Ever because the DCU was introduced, there’s been a cloud lingering over it. Even with the success of Superman on the massive display screen final summer time and the water-cooler dialogue that’s taking on Lanterns, this cloud received’t go away and has followers questioning the identical factor: The place’s Batman? James Gunn has already confirmed {that a} DCU model of the Caped Crusader is within the playing cards with the announcement of The Courageous and the Daring function movie that’s within the works. The character even made his debut, making a short look within the animated sequence Creature Commandos. That stated, nobody has been solid because the DCU Batman, and it nonetheless stays to be seen when he’ll truly present up.
This week’s episode of Lanterns is likely one of the most stunning in all the sequence, not solely as a result of it lastly leaps forward to the current day within the timeline and begins to unravel the thriller of Hal Jordan’s homicide, nevertheless it additionally makes extra pointed connections to the bigger DCU. Followers have been ready for Nathan Fillion’s Man Gardner to lastly present up within the sequence after it was confirmed he would seem, and never solely does the sequence do a superb job of seamlessly incorporating him into the present, it does it in a method that really permits for a stunning second: a Batman tease from Hal Jordan himself.
Lanterns Tease the DCU Batman With Pointed Reference
Based mostly on how Batman was already characterised in Creature Commandos, followers know that he’s already out on the earth and lively within the DCU’s Gotham Metropolis. Although he’s not talked about by identify in Superman, a tease of Bruce Wayne’s hometown might be seen on an indication. In case it wasn’t clear that he was on the market, although, and behaving in the best way followers count on, Lanterns confirms it outright.
In a short second early within the episode, John Stewart returns to Rushville to begrudgingly reunite with Hal Jordan. Whereas there, Kyle Chandler’s model of the DC hero updates John on how his life has been going because the large debacle earlier than, confirming that he’s been sitting in federal jail after “taking the autumn” for what occurred in pursuit of the Manhunter. He then teases a brand new addition to Rushville, confirming that “the fitness center trainer,” his derogatory nickname for Man Gardner, has put in a sign on the town, particularly saying:
“(He) ripped off that Bat-guy over in Gotham too, put a beacon proper in the midst of the fucking city right here, so folks can summon him.”
Although a line of dialogue that breezes by rapidly, it’s one which carries some weight and provides loads of clues to Batman’s standing within the DCU. Based mostly on this line alone, the implication is that Batman has been round lengthy sufficient that Hal Jordan, even whereas in jail, is aware of not solely who Batman is however how he operates. To that finish, we are able to surmise that Batman and the Bat-signal in Gotham Metropolis are firmly established, and the concept that it’s used to gentle up the sky and make it clear {that a} particular hero is required is well-known.
All of those little clues, stemming from only a fast line of dialogue, make the look ahead to the upcoming The Courageous and the Daring film much more agonizing. Director Andy Muschietti has been connected to direct for a while, with Christina Hodson engaged on the screenplay, however updates are few and much between for the movie, with work on The Batman Half II seemingly delaying plans for the film considerably.
This week’s Lanterns raises an necessary query, although: How for much longer can DC followers be happy with imprecise teases of this universe’s Batman earlier than we even know who it’s or see him outright? Endurance runs skinny with superhero followers, and the DCU is approaching treacherous waters.