Even as Arrow once again revoked access to Deathstroke, fans kept hope that recent references to Batman and Wonder Woman might signal greater leniency with the major DCEU characters. Not so, apparently, as Arrow boss Marc Guggenheim once again shoots down the notion that Justice League-rs Batman or Wonder Woman might make their CW debuts.
Well, Supergirl had to brainwash Superman into not appearing in its first finale, so it makes sense Season 2 would modify the tradition. Our first trailer for next Monday’s “Nevertheless, She Persisted” finale teases Tyler Hoechlin’s Man of Steel taking up arms against his cousin, to say nothing of a final showdown with Rhea.
Who are the Justice League? The group is comprised of a bunch of different heroes in different combinations based on which comic arcs you’re reading at the time, but it always seems to have three core members: Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman. Warner Bros. new Justice League movie didn’t feature the red-caped Kryptonian in this weekend’s trailer, and seems to be acting like he won’t be in the movie. Even Zack Snyder has been cagey about it.
A bonafide TV Batman may have become the holy grail for DC fans, between the Arrow-verse tiptoeing around direct reference to the Dark Knight, or Gotham languishing in its inability to wait for Bruce Wayne’s future. Supergirl even made our first direct reference to Gotham City, and may now have hinted at Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman working with a troubled, technologically skilled vigilante.
The first season of Supergirl cleverly side-stepped the comic alter-ego of David Harewood’s Hank Henshaw to make the identity a cover for Martian Manhunter, but the real Cyborg Superman may arrive in a roundabout way. A new synopsis for “The Darkest Place” reveals the steely Superman’s debut, but who’s behind all the gear?
Perhaps keeping coy in her CW move, Supergirl has notably trailed behind Arrow, Flash or Legends of Tomorrow in releasing any official previews of the new season. That said, the first official photo brings Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman down to stand alongside his cousin (and maybe even throw a little shade Zack Snyder’s way).