Being a DC Fan is Like Being in an Abusive Relationship

Modern DC fans, even some of the most devout (myself included), can sort of collectively agree that they are being let down again and again. Rifts are forming in the fandom over a few factors like Zack Snyder vs. Matt Reeves, live-action vs. animation, or ultra-solemn themes vs. jocular tones. The last time DC fans saw absolute unity and felt awe for a project was the culmination of the Dark Knight trilogy in 2012. There have been some bright spots, like Man of Steel (2013), Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), Wonder Woman (2017), and Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn, but too many times, redemption was promised, and failure resulted.

It's like being in an abusive relationship.

Warner Bros./DC vows to change and to get better, but it never does. It is a vicious cycle of keeping us attached using the small things like a good portrayal, a good plot, powerful music, and beautiful VFX, and then the frustrations come when corporate mismanagement betrays their lack of passion for anything DC-related.

So much hype went into The Suicide Squad (2021) and The Batman (2022), and while both performed adequately in box-office terms and critical reception, they ultimately failed to live up to the expectations and standards they set up for themselves.

On April 8, 2022, Warner Bros. merged with Discovery, and CEO David Zaslav took control. Following this event, when fans were supposed to see the Snyderverse restored, the cancellations started. Smaller HBO Max projects like Wonder Twins were axed, along with Batgirl which had almost wrapped filming. While neither of these films seemed too promising anyway, the hope was always there that Warner Bros. Discovery knew what they were doing. Michael Keaton was set to reprise his role as Batman in Batgirl, but we'll have to wait until next year to see him in The Flash, assuming that doesn't get canceled too.

Ezra Miller, who plays the Flash, complicates the situation further because of a scandal and psychological problems he is currently dealing with. If his film, expected to come out June 23, 2023, and reportedly Dark-Knight quality, is eventually canceled, Keaton's older Batman will never see the light of day.

Walter Hamada, the former president of DC Films, stepped down from his position on October 19 of this year, and Zaslav promises that his cancellations are for the good of the franchise, so there is hope for improvement. But then again, corporate changes have not been beneficial before, so who knows if these developments are simply wishful thinking.

Perhaps the answer lies outside of Warner Bros., however. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, for instance, invested in playing Black Adam since 2007, has made it clear that he wishes to restore much of that which DC canceled, retconned, repurposed, and de-canonized. Henry Cavill's Superman, a vestige of the Snyder Era, of which The Rock is reportedly a fan, appears in Black Adam (2022) as a possible adversary to the titular character, so some restoration is becoming manifest.

Black Adam has the potential to reshape the DC Universe. And the Man of Steel's return in it gives us hope, as all good Supermen do. But, as Alfred said in Zack Snyder's Justice League, "Let's hope [he's] not too late."

Because if they fail me again, I may very well have to break up with DC, even though I still love it.