The DCEU has had many ups and downs over the years, but it looks like the new co-chairman of DC Studios, James Gunn, will be rebooting it to some extent and forming the DCU (DC Universe). It may have had great casting choices, riveting action sequences, and some wildly entertaining standalone films, but there were a number of things it got wrong. Not only were a handful of the movies subpar and the shared universe disjointed, but there were details that just went against the source material a little too much. Here are just some of the areas the DCEU went wrong.

Killing Jimmy Olsen

Jimmy Olsen is a close friend to Clark Kent and Lois Lane and plays a major role in their lives. He’s a key element in Superman comics and is important for Superman’s story as a whole since he serves as an anchor that keeps Clark grounded in humanity and gives him a friend that’s not his love interest or another superhero. That’s why his treatment in the DCEU is so criminal. He’s introduced and killed off in a single scene in Batman v. Superman: The Dawn of Justice. They don’t even say his name, director Zack Snyder confirmed on social media after the fact. Why throw such a fun and important character away like that?

Black Adam Rivaling Superman Instead of Shazam

Shazam’s archnemesis is Black Adam. Their powers stem from the same source. Black Adam was created as a Shazam (Captain Marvel back then) character. It was a little weird when Black Adam would star in his own movie before appearing alongside Shazam, but they could have used it to build up to the two foes duking it out. However, they don’t do that. They instead teased Superman as being a rival to Black Adam. That’s a bit of a random choice. It’s like using the Joker as a Wonder Woman antagonist. It just doesn’t quite work the same.

Barry Becoming the Flash Before a Forensic Scientist

Barry Allen becomes a forensic scientist for the police so he can eventually prove his father innocent for his mother’s murder. That much is correct when it’s adapted in Justice League. However, Barry announces to his father at the end of the film that he’ll be starting his career as a forensic scientist soon. If he’s not in forensics, then how is he the Flash? He becomes the Flash because of the chemicals in his forensics lab when he’s struck by lightning. No forensics lab means no Speedster powers for him.

The Birds of Prey Lineup

The Birds of Prey in the comics originally consisted of Huntress, Black Canary, and Oracle who served as their leader. Other members, like Lady Blackhawk, Hawkgirl, and Vixen have been members as well. The Birds of Prey movie, though, replaces the leader with the ex-girlfriend of her sexual assaulter. On top of that, the actual members of the team are used as side characters who don’t get a lot of screentime. A Batgirl is used in the movie, but she never becomes Batgirl and is a non-mute Cassandra Kane. The ex-cop Renee Montoya (who is portrayed and written shockingly well in the movie) is also on the team for some reason. It’s a wild way to adapt something.

The Flash’s Lightning Color

In the world of DC, a Speedster’s lightning color indicates how close they are to the Speed Force, and how powerful they are as a result. Barry Allen would typically start with orange lightning, but gain blue lightning as he becomes a more powerful Speedster. In Justice League, he has blue lightning even though he’s clearly new to the superhero life. Apparently in this version he’s starting off at the height of his powers but still needs constant guidance from Batman. It’s a small detail, but it does actually have meaning in the source material. 

Rick Flagg as a Decoy

In The Suicide Squad, Amanda Waller has what she deems as “extendable” members of Task Force X sacrificed as decoys for the second team to sneak on by. It’s a solid strategy, but some of these members are far from expendable. Not only is Mongal a nearly indestructible alien with super strength, but Suicide Squad staples Harley Quinn and Captain Boomerang have proved their worth to Waller time and time again. The strangest, though, is Rick Flag is with these sacrifices. Flag is a U.S. Army colonel who serves as the Suicide Squad’s field leader. He’s not a criminal with a bomb in the base of his skull like the others. He’s there for his job. It doesn’t make much sense for Waller to off him like the others.

Post Credits Scenes Went Nowhere

Post credits scenes have become a staple of modern superhero blockbusters. Sometimes they’re just fun and jokey. Sometimes it gives a little more information for the story. Other times they’re used to build up what’s next in a franchise. The DCEU is riddled with post credits scenes that act as if they’re building something up, but those moments that are hinted at never come. Lex Luthor recruits Deathstroke to the Legion of Doom, but they never show up again. Mister Mind says he has plans for Dr. Sivana, and he’s left him hanging twice. Superman has a threatening little talk with Black Adam, but their fight will never come. Teasing things that never happen is a truly annoying trend that will hopefully stop in the new DCU.

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