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Warning! Preview pages ahead for Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #1 ahead!In the face of global crises and a dark criminal plot, Batman is going to have to unite with a few other iconic heroes to get to the bottom of things. DC has just announced a brand-new DC Black Label series that will bring the Dark Knight together with two fan-favorite heroes to uncover the truth behind a real conspiracy.

Ahead of this November’s solicitations, DC Comics has revealed details about a brand-new miniseries for its mature-only imprint, DC Black Label. Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #1 by Gabriel Hardman sees Bruce Wayne investigate Arcadia, a climate-proofed floating city being built off the coast of Greenland. However, he’s not the only hero looking into the secrets behind Arcadia.

The Emerald Archer, Green Arrow, and the streetwise private eye, the Question, are chasing leads of their own.

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Eight-year-old Bruce Wayne first became Batman when seeing his parents gunned down in Gotham City's Crime Alley. It's easier to count the Batman movies that don't show this than the ones that do. It's why you can expect tons of jokes and sincere complaints to follow about the agony of having to watch Thomas and Martha Wayne die again and again.

As an unamused Clown Prince of Crime would say: "Ha. Ha."

The jokes are more tiring than the scene at this point, as exhausting as "Why doesn't Batman simply buy crime?"

The death of Bruce Wayne's parents is the core of his character, the one wrong he can never right. If you have a problem with Batman stories going back to it, then maybe Batman just isn't for you. It's a powerful scene that earns the right to be...

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When it comes to heroes who are cloaked in darkness and use fear and intimidation to spook their enemies, Batman leads the charge. After all, the Dark Knight has been protecting Gotham City for almost 90 years and has more than established himself as one of the world's most popular superheroes in that time. However, Batman wasn't the first hero to boast the aforementioned hallmarks -- and some folks might argue that he ripped off the pulp hero known as The Shadow, aka the man who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men.

The Shadow began life as a radio host in 1930, providing the voiceovers for a program called "Detective Story Hour." However, the mysterious character proved to be more popular than the stories being told on the air, so the bosses at publisher Street & Smith hired William B. Gibson...

Over 24 hours, a swirl of rumors emerged that actor Garrett Dillahunt was going to be playing Oliver Queen aka Green Arrow in the Dcu seriesLanterns, but DC Studios co-ceo James Gunn has put that rumor to rest. Dillahunt joined the cast of Lanterns in November 2024, where it was confirmed that he was playing a new character, William Macon. He has been described as a modern-day cowboy who is a conspiracy-minded, self-righteous individual hiding behind a charming facade. On Apr. 24, 2025, in a now-deleted Instagram post, Dillahunt shared a series of photos of himself wearing what looked like a Green Arrow costume with the caption "Ollie Ollie oxin free" alongside some storyboard images.

The now-deleted post quickly spread like wildfire, and when DC Studios co-president James Gunn was asked on Threads if Dillahunt was playing Green Arrow in Lanterns, he responded, "Haha no." Dillahaunt made a separate post clearing up the confusion,...

Sorry, DC fans, but Green Arrow will not be making his DC Universe debut in Lanterns. DC Studios co-ceo James Gunn recently shot down a rumor circulating the web that claimed that Lanterns star Garret Dillahunt was secretly playing the fan-favorite archer in the HBO series.

The rumor began circulating after Dillahunt shared a now-deleted Instagram post featuring a photo of himself as the Emerald Archer, along with some storyboard shots. With the actor having been previously cast as William Macon, "a self-righteous, conspiracy-minded man who masks his ruthless ambition behind a charming and calculated facade," in Lanterns, many fans quickly took to the idea that William Macon was being used as a placeholder name to keep Green Arrow's Dcu debut a secret.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Garret Dillahunt (@garretdillahunt)

Unfortunately, that is not the case. After a fan asked on Threads if Dillahunt was actually...

"Since its founding in 1939 as Timely Comics, Marvel has published some of the most iconic series in American comic book history [...] For over 45 years, Fantagraphics has published the very best comics and graphic novels that the medium has to offer [...] Now these two publishing titans are teaming up for Lost Marvels, an ambitious series of hardcover releases featuring never-before collected comics by masters of the Silver Age, including Neal Adams, John Buscema, Howard Chaykin, Stan Lee, Jim Steranko, Barry Windsor-Smith, and other masters of the Silver Age."

Fantagraphics, collaborating with Marvel Comics, will publish three hardcover volumes in the Lost Marvels series this year, with more to follow in the years to come. These EC-style stories have been banned since the Comics Code went into effect in the 1950s, and we are very excited to share with Daily Dead readers At The Stroke of Midnight! from the upcoming Lost Marvels No.

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Everyone knows Batman's origin story. Let's see if we can condense it into a few simple sentence fragments, the way that Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's "All-Star Superman" did for its lead hero.

Rich couple. Mugging gone wrong. Orphaned son. A Dark Knight.

People often complain that Batman movies put too much focus on the death of his parents. But while Thomas and Martha Wayne are (almost) always doomed as Bruce's origin story, different films offer different interpretations of it.

Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins" wasn't the first film to show the Wayne murders, but it was the first to show how Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) moved on from that tragedy to become Batman. The film bases its first act on Dennis O'Neil and Dick Giordano's 1989 comic, "The Man Who Falls," showing Bruce traveling the world and learning...

Where would superhero movies be without Tim Burton's "Batman?" Well, for one thing, we wouldn't have the memory of witnessing Michael Keaton's Batman being shoehorned into the superheroic bomb that was 2022's "The Flash." More seriously, Burton's 1989 mega-hit not only directly influenced the trajectory of superhero movie evolution, it changed the way studios marketed their blockbusters and re-established Batman in the public consciousness as the dark avenger first introduced in 1939's "Detective Comics" #27.

The fact the movie exists in the first place is nothing short of miraculous. "Batman" was a major risk in 1989. Aside from the fact the Christopher Reeve-led "Superman" films had gone out with a whimper in 1987 with "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace," the Dark Knight just wasn't a reliable blockbuster IP at that stage. Still very much seen by the public as the clownish figure from Adam West's 1960s TV series,...

In Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins," the defining question of the film is: "Why do we fall?" The answer, which Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) learns again and again, is "So we can learn to pick ourselves back up."

The commonly cited influence on "Batman Begins" is "Batman: Year One" by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, the definitive origin of Batman. The other two parts of the "Dark Knight" trilogy have been similarly tied to famous Batman stories: "The Dark Knight" is "The Long Halloween" plus "The Killing Joke," featuring a Joker (Heath Ledger) who wants to break Gotham City's soul and succeeds in turning Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) into Two-Face. Then "The Dark Knight Rises" closes out the myth by combining "Knightfall," "The Dark Knight Returns," and "No Man's Land" to bring Batman low so he can climb back up to meet his greatest and last challenge.

But is there...

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Batman has one of the most enviable ensembles of recurring villains in superhero comics. Look back at the 1960s "Batman" TV series starring Adam West, though, and not a lot of those now familiar evildoers are there.

Oh, for sure, the Joker (Cesar Romero), the Riddler, Catwoman, and the Penguin (Burgess Meredith) all frequently guest star. It's because of the West series that this crew was long considered the Big Four of Batman villains; it's no coincidence that they were also the first four villains to star in the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher-directed "Batman" films.

Then you had some other comic villains, like Mr. Freeze and the Mad Hatter, put in a few appearances too. But many episodes of "Batman" instead had West's Caped Crusader and Robin (Burt Ward) face villains created specifically for the show, including wannabe pharoah...

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Who is the Marvel Comics equivalent to Batman? Is it Iron Man, another industrialist with no superpowers but plenty of resources, who fights crime with his own genius and inventions? Is it Moon Knight, another driven caped crusader? What about more direct Batman analogues, like Nighthawk? All valid answers, but for me, the closest Marvel has to Batman is Matt Murdock/Daredevil — and not just because Ben Affleck has played both Batman and Daredevil on screen.

They're both broody and grim avengers of the night, who hand out justice with a hard bloody fist — fighting half like a boxer, half like a ninja — yet restrain themselves from killing. At night both Batman and Daredevil patrol rooftops and alleys, all part of their obsessive quests to be the savior of their city. Daredevil's horns give him a similar silhouette as Batman's cowl,...

Warning: Spoilers for Batgirl #3!Some Batman fans don't realize that the League of Shadows and the League of Assassins are two separate entities. Ra's al Ghul always had the League of Assassins, but when adapted for the screen in Batman Begins and later Arrow, the organization was renamed the League of Shadows. In hopes of synchronizing the comics with adaptations, DC introduced the League of Shadows in the comics as a separate group, furthering confusion.

Batgirl #3 by Tate Brombal, Takeshi Miyazawa, Mike Spicer, and Tom Napolitano brings the League of Shadows back into DC Universe canon. Cassandra Cain reluctantly teams up with Lady Shiva, and after taking refuge with her Order of Shiva, she discovers that her mother is running the current iteration of the League of Shadows.

Some fans may assume that the League of Shadows is just the League of Assassins under a different title, like in DC's movies and TV shows.

There are so many Spider-Man characters who have gotten massive respect and recognition as characters who can stand apart from Peter Parker. Major characters like Miles Morales and Eddie Brock have proven they can carry their own comic books. But not every character gets the respect they deserve. J. Jonah Jameson is still often flanderized into being a conspiracy nut who doesn't care about anything but destroying Spider-Man, and Madame Web is someone no one cares about, despite the fact she's done a lot to earn respect.

So many characters have gotten their own spin-offs and tons of respect. Miles has gotten his own video game and even stars in several movies. Venom is much the same. While he doesn't have a video game yet, he does have a trilogy of movies under his belt. But Madame Web has yet to get the same level of respect. While she's definitely got a movie,...

One of Stan Lee's many innovations as Marvel Comics editor-in-chief was setting the publisher's superhero stories in the real-world location of New York City. That greater sense of reality and interconnectivity within the comics helped create a sense of community among the fans (which Lee purposefully cultivated). You can track the trend of creators and fans trying to fit superheroes into the "real world" back to Lee's marvelous NYC. Compare this to the older heroes of DC Comics, who had their adventures in places like Gotham City, Star City, etc. These characters had made up homes because they were so obviously figures who could never exist in our world; writing a superhero comic is like telling a fairy tale.

Note how Superman's home, Metropolis, is literally named for the word meaning "large city." But again, a lot of comic fans really like to know where the fabulistic cities of DC are,...

Two of the most iconic members of the Justice League are Green Arrow and Batman. The latter is one of its founding members, whereas the former is one of the League's most consistent supporting players, having earned his membership through amazing feats, like defeating DC's version of the Hulk. However, the weight that each member holds on the team, and in the DC Universe overall, is far from equal.

It's no secret that Green Arrow and Batman aren't viewed on equal footing - in-universe, by other characters, or even by DC Comics fans. Both characters sport similar characteristics, yet Bruce Wayne still eclipses Oliver Queen in popularity. Not even Green Arrow's more recent television show - Arrow, which spawned more than a decade's worth of a CW universe - was enough to overtake Batman in popularity. There are key reasons why, no matter how much Green he brings in, Green...

Many famous characters got their start from Spider-Man from Miles Morales and Venom. However, not every side character from Spider-Man has managed to be successful. Try as Marvel might, they just can't seem to figure out what to do with Madame Web, and after a disastrous move, some fans are beginning to question if Madame Web is a character even worth trying to salvage at all.

First appearing way back in Amazing Spider-Man #210 by Dennis O'Neil and John Romita Jr, Madame Web was a medium working in New York City and one that Spider-Man didn't really put any stock in. He considered her nothing more than a fraud, but after a crime left him with no clues, he figured there wasn't any harm in at least asking for her help. To his genuine surprise, Madame Web's powers turned out to be very real, and she easily helped him locate the criminals he was after.

Quick Links Smallville Included a Surprising Cameo by Madame Web Smallville Loved Connecting To Other Projects Madame Web's Smallville Crossover Is Fitting

Long before the war between the DC Extended Universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Smallville was forging a universe of its own. It first began in 2001, which was seven years before Iron Man took to the skies to battle terrorists and corrupt executives on the big screen. The show even came before Christopher Nolan's acclaimed Batman movie series began in 2005 with the aptly titled Batman Begins.

Smallville was pitched as a then-modern adaptation of Superman's origin story. As such, it only has been shown a few DC characters outside of Metropolis and Smallville itself. With Clark Kent still exploring the limits of his powers, he was still far too new to interact with Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, or other standout heroes. They were slowly introduced, of course,...

Warning: Spoilers for Green Lantern / Green Arrow: World's Finest Special #1Though Green Arrow has faced many villains over the years, he's never quite managed to find his own iconic rival, but he's gotten close with Deathstroke. That said, their first meeting has never really been explained - until now. Fans finally get to see the first confrontation between these two that would kick off a decades-long rivalry.

Green Arrow and Green Lantern seem like the perfect match, and it seems that DC agreed, considering that the two starred in the iconic Hard Travelin' Heroes story by Dennis O'Neil, Neal Adams, Mike Grell, and Dick Giordano that followed the two characters traveling across America together. This story proved so popular that DC has decided to revisit it with Green Lantern / Green Arrow: World's Finest Special #1 by Jeremy Adams and Lucas Meyer.

Not only is this special one-shot a return to...

Warning! Spoilers for Green Lantern / Green Arrow: World's Finest Special #1

Batman and Superman may be widely recognized as an iconic duo, but I think another pair deserves their status as the "World's Finest" bromance in DC lore. Green Lantern's friendship with Green Arrow, despite being less popular, is worthy of much more recognition. This criminally underrated superhero pair puts Batman and Superman to shame, and I don't understand how anyone could think otherwise.

It's no surprise why Batman and Superman's friendship is featured so prominently in comics; after all, they're both key members of the Justice League's Trinity. Now, in Green Lantern / Green Arrow: World's Finest Special #1 by Jeremy Adams and Lucas Meyer, their position at the top has been challenged as this overlooked duo reunites on a road trip.

Green Lantern and Green Arrow may butt heads constantly, yet when it's time to get serious, they're an even...

Warning: Spoilers for Jenny Sparks #5

Most superheroes in the DC Universe use disguises to keep their civilian lives separate from their heroics, and Batman is no exception. However, some are better than others at keeping their true nature hidden, with Superman in particular having the best disguise of all. One hero's quick exposure of Batman's true identity proves how much more obvious his disguise is than Superman's.

In Jenny Sparks #5 by Tom King, Jeff Spokes, and Clayton Cowles, the titular hero sleeps at a bar as a man nearby drunkenly discusses politics with a mysterious figure. As Jenny wakes up to light a cigarette, the man offers her a match and introduces himself as Matches Malone. However, Jenny immediately sees through his disguise and refers to him by his proper title: Batman.

While Jenny Sparks is quick to slap down Batman, she apparently fails to notice that Superman is seated beside her as Clark Kent.

Many of the inmates of comics' most infamous madhouse, Arkham Asylum, are there because Batman put them there – but as many long-time DC Comics readers will know, the Caped Crusader has had his share of moments where it felt as though he belonged in Arkham himself. These quotes represent some of Batman's darkest, most unsettling lines, which prove he may not be a paragon of sanity himself.

For most fans, this is a core part of the Dark Knight's character; that is, unlike his heroic counterpart Superman, Batman willfully brushes up against the darkness, channeling his obsessions, at his at-times unhinged behavior, into his neverending quest to make the streets of Gotham City safer.

Still, Batman has had his share of moments that called his mental health into question, and suggesting that it wouldn't take much more than a simple twist of fate to find him in an Arkham cell in his own right.

Aaron Pierre is putting in an “extensive” amount of homework to portray the beloved Green Lantern known as John Stewart in the upcoming HBO Original series, Lanterns. As it turns out, Pierre isn’t a stranger to the world of DC Comics either, as he portrayed a member of Kandor City's Sagitari, named Dev-Em, on Syfy’s Superman prequel show, Krypton. And the actor spoke about becoming one of Sector 2814’s protectors in the Dcu during a brand-new interview promoting his next film, Mufasa: The Lion King. Pierre said (per ComicBook.com):

“What I can tell you is that the team are just super, super excited to have this opportunity to bring this story to the people. And so far as I’m concerned, I’m gonna do my very best to serve and honor and elevate, in any way I can, John Stewart and the [Green Lantern] Corps. Hopefully, I serve that,...

The DC Universe fans know and love exists because of the amazing contributions of some truly visionary artists. The publishing giant simply wouldn’t be where it is today without the work of the thousands of talented creators illustrating the never-ending adventures of the DC Universe’s heroes and villains.

Out of the numerous artists who have worked on DC Comics stories over the years, it’s hard to pick out just a handful to highlight when there are so many deserving creators. But the following list takes a look at ten outstanding comic book illustrators and examines why every fan should know who they are.

Dan Mora is Shaping the DC Universe Known For: Batman/Superman: World's Finest, Absolute Power

Dan Mora is a greener name than most others on this list, but he’s become a fan-favorite among many for his versatile art, engaging battle sequences, and...

"Transformers" does not have a singular creator — that's what happens when a story begins for commercial reasons, not artistic ones. During the 1980s, toy giant Hasbro imported several Japanese action figures of transforming robots. The Reagan administration had also loosened regulations on advertising in children's entertainment, so now Hasbro just needed a story to sell these "Transformers."

That call was answered by Marvel Comics, who Hasbro had already partnered with Marvel to develop their "G.I. Joe" series. In 1981, writer Larry Hama was pitching a new Nick Fury series. Then in came Hasbro, who wanted creative input for their planned action figure line "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero." Marvel's Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter first suggested the idea of G.I. Joe as a anti-terrorism team, and proposed that Hama fold his ideas for Nick Fury into "G.I. Joe." Cue an ongoing "Joe" comic written by Hama, published by Marvel hitting stands in 1982.

Amusingly,...

The Dcu is undergoing a major overhaul under the direction of James Gunn and Peter Safran, and one of the most anticipated projects is Lanterns, which could introduce an underutilized hero from DC’s pantheon. The Dcu's Lanterns series promises a new take on DC's famed Green Lantern characters, with a noir-inspired detective story at its core. While many are naturally hyped about seeing Hal Jordan and John Stewart as the titular characters, the show presents an exciting opportunity to introduce a lesser-used, yet pivotal DC Comics hero into the Dcu timeline: Green Arrow.

The Dcu’s Lanterns series will feature two Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan and John Stewart, in a show envisioned as a "True Detective in space," focusing on the duo uncovering a larger mystery while patrolling Earth. While the Green Lantern Corps mythology is expansive, early descriptions of the series emphasize a grounded approach. A very convincing...

In the modern Cbm landscape, one thing that has remained constant since the 2010s is James Gunn’s love for obscure misfit characters. Notable for making Guardians a worldwide phenomenon, the director isn’t straying away from his roots, as in true Gunn fashion, his Dcu is set to kickstart with another bunch of misfits, Creature Commandos.

Creature Commandos | Credit: DC Studios

Moreover, The Suicide Squad filmmaker has assured fans that the Dcu will not shy away from tackling the rated-r territory, which could allow them to shed light on one of the publisher’s most underrated characters.

James Gunn’s Dcu Will Not Be Held Back by Ratings James Gunn | Credit: Erik Drost/Licensed under Cc By 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

During his interview with Collider, the DC boss set the record straight about the new regime’s stance on rated-r stories. Elaborating on it, James Gunn expressed that if the story demands it,...

Warning: Contains Potential Spoilers for The Boy Wonder #3!Tim Drake's Robin reveals that one of the most important lessons he's learned about investigations was taught to him not by Batman, but rather by Bruce Wayne's other alter ego, Matches Malonea New Jersey gangster and arsonist persona that has become a favorite among fans and Bruce's own Robins.

Juni Bas Black Label series continues with The Boy Wonder #3, focusing on the relationship between Batmans two youngest sons, Damian Wayne and Tim Drake. During the issue, Damian and Tim attend the Penguin's gala as Wayne family representatives.

Tensions arise when Damian misunderstands Tim's interactions with Gotham's elite, accusing him of exploiting "their fathers trust to enrich himself." This disagreement prompts Damian to storm off in frustration. Later, during a battle against one of Ras al Ghuls demons, Red Robin reveals that instead of making deals with Gothams elite, he was...

While the biggest stars of DC Comics have remained the same for decades, the publisher's stories have seen a great deal of change, redesign, and reinvention. Although some of these retcons and alterations were -- and still are -- unpopular, others have aged like fine wine, and continue to bear fruit even today.

If it weren't for some of these stories of colossal change, DC might not be as successful or influential as it remains to this day. Ranging from tonal shifts to a character's story, to an outright replacement and full-blown redesign, these DC Comics completely changed their characters, forever.

The New Teen Titans Reinvented Dick Grayson Marv Wolfman and George Prez

In the 1980s, Dick Grayson made the shocking decision to retire as Batman's sidekick, and join the Teen Titans. Thanks to the collaboration between Marv Wolfman and George Prez, Grayson later adopted the mantle of Nightwing, signalling...

Arkham Asylum is one of the most iconic locations in the Batman universe and has appeared in numerous live-action DC films and television series with mixed results. As Gotham City's infamous psychiatric hospital, it houses many of Batman's deadliest foes, from the Joker to Two-Face. Over the years, Arkham Asylum has been brought to life in various live-action adaptations in the Dcu timeline, each with its own unique take on the setting. While some versions embrace the Gothic horror of the asylum, others have opted for more clinical or realistic interpretations.

First appearing in Batman #258 (1974), Arkham Asylum has been a staple of Gotham City's dark underbelly. Created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Irv Novick, Arkham has evolved over the years from a simple psychiatric hospital into a symbol of the citys corruption, madness, and decay. Its presence looms large in Batmans world, serving as the backdrop for countless stories,...

Aaron Pierre, the star of Netflix’s Rebel Ridge, has nabbed the plum part of Green Lantern John Stewart in DC Studios’ and HBO’s much-ballyhooed series Lanterns.

The casting caps one of the more scrutinized actor searches in some time. Not only is the show the first major TV endeavor from DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, but the role of Stewart carries much significance, as the fan-favorite comic book character was one of DC’s first Black superheroes.

The intense casting process came down to Pierre and Stephan James, who is on the festival circuit with drama The Piano Lesson and who starred in the 2016 Jesse Owens biopic Race. Both participated in screen tests, with the actors squaring off against the already cast Kyle Chandler on Thursday and Friday. Each actor had their boosters, but the final decision was made Tuesday.

Pierre definitely brings heat to the show,...

Warning: Spoilers for Wonder Woman #13 ahead!Wonder Woman has gone through many different looks over the years, but few provided such drastic changes as when she was rewritten as a fashion-forward, jet-setting secret agent in the 1960s. While a bold shift, the change in tone was not well-received, and for good reason; now, contemporary issues of Wonder Woman decisively prove that Diana's trendiest redesign never needed to happen and was, in fact, redundant at every level.

Wonder Woman #13 by Tom King, Tony S. Daniel, Leonardo Paciarotti, and Clayton Cowles is one of Diana's best moments of 2024. Not only does Wonder Woman reunite with and rescue Steve Trevor, she does so with panache and style in an incredible display of strength.

Despite lacking her powers, Wonder Woman deflects enemy bullets and successfully stalls for time long enough for the captured heroes to escape before making her exit - all while passionately kissing her long-time love interest,...

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Green Arrow #16!Everything Green Arrow has been rebuilding for the last year has been destroyed with the two words he hoped he'd never have to hear. The scales have fallen from Team Arrow's eyes after seeing the extent of Oliver Queen's shocking new life choices.

Amanda Waller has gone all-in in an effort to take down the DC Universe's metahuman population. In a moment that surprised every one of his family members, Oliver decided to work with her, going so far as to reject his superhero identity. Now Green Arrow faces his family for the first time since his turn to the dark side, and they have only one thing to say to him.

Green Arrow's Team Calls Him a Fascist Oliver Queen is Called the Very Thing He Once Fought

In Green Arrow #16 by Joshua Williamson, Amancay Nahuelpan, Sean Izaakse, Romulo Fajardo Jr.

“Captain America: Brave New World” writer Matthew Orton has been tapped to write a Bane and Deathstroke movie for DC Studios, according to an insider with knowledge of the project.

No director is currently attached to the forthcoming film.

Deathstroke

Deathstroke was created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. He is a mercenary and assassin who first appeared in the “New Teen Titans” #2 back in 1980. Wizard magazine rated him the 24th greatest villain of all time.

In 2009, Deathstroke was ranked as IGN’s 32nd greatest comic book villain of all time. Deathstroke, also known as Deathstroke the Terminator or simply Slade, is known to be the greatest assassin in all of DC Comics.

Deathstroke was meant to be a one-off villain for the Teen Titans, his story being that he took over a contract to kill the team after his son succumbed to his own superhuman enhancements. Instead, he was...

DC Studios has narrowed down its picks to play John Stewart in the upcoming Green Lantern series, Lanterns. The list includes Rebel Ridge's Aaron Pierre and If Beale Street Could Talk's Stephan James. While Hal Jordan is typically seen as the most famous Green Lantern in comics, John Stewart is likely the character that most general audiences know due to his role in hit animated series like Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, and Static Shock. John Stewart was created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams and made his first appearance in Green Lantern Vol. 2 #87 in December 1971. He was DC Comics' first African-American superhero. Fans have been waiting for the character to make his live-action debut for years, and now it appears the casting search is nearly complete.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Aaron Pierre and Stephan James are both in the running to play John Stewart in Lanterns.

DC Studios and HBO’s much-ballyhooed series Lanterns is hitting its final casting stages.

Aaron Pierre, star of Netflix thriller Rebel Ridge, and The Piano Lesson actor Stephan James are in the mix to play fan favorite hero John Stewart, multiple sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.

It is unclear if the pair are testing or reading — and sources say a decision could be made by the end of the weekend.

Damson Idris, star of FX’s Snowfall, was on the shortlist, but is no longer in contention due to a scheduling conflict, according to sources.

HBO and DC had no comment.

Lanterns has a straight-to-series order at HBO and comes from high-pedigreed creators. Chris Mundy (Ozark), Damon Lindelof (Watchmen, Lost) and Eisner Award-winning comic book writer Tom King are executive producing and writing, with Mundy showrunning.

Kyle Chandler landed the role of classic Lantern Hal Jordan after DC looked for...

Green Lantern has had a rough history on film. In 2011, Warner Bros. bet on the hero being their Iron Man; a B-lister underdog who could kick off a blockbuster franchise. "Green Lantern" starring Ryan Reynolds did not fly high so the character was almost completely absent from the DC Extended Universe. (None of the major Green Lanterns show up in either cut of "Justice League.")

Now, James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Studios is again looking to make the Green Lantern Corps an early fixture of their DC Films. Nathan Fillion is playing Guy Gardner in 2025's "Superman" and a "Lanterns" TV series is currently in development at HBO. A "True Detective" style murder mystery, "Lanterns" will star the two most famous comic Green Lanterns: Hal Jordan and John Stewart (not the one from "The Daily Show").

Kyle Chandler has recently been cast as Hal Jordan, so what about John?...

Since 1939, Batman has stood out as one of DC's darkest heroes, something that has only intensified since Frank Miller got ahold of the character. With the company assigning some of their star creative teams to the hero, every writer has left their own spin. While some creators do try and give The Dark Knight a lighter touch, others have made a point of outdoing one another in seeing just how grim a story they can write.

Batman may be thought of as one of the darkest heroes at DC, but that actually wasn't always the case. Before the Bronze Age, the Caped Crusader was a relatively lighthearted figure, whose adventures were closer in tone to the Adam West show than modern stories. During the 1970s, however, he returned to his darker Golden Age roots, and the company hasn't looked back since. As a result, these are just a sample of...

Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger for 1939's Detective Comics #27, Batman has steadily grown into DC's most successful hero, now dominating the sales charts. At any given time, the street-level antihero can be found in a variety of formats, from graphic novels and miniseries to ongoing titles.

With almost nine decades of history, Batman has been written into some of the industry's greatest adventures, with visionary creators like Dennis O'Neil, Neal Adams and more defining his modern mythos. While most of Batman's iconic stories have been told in miniseries or multi-issue arc format, he has a long history of brilliant single-issue stories, too. Ranging from Silver Age crime capers to modern adventure stories, the Caped Crusader's versatility can be seen in these short stories. In fact, some of his most underrated and character-defining stories can be found in single issue format.

Related "I'm Gonna Be The New Kingpin Of...

The Justice League has stood out as DC Comics' flagship superhero team since its creation in 1960 by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky. Through stories like The New Frontier, Tower of Babel and Darkseid War, the team has been written into some of the greatest adventures in print. While the team is best-known for its god-tier characters, it also houses some expert martial artists and warriors, whose skills in combat outshine even the likes of Superman.

The Justice League has, through its sixty-year history, assembled a slew of superheroes, from obscure Z-listers to legendary legacy heroes like Batman. Power levels aside, one of the most vital skillsets on the team has always been fighting ability, something that makes a character useful whether they have powers or not. The ability to stand toe-to-toe with some of the greatest killers and assassins in the Dcu has proven key many times over, and these...

Quick Links James Gunn Has Compared the Dcu to Westeros Many Batman Projects Have Taken a More Realistic Approach Arkham Asylum Ties Batmans Rogues Gallery Together and Teases His History Great Batman Stories Set in Arkham Asylum Can Inspire the Dcu

Arkham Asylum is a key location in Batman and DC lore. The setting has been featured in numerous pieces of Batman media for years, with Rocksteady's video game franchise putting a real focus on the psychiatric facility. Arkham Asylum is an institute in Gotham City where most of Batman's greatest foes end up after their defeat. With James Gunn and Peter Safran rebooting under the DC Universe (Dcu), The Brave and the Bold will introduce a new Batman, separate from the version Matt Reeves crafted with Robert Pattinson for the 2022 film.

Reeves was developing a series set in Arkham Asylum that would've taken place in the Dcu. That series was eventually cast aside.

Nightwing #116 sees Dick Grayson adopt the alias Robbie Malone to evade law enforcement. Dick's Robbie Malone was inspired by Batman's Matches Malone. Dick's use of the Malone persona has more appearances in fan-created works than canon appearances.

Warning: Contains Potential Spoilers for Nightwing #116!Nightwing has been known by many names: Robin, Ric, Agent 37, Talon, and more. But through it all, he could always count on his given name, Dick Grayson. However, his latest adversary has stripped the Original Boy Wonder of this identity by framing him as the supervillain serial killer, Heartless. This has forced Dick to resurrect one of his most fan-loved aliasesRobbie Malone.

Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondos Nightwing #116 picks up with Dick Grayson on the run after escaping police custody. In the previous issue, Shelton Heartless Lyle succeeded in framing Dick as Heartless, turning the Original Boy Wonders own city against him.

Now, determined to conquer his...

According to rumors, James Gunn will make Green Arrow a part of his Justice League team in the Dcu. The character has a decent fanbase, thanks to Stephen Amell’s eight-season run as Oliver Queen in The CW show, Arrow. Earlier, Zack Snyder tried to include the character in the Dceu, with another actor considered for the role, but it didn’t ultimately work out. Interestingly, rumors also suggest that Dcu will make Black Canary his partner.

Stephen Amell as Green Arrow in Arrow | The CW

Amell expressed interest in reprising the character for a film version, which also didn’t happen probably due to Amell’s personal life troubles. The character Black Canary appeared in the Dceu, played by Jurnee Smollett, in the film Birds of Prey.

James Gunn Might Bring Both Green Arrow and Black Canary Into The Dcu

James Gunn is reportedly bringing DC Comics’ Green Arrow...

Looking back, the early nineties were the best of times and worst of times for Batman fans. In 1989, fans got their first big-budget Hollywood Batman movie, followed by the 1992 sequel Batman Returns. Both of these films boasted A-list talent and made huge money. But they weren’t really interested in Batman, at least not the guy that comic book readers loved.

But 1992 saw the launch of Batman: The Animated Series, a cartoon that gave fans some of the best ever tales of the Dark Knight, in any media. Created by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, The Animated Series took some visual cues from Burton’s movies, especially in its designs for Catwoman and the Penguin, but it was grounded in the Bronze Age comics by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams as well as 1940s cinema.

Taking a lead from the Fleischer Brothers’ Superman cartoons, Timm and Radomski insisted upon smooth animation for their project,...

Arkham Asylum has been a pivotal location in Batman lore since its debut in 1974, expanding beyond just the Bat-Family. No supervillain prison in comics has captivated readers like Arkham Asylum, even spawning a successful video game series. The history of Arkham Asylum, from its inception with Amadeus Arkham to its constantly evolving lore, makes it a unique and essential part of the DC Universe.

No location in the history of Batman lore has become as pivotal to the overall DC Universe as Arkham Asylum. The asylum is most deeply associated with the Batman character, but since first debuting in the comics, Arkham has become linked to a number of other heroes and storylines outside of just the Bat-Family.

Arkham Asylum first debuted in 1974 and continues to be linked to numerous heroes and villains outside of Batman's world. No supervillain super-prison equivalent in Marvel or DC has captivated readers so obsessively,...

Shōgun, the critically acclaimed historical drama created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, finished its 10-episode run on FX last week. Anna Sawai received acclaim from critics and viewers alike for her portrayal of the tragic Toda Mariko.

The New Zealand-born actress, 31, is expected to be flooded with some good film offers, and it would not be shocking if she got a chance to play a big superhero role at some point. When speaking with THR about her career in Hollywood, Sawai hinted that her big break might have come much sooner.

Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko in Shōgun

She had the opportunity to audition for the role of Katana in Suicide Squad (2016), but she had to pass that up because of her commitment to her J-Pop group, Faky. Fortunately for us, Sawai could still be cast in a wide range of roles that are spiritually related to her Shōgun character.

Long-time DC writer Denny O'Neil regrets depowering Wonder Woman during his run; while he did this in an attempt to make her a stronger character, he later recognized that this creative decision backfired, hindering her status as the greatest female superhero, rather than aiding it. In O'Neil's Wonder Woman #179, Diana lost her powers, and sought to compensate for her lack of superhero abilities by seeking a martial arts master and studing under him. O'Neil admits his attempt to redefine Wonder Woman didn't work as he intended, leading to one of his biggest regrets as a creator.

Wonder Woman is among the most celebrated female icons in comic books – though one of her writers admits, in retrospect, that he inadvertently damaged her reputation in his classic run with the character. Unfortunately, as comic legend Denny O'Neil noted, this happened as part of his attempt to make the character even better, which...

The latest trailer for "Deadpool & Wolverine" suggests the movie might be even more of a cameo-fest than we'd previously predicted.

Hugh Jackman is back as Logan, of course, and he's bringing leftover characters from the erstwhile 20th Century Fox's Marvel Universe. We already knew Elektra (Jennifer Garner), Pyro (Aaron Stanford), and Toad would be back. So will Wolverine's archenemy Sabretooth, perhaps finally giving Logan a chance at closure.

Around the 1:50 minute mark of the new trailer, you were probably focused on the decapitated head of a Giant Man variant (his rotting skull concealed within his ant-styled helmet). I'm much more curious about the characters standing beneath this makeshift base, who look to be familiar (mutant) faces from previous "X-Men" films: Yuriko Oyama/Lady Deathstrike from "X2" and Azazel from "X-Men: First Class."

Both are seen at too far a distance to determine if their previous actors...

"Batman: The Animated Series" has many artistic fathers. Tim Burton's 1989 "Batman" film, of course, but also the Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons of the 1940s, the Art Deco movement (which the skyscrapers of Gotham City are made in the visage of), and film noir.

Noir is a film genre characterized by dark high-contrast shadows ("noir" means "black" in French) shot in black-and-white, featuring urban settings, crime (whether the lead is on the wrong or right side of the law), beautiful but duplicitous women, and nefarious schemes gone awry. Noir sprouted up in the 1930s-40s, when most films were black-and-white and pulp novels, from thrillers and to detective stories, were easy fodder for Hollywood adaptations. The storytelling motifs of those books were thus intertwined with Hollywood's biting black-and-white style.

"Batman: The Animated Series" was made in color (the villains have costumes running the whole rainbow spectrum), but it was drawn...

Fans won't have to wait long for the Dcu's new era with James Gunn and Peter Safran. The Question offers exciting street-level crime drama potential for the small screen. Dennis O'Neil and Denys Cowan's run on The Question deserves a thrilling TV adaptation.

Fans won't have to wait long for co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe to usher in a new theatrical era, but the gritty street-level exploits of The Question are an exciting idea for the small screen. The Question isn't the most prolific hero in DC Comics' pantheon, but he's certainly one of its most compelling when it comes to grounded crime dramas.

The late writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Denys Cowan created perhaps the most standout run in the character's history, reinventing the reporter-by-day and vigilante-by-night Vic Sage to tell resonating stories of systemic corruption and social injustices. The Dcu figureheads have already announced...

DC and Marvel have given the world some of the greatest characters in pop culture: Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, and D-Man. So if the two companies were to put their heads together and come up with a character that they could share, that character would be the greatest comic creation of all time, right?

Well, if that’s what you think, then let me introduce you to Axel Asher, aka Access. And let me tell you right from the beginning, that he is not the greatest comic creation of all time.

A History of Crossovers

Before going too far into the history of the greatest comic find of his generation, we have to put the distinction between the big two into their proper context. Long before Snyder bros blasted the MCU for making unserious movies about people in colorful tights, long before Marvel Zombies knocked DC for dealing in boring gods,...