamn, is scaling down his powers and knowledge of his past a great idea. Smallville, of course, did this, but that version of Clark was often too serious and rough around the edges. And maybe most importantly, Tom Welling's Clark never seemed like an outcast. I mean, the dude was handsome as all fuck, and built like a linebacker. And yet, I'm supposed to buy that the guy is a loser and outcast? Yeah, no, not buying it. But this Clark? Yeah, the guy's a massive dork. Handsome and built like a fucking freight train, yeah, but still a dork. And maybe most importantly...I don't buy this dude as Superman.

Yeah. Really. I mean, dude is OBVIOUSLY Superman, because he's built like a tank and super nice, but I get not fully seeing this guy as Superman. Somehow, FUCKING SOMEHOW, they pull this off better than literally any other version I've seen since the Christopher Reeves version. And yeah, that's insanely high praise, because Reeves has some of the best dichotomous acting I've ever seen. But this Superman and this Clark both seem like the same person and separate people at the same time somehow. It's an impressive feat that I can barely explain.

And yet...they're still definitely the same person. Any sane person would be able to figure it out eventually, with enough personal interaction. It's one of the reasons why the glasses joke exists, because it really shouldn't make much sense. But in this series, the glasses actually change the shape of his pace, and slight changes in his posture and voice (by the pretty great Jack Quaid) actually do work as a subtle mask for the character. But will that last forever? Well...more on that later.

I also said this before, but I love the fact that we're learning about Clark and his powers as he's learning about himself. This series is obviously anime-inspired, and it really leans into the shonen angle thematically and visually. When the first art for this show came out, I was intrigued but cautious. Now, though, I'm into it. We'll see how the more anime-esque electrical powers work out, but it actually seems like a reference to the sporadically used bioelectric field manipulation ability that Superman has in the comics. Yeah, he has a field of bioelectricity around his body that provides him (and his costume) with invulnerability, and also occasionally gives him plot-convenience powers. Don't ask questions, OK? It's a comic book thing.

Speaking of that, though, the creators are definitely playing fast and loose with the Superman mythos, and I'm interested to see exactly how that plays out as the series continues. I'm a little cautious for reasons to be addressed later, but I'm still quite interested. So, now that we've covered Superman, whom I think is fantastic in his characterization...let's get to the character who I think is excellently represented in this series.

Lois Lane: Intrepid (Intern) Reporter

Jesus Christ, this is a great Lois. There are a lot of ways you can do a good Lois, and there are a number of great Loises, but MAWS' Lois ranks extremely high on that list. Dogged to the point of recklessness, determined to get the truth at all costs, and desperate to be a great reporter, she has the stuff that makes any great Lois. But what really puts her over the edge for me is her characterization. Alice Lee does a fantastic job as Lois' voice, and gives her a mix of naivete, determination, and...oddly, hope. I dunno, there's something about Lee's portrayal that really works for me.

And a lot of people have pointed out two things. One, she's basically Lux from The Owl House. Yeah. And? Fucking and? Luz is a fantastic character in her own right, and very Lois Lane-esque. Personally, I think that's a great and worthy comparison for any version of Luz. Secondly, she's a tomboy. And I think most people on Tumblr are fine with that, but I also see some criticism for that choice. And for those who don't like that...fuck off a little bit. Not a lot, but a little bit. There's nothing wrong with a slightly more tomboyish Lois, and I actually adore a Lois who isn't a damsel in distress all the time. She literally fights some of the bad guys in this series, and we're only four episodes in! Seriously, I love that. And she is occasionally in distress, but she gets into that shit herself, which is exactly what Lois Lane is supposed to do. Look, I love this Lois. Oh, and another thing!

Is Lois Korean? Holy shit, that's fantastic! I said in my second essay that Lois is one of those characters who isn't racially bound in any way. There, I suggested that she could be played by a Latina, which has been hinted at before in some comics. But honestly, this is a great choice! And I only say Korean because, in the most recent episode, she appears to be wearing the top half of a hanbok, which is a traditionally Korean dress. And yeah, I'm fully here for it. Don't know if she's mixed or not (we'll probably see Sam Lane at a later date), but this is great all on its own.

And then, there's the other thing: Lois' position as Superman's Inevitable Love Interest. The ILE is, of course, a tradition in all things superhero comic, and Lois is arguably the first and most famous of all ILEs. Like Thanos before her, she is truly inevitable, and that seems to be at the center of this series. Oh, and at this point...sort of SPOILERS AHEAD??? I mean, come on, this was obviously gonna happen.

By the end of episode 4, these two are clearly romantically interested in each other. Hell, by the end of episode 1, these two are interested in each other. And can I just say that's they're hands fucking down the most adorable Clark and Lois I've ever fucking seen? I mean it, they're the best version of this couple in live-action media, and I can actually see them becoming the comic book versions of that couple.

As a quick compare and contrast of the most notable versions:

Reeves and Kidder were great, but the movies never actually committed in having them be a couple. They actively made sure it wouldn't happen a couple of times, to much irritation, and their relationship never truly blossomed, which was based on the comics at the time.

Fuck Dean Cain...but Cain and Hatcher were pretty good as a couple, pre-and-post-marriage. Which, again, was a part of comics at the time, so it makes sense. Even then, I wouldn't call them particularly cute, just more of a relatively normal couple.

Don't get me wrong, I love Daly and Durance's animated versions of the two...but they never actually became a couple until the very end of Superman: The Animated Series. And we only saw them as Lois and Superman, not Lois and Clark. So, sadly, they don't rank.

Welling and Durance were...off-and-on. Funnily enough, their appearance as this version of the couple in the Arrowverse crossovers was probably better than any other appearance they had, and their appearances in the 10th season were genuinely quite nice. High up there as the best version, and one of my favorites.

Hoechlin and Tulloch are, in my opinion, the best married version of the characters. They honestly nail it, and their chemistry is pretty much perfect. Their versions of the characters still rank pretty high as some of the best, and they're even better as a couple.

Routh and Bosworth...moving on...

Cavill and Adams...well...I mean...they have some chemistry, and...they've definitely had sex. Um. Yeah. That's it. Whoooooo.

O'Connell and Romjin are a little-remembered animated version of the two, and not the only animated version of the two, either. But honestly, they're really good in The Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen, and were my favorite animated version of them as a couple...prior to MAWS.

And OK, sure, we've barely seen these two as a couple at this point, but I really like them. They're adorable, they're adorkable, they're supportive of each other, and their chemistry is basically immediate. They're just really cute and fun to watch, and I can't wait to see them progress. Especially because...

OK, I can't stress this enough, but skip the next GIF if you don't want spoilers, and scroll down until you get to Jimmy Olsen. Please. This is a biggie. OK? Got it? Read at your own peril.

HOLY FUCKING SHIT ARE YOU SERIOUS THEY ACTUALLY DID IT

If you've read my Superman essays, you know that I want movie Lois Lane to have found out Clark is Superman on her own, and before the movie starts. And holy shit, they actually did it in MAWS! FUCK YES! Lois is smart and sharp, so she should pick up on the fact that Clark is Superman! I love that they did this, even if her way of finding out was somewhat by accident. She still put the clues together on her own, so I'm satisfied with this ending! And I'm pretty sure they're not going to reverse this! If they do, I'd be pissed off, but I don't think they will. Just...HELL YEAH, BABEEEEEEEEEE

OK...I think the spoiler-free have scrolled past this by know, so...let's move on with the essay, shall we?

Supporting Cast: Jimmy and the Rest

OK, let's talk Jimmy Olsen (played by Ishmael Sahid). Honestly, I love the fact that he's a conspiracy nut with his own YouTube channel, and that he's literal bunkmates with Clark in this series. This is also pretty close to my perfect version of Jimmy Olsen, not gonna lie. His streaming name is even Flamebird, a deepcut comics reference that shows the creators not only know their stuff, but also actively care about Superman comics and history. That's one of the things that one me over in the first episode, for the record. But more on that later.

Jimmy is the third wheel, but one who's usually welcome. We'll see the fallout of the Lois-Clark romance soon, I'm sure, but Jimmy's role has been pretty much perfect. However, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that a black Jimmy Olsen, while welcomed by me...is a little weird when you look at the legion of ginger characters in media that have been replaced by black characters in adaptations. While, again, I don't think Jimmy is racially bound to being ginger, it is a fairly iconic part of his identity. And...yeah, a lot of ginger characters have been translated into black people in recent years, and that's...really weird, not gonna lie. Makes me think even more about my Legion of Super-Heroes essay, honestly. Still, solid-ass Jimmy, and I can't wait for more.

I actually adore Perry White (voiced by Darrell Brown) in this series, and his grumpy boss persona is...well, quintessential Perry White. I'd actually say this is a perfect version of the character, although that's not as difficult to nail as some other versions. Looking forward to seeing more of Perry's life as he supports our bumbling interns.

I was tickled pink to see Cat Grant (Melanie Minichino), Steve Lombard (Vincent Tong), and a genderbent Ronnie Troupe (Kenna Ramsey) in this show, because it once again signals to me that the show creators really care about Superman mythos. And honestly, these guys were transplanted essentially unchanged from the comics, as far as we can see so far. This may change in the future, but I'm very excited to see the rivalry between our three and these reports build and develop during the series. Great job with these guys.

The Kents only make an appearance in one episode thus far, but I think they're pretty good! We see them in the past and in the present, and they're a couple of farmers who love their son. They're also some of the youngest versions of the characters we've seen in adaptations, save for Smallville, and it works well! They also make it apparent that these are Clark's parents, even in the short time we see them. Again, good job so far, and I want to see more!

So, with all of that, I adore this series, and it's perfect! Right? Right?

The Villains: Literal and Figurative Cons

If you've heard anything about this series from Superman fans, then you've probably heard that the villains are...not amazing so far. And that's mostly because the villains are where this series takes the most liberties, while also downsizing most of them pretty severely. I'll go through them briefly here, but just know that the changes made so far are...not my favorite. And if you've read my essays, you know my opinion on villains in superhero media: you gotta nail them.

So, let's start with Livewire, AKA Leslie Willis (voiced by Zehra Fazal). I really love this character (and actually positioned her as a major villain in the second Superman movie of my cinematic universe), so I'm quite invested in Livewire. And this version is a tech-powered villain who kicks off the conflict for the first part of the series. She's a completely different version of the character...and she works? Kinda? Look, as the first villain to face Superman, she's fine, but she's barely Livewire. The end of the second episode hints that she may become more like the original down the line, but she's missing that sass of the original. And yeah, she works without that, but it doesn't feel like Livewire to me. That's nitpicking, though, because we have a much worse set of adaptations to cover.

Intergang is so much of a non-entity in this show, they have no GIFS on Tumblr. Understand, this community has made GIFs of every other character except these guys. In total, they are Silver Banshee AKA Siobhan MacDougal (played by Catherine Taber), Mist AKA Kyle Nimbus (played by Lucas Grabeel), and Rough House AKA Albert (played by Vincent Tong). And they've been changed from:

A cursed Scottish-Irish woman, empowered by magic and a major threat to the Man of Steel, having nearly killed him multiple times...and is currently dating Jimmy Olsen, which I kinda love?

A scientist who invented a process to turn himself into gaseous form, and used his powers to fight the hero Starman; this rivalry was passed on to the next generation, on the side of both hero and villain.

And the clone of a gangster endowed with super-strength, serving beneath Boss Moxie of Intergang, and the forces of the dark world of Apokolips above him.

...into a group of loser who got technology they couldn't handle. Yeah, it's a major downgrade, and two of those guys weren't even that notable in the first place. Siobhan gets completely fucking shafted here, and I think it's a genuine failure of this series. Harsh, I know, but seeing Silver Banshee get fucked over that hard really sucked for me.

Oh, and yeah, Intergang was a major villainous group for the Superman film in my cinematic universe, so removing their Apokoliptian ties...bums me the fuck out, too. Also, it looks like Flash villain Heat Wave is an upcoming member, which is...weird as fuck, honestly. We'll see how this pans out, but I'm not terribly enthusiastic about it.

And then there's Anthony Ivo (played by Jake Green), who's been repurposed into a tech bro entrepeneur in the vein of Elon Musk, in charge of AmazoTech, which is obviously a reference to the comic book version. And this was an...interesting set of choices, honestly. Some spoilers here, but Ivo's version of AMAZO is an armor that drains the power of Superman and redirects it against him. And yes, that makes Ivo also this universe's version of...Parasite. ANOTHER villain that I put in the second movie of my cinematic universe, and one of my absolute favorite Superman villains.

I don't hate the reinvention, but that's only because of what happens to Ivo at the end of the episode. I won't spoil it here, but he definitely turns into a more proper version of the character, so we'll see what happens there. As for his assistant, Alex (played by...somebody), well, he's interesting, isn't he? At first, I thought he was Alex Allston, one of the Parasite twins from the 2000s. But a number of people seem to think he might be another familiar red-headed Superman villain named Alexander, if you know what I mean. Let's just say, there's a possibility that he'll steal forty cakes at some point. And that's terrible.

And finally, there's...wait, is that Deathstroke AKA Slade WIlson (played by Chris Parnell)? Why is he young...and hot? Why is Slade young and hot? And two-eyed? I mean, yeah, sure, that's not the worst thing in the world, but...goddamn, that's some whiplash. Interestingly, he appears to be affiliated with Task Force X, which is name dropped in episode 2. Plus, Amanda Waller is clearly in the background, so a much wider plan is in play. And yeah, while it's weird to see young hot Deathstroke, I'll give it a chance.

Other villains have been hinted at, and allegedly radically reinvented, such as Mr. Mxyzptlk and Brainiac, but we've yet to see what will become of them. Still, this is a divisive start. As long as we get some actual supernatural threats, and not just people in armor, I'll be happy. Time will tell.

Story: Just Getting Started

At this point, it's pretty much impossible to judge the story of this series, since we've only just started. But, with the technology obtained by Livewire from a mysterious source, and then leaked into the criminal underworld, we at least have enough threats to supply tension throughout this first portion of the series. The relationship of our trio is progressing nicely, with Jimmy realizing his third-wheel status, and with the Lois and Clark relationship moving along interestingly and unexpectedly.

There's also a number of hanging plots that look promising, including Clark discovering his powers and origins; Task Force X and Deathstroke, as well as their interest in Superman; the missing Parasite technology after Ivo's fall; the rivalry between the interns and their reporter rivals; and even Lois' relationship with her father (who...might be the guy standing next to Waller in Task Force X? No clue, that's just a guess). So, we have some stuff to look forward to! And maybe, just maybe, the villains will also steadily improve. I think Silver Banshee's a lost cause at this point, but I have hope for Livewire and Parasite, at least. But again, time will tell.

I also can't wait to see what the creators have up their sleeves. They're obviously ans of Superman and his mythos. I didn't even mention what won me over on this show in the first place! Other than Clark and Lois themselves, of course. In the first episode, Lois introduces Jimmy and Clark to her information gatherers: the Newskid Legion. And for those of you who don't know, that's a reference to the Golden Age of Comics, and a group of street-wise kids that would become supporting characters of Superman's during the '90s (through the trendy magic of cloning)! The kids have an adaptation in this series, and that attention to lore alone made me an instant fan of this show. Sounds like nothing, I know, but it meant a hell of a lot to a Superfan like me. Now GIVE ME MY EVERYMAN BIBBO BIBBOWSKI!

Conclusion: A Hopeful Tomorrow

I'm...scared about Gunn's Superman film. I won't write a whole essay about it, but it sounds ambitious to the point of being bloated. A lot of recent casting news makes me feel like this is more of a set-up to the wider DCU, as less of a Superman film in and of itself. Plus, with rumors that Luthor is being cast, and no sign of a villain announcement yet...I dunno. It has me worried. So thank God for My Adventures with Superman.

This series is a blessing so far. Sure, it could blow for the rest of the season, but call me hopeful. I think this show is fantastic so far, and I'm really thinking it'll stick the landing with the first season. Alongside that, honestly, is the fact that it's trying something new for any Superman adaptation, and there's a bravery in that. I don't know if it'll go down as my preferred Superman adaptation (Superman: The Animated Series is a hard one to beat for me), but it's got a good start. And a brave series that inspires hope in the face of fear and impossible odds? Man, that's what Superman is all about.

And now that that's said and done (for now, anyway)...

I believe I have another essay series to finally finish.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Part I: Why I Love Superman

Part II: On Lois Lane

Part III: The Kents

Part IV: The 'Rents

Part V: The...Frendts?

Part VI: Lex Luthor

Part VII: The Real Villains

Part VIII: Superman's Rogues Gallery

Part IX: The Story - Act One

Part X: The Story (Acts Two and Three)

Part XI: The Story - Climax

Part XII: Epilogue (Part One)

Part XIII: Epilogue (Part Two)

#superman #clark kent #kal-el #my dc cinematic universe #my dcu #my dccu #my adventures with superman #maws #lois lane #lois and clark #clark and lois #superman tv #jimmy olsen #jack quaid #alice lee #livewire #intergang #parasite #silver banshee #newskid legion #daily planet #tv series #tv essay #tv review #maws spoilers #maws superman #mawsm #clois #dc comics #dc

[emptyscrolls]

(Aggie.io doodles :)) Another day another wooby riddler drawing

#Drew these with my husband so i wasnt embarrassed drawing suggestive stuff </3 #dc #dceu #dcu #edward nygma #the batman #the riddler #bruce wayne #edward nashton #dccu #riddlebat #edward nigma #if you like spelling it wrong :3 #i like g0th4m ed alot lately . him and ozzie ... wow

[bootyful-seventeen]

I am heavily contemplating on buying myself a dvd player soon and buying all the DVDs for a ton of movies and tv shows I grew up watching cuz I miss the magic of dvds

#hear me out on this one okay. but the Barbie movies were magic on dvd back in the day #and I do wanna see if stores are still selling the old strawberry shortcake dvds before I go online for those #I wanna snort that nostalgia so bad #and of course I’ll need to get the dcau on dvd #like all of it cuz I’m so bored with the dccu since we don’t get as much new stuff #it’s always Batman or superman and love them but I’m kinda bored from always seeing a new bman or sups movie #Wonder Woman I wouldn’t mind a new actor for her but I know she’s not gonna be a muscle mommy which I’ll be sad about #give me a Wonder Woman that is built like rhea ripely god damnit #the flash is eh cuz I found out this whole time I’ve been watching the Wally west flash #but yeah Wally is who I want and then there’s the green lantern like dude is so cool iams all we have is the 1 from 2011 I think #sure I could watch some of the tv series they have but I have too many shows on my watch list it’s overwhelming at times so I skip over lots #tho I will have to pray like crazy cuz some of the things I know I want are probably gonna be expensive as fuck even as second hand #saw a class of the titans season 1 dvd going for $81 cad 💀💀💀 #the world is not kind to those who don’t love the digital age #I prefers my dvds cuz I own it and no one can take it away from me unless they physically steal it #omg I’m turning into my grandma cuz she still had the vhs player with some tapes too #just wish she never donated the tapes for swan princess 1-3 and Anastasia and ferngully and basically all my faves that she owned #like Ngl a part of me wants to hit up value village just to see if maybe they’re still there or if I’ll find other copies of the same things #cuz a perk about cities with older people is that you get so much older tech and other items it’s insane

[sepal-sea]

I just caught up on the new eps of maws and WHO WAS GOING TO TELL ME THEY ADAPTED THE GAY FRENCH APE AND HIS GAY FRENCH DISEMBODIED BRAIN LOVER

I do think this is peak representation in fact every bizarre bit of (usually somewhat problematic) rep that doom patrol comics ever put out is peak representation let us not forget coagula the lesbian trans programmer/prostitute who got her powers by having sex with the weirdest most questionable intersex space entity in the midst of a mental crisis ever what an icon.

but in all seriousness I actually really enjoy how obvious it is that the ppl making maws actually care about comics and stuff, and how much they embrace the fun and wholesome and campy parts of dc. like who else would have the courage to adapt the brain and monsieur mallah like this? NOBODY is who

anyways this is all to say get fucked boring grimdark power fantasy dccu

#I rlly hope maws-esque takes on superheroes become more of a norm #some newer dccu stuff has been a LITTLE more willing to be silly or sincere I will admit #but most of it still kinda sucks and is more devoted to saying how powerful and edgy the hero is rather than actually having them be heroes #the mcu effect but also the dark knight effect I think #you can just sense the derision for the source material and I'm not limiting this to tv or movies it happens in comics too #don't get me started on why frank miller is the worst thing to ever happen to batman and also superhero comics as a whole #my adventures with superman #monsieur mallah #the brain #aaaand post

[clambuoyance]

im afraid to post or talk about superboy on my main instagram bc a lot of irls and different comic ppl follow me and i also get people who know him from different adaptations so i’d rather just gatekeep him than have to explain that this is my interpretation of superboy based on these comics/adaptations vs this adaptation etc. and also im so cringe about him it’s embarrassing like i dont need the instagram audience to know all that about me

#also…the fact i draw him fruity and not white 😭😭😭 #im just so used to headcanoning the shit out of characters in any fandom that i forget that big fanbases like dc have ppl that dont like it #like i see it as like…fancasting idk also dc has so many ppl w the same base design outside of the costume so its fun to add headcanons #also interesting with dc is that theres already such an ingrained perception of the big characters like batman and superman #like supermans babygirl to me that i forget mainstream ppl see him as a basic god or whatever #anyways. when i draw them its in the DCCU (dc clambuoyance universe) #its just like when i was a kid when me and my brother would take his action figures and my barbies and make them #fight to the death. actually no we had very complex lore. #we had the Lego universe then the regular general Toy universe and then every video game we would make our own lore #like w the lego batman games lol #anyways. sorry for the rambling #and being inactive lately im in a funky mood #byeee

[dragonladdie]

EVERYONE SHUT UP RIGHT THE FUCK NOW

#NATIVE BATMAN?????? IN MY CANON DC MULTIVERSE??????? #IM SORRY FOR THE PERSON I WILL BECOME WHEN THIS COMES OUT #batman #native #dc comics #dccu #Batman cinematic universe

[lilac-landscapes]

I love Michael Keaton Batman with all of my heart (especially Batman 1989), but I refuse to watch flash 2023

#Batman 1989 #michael keaton #flash 2023 #they know they need something to save the dccu #so instead of fixing their mistakes they make a cash grab at my favorite brucie #not gonna fall for it #tempo talks

[bee-a-garbage-shipper]

DC Universe Ships

OTP:

Jason Todd x Tim Drake Bruce Wayne x Dick Grayson Pamela Isley | Poison Ivy x Harleen Quinzel | Harley Quinn

Love:

Tim Drake x Conner Kent | Kon-El Tim Drake x Cassandra Cain Damian Wayne x Jonathan Kent Jonathan Kent x Jay Nakamura Garfield Logan x Tara Markov | Terra

Like:

Bruce Wayne x Barbara Gordon Dick Grayson x Jason Todd  Dick Grayson x Princess Koriand'r | Kory Anders Dick Grayson x Rachel Roth Tim Drake x Bernard Dowd  Tim Drake x Jonathan Kent Steve Trevor x Diana Prince Cassandra Cain x Stephanie Brown Garfield Logan x Rachel Roth Damian Wayne x Rachel Roth Barry Allen x Iris West Oliver Queen x Felicity Smoak Leonard Snart x Barry Allen  Character x Original Character

Neutral:

Jason Todd x Barbara Gordon Tim Drake x Stephanie Brown Clark Kent | Kal-El x Lois Lane Clark Kent | Kal-El x Diana Prince Bruce Wayne x Diana Prince Dick Grayson x Wally West Clark Kent | Kal-El x Bruce Wayne Bruce Wayne x Selina Kyle Jason Todd x Roy Harper Dick Grayson x Barbara Gordon Oliver Queen x Laurel Lance Kara Zor-El x Lena Luthor Any Ship Not Listed

Dislike:

Bruce Wayne x The Joker Clark Kent | Kal-El x Lex Luther Conner Kent | Kon-El x M’gann M’orzz | Megan Morse The Joker x Anyone

Hate:

Harleen Quinzel | Harley Quinn x The Joker

#dc #dc au #dcu #dc comics #dccu #dcau #my ships #🐝 has spoken #🐝's post #western animation

[gotham-at-nightfall]

The Bat (clean)

~Zack Snyder

#my god he looks good #batman v superman: dawn of justice #batman #bruce wayne #dccu #b&w #i posted this

[pennywaltzy]

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) -- Wondertrev

So sorry for the angst!

The Bitter And The Sweet - They've been through so much, but they have so little time left that they try and enjoy each moment to the fullest. Sometimes, though, they talk about what will happen when he's gone.

READ @ AO3

Christmas. She had grown to love the holiday over the years, years spent happily with Steve. He had gotten older while she had stayed young and vibrant, and this was their fortieth Christmas together now. He decorated the tree while she decorated the mantle in their apartment in Paris. It was done in almost companionable silence, with only Christmas music making a sound.

Suddenly Diana felt arms at her waist, twirling her around and settling, one hand on her shoulder and the other at her waist. “Care for a dance?” Steve asked, a twinkle in his eye. He might be in his seventies now, but he was as lithe and spry as ever.

“I think a dance would be lovely,” she beamed, and they began a waltz around the living room to “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire,” Steve humming along with the song as he guided her around furniture and then dipped her before pulling her back up.

She smiled, though it was bittersweet. The terminal cancer diagnosis six months ago had been a blow, and he’d said no to chemotherapy and radiation. He wanted to be as whole and healthy as he could be despite cancer, living his life with Diana to the fullest. Their old friends from the Wars were gone, and their new friends all thought Steve was a dashing retiree and Diana was his caretaker.

If they only knew the depth of love that ran between them. It had survived his near death at the hands of Ares and many more adventures among gods and men. What they had now was a slice of peace, their own private Heaven. She wanted more, she’d always want more, but she had been lucky so far. She was thankful for what she’d been given when she could have lost him so many times before.

“We aren’t going to have many more holidays like this one,” he said once she was upright and close to him. His hand was in her hand and he had his other hand wrapped around her waist. It was almost like in this close proximity he could read her mind. “Do you ever wish it was different?”

“Different means I could have lost you in World War I,” she said. “Or World War II. Or on any number of the missions we ran together.”

“Different also means we could have had children,” he said.

“The children we’ve fostered have a special place in my heart,” Diana said. “I loved them all as though they were my own.”

“I did too, but there would have been one that’s ours.”

“We could always do what my mother did,” she said. “Make a child out of clay and ask the gods to breathe life into him.”

“Would the gods listen?” he asked, pulling back.

“Maybe.” She paused. “There are other ways. We could adopt. I could adopt, I mean.”

“I don’t want you to be alone when I’m gone,” he said. “I don’t want you to spend the rest of your life missing me.”

“I won’t,” she said. “I promise, I’ll live life to the fullest, in your memory.” She leaned in and kissed him then, a kiss full of promises for days to come. She would live her life to the fullest, even if she didn’t have him by her side.

#fandom christmas in july #dc comics #wonder woman #wondertrev #fanfic #fanfiction #diana prince #steve trevor #steve x diana #dccu #my stuff

[alfredopizzaluver151]

I hope they someday give us an improved sequel or successor of DC Universe Online with better gameplay and graphics, etc. Hell, I’d be okay with paying for the next game if its really great.

Might be more interesting if its single player or multiplayer in the way that you only play with friends (fourplayer?)

#more games where I can make my own character please! #dc universe online #dccu #dc comics

[lonelywretchjervistetch]

My DCCU: Character Essay - Mr. Mxyzptlk

So...did you see the last episode of MAWS?

I just wrote an essay discussing this series, and without making you read that (although here it is if you wanna), let's just say I love almost everything about it, but the villains have me...nervous. Which, yeah, not exactly a unique take on the series, critically speaking. It is, in fact, the most common refrain about the series amongst Superman fans.

Now, since then, to be fair, we've gotten some very promising characters make their debut, or becoming more prominent. Task Force X - which includes Amanda Waller, the General (who's gotta be Sam Lane, but may also take some inspiration from Wade Eiling; time'll tell on that one, though), and a very cool super-armored version of Deathstroke - are our main antagonists, and I'm excited to see what comes out of them. Their former associates, power couple Brain and Monseiur Mallah (who are also gay in the comics, if you didn't know) are a more sympathetic turn on the characters, but quite satisfying in this form.

But no, there's only one real reason I'm making this post. And that is of course, the villain featured in the most recent episode, as of me writing this post. He's already up above, so let's just get into it.

Fun fact about me: I love a lot of Superman villains, but of all of them, my absolute favorite is Mr. Mxyzptlk. He's a mischief-making, chaos-loving, harmless and harmful menace from the 5th dimension, who obeys no laws of the dimensions below. The origin of legends, past and present, of genies, leprechauns, fey, and imps that tease men with ill-fated wishes. An all-powerful being disguised as a man dressed in a funny little hat.

Mr. Mxyzptlk is the Robin Goodfellow of Superman's world. He appears to amuse himself, no matter the cost to the Man of Steel's day. Usually, you can send him back via making him say his own name backwards, but that's just one of the rules to Mxy's games. And make no mistake, that's what they are: games. Mr. Mxyzptlk has played on the side of angels and devils, and he really only cares about his own amusement. And his relationship with Superman, varied as it can be, helps to fuel his morality.

I could bring up the character's live-action appearances (which are notable in their own right), but those are mostly afraid to really go for it. The closest to the original character would be Michael J. Pollard's version in Superboy, a mostly forgotten series from the late'80s, and a version that actually wears the comic book outfit. There's also the Supergirl version, which was notable, and played by Peter Gadiot and Thomas Lemmon; and there's the version played by Howie Mandel (yes, really) in Lois and Clark: The Adventures of Superman in the '90s, which is a more evil but passable version of the character. Oh, and the Smallville version? Yeah, absolutely doesn't count. If you want a true adaptation for Mxy, you gotta go animated.

The most iconic adaptation of this character was portrayed by the late, great Gilbert Gottfried in Superman: The Animated Series. Now, I say the most iconic, but that's probably a bit biased on my part. In my opinion, this is the most fun and accurate version we've seen of the character, taking from his original design for inspiration. An annoying imp that appears every three months, his debut episode in the series, Mxyzpixillated, is one of my favorite episodes of the series, and goes balls-to-the-wall wacky, as you should with Mxyzptlk.

The character had only a few more appearances in the series after his first, but Gottfried's performance was so memorable, he was brought back for multiple incarnations, including the video game DC Universe Online, and the more recent animated series Justice League Action, which would be one of Gottfried's last performances, and therefore his last appearance as the character. He'll be sorely missed for a number of reasons, but the voice he gave to the imp is never going to leave me.

Which brings me to the version of the character we see in MAWS. And yeah, this is obviously a VERY different version of the character, appearance-wise. Outside of the orange and purple color scheme and one other exception, this version has no design similarities with any version of Mxyzptlk, and is obviously very anime-inspired, as is the entire series. I mean, for Chrissakes, the title of the episode is a reference to Ouran High School Host Club. They knew what they were doing.

We meet Mxyzptlk in the middle of a heist, and he already shows his power and prowess by tricking Clark immediately. Amongst a bunch of fantastic DCU references, and a lot of multiverse talk, we eventually stumble upon his actual goal: the reclamation of an ancient artifact stolen from him by the League of Lois Lanes. And that artifact is...his hat. THE hat. And lemme tell ya, I was overjoyed to see that stupid little bowler.

Once he gets it, we get a glimpse of true Mxyzptlk power, as he goes full chaos lord on us. He's eventually defeated through trickery with portals, and NOT through the backwards name gambit. And even then, he's not actually defeated, and returns in the end to annoy his new target: Lois Lane. Yeah. He's haunting LOIS, not Clark. And honestly, I'm...very intrigued.

This Mxyzptlk is, honestly, a faithful version of the character, straight-up. Sure, there are elements missing, and the outfit is completely different, but he also sort of looks like you'd expect an imp or genie to look. Like Alan Moore said in Whatever Happened to the Man of Steel?, why should an extradimensional imp look like a little man in a suit and funny little bowler? I think this works, honestly.

I'm also excited to see him in the future of the series, and see what they do with the character as a result. Mxyzptlk is, as I said earlier, one of my favorites, whether he helps or hurts the Man of Tomorrow. And if I had one complaint, it's that I want him to go wackier. Like, CRAZY. Watch his appearances in Superman: The Animated Series if you haven't, and you'll see what I mean. The potential is quite literally unlimited when it comes to the fifth dimension imp.

But if that's the case...what would I do with Mxyzptlk in my DCCU?

Mr. Mxyzptlk in My DCCU

I would do...not much more than Easter eggs at first. Look, I love Mxyzptlk, but having him as a character in a film or film series is extremely tricky. But instead, Mxyzptlk is both a seen and unseen force in my DCCU, hovering around Superman's world without actually interfering in it directly. Not exactly his bag, I know, but it's a good way to get him to work in a film series. Essentially, I'm turning him into a background character in the first and second films, to be noticed by only the most observant. Disguised as other characters, maybe making odd gestures every now and then as if to manipulate things around him. The ultimate Easter egg character, basically. Until, possibly the very end of the second, or even the third film in the franchise.

Fast forward to the second film's post-credit scene.

A poker game is being played, but we're table level. All we see are the hands and the cards, which get increasingly stranger as the game goes on. Three voices are speaking, and we get the immediate idea that these people are watching our heroes. Eventually, a fourth voice juts in, and we also find out that a fifth one of them has been invited, but chose not to attend. Finally, we pan up, and we see...some dude.

This guy, whoever they are, should've been a face we've seen in the first and second films, usually hanging around the Daily Planet, but also around Metropolis. In fact, they should be visible in every conflict or battle seen in the films thus far. As we look at the others, we should see similar figures that've appeared in Batman, Wonder Woman, and Flash films that've come put by this point. All extras, and all watching our heroes. In fact, it'd be great if the Flash-focused person hasn't appeared yet, because the Flash's film releases after this one.

Finally, as we pan back around to the Superman-focused character, who is smoking a cigar, the conversation turns to what's coming. Mxyzptlk is aware of what's coming for Superman, but the rest refer to "the first Crisis". Mxyzptlk sort of brushes it off, even as they're saying things that hint at the first big even film to come in the DCCU. And these should be vague yet intriguing clues to this event. But Mxyzptlk insists that his guy'll be prepared, and that he has a lot of money riding on that outcome. With that, the mysterious figure looks directly at the camera.

Yeah, realizing that we're peering in on the game, he probably berates the nerds in the audience for knowing who he is without it being said (possibly by turning into a more comic-accurate version of himself) , then confirms that he'll be back in the next one, but not as the big threat. Maybe he'll be there to help, maybe not; depends on his mood that day. After a few more snarky remarks, he gives us a look and tells us to buzz off. We may even get a glimpse at the other imps in the room, those being Bat-Mite, Wondermite, and Mopee. And with that, he snaps his fingers, and the film ends officially.

Yeah, I basically pulled an Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania to bring in Mxyzptlk. And, since that scene is one of the best of the film, I don't think that's a problem! In the next film, we know what Mxyzptlk's identity looks like, and he may even give us a wave from the background in his first appearance in the next film. He won't interfere directly, but in the last post-credits scene of this trilogy, he'll finally get caught by Superman. Over time, Superman's had some experience with magic users, probably via Wonder Woman. And magic, in my universe, has a distinctive smell of some kind.

Knowing that Mxyzptlk's been watching him throughout the films, Clark finally confronts him on it, and asks what he wants. And Mxyzptlk actually replies and shows himself, explaining that the battles to come are pretty intense. He won't help or harm, but he just wanted to give a heads-up, mostly because it's fun. With that and a bit more conversation, Mxyzptlk leaves having given this ominous warning.

Does he return? Maybe during a Crisis on Infinite Earths movie, maybe in the Darkseid-based Justice League film to come, who knows? This version of the character is basically a Watcher, maybe throwing in some fun chaos here and there. It's sort of hard to add Mxyzptlk into a film series, because he's not a plotter. He's an all-powerful one-off character who, were he to be introduced as a genuine threat to the films, could just kill Superman immediately. It wouldn't make sense. So, make him neutrally bent, and keep him as a fun Easter egg character.

That take may be disappointing to some, but...like, c'mon, guys, he's a pretty big gun. Having him as the ultimate threat of a film also wouldn't make it very fun, because we don't want to see him get killed, but he also can't really win. It'd just be unsatisfying. I like the idea of making him this greater, scarier presence, while also making all of the imps these all-powerful observant beings that watch over our plane with fascination and/or reverence. And maybe, just maybe, we can squeeze some mischief in there somewhere.

Any other ideas on how you would introduce Mr. Mxyzptlk to a cinematic universe (if you should at all)? Reblog! Comment! I'm extremely curious, frankly. This was one of, like, three ideas I had, but the one I thought worked best.

And if you liked this, check out my other Superman essays here!

#dc #dc comics #dccu #my dccu #my dcu #dc cinematic universe #dc universe #maws #my adventures with superman #mr. mxyzptlk #mxyzptlk #mr mxyzptlk #maws tv #maws spoilers #maws mr. mxyzptlk #film essay #character essay #character discussion #kiss kiss fall in portal #maws episode 7

[kuro-stitch]

Shadow

#the batman #batman #dc comics #dc batman #dc comix #dccu #robert pattinson #my art #arte #digital art #artists on tumblr #artwork #art

[fantastic-nonsense]

James Gunn is going to kill me with his cryptic answers getting my hopes up that the DCCU will actually make good choices

#the list has Cass on it and I'm just like.......JAMES? HELLO????? #between these two tweets and a couple of other comments he's made I'm now 99% sure we're going to get Cass in BATB #cassandra cain #dc comics #batfam #dccu

[freebagels]

Smallville, DCAU, Injustice, dccu, (probably more that I can't remember at the moment), in my opinion, not only mischaracterized Superman but also made him out into a worse character than he is. Honestly, I love the guy, most comics portray him fine, and I can't claim that I know him absolutely but I know what I and his fans love about him, and the adaptations above totally loose sight of that. Finally getting the fresh breath of air from My Adventures with Superman that focuses on what Supes is about: he's from a mysterious origin, alienated from humanity of Earth, with these amazing powers that make him into a freak, but he just wants to help as much as he can, and he can do a lot, and he tries his best, and he's full of sunlight and hope, he's an optimist. He's not some kind of jerk jock who takes his powers as given and flouts his muscles and manly insecurities. No! He's got a heart of steel and he cares so much. Oh, yeah, remember when in The Batman (great series btw) they decided to switch his and Bats' personalities and literally made Clark say "I work alone" in all brooding style, while Bruce tried to convince him that teamwork is the key? Yeah, haha, that was cringe. Justice League Action sure makes him sillier buuut maybe a bit too silly. To be fair they don't really take themselves too seriously anyway. Whatever happened to them...

Thank you for joining me on this rant, share whatever opinions you have on Supes' various adaptations and have a nice day

#my adventures with superman #Superman #dc

[thebrandywine]

*slides a 🍔 and 🥑 under your door* <333

🍔What's a headcanon that hasn't made it into a published fic yet?

it's not technically a headcanon (unless we're counting DCCU headcanon, that it) but the afterlife always exists, and Julia is always leon's bartender :)

🥑What are you currently working on?

so much XD my current focus, though, is finishing the long way home so that i can post the last of it in May! aside from that, i'm picking away at cat scratch fever, the selkie au, the werewolf au, the sequel to broken machine, the vignettes in axis.... you could say that i'm a little busy lmao

#.ask #ty cerul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!