James Gunn’s DCU Timeline Hints at Gods & Monsters’ Mysterious Villain

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As a fervent admirer, I can hardly contain my excitement as James Gunn is generously sharing insights into his DC Universe, just before the debut of Superman. Among these tantalizing tidbits is a significant date on the timeline that could potentially unveil who our heroes will engage in a climactic battle against at the end of Chapter One: Gods & Monsters.

Prior to assuming control at DCU, Gunn’s familiarity with comic book personas was limited to his role within the Marvel Cinematic Universe playground. From its inception, Marvel Studios had a predetermined strategy, launching its series with Iron Man, where Tony Stark transitioned from being an ordinary man into a hero and subsequently discovered the intriguing universe that surrounded him, including details about the characters who donned the Iron Man armor in the MCU.

In the fictional universe of ‘Superman’, humans have been familiar with metahumans for over three centuries, regarding them not as threatening entities capable of causing harm, but rather as celebrities or public figures. Gunn, however, is choosing a distinct strategy in his work.

The new storyline will significantly change the atmosphere for Superman, as the Man of Steel must adapt to a world where numerous heroes are already established. Yet, there might be deeper layers to this transformation, considering that the concept of metahumans being publicly known for centuries is quite unique.

Gunn doesn’t imply that they arrived on Earth 300 years ago, but rather that humans first noticed their existence at that time. This suggests that they might have existed long before then, perhaps even dating back to prehistoric eras.

It appears quite unlikely, but a formidable DC antagonist might have amassed unimaginable power long before our current era, spending the majority of his existence orchestrating plots and intrigues in secret. If he’s involved in the DC Universe, it’s unlikely to bode well for Superman and his team.

Vandal Savage Is Everything That Chapter One of the DCU Needs

Following his encounter with a meteorite, Vandal Savage gained an uncanny ability to live forever. Recognizing this unique opportunity, he honed his abilities and gathered knowledge, allowing him to manipulate global events in his favor.

As a cinephile, I can’t help but marvel at the versatility of Savage’s roles – he donned the crowns of an Egyptian pharaoh, a menacing pirate, and a mighty king on screen. Yet, wherever he left his mark, chaos and destruction seemed to follow in his path.

In the Golden Age, the heroes in the DC Universe began to outsmart Savage’s plots and confronted him. During the 1940s, he clashed with the Justice Society of America, and later faced conflicts with the Justice League.

Although the antagonist lacked Superman’s muscle power and the Flash’s swiftness, his extensive centuries-long wisdom provided a significant advantage. Additionally, his skillfulness across various martial arts styles only added to his edge.

As a dedicated DC Universe fan, I firmly believe that a character like Savage, skillfully crafted by Gunn, could be just the edge our universe needs to outshine its competition. With the creative freedom Gunn possesses, he can shape Savage into any form he desires and weave him seamlessly into each significant franchise event. Eventually, unleashing this villain in full glory would undoubtedly make for an exhilarating addition to the DC Universe’s narrative.

On the contrary, what sets Savage apart from antagonists like Darkseid and Lex Luthor is that he arrives relatively free of history or prior interpretations. Many DC villains have been portrayed in films before, often falling short of expectations.

Instead, Savage has only made one significant live-action appearance in his career. He caused trouble for the heroes in the Arrowverse during the “Heroes Join Forces” crossover event, and later appeared in the first season of Legends of Tomorrow, but this was almost a decade ago, and the CW’s portrayal of the character was not particularly impressive.

In the Arrowverse, the main antagonist’s narrative revolved around his chase for Hawkgirl and Hawkman. This chase began centuries ago, but beyond that, the story didn’t delve deeper. This leaves ample room for adaptation, as there are numerous compelling comic book tales related to these characters that have yet to be explored in live-action.

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2025-06-29 21:35