Though they have struggled to find their footing, the DCEU seems to be course correcting for the better. With upcoming releases like Birds of Prey (2020) and Wonder Woman: 1984 (2020), fans have a lot to look forward to.
However, for all the mistakes they have made, some decisions have actually been very well executed. In fact, some decisions could even be argued to improve upon the comic book versions. Looking back at some of the major decisions in the DCEU, here is our list of 5 things it has done better than the comics, and 5 things it has done worse.
Better: Resurrection
Before the Avengers were able to save almost everyone in Avengers: Endgame (2019), the DCEU actually managed to tackle the concept of resurrection first. While it was always obvious that Superman was going to make a return at some point, Justice League (2017) actually managed to do it in a way that works well within the lore of the comics, and still isn’t too complex for the general audience.
Likewise, there continued to be consequences to the resurrection process, forcing the League to deal with certain matters up front. For all the other problems that Justice League had, their approach to resurrection was actually very well done.
Worse: Tone
One of the biggest criticisms facing the DCEU is its incredibly overbearing dark tone. Though the recent movies have very clearly attempted to stray away from that, the comics certainly tend to balance color and darkness a bit better. Even a film like Shazam! (2019), which has a lot of fun and humor in it, still has some muted colors in its generally bright tone.
For now, it seems as though more and more color will be added as time goes on. While a darker tone is certainly suitable for a character like Batman or the Suicide Squad, other characters could certainly benefit from a bit of a lighter approach. Because of this, the comics undoubtedly succeed in balancing the tone to suit the character far more.
Better: Assemble the League
The cinematic version of the Justice League lineup is based off that of the New 52 Justice League title. With the exception of Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern, everyone else in the comic version makes an appearance in the live action version. In the first arc of the comics, the League is seen coming together as a result of Darkseid’s invasion.
Unlike in the film, though, the comic features Darkseid himself as the main villain, with the League having no prep time to prepare for the invasion. Because of this, the way the League forms in the DCEU just feels a bit more natural. With several members already familiar with each other and Batman and Diana aware of Flash’s and Cyborg’s presence, seeing the League actually get built rather than randomly come together is something that the film deserves credit for.
Worse: Timelines
One thing that the comics have definitely done better is in how they handle the timeline for these characters. While the difference in ages is to be expected between these heroes, there is certainly a lot of range within the DCEU. In regards to Ben Affleck in particular, an older Batman such as himself is very hard to see holding the mantle for a long time.
Likewise, such a young Barry Allen is a bit less-believable as a great CSI detective. In the comics, the members of the League all tend to be around the same age (with a few obvious exceptions). While actors like Ben Affleck did do a phenomenal job, introducing Superman to such an old Batman probably isn’t the best way to start with the universe.
Better: Costumes
While the DCEU may not be perfect, virtually all of their costumes have been very accurate to those in the comics. Though a few notable changes have been made to some characters, the heroes especially have all come to strongly resemble at least a specific version of the character they are based on.
Even the less-accurate looks still work within the world, though. Looking at a character like Harley Quinn, the look she has in Suicide Squad (2016) is far more practical and modern than her original outfit. Furthermore, it is different enough from her current comic look to stand on its own, but similar enough to where the two still mimic each other. As more and more heroes get added to the roster, DC will hopefully be able to maintain their costume designs.
Worse: Villains
Unfortunately, the DCEU has found themselves in the same struggle as the MCU in regards to their villains. Though a few such as General Zod and Black Manta have been successful, others like The Joker or Lex Luthor felt shallow and did little to advance the story and character development.
In the comics, many DC heroes are defined by their villains to the point where they become inseperable. Following this logic, a weaker villain can truly end up hurting a film or even the main character. Hopefully, the DCEU will be able to deliver some big name bad guys that fans all know and love, all without making them feel watered down.
Better: Krypton
In the comics, Kryptonian culture has been explored many times wither through flashback, alternate dimension, time-travel, etc. However, no matter how many times readers get to see Krypton, the specific details of it don’t always feel that important. While Man of Steel (2013) has been criticized for its lengthy opening sequence on Krypton, the film actually succeeds in making the past relevant to the present.
Thanks to the film, Zod has a reason to target Earth over another planet. Furthermore, audiences are given a pretty fair assessment of Krypton’s culture very quickly. While not everyone is a fan of Man of Steel, it did manage to make Krypton far more relevant to the present story in a very quick and effective way.
Worse: The Cosmic Side
Aside from Krypton and the flashback sequence in Justice League, very little of the cosmic side of the DCEU ahs been explored. Hopefully, with the Green Lantern Corps movie on the way, Warner Brothers will soon be able to fix this problem. Despite the failure of the first Green Lantern (2011) film, DC still has an incredibly vast cosmic world to show off.
Even if the studio decided to withhold another Green Lantern movie, characters like Superman are perfectly suited to explore the cosmos, showing off all the intergalactic wonder from the comics. With several opportunities to do so, audiences will hopefully get to see that side of the universe soon.
Better: Underwater
While the DCEU still has a lot of Atlantean lore to uncover and explore, it managed to give audiences quite a lot in just one Aquaman film. Despite being introduced in the Justice League movie, not a lot of Atlantean lore and culture was really seen. Surprisingly though, the standalone Aquaman movie managed to cram years worth of the character’s history into just one film.
Likewise, Atlantis isn’t just more approachable in the movies, but it also has a much better appearance. Seeing the characters interact with undersea wildlife, as well as the bright colors and beautiful scenery of the setting is part of what made the film so successful. Despite being based off the comics, the DCEU truly succeeded in making Atlantis different and far more appealing than it typically is in the comics.
Worse: Earth Threatening Events
While almost every superhero movie involves an Earth-threatening event, the comics have managed to pull off some of the best moments yet. The movies have done a good job with setting up massive stakes for the protagonist but overall, the comics just did a much better job.
Perhaps the issue lies within the villains, but the threats in the comics just feel much greater than they have in the films. While Steppenwolf was supposed to be incredibly threatening, he was laughably easy to defeat the moment Superman returned. While the films are almost there, this is something the comics still have a much better hold over.
