The DCU has treated fans to new adaptations of some of the most beloved DC characters, including Superman, Green Lantern, and Lex Luthor. Additionally, this cinematic universe has done an incredible job introducing niche characters from the comics into the mainstream.
From Enchantress to the Engineer to G.I. Robot, James Gunn’s new universe promises to include many interesting details for hardcore DC fans. These characters have a lot of potential, so it’s a great thing that Gunn brought them back from oblivion. Fans are excited to see what’s next for them in the future of the DCU.
Enchantress Is Canon In The DCU After All
Credit:Â Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection
Nobody expected it, but recently, James Gunn confirmed some of the events in Suicide Squad are actually canon. During a flashback in Peacemaker, Rick Flag Jr. revealed a relationship with June Moone, aka Enchantress, in the 2016 film. The flashback even confirms she’s a sorceress, which means June kept her powers after the end of the movie.
Before Suicide Squad, Enchantress was only known among the most hardcore DC fans. Since Gunn rebooted the DCEU, nobody expected her to be more than the villain of a forgettable movie. Now that her story is canon in the DCU, there’s a chance she will return, at least for a nice cameo.
Judomaster Has Become A Fan Favorite
Since the first season of Peacemaker, the mysterious, cheeto-eating Judomaster has been a problem for the vigilante and his allies. First as an ally of the Butterflies, now as an agent of A.R.G.U.S., this talented fighter harbors a vendetta against Peacemaker that he cannot shake, no matter how hard he tries.
Before becoming the most stubborn villain in Peacemaker, Judomaster was a relatively unknown character. He debuted in 1965 and was even killed during the 2005 Infinite Crisis event. Now, he’s an absolute fan favorite. It goes to show that a good adaptation can do wonders for a forgotten character.
Sapphire Stagg Is A Blink & Miss Kind Of Character
In Superman, when Metamorpho returns to his home, there’s a woman with him. Those who aren’t familiar with the comics assumed this was simply Baby Joey’s mother. However, comic readers know it goes beyond. This was actually Sapphire Stagg, Rex Mason’s wife and the daughter of Simon Stagg.
Sapphire isn’t a very used character in comics. However, knowing she’s in the movie alongside his father (or at least that’s what the Stagg Industries logo implies) has fans wondering if she will have a bigger role in the future of the DCU. If that’s the case, fans hope to see Baby Joey around, as well as Metamorpho, who is now an official Justice Gang member.
Sasha Bordeaux May Become A Villain
This Peacemaker season introduced a new character. Sasha Bordeaux, A.R.G.U.S. agent and Rick Flag Sr.’s right hand, who just revealed she’s also a cyborg – just like in the comics. Fans are still unsure whether Bordeaux will remain loyal to Flag Sr. or if she’s actually working for someone else, such as Amanda Waller. The suspicion surrounding the character comes from the comics.
Bordeaux debuted in comics as Bruce Wayne’s bodyguard, evolved into one of Batman’s closest allies, and then disappeared, only to reappear as a villain with the Checkmate organization. Since her return, she has been on the wrong side of the battlefield, so why should the DCU be different? This character had a short-lived time in comics. She resigned from Checkmate after Final Crisis, and she hasn’t returned. The DCU may be the beginning of her renaissance in the books.
Eve Teschmacher Had A Live-Action Version Before
Eve Teschmacher debuted in Superman, portrayed by Sara Sampaio. Like in the comics, she’s Lex’s love interest. However, she isn’t as loyal as she is in the books. In the movie, she’s the very reason why Superman and his allies take him down in the first place. In fact, she’s in love with Jimmy Olsen, not Lex.
Superman isn’t the first time Eve Teschmacher gets a live-action adaptation. She appeared in the Arrowverse, more specifically in Supergirl, portrayed by Andrea Brooks. However, the series didn’t give her as much attention, so she has remained in certain obscurity. Fortunately for Sampaio fans, the film gave her plenty of screen time, so now fans hope she becomes a regular in the DCU.
The Engineer Debuted in Superman
Credit:Â Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection
Superman introduced a new ally to Lex Luthor that fans hadn’t seen before. Angela Spica, aka the Engineer, is portrayed by MarÃa Gabriela de FarÃa. This powerful character is a metahuman with nanites on her body that allow her to modify them at will through mechanokinesis. The movie doesn’t delve into Angela’s past, but it has been revealed that she became a U.S. Armed Forces operative. It shows: she’s an amazing combatant. Luthor likely approached her for her talent on the battlefield.
In the comics, The Engineer is one of the most prominent members of the Authority, a morally ambiguous superteam that, although not as famous as the Justice League, is just as efficient. In fact, Angela was supposed to foreshadow the Authority film. However, the movie is currently “on the back burner” according to Gunn himself.
Created during World War II, G.I. Robot was programmed to kill Nazis no matter what. He fought with the Easy Company and was then incarcerated for killing a Neo-Nazi group. This put him on the path to becoming a member of the Creature Commandos. G.I. Robot soon became a fan favorite in the series due to his stoic but heroic attitude, and his apparent death during “Cheers to the Tin Man” hit the audience hard.
Before this adaptation, he had only appeared in one Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode. There have been seven different G.I. Robots in the comics: Joe, Mac, Lord Job, and J.A.K.E. 1, 2, and #6.1. The creature commando’s version is based on the first one, who fought World War II. However, none of them was as obsessed with killing Nazis as the DCU one. That’s a new feature created by James Gunn.
The Bride Has Been Around for A While
Creature Commandos introduced the Bride, a monster inspired by the Frankenstein mythos. Much like in the films, she was created by Victor Frankenstein to give the monster a companion. However, this version fell in love with her creator instead. Bride was eventually arrested, which resulted in her leading the Creature Commandos.
The series has made it pretty clear that Bride is the head of the team and will continue to be so for the second season, which means she will get a lot of screen time. This is excellent news for a fantastic character that was in comics for decades without a single adaptation until the DCU. Hopefully, she will make it to live-action really soon.
Emilia Harcourt Became Very Important
Originally a secondary A.R.G.U.S. agent, Emilia Harcourt became one of Peacemaker’s closest allies in the show’s first season and then evolved into the vigilante’s romantic interest. Then, the second season expanded on her story, her affair with Rick Flag Jr., and the moral dilemma of befriending Christopher Smith. Overall, Harcourt is one of the most complex characters in Peacemaker so far.
Before the DCEU, Harcourt had such a minimal role in the DC Universe. She was basically a background character in Suicide Squad comics. Thanks to the DCU, the comics have given her a new chance. Following the Infinite Frontier event, the character is now way more similar to her DCU counterpart.
James Gunn Made Vigilante Way Better
Freddie Stroma tries to not be recognizable in a lineup by making an absurd face in Peacemaker
Freddie Stroma portrays Adrian Chase, aka Vigilante. Originally depicted as a delusional serial killer who thinks of himself as a superhero, Vigilante has earned the fandom’s hearts. First, because of Stroma’s comedic timing, but also because his time with the 11th Street Kids proves that his heart is in the right place. The moment in which he cries for Peacemaker during “Back to the Suture” is easily among the saddest scenes in the DCU.
Here’s the thing: Vigilante isn’t nearly as interesting in the comics as he is in the DCU. In fact, he is quite the two-dimensional character, so most DC writers have not paid him any attention. James Gunn gave him a personality, potentially resurrecting his career in the comics for the future. It will all depend on the synergy between the DCU and the DC comics.