San Diego Comic-Con is coming. Next to the release of a huge summer blockbuster, this is the next best event. Arguably just as big since it sets up the hype and teases what’s to come. It’s the first time where actors stand shoulder to shoulder, other actors are announced, trailers are shown, and projects are announced. The Con is a huge event! Marvel has been the one that has its own Comic Con with all their biggest movies, especially the four Avengers films. Once things are released, the fandom goes into a frenzy. The friendly rival though, has not rose to that fame, however. DC has always been on the back seat, in some cases, feel like they appease Marvel. Other than the show they had for Justice League, no movie has really stepped up. However, this is a perfect year– perhaps THE perfect year- for DC to finally take ownership of San Diego Comic-Con. Marvel is tittering right now with the quality of their projects and the DCU is ramping up. And it does begin later this year. But James Gunn and company are skipping out on this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. With so much pressure coming from fans and critics who want DC to succeed– and perhaps fail– a presence at Comic Con was needed. Skipping out could be a mistake.
There is enough to go off of for the DCU. Superman’s cast and suit are revealed. Supergirl got cast. Creature Commandoes are cast. A Teen Titans movie was announced. And of course, some other films are known. But no other castings or footage or anything like that has been shared. Comic-Con, like any other year, is a perfect spot to announce further details. With the Creature Commandoes coming out in December, this was a nice opportunity to get the cast and director together, and have them talk about the series– since it is the first in the DCU lineup and with a crew of characters that many do not know about– and show a trailer. But that will not happen. Showing anything from Superman would have been huge. Yes, the film is being made at the time of writing, but multiple films in the past have paused to show what has been put together. When The Batman was showcased at the first DC Fandom, the film was in the early process of filming and was still two years away from release. Yet, Matt Reeves brought in a full trailer to show fans his vision of the Dark Knight. And it began the hype for a movie that turned out to be a great superhero movie. Gunn needed to go this route. Superman is in a delicate position right now. Fans are still devoted to Henry Cavill’s Superman and Zack Snyder’s version of him. The new Superman suit divided fans. And no real synopsis has really been announced. This, again, should have been the time to have a teaser, some concept art to reveal more details. Or hear from Gunn himself further details on the project. Then hear the whole cast talk about the movie and more importantly their characters since all of them are having their cinematic debut. This was a huge stage to reveal details about something that many people care about, but that opportunity has slipped by. It puts more pressure on Superman as a character, the film, James Gunn, and the reputation of DC and Warner Bros. Fans have to trust that this film will be another great Superman movie. A showcase at Dan Diego Comic-Con should have been the chance.
More than just sharing details about the first two projects, Gunn could have shone some light on projects that have already been announced, like Supergirl, Paradise Island, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and more importantly, Lanterns. This is a project that has been in development for quite some time. When it was announced, speculation became rampant on what exactly is this show. Details on it have been scarce. The only things that have been revealed are that it will be a show, it will have Hal Jordan and Jon Stewart and they are both facing an ancient threat embedded in Earth. Even with that, it has been vague. It was just announced that it is officially green-lit (pun not intended). This is where a showrunner could have been announced, more concept art could have been revealed or at the very least, announce the actors who will be playing Jordan and Stewart. Green Lantern had to be patient to have another shot since his last outing, and this is how to cut through it. San Diego Comic Con is another opportunity to officially announce additional projects. In the initial announcement, Gunn did say the projects that were shown were just parts of a whole. So, there are more shows and movies that are going to be made for Chapter 1. Granted, a lot was revealed in that announcement and some of them have received a little more attention than others. Nonetheless, if Gunn and company wanted to think a little more ahead, the Con is the perfect venue to share them. Sure, the projects could be announced at any time like the casting of Supergirl or the reveal of a Teen Titans movie. However, San Diego Comic Con demands these types of announcements. Sadly, DC won’t be there to do that.
DC is at a crossroads right now. The previous movies have not met fan or critic approval. Just a few have grabbed some positivity but not enough of those movies are going around. With a linear and more planned-out agenda, it looks brighter for DC. However, missing out on a huge stage like San Diego Comic Con, months before a relaunch for the brand is about to happen is a mistake. Marvel seems to be getting back some momentum with the highly anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine and a presence at Comic-Con. Potential details are going to be shared for the next two Avengers films and that’s massive. Unfortunately, for DC, they will be missing out again. That is a huge missed opportunity. This could have been the moment where DC got fans hyped, critics silenced, and the hyped going. For now, fans will have to wait longer for further details at an unspecified time.
