This DC Elseworlds Comics Is Perfect For A TV Adaptation (& Would Use a Genre DC Rarely Tries)

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After the release of the animated Creature Commandos TV series, and with the upcoming live-action Superman (2025) film directed by James Gunn, the DCU is officially beginning to set the stage for a new era in the DC Universe beyond the comic industry. DC continues to produce high-quality comics and has been pretty consistent when it comes to television releases.

With live-action series like Superman & Lois concluded, and the legendary DC Animated Universe long behind them, DC needs something fresh and exciting for the future of its television slate. With the start of the DCU, Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios have a unique opportunity to do something extreme and craft a television series, live-action or animated, based on a comic series that takes place outside the main DC Universe: Dark Knights of Steel.

As DC Moves Away From the Arrowverse and Into the DCU, What Does The Future of DC TV Look Like?

DC has always had a strong hand in television. Warner Bros. Animation dominated Saturday morning cartoons in the 1990s and early 2000s with the DCAU––shows like Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited.

All the while, Smallville drew in slightly older audiences, capitalizing on the fresh take on Clark Kent and the rise of teen dramas on television. Fast-forward a few years, and the Arrowverse skyrocketed in popularity with the release of Supergirl, Arrow and The Flash, all crossing over with each other every year.

As Warner Bros. leaves Zack Snyder’s DCEU behind and steps into the DCU, fans have enjoyed some of the best DC TV shows in years. Harley Quinn‘s animated series was able to poke fun at the obscurity of the DC Universe, while My Adventures With Superman gave audiences one of the cutest, most charming Clark Kent and Lois Lane relationships of all time.

Teen Titans Go! appealed to young audiences while capitalizing on the past success of the Teen Titans animated series, and Batman: Caped Crusader essentially resurrected Batman: The Animated Series, with the same creative team and art style that fans fell in love with. Despite their successes, there have been several misses, and DC needs a strong win to accompany their slew of upcoming films.

The DC Universe In A Medieval Fantasy World

The Dark Knights of Steel Combines Superheroes and Fantasy… With Batman in a Literal Suit of Armor Wielding a Sword

Dark Knights of Steel is truly unlike anything DC Comics has previously produced. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the Justice League are iconic. Even lesser-known characters, such as Harley Quinn and even Kite-Man, have skyrocketed in popularity thanks to their appearances in popular DC films and TV shows.

However, DC shouldn’t get too comfortable with their iconic heroes as the world knows them. At this point, everyone knows Superman and Batman’s origins. They know who the Flash and Wonder Woman are. It’s not enough anymore to change one aspect of their origins or create a slightly new dynamic for Lois and Clark at The Daily Planet. DC needs to turn to their Elseworlds titles for their next successful venture into television, beyond what they already have in production and announced.

The Dark Knights of Steel limited series was such a breath of fresh air for the Justice League in DC’s comic universe. A Kryptonian ship crash-landed on Earth, but it wasn’t present-day. It was in the medieval ages, and it wasn’t just Kal-El who landed; it was Jor-El and Lara. The Kryptonians quickly became the king and queen of the land, completely changing the trajectory of the DC Universe––as all the best Elseworld stories do. In this universe, Poison Ivy is a witch of the woods, Harley Quinn is a literal court jester, Batman is an actual dark knight, wearing a black plate of armor and wielding a sword. Virtually every major DC hero and villain has been altered to fit the framework of this new work.

Creators Tom Taylor and Yasmine Putri looked to the fantasy genre for inspiration, taking tropes and narrative plot lines from the best in fantasy and applying them to DC characters. The Dark Knights of Steel world has characters like Constantine, who are viewed as sorcerers, while Lex Luthor acquires something resembling a Green Lantern power ring, corrupted by its power, as he transforms into the Green Man.

Even Ra’s al Ghul and Talia appear in Dark Knights of Steel, commanding a medieval-styled version of the League of Assassins, called the League of Shades. There is so much potential in this one Elseworlds story––so much more than any one animated film could contain, as DC is prone to turning their best comic material into short animated films. Dark Knights of Steel needs more, and in the age of streaming, a well-written, faithful adaptation of the source material could be a game-changer for the future of the DCU.

The Fantasy Genre Is On The Rise In TV & Film

With the Success of Shows Like Rings of Power, Wheel of Time, House of the Dragon and more, the DCU Should Dabble in the Fantasy Genre

The fantasy genre is on the rise in book publications––not that it’s ever out of style, of course. But with the conclusion of Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive with Wind and Truth, the steady releases of novels written by Joe Abercrombie and the rise in popularity of Pierce Brown’s sci-fi/fantasy series, Red Rising, the time for DC to capitalize on this beautiful genre… is now.

Book publishers aren’t the only ones to capitalize on the fantasy genre. People need only look at TV and movies. With the success of Critical Role, both on streaming platforms and on Amazon Prime with the release of the Legend of Vox Machina animated series and their upcoming Mighty Nein animated adaptation, the popularity of Dungeons & Dragons has skyrocketed, bringing even more fans into fantasy. With the tragic cancellation of the live-action Wheel of Time series, television has a massive void to fill, and DC could metaphorically kill two birds with one stone.

DC needs to branch out of the superhero genre. Some of their best Elseworld comics combine two genres, just as Dark Knights of Steel combines superheroes and fantasy. Adapting Dark Knights of Steel would bring fantasy fans into the DC Universe. Additionally, with the mixed reception of the DCEU and Zack Snyder’s attempt at creating a DC universe on the big screen, James Gunn and Warner Bros. are feeling the pressure as they head into their new DCU. Superman (2025) needs to succeed at the box office. People need to watch Peacemaker. The pressure is on and ongoing. A Dark Knights of Steel adaptation could alleviate some of that pressure.

The Dark Knights of Steel television format could be very flexible. If DC wanted to save money by making it an animated series, it only needed to look at Critical Role‘s animated series for inspiration. If they want to go for live-action, they have no shortage of inspiring shows and films to pull from––Lord of the Rings and the recent Wheel of Time and Rings of Power series, just to name a few.

With so much intrigue and drama surrounding the courts and kingdoms of this new world, a Dark Knights of Steel adaptation––animated or in live-action––could produce television that could rival House of the Dragon or even Game of Thrones in quality, with the bonus of fans already being familiar with these characters, yet still surprised by the direction Dark Knights of Steel takes them.

“}]] We’ve already seen quite a few takes on DC’s heroes, though even Game of Thrones fans would be on board if this comic series made its way to the DCU.  Read More