Matt Reeves’ The Batman is different from other DC movies because it’s not connected to the new DC Universe being created by James Gunn. It exists as its own separate story, in its own world, and isn’t bound by the rules of Gunn’s DCU.
Since The Batman isn’t connected to the main DC Universe, it opens up possibilities for stories that wouldn’t work in the shared universe James Gunn is building. The film’s darker style is a great fit for adapting DC’s more mature ‘Elseworlds’ tales, especially those published under the ‘Black Label’ imprint, which are known for being grittier and aimed at adult readers.
5. Batman: Damned (2018-2019)
Written by Brian Azzarello, Art by Lee Bermejo
Since Matt Reeves is already planning a sequel to The Batman – currently scheduled for release on October 1, 2027 – the story could continue to grow. If it does, the comic book series Batman: Damned by Brian Azzarello would be an ideal source of inspiration for Reeves’ dark and realistic vision of Batman.
This story begins with the shocking discovery of the Joker’s death and Batman struggling with memory loss, leading him to question if he was responsible. The three-issue series unfolds like a disturbing dream as Batman, aided by John Constantine, tries to piece together what happened. Its grim and gritty atmosphere is very similar to Matt Reeves’ The Batman and could offer a great foundation for the plot of The Batman: Part Three.
4. Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum (2025)
Written by W. Maxwell Prince, Art by Martín Morazzo
The team behind Ice Cream Man—writer W. Maxwell Prince and artist Martín Morazzo—are back with a truly strange and imaginative take on Superman. The Kryptonite Spectrum is so unconventional that it likely won’t fit into James Gunn’s main DC Universe. Its best chance of becoming a movie or show would be as a separate, standalone story within the ‘Elseworlds’ universe that James Reeves is building.
This comic book reimagines the familiar Superman story, adding fresh takes on Kryptonite and a mischievous, otherworldly being similar to Mister Mxyzptlk. It’s a fun, often wacky series, but it also tackles surprisingly serious topics – which is why it’s published under DC’s Black Label. Many consider it one of the best comics of 2025, so it’s definitely worth a read if you haven’t discovered it yet.
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3. Wonder Woman: Dead Earth (2019-2020)
Written by Daniel Warren Johnson, Art by Daniel Warren Johnson
Daniel Warren Johnson’s Wonder Woman: Dead Earth is a particularly grim story, making it ideal for a movie that shows a side of Wonder Woman we haven’t seen before. The comic depicts Wonder Woman waking up in a world destroyed by nuclear war, with no memory of the past and everyone she knows lost.
Weakened and seeking answers, Diana begins a journey to find Superman and the Amazons. As she investigates, disturbing revelations come to light, challenging everything we thought we knew about Wonder Woman and potentially portraying her as the story’s antagonist. This is a dark and sweeping reimagining of a beloved and iconic hero.
2. The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage (2019-2020)
Written by Jeff Lemire, Art by Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz
Jeff Lemire, Denys Cowan, and Bill Sienkiewicz’s The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage feels like the closest match in tone to Matt Reeves’ Batman universe. The story reimagines DC’s mysterious, masked detective in a gritty, philosophical mystery set in the crime-ridden city of Hub City, making it a thematic counterpart to The Batman.
The story centers around Sage, a character with strong beliefs who finds them tested when he becomes entangled in a complex plot where it’s hard to tell what’s right and wrong. True to the title, he dies and is reborn multiple times, allowing the story to examine ideas about morality and truth in different eras and situations. Considering Vic Sage hasn’t been featured in a live-action film yet, he’s arguably the most deserving character to be adapted for the screen.
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1. Aquaman: Andromeda (2022-2023)
Written by Ram V, Art by Christian Ward
Ram V and Christian Ward’s Aquaman: Andromeda is a truly stunning and unsettling comic series. This three-issue story reinvents Aquaman with a cosmic horror twist, inspired by the style of H.P. Lovecraft, and presents a remarkably clever and frightening new take on the character. The fear in this series isn’t about jump scares; it builds slowly and subtly, creating a sense of dread that’s hard to shake.
The film centers on the crew of the experimental submarine Andromeda as they explore a strange structure located at Point Nemo, the most isolated spot on Earth. During their descent, they face intense psychological horror and awaken something ancient from the ocean depths. Many consider it a brilliant reimagining of the Aquaman mythos and believe it should be included alongside Matt Reeves’ The Batman in the expanding Elseworlds Universe.
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2026-01-25 15:59