Justice League will address Batman’s murder-happy extreme tactics

Batman. World’s greatest detective, martial artist and HOLY CRAP STOP BRUCE! HE’S DEAD! HE’S ALREADY DEAD! While Disney may own the rights to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Warner Bros. decided to emulate that success by creating the DC Movie Murderverse, a reality where Superman can be forgiven for snapping General Zod’s neck when you analyse the situation he was in as compared to the trigger-happy version of Bruce Wayne who went on a killing spree of note in Batman V Superman.

Now to be fair, some of that kind of made sense and did occur in a dream sequence of a possible future. On the other hand Darryn, a lot of the other kills were simply completely out of character for Batman as Zack Snyder’s take on the vigilante was less campy caped crusader and more deadly dark knight. But Justice League will present a change in tone for Batman and pals.

Not only will the film be lighter in tone, but it’ll also “directly address Batman’s extreme actions in [Batman v Superman], such as torturing criminals and nearly killing the Man of Steel, rather than accept them as par for the course,” says the Wall Street Journal after talking to DC Comics chief creative officer Geoff Johns and Warner Bros. Executive Jon Berg.

“We’re trying to take a really hard look at everything to make sure we stay true to the characters and tell stories that celebrate them,” Johns said to WSJ.

In the past, I think the studio has said, ‘Oh, DC films are gritty and dark and that’s what makes them different.’ That couldn’t be more wrong. It’s a hopeful and optimistic view of life. Even Batman has a glimmer of that in him. If he didn’t think he’d make tomorrow better, he’d stop.

And that’s a good sign. Love it or hate it, but Batman V Superman did address the issues of 2013’s Man of Steel flick, a film which saw Metropolis utterly devastated and thousands of lives lost as two aliens in skin-tight cosmic chainmail had a brouhaha. Warner Bros. and DC listened to the criticism surrounding that third act, and not only did they address it but they actually wove it into the narrative of Batman V Superman in a superb way.

I’ve got a bit more faith in the DCEU right now, now that Geoff Johns is being allowed more control. It’s similar to what Marvel did recently when they allowed Kevin Feige to be the big boss of the MCU and to begin steering that ship in a direction with very few interruptions on the way. And with a Wonder Woman movie out next year before Justice League arrives in November, that’s a good change to have.

Last Updated: September 9, 2016