The StokesVerse: If I was put in charge of the DCEU back in 2012 PART 2
Welcome back to the StokesVerse, if you missed Part 1 click here to read, you won't want to miss out on how all of our favorite DC heroes were introduced! Before I get started with Part 2 I just want to say thank you for everyone who read Part 1 and reached out saying they enjoyed it and asking when Part 2 was, well here it is! I want to tell everyone reading this is not some sort of shot at Zack Snyder I love his work, it is more a result of the frustration of how pitiful Warner Brothers attempt at a DCEU has been and proof positive of how a one could easily have been done. DC comic fans deserve a DCEU that rivals the MCU because their characters could easily wipe the floor with a significantly better shared cinematic universe. If you enjoy my work please subscribe and share this with your friends!
Part 2
Spring 2019- Green Lantern Corps -
Movie opens with Edris Elba's Jon Stewart on Oa fighting alongside fellow Lanterns including Kilowog and Abin Sur against the forces of Darkseid. We see the Citadel on fire then Darkseid walk out from it holding a mother box, the trio of Jon Stewart, Kilowog and Abin Sur take on Darkseid but Abin Sur is quickly killed. Darkseid escapes through a boom tube and Jon sees an open one and flies through it to catch him only to me spat back out on earth after the battle in Central City. What he did not know was Abin Sur's ring had flown through the boom tube as well and immediately sped off towards Baltimore.
We now see our trio of Green Lanterns Simon Baze, Jessica Cruz, and Hal Jordan flying in deep space talking and chatting about what to expect when they land on Oa since they had never gotten the chance to go since it was attacked before their recruitment and training by Jon Stewart. They land on the planet to find multiple Green Lanterns there rebuilding the Citadel. They join them helping them and meet Kilowog who tells them about fighting alongside Jon Stewart during the battle. While chatting and clearing debris they uncover a robot with a red body and blue face, a Manhunter Kilowog realizes suddenly it activates and flies off escaping to somewhere on Oa. The foursome quickly goes to the main council where the surviving Guardians are to tell them what they found. The trio are stunned and silent while in presence of the Guardians until Hal Jordon finally speaks up and asks who they are. The Guardians in response ask who THEY were, they were not brought to Oa and tested by Jon Stewart therefore they are not yet fully members of the Green Lantern Corps. Kilowog takes them to this bar to find Guy Gardner there drinking for them to meet and be trained and tested by him.
We now get backstory and flashback to Guy Gardner working as a police officer in Baltimore who is chosen by Abin Sur's ring and suddenly he is sucked through an opening in the Speed Force that spat him back out in the same spot a decade earlier before the ring ignites and takes him to Oa. After explaining his story to the trio he says he always wanted to open a bar so he figured he would open one on Oa since it is now his home. We see Guy and Kilowog put the trio of young Lanterns through the Hazard Simulation Facility and all three pass with flying colors, they learn the history of Oa and this is where we learn about the Guardians initially building the Manhunters as their police force for the galaxy but they were corrupted and went rouge, killing nearly every being in sector 666.
The Manhunter that escaped returns in force after seemingly unearthing dozens of have destroyed aged and falling apart Manhunters. We see the Lantern Corps show off their might and will power, until four Manhunters break through the line and make their way to the Guardians only to have Simon Baze, Jessica Cruz, Hal Jordan and Guy Gardner cut them off and destroy them in front of the council. Our trio are proclaimed full Green Lantern Corpsmen and are each given their own sectors to watch over.
Summer 2019- Aquaman 2 -
The Movie opens with Arthur on the beach of his home spending time with his father, until the camera pans to show a handful of figures walking out of the ocean. Mera is leading a small force of Atlantean soldiers clad in armor similar to the orange and green we saw Aquaman wear in Justice League. She tells him she is there to invite him to Atlantis, there is to be a funeral for King Azaes. The elderly king had ruled Atlantis for centuries and had no living heir, the last was killed in Darkseid's attack.
"Your heroes must have a blind spot, rushing to save other cities meanwhile Atlantis was blindsided in the attack and was neither warned nor received any aide from the surface. When I brought you that armor I thought you would be our link to the surface"
Arthur goes with Mera back to Atlantis, and attends the funeral of King Azaes. Then Mera leads Arthur to a smaller back room half filled with other Atlanteans who all seem to have a burning hatred for Arthur. They sit down as a man steps forward and informs the group since Azaes had no direct heir there is to be a tournament held shortly amongst those of royal blood as to whom shall take the throne .Contestants include Mera, Charybdis (for a certain appendage), Kordax, King Nereus and Ocean Master Orm Marius.
I want this movie to really show Arthur gaining the trust of Atlantis, gaining their collective respect as he steps up to win the tournament and claim the throne of Atlantis, that he wants to share with Mera. Also to establish Atlantis disdain for the surface world including the Amazons.
Winter 2019- Teen Titans -
The movie opens with Robin and Cyborg going out on their own moving out West to Jump City (Cyborg forges a bill of sale of a run down building for them to stay in) and putting out a call for other young heroes. Not knowing how to go about this Robin goes around posting flyers everywhere until Cyborg takes over and starts mass posting it on social media.
The day come to have tryouts for their own crime fighting team and there is a line seemingly endless of people coming to tryout, we see a ton of heroes (including plastic man who they call old and creepy) including Roy Harper showing up saying he is looking for a change of scenery. They end up settling with Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy. Well Robin feels like they settled, Cyborg is ecstatic to just be around so many metahumans.
The team spends time getting acquainted with each other at the rundown building Robin and Cyborg are are staying in, until they decide they should go out and do some real hero work. This ends up with them eating at a pizza place downtown after failing to find any crime to stop aside from some people parking illegally. Until, finally there is a robbery happening right outside the restaurant, this leads in a montage of them stopping petty criminals and d-c list Batman./other heroes villains such as Polka Dot Man, Captain Boomerang, Condiment King, etc.
Suddenly the long montage slams to a stop as there is a Flash of light as someone runs out of thin air.. it’s Wally West. Barry Allen's nephew has been trapped in the speed force and outside of reality for years unbeknownst to everyone. Instantly Barry is there and is seen weeping and holding his nephew who is now grown into a teenager. Barry is profusely apologizing not knowing what happened or how he could have forgotten him, as the memories are rushing back to him as he cries over him. We see flashes over Wally being stuck in the speed force hearing voices occasionally actually seeing his uncle Barry sprinting using his powers, he feels others in the speed force as well including coming face to face with a mysterious yellow figure who is the one that threw him out of the speed force.
Barry and Wally leave in a red and yellow streak as the Titans stand there in shock confused as to what happened, Cyborg pieces most of it together but his computing system burns red for a second trying to compute the described speed force. They decide to go back to the rundown building they are staying in and just now it is revealed the "T" shaped building seems to be a former mill or drilling station that has been there for decades on the small island outside Jump City. As they walk in the camera pans back to reveal they are being watched via a camera by a mysterious character.
I do not have strong feelings about specific castings in this one but I do want the cast to be as different and diverse from each other as possible, like mixing multiple jig saw pieces together.
Spring 2020- Superman 3 -
This movie's ultimate outcome has already been written so I will not go too in depth but it is more akin to the 1977 Superman and the Superman and Lois lane comics as it is about them falling in love and getting married. I want to use a lot from Superman 77 showing Lois and Clark together, not just dating but working covering stories. I want to see Clark and Jimmy Olsen start as a work relationship but grow into best friends hanging out. Clark feels that Superman is mainly "retired" in this time of peace with so many metahuman heroes popping up across the world. His time of peace is interrupted w with little things just going wrong for Superman Losing his bag or keys, tripping on a stair water getting spilt on him until it is revealed Mister Mxyzptlk is toying with with him and challenges Superman to a battle of wits. Mister Mxy. says it is so entertaining to be able to toy and play with the king of Earth, no matter how tough and strong Superman's muscles are they can do nothing to stop his 5th dimensional powers.
The film opens with Wonder Woman at the Hall of Justice with Batman, they had been apparently keeping an eye on Robin and Cyborg the entire time in Jump City and Barry walks in behind them looks at the screen and at that moment Wally West appeared dropped out of the speed force. Barry is gone in a flash and they see his reuniting on the screen. Diana calls down for J'onn J'onzz to be prepared for medical exam. The pair walk down stair to meet him as Barry shows up with Wally, this is where we find out officially that Wally has paired with the speed force just like Barry even seeming to have a stronger connection to it. Wally is in tears just being happy to be back with people, with family especially. This triggers Diana back to her mission to find Themyscira.
Before leaving the Hall of Justice she runs into Hawkgirl and tells her plan, and Hawkgirl reveals she and her love thought they found it in the Aegean between Mikonos and Naxos but they could not see through the storm they were flying in. This spurns Diana into action and travels to Mikonos, we get a short beautiful montage of the island as she searches for clues, including this shot of Diana seeing this black ops team that she is confused what they are doing before she runs into a teenage boy seemingly wise beyond his years who points out to sea where there is a lone storm cloud. Diana flies off immediately fighting her way through the storm until a pop of beautiful scenery and sunlight nearly blinds her as Themyscira is revealed to her.
After arriving on the island she is greeted by familiar faces that are smiling happy to see her but suddenly turns grim as they inform her of her mother's sickness. Rushing to see her immediately, to find her slowly turning to stone. Her mother reveals that after Perseus killed Medusa not knowing where to bury her head he was guided to Themyscira by the gods and they buried her on the island. While on the island Perseus fell in love with an Amazon and had a child named Donna Troy. During the time after Perseus left the island Donna grew to a teenager and was interested in stories about her father and dug open the tomb where they buried Medusa and was turned to stone. Living with guilt of it Queen Hippolyta finally went to try to retrieve Donna Troy but doing so she became infected with Medusa's curse and is slowly turning to stone.
Diana is told of an old sorcerer who could reverse the curse named Doctor Fate. Diana immediately flies back to out in search of Doctor Fate and ends up finding the same teenage boy from Mikonos who keeps appearing wherever she goes. She ends up in the middle east and the boy suddenly tries to stop her from entering a tomb, the boy reveals himself as Billy Batson and tells her Doctor Fate sent him to warn her do not search for him here. They are interrupted by the same black ops team Diana saw previously and Wonder Woman doesn’t listen to Billy and continues onto interrogate the team led by Soseh Mykros. Soseh tricks Diana into opening the tomb and accidentally awakens Black Adam. The teenager is revealed as Shazam and the pair team up to fight Black Adam but fail to stop him from escaping as he flies off world.
Soseh is revealed to have been this cult leader trying to bring Black Adam back to rule the world, as she says it clearly needs better protection as the Justice League failed to save thousands of people in Darkseid's attacks. Billy leaves her there as Diana flies back to find her mother has died.
I do not have a specific Black Adam in mind aside form the fact I do NOT want it to be the Rock, I want it to be someone of middle eastern decent and whose acting skills fits the darker vibe of this movie instead of the Rock's campy vibe. This movie is supposed to be a crushing defeat for Diana, I want to show she finds hope in Wally returning and seeing Barry's happiness at the beginning being bookended with her losing her only true family her mother at the end.
Movie opens Bruce training, while speaking with Alfred, Alfred pointing out how lonely Bruce has been since Master Grayson left them. We cut to introduce Jason Todd living with his father, find out his father is a henchman for Scarecrow, one night Jason follows his father and witnesses him be murdered by Scarecrow gassing him and torturing him, Todd is about to jump out and try to save his father until Batman burst throw the window we get a ground level view of Batman fighting off these henchmen and capturing Scarecrow and all but one henchmen.
Todd goes to his father's body and cries over before running off Batman follows him and finds out the teenager is now an orphan and is living in a dilapidated rundown apartment. We see Batman about to enter through the window but a police siren goes off nearby and he goes to check it out instead.
This is where I want the movie to shift, to that thriller/horror vibe as we see the lone henchman that got away panting sprinting into a warehouse across town by the docks. It starts as a normal warehouse and slowly the walls become covered in clown and jester and circus gear as the man stumbles into a room that is make shift fitted into a operating room. The henchman calls out telling him that the Bat got Scarecrow. The man with his back turned holds up a finger to silence him, and then suddenly we realize he is operating on someone on the table as the screams continue and we hear a staple gun. The butcher surgeon tells the man to come see his creation. As the sweating man walks over the camera pans with him revealing the woman on the table now having slits on their face holding their face into a smile by staples with a clown nose on. The henchman freaks out and vomits and turns to finally reveal to the audience Willem Dafoe as the Joker who grabs the henchman and puts him on the table laughing and shouting that he is next.
We see Bruce arrive back in the Bat Cave and Alfred makes a comment about its about time to order new tires for the Bat Mobile. The pair begin discussing the evenings events categorizing and filing them within the Bat Computer. Until Alfred asks about the young man that was at the scene. Alfred thinks Bruce should help him monetarily, Bruce agrees and says he will go tomorrow.
We get a quick scene or two of Police Commissioner Gordon at the scene near the docks where multiple bodies have floated up, and they are the Jokers surgery victims. Gordon gets a call from his daughter asking if he will be coming with him to the fundraising event in Star City and he says he cannot make it.
Bruce arrives at Jason Todd's place we see them talk and eventually Bruce blurts out that Jason can come and live with him. Bruce reveals himself as Batman and we see them train together. Bruce is impressed what a natural talent Jason Todd is and we get a montage of them training for awhile then having Jason come out with him on patrol but he had to stay in the Batmobile on the lookout staying on the radio. Batman sneaks into the building and we start seeing the same clown and circus imagery on the walls until the doors get slammed behind Batman and the Joker comes out and it is revealed to be an ambush for Batman as dozens of Joker's men all dressed as him start swarming into the room attacking Batman. We get a long one shot of Batman taking out dozens of henchmen until he is finally overwhelmed. Jason listening on the radio hears this and freaks out and calls the police and drops the phone to go run inside to help Batman. Covering his face in a makeshift mask he sneaks in to see Batman still fighting them off in a losing effort.
We see Jason sneak behind a few men and take them out as we hear sirens in the distance, Jason leaps down and begins fighting off the goons around Batman as the Joker grabs a crowbar and begins walking towards them Batman calls out "Robin! get out of here!" swing thud Batman is out cold from Joker wailing him in the head with the crowbar cut to black.
Bruce wakes up to Gordon shaking him awake and telling him to get out of here, Bruce looks around and realizes Jason is gone, he grabs Gordon and asks if they found him and Gordon tells him no the Joker and his men took him by boat when the police arrived.
We cut back to Jason waking up in a dark room seeing the Joker just slightly off screen walking towards him laughing about having the Bats prized possessions. We get a gruesome scene of the Joker torturing Jason and beating him with the crowbar. Until he grabs him by the face and says "you'll be MY prized work now, my Masterpiece" as he drags him by the hair into another room as we see the same operation table set up.
Batman half beaten to death himself makes his way to the Batmobile and activates the tracker he had hidden in Jason's wallet and falls into the car calling out to Gordon "they're at the docks!" speeding off in the Batmobile he arrives first and we see Bruce still hobbling pick up an iron rod as he burst through the door swinging it beating down the Jokers men using all his strength to fight his way through taking out the handful that was left there. He hears Jason screaming as he burst through into the make shift operation room the screaming stopped. The Joker standing over Jason smiling at Bruce slowly steps around the table laughing. Realizing what has happened Bruce leaps out and begins brutally beating the Joker, but no matter how hard Bruce pummels him the maniacal laughter continues to pour out of the Joker's mouth.
Gordon and the GCP come sprinting into the room and are stunned at the brutal gushing beating that is happening until Gordon tackles and stops him, "We have to be better, we have to be better than them". Bruce slowly gets up and walks over to the table to see Jason's lifeless corpses staring out into nothingness.
Movie opens with Barry and Wally with their family. We finally get to see Barry and Iris together as a married couple, big happy family so delighted to have their nephew Wally back we get a big family dinner scene where they first really ask Wally about what happened. Wally does not have much memory just remember the odd sensation of the speed force coursing through him and as he remembers it he accidently vibrates his elbow through the table where he was leaning smacking his face on the table. Jokes are made about obviously Barry has his work cut out for him to train him.
We see Barry and Wally walking up to S.T.A.R. Labs and ask for Silas Stone but they say he has not been to work in weeks they do not know where he is. The Lab tech says he can help whatever it is, and introduces himself as Dr. Francisco Ramon. Hesitant Barry says no thank you and they will just come back when Silas is available. Cisco reaches out to grab him to stop him and is revealed he has powers as he 'vibes' Barry and freaks out in excitement that he is the Flash. Barry quickly grabs him and rushes them off to a room away from people. Quick explanation of Cisco's powers and he offers up his lab anything they need.
We get a cut of them working together checking Wally out getting lab reports but Cisco says this is outside his expertise but has someone they can trust that will help them. This is where we meet Dr. Caitlin Snow. They go over pleasantries and being tired of beating around the bush Wally just immediately reveals his powers to her so they can skip the same steps they went through with Cisco. We get a further montage of blood work and tests being run and Cisco comes back saying he has rigged up the walkway around his lab as a track for them. This is where it is teased Wally is already as fast as Barry but cannot control his speed yet and crashes multiple times.
Leaving S.T.A.R. Labs for the day Barry and Wally walk home together talking for awhile "taking it slow" and then decide to stop to pick up food and when they get home they see on the tv a news story of a mysterious yellow figure murdering Dr. Harrison Wells at S.T.A.R. Labs. It must have happened right after they left they have only been walking an hour or two. The mysterious yellow figure was caught on camera killing Dr. Wells and stealing his hard drive. But before he leaves he walked up to the camera a waved his hands motioning to the camera as if to say "this is all for you". Barry gets a flashback of when his mother was killed to the same yellow figure doing the same to him before disappearing in a yellow streak.
Barry goes into work immediately as his CSI unit is being sent to S.T.A.R. Labs to investigate. First on the scene Barry finds a note left up on the screen, "Flash.. or should I say Barry Allen meet me at the Keystone Cleveland Dam. Barry quickly deletes the note and leaves the scene. Promptly Barry rushes off to the dam now clad in his full Flash suit for the first time this movie he arrives to find the yellow figure there, hiding his identity by vibrating. When he sees Barry walk up he slows himself down finally introducing himself as Eobard Thawne. He tells Barry this has all been for the greater good. "We are gods Barry, we rule the timeline it can be whatever we want. In terrible future to come you are needed for a great task. I have made sure you are ready molding you throughout your life"
Not believing him Barry says he will bring him in for the murder of Dr. Wells and his mother all those years ago. Darkly excited by the idea of facing off against Barry Thawne does not hesitate but instantly attacks Barry. The pair fight for sometime it becomes clear Thawne is faster than Barry and is only toying with him striking him down time after time. Thawne becomes enraged thinking maybe he was wrong about Barry saving them from the future, maybe what he saw in the speed force was wrong and decides to kill him. This is when Wally West abruptly arrives opening a gateway into the speed force throwing Thawne through it.
Being saved by Wally in his homemade outfit make Barry to unexpectedly breakout laughing, saying we have got to get you a better suit than that. They find the hard drive that Reverse Flash stole on the ground with a note that says "why don't you have a look at me first, this has all been for you". Thinking nothing of it Barry picks it up and takes it with him to return to the crime lab. When he arrives it has obviously been gnawing at him and he plugs the drive into his laptop and it pulls up a folder filled with formulas that Dr. Wells had been working on with corrections written underneath them dated today after Wells was murdered. It scrolls down to reveal he had been studying Barry for years and theorized if he could gain enough speed he could travel through time.
This movie I really want to have the tone similar to a Thor Ragnarok, that careful balance of being a comedy with dark undertones and themes. I also want this movie specifically to have a post credit scene unveiling Wally West in his full Kid Flash yellow and red suit capturing Captain Cold in a high speed chase.
Summer 2021- Green Arrow -
This movie focuses on the return of Charlie Hunnman's Oliver Queen, and his fight to make Star City a better place. The movie opens with him out on patrol, I really want to play into the Batman comparison and really show how criminals really fear him because he does not hold back stopping criminals shooting them with his bow.
While on patrol Oliver sees a woman breaking into an office building.. dozens of floors up. Curious Oliver followed her inside the King Corporation building. Following her for sometime before suddenly he loses her inside the building only to hear a short high pitch squeal behind him to turn around to see her across the room staring at him, she gently taps the window and it shatters setting off the buildings alarms. She blows him a kiss and leaps from the building seemingly in free fall. Oliver sprints to the window and looks down but she is nowhere to be found. As Oliver can hear security coming he dives out the window and fires an arrow at the building across the street crating a rope for him to swing on to safety.
We see the blonde figure was actually hiding on the ledge below and she watches him as he swings off. We get cut to her waking up the next morning to her father yelling up to her room "Laurel! I gotta go to the precinct work get up sweetheart your rehearsal is in an hour". Dinah has always hated her father calling her Laurel, she prefers going by her first name that she shared with her mother.
To end act one we finally see Oliver Queen as himself, showing off his billionaire playboy lifestyle attending a gala. He is dancing and talking up investors of his company Queen Industries, after returning to the world of the living Oliver took his rightful place running the company after his father was assassinated. Oliver walking around, takes a notice of the singer in the band playing for the party, impressed with the high notes she is hitting. After the song is over the band goes on break and Oliver follows the singer to get a drink.
Dinah plays coy with Oliver as he flirts and buys her a drink, until just blurting out "I have something you have to see". Stunned Oliver agrees and follows her to an empty side room, she reveals she has been following him for months trying to figure out who he is, confused Oliver says "I'm Oliver Queen this is my party" and she says "no the real you, the Green Arrow". Dinah confesses she is the Black Canary, the burglar he followed the other night. "Here" she gives him the notebook she stole from Arthur King's desk. "It has the names of the people involved in your father's murder". Dinah said she had been following a lead about Arthur King saying he is up to something but she found this list and a thumb drive containing a recording of the meeting where the assassination was planned. "You can hear every person on the list voice on the recording planning and agreeing to kill him and you to take over the company"
In disbelief Oliver stands there stunned holding the list and thumb drive as Dinah goes back to perform. Oliver walks back out to the party to see multiple people on the list are at his own party. Including the owner of the list Arthur King who greets him "I loved your father it felt like a gut punch when I heard what became of him." Oliver still in disbelief but disgust building inside him storms out, as he goes we see a woman in a wheelchair calling out to ask him a question. Once arriving to his penthouse he goes into down the stairs within to a hidden floor below the penthouse that works as his hideout. He sits down at his desk and plugs in the thumb drive, and we hear the detailed recording of the group planning the attack.
As he finishes the recording he spins around in the chair to see Dinah standing behind him, "tracking device in the drive". Oliver too distraught at what he has just heard, multiple of his father's best friends and business partners all had planned his murder, he doesn't even care that Dinah Lance is standing in his most prized secret location. We see Oliver breakdown and tell her everything from his point of view of their boat trip and his 5 years on the island and reveals that is were he was trained by a former member of the League of Assassins.
We see Oliver stand up get dressed and storm off with the list. Dinah tries to follow him but he quickly loses her. Oliver goes to the first name on the list, and finds him still in the building where his party was. Enraged and filled with grief Oliver breaks through the window and pins the man down holding him at arrow point and gets him to admit to what he did. Only at this moment does Oliver realize he was not alone in the room. The same redheaded woman in the wheelchair that was trying to ask him a question before is there. He glares over at her and motions to the door as she leaves she says "I was just here to meet donors for Gotham Public Library, that is what I even tried to ask you about before" "Leave".
Oliver makes his way killing multiple of the names on the list exposing their crimes to the police, those who Oliver spared were still found dead the next day filled with arrows. This continues until one night while hunting down Arthur King himself, it is revealed that his is the Dark Archer that has been killing them. "Little birdy I know you're following him you can come out" Merlyn says then Black Canary walks out from behind Oliver and walks up and stands with him. The pair face off against the Dark Archer but he outclasses them both being one step ahead of them both in strength, technique and technology. This continues until he beats them both down and reveals to them "I have already pilfered through your hideouts and taken back my property, but I do thank you for helping out me and my friends get rid of our competition. Your Father would be proud." In a fit of rage Oliver charges him and they both slip off the edge of the roof and plummet to the ground.
Dinah rushes to the ledge and sees Oliver's body on another rooftop only few floors down, but King's body all the way down on the street laying lifeless. She hobbles down to the rooftop and we see her gather up Oliver as police sirens sound in the distance.
The movie ends with Oliver waking up in the hospital to a news report "Billionaire and philanthropist Arthur Merlyn King's mysterious death has stunned many across star city as people are confused as to why he was found dressed as the vigilante criminal who has been killing off his own competition... In other news the US Government Agency Task Force X announced today that they are buying the buildings and land in the Glades to be their new home base". Oliver turns off the tv and rolls over to see Dinah asleep in the chair next to him.
In a post credit scene we see Merlyn's body being lowered into a hot spring by mysterious figure that seem to be ninjas (League of Assassins), being overlooked by Ra's al Ghul.
2021- Green Lanterns Corps 2 - Corpse War of the Rings
I feel like this is very important to see for the over arching tone and story of the StokesVerse DCEU but I am honest enough to admit I do not know enough about this to properly write this story. But what I do know is I want this to be the story revealing the other Lantern Corps and having an all out war breakout by the Red Lanterns setting off simultaneous attacks on other Lantern Corps framing the Green Lanterns. Atrocious will be of course leading the Red Lanterns and is seeking revenge against the Guardians for letting the Manhunters kill off his entire sector.
Spring 2022- Superman 4 -
This movie opens with a man on the run through the woods, slowly realizing this is in the 19th century we see the man stumble upon a swamp, we hear dogs and men chasing him as he stumbles through the swamp until he stops were he is as he sees glowing red eyes in front of him. Reaching out asking for help repeating to himself "It's Monday, it's Monday, it's Monday" he is shot in the back and falls face first into the swamp.
After opening sequences we get a quiet moment of Clark at Wayne Manor visiting with Bruce. Speaking about what happened with Jason. Bruce constantly trying to change the subject speaking about how they found crates filled with Scarecrows gas in Joker's hideout on the docks. About how they are both now locked up in Arkham together, along with nearly every other freak in Gotham that the streets have been quiet for months only petty crimes happening. Clark gets up to leave and speaks with Alfred before he leaves and flies off.
The camera holds on Wayne Manor and zooms over the hills until we see Arkham Asylum. Cutting to a view inside the facility we see multiple holding cells without revealing who is in them. Including one that seems to be overgrown with weeds and vines. Until we come across one with an open door, we see a pair of feet running and jump through a window in the hallway. We finally see this unknown man getting up from the ground and continues running through the mud into the forest seeing the same landmarks as we saw earlier.
Lois is sitting at her desk at the Daily Planet doing a write up on the mass breakout at Arkham, apparently part of the foundation suddenly sunk breaking down a corner of the building releasing multiple criminals. We see Clark walking up with Jimmy Olsen talking about baseball. Until Clark sits down and starts talking with Lois about their date tonight going to dinner. We see Clark get back to work and starting writing. Cutting to the pair of them at a candle lit dinner, the waiter brings out champagne and Lois says they did not order any she turns back to Clark who is on one knee holding a ring for her. We see them celebrating together and with friends.
"Batman Batman Batman, I've broken the Bat but the boy scout can make him irredeemable" We see Willem Dafoe return as the Joker in the same swamp we have seen twice now with a shovel. continuing to speak to himself "yes yes the boy scout, he can do it. But first we need to get rid of his little bird too" as he digs we see him humming and giggling to himself until we hear a thud, "Born on a Monday but died in the mud" he laughs as he drags the body out of the hole. "Here my new friend a concoction of my own" as he sprays gas down the corpse throat "and a little giggle juice from my friend on the inside" as he rubs together herbs and forces them in the mouth. He laughs as he forces the corpse to chew moving his jaw.
Clark is at a court hearing, it is Lex Luthor's appeals case. As Clark hears a crash coming from somewhere downtown he gets up and leaves. We see him quickly change and fly off without anyone seeing him. He arrives at the source of the sound to see a monstrous being Solomon Grundy beating down the walls of the Daily Planet. The two face off really showing off how strong Grundy is dealing some punishment to Clark but Superman is able to overcome him. And uses his ice breath to freeze him solid. We see him put on cold storage at Arkham.
The movie starts wrapping up as we see multiple members of the Justice League and Teen Titans in attendance at a small party at Wayne Manor to celebrate Clark and Lois's engagement. We get a reuniting of Bruce and Dick, Bruce is proud of the work he is doing with the Titans. Cyborg and Flash are speaking with Wally and Beast Boy in the corner laughing and having a good time. Star Girl is talking Diana's ear off asking her questions. Clark just looks around smiling and happy.
We see Alfred congratulates Dick with Bruce and then turn to go to the kitchen to check on dinner. As he is going through things with the cooks we see a server pick up drinks and bring them into the party handing one to Clark. We finally see the man and it is revealed top be the same unknown man we saw escaping Arkham as he turns further we realize it is Willem Dafoe's Joker without his makeup.
After Clark takes a sip of the drink his head begins to spin and he falls down to one knee dizzy, Bruce runs over to help but Lois steps in front of him to help. We cut back to Clark's POV and we see Solomon Grundy half frozen burst through the window and come storming straight for him, as Clark stands and grabs him by the throat and punch him across the room nearly every single person in attendance grabs Clark to restraint him as he yells out "Its Grundy, its Solomon Grundy don't just stand there we have to stop him!". Cut back to the crowd of heroes holding Clark back we hear maniacal laughter breakout as the unknown man wipes away the makeup covering his pale face revealing himself as the Joker in gut busting laughter "It couldn't have gone better! Her quickness surprised ME" as he trials off with laughter as Dick Grayson and Cyborg restrain him.
People are freaking out some leaving some crying, as Bruce returns to Clark's side and sprays him in the face with a mist "this should clear him up". Clark calms down and his vision returns to normal he sees the blood on his hands. "The Joker must have used Scarecrows gas on you Clark, he must have spiked your drink". Clark looks over and sees the Joker laughing as the world goes silent he turns his head to see Lois Lane's body lifeless and mangled. Clark doesn't speak, he doesn't yell or call out, he slowly stands to his feet and walks over to the Joker and sticks his hand through his chest killing him instantly. The room stands in shock. Clark gathers Lois's body and flies off. Cut to credits.
Summer 2022- Injustice League-
Prior to Superman 4's release this movie would be completely marketed as Justice League 3, return of Darkseid, showing a world hinted at being ruled over by him with the Justice League on the run and in hiding.
After Superman 4's release we will see the world is actually being run by a broken Superman who has snapped after Lois' death. He has forged an army and killed most of the known super villains with his hit squads. Lex Luthor is being used by Superman as his puppet forcing him to buy up the world's property and every government that opposed Clark he tore down himself and used Lex to take control of their banking system. Clark is forcing the world in "peace" by ruling it with an iron fist.
The Lantern Corps tried to come to Earth to stop Superman but after being so depleted by the Lantern Wars he slaughtered every single one of them that attacked until they retreated. Including Guy Gardner, Simon Baze and Jessica Cruz only Hal was able to escape.
Years pass with the world under Superman's rule, different heroes have tried to stand up to Superman and fail. He cripples Barry Allen who tried to use his speed to fight him. Aquaman and most of Atlantis died when they staged a rebellion with the Amazons but the Amazons backed out at the last minute. Cyborg was broken down and his parts were used as a super computer for Lex combining him with the remains of Brainiac. Green Arrow helped the remaining Titans in their efforts to retrieve Cyborgs body for burial by Oliver ended up losing an arm, Beast Boy and Starfire were killed, and Raven was drugged and kept in a cell. Diana decided to save as many as she could and took them to Themyscira the only spot in the world hidden from Superman.
We follow Wally West as he is trying to find Bruce Wayne and any other heroes but has to walk in fear of using his powers would reveal himself to Superman. He finds Oliver Queen, still trying to protect the people of Star City but without his left arm he no longer uses a bow but a sword. Wally convinces Oliver and Dinah to help him find Dick Grayson, who is now going by Nightwing and working alone in Gotham. The Three of them find Nightwing and ask if he knows where Batman is. "He is a prisoner of Superman's, he keeps him locked up in Arkham and goes to visit him everyday". The realize the four of them would never get out of there alive without more help. "I know some.. people, who could help".
The four of them are shown sneaking past guards near Arkham but go past it into the woods. They are quietly talking amongst themselves Oliver angry that they are here saying there has to be a better way. As the come upon an opening to a swamp, they see a lone woman sitting in front of a shack that seems to be made from the swamp itself. She is sitting there sharpening her blade as she notices them walk up, "Katana, where are the others" Dick asks as he hugs her, "Inside". She turns and leads them inside the tiny shack but it is actually an opening to a staircase made from the earth leading down into a pit until they come to a large room. In the room this is our first time seeing Poison Ivy and Swamp Thing as they are communicating with each other they stand when they see them enter the room. They turn when they here another voice, Harley Quinn coming from the make shift kitchen with a tray of food.
The eight of them talk, well seven Swamp thing communicates through Poison Ivy, about coming up with a plan to get Batman out of Arkham. This goes on for awhile as we fade until the next morning. We see their plan go into action and break Bruce out Swamp Thing stays behind as bait to try to slow Superman down when he arrives while the rest of them return to the swamp and hide underground.
Now that Bruce is out he thanks them and asks about what all has happened since he was locked up as it is revealed Bruce built himself a suit of armor to fight Superman but he failed and has been locked up ever since, Clark's daily visits would consist of Bruce trying to talk sense into him but Clark is far past broken he cannot be redeemed Bruce admits.
Bruce reveals he knows the location of Themyscira and they need to go there immediately. We get scenes of them escaping through Superman's goons customs and hiding out in a ship crossing the ocean. Making their way to Mikonos. Here they run into a young man who says he has been waiting for him, "I'm Billy Batson, I meet Wonder Woman years ago I am here to help". Billy joins them and they take his boat out to sea as Bruce navigates to Themyscira.
Once on the island we see the once beautiful Garden of Eden now turned into a dark and gloomy over crowded place as most of the resources of the island have begun to run dry. Bruce meets with Diana, who is now Queen since her mother passed, and working together they come up with a plan. We find out that J'onn J'onnz and Hawkgirl died keeping this place secret. Billy chimes in he believes Wally has survived for a reason, he can sense his connection with the speed force and believes that will be their greatest weapon. He believes Wally could possibly access the speed force to go back in time. Wally terrified says he hasn't used his powers in years there is no way he can do that, Bruce says what if we can give you long enough time for a distraction, Wally agrees it might work he and Barry used to talk about it theoretically but Barry was never fast enough to try it. "Well let's get you to a lab so you can try"
Nightwing Oliver and Dinah go with Wally back to Star city to S.T.A.R. Labs, well to what is left of it, and the rest of them are going to gather an army. When the trio gets to S.T.A.R. labs they go digging through until they make their way inside and find the lab wear Barry and Wally used to train, they hear a noise and discover Cisco has been hiding out living there. He helps them set up the track and he says he still has Barry's old suit for Wally to wear.
Bruce hacks into the satellite signal that has been up and running by Lex Corp controlling and monitoring all the televisions in the world. Bruce tapping into the feed plays a recording of himself and Diana as he removes his cowl they stand together and call for the world to "..unite against Superman, every single man and woman take up whatever weapons they have and fight back. Fight back for their streets, fight back for their homes, fight back for their families. Divided we do not stand a chance but together we will fight.." the speech fades off as we see our remaining heroes gathered together in front of the destroyed rumble that was Hall of Justice walking together towards Metropolis leading an Army of Amazons, remaining Atlanteans and citizens. Bread bakers and barbers, librarians and teachers, bankers and cooks, normal human citizens all standing together against a god.
The battle begins as Superman's troops start charging and opening fire against them. At that moment we are back in Star city as Wally starts running on the track, slowly naturally at first sweating and panting until we see a spark. Flashing back to the battle we see Batman and Nightwing fighting side by side against Superman's goons, and then we see Diana and Shazam working together fighting Superman until he slings them both off as he hears or senses Wally as he is about to fly off Bruce gets his attention shooting him, "Lex get troops to S.T.A.R. Labs immediately" Superman calls out then floats down to meet Bruce, who is still trying to speak reason to Clark "We have to be better Clark"
Cuts back to S.T.A.R. Labs as it has been breached by Superman's soldiers and Oliver and Black Canary are fighting them off together as best as they can. We see Wally finally begin to gain speed as his connection to the speed force reawakens. Traveling faster and faster causes more sparks and lightening as we cut back to Clark and Bruce. Diana and Billy are wrestling him off Bruce and he stops one of his arms crushing it. Cutting back to Wally arriving at the correct speed and disappearing into the speed force. He comes flying out at the party at Wayne Manor and stops the Joker from giving Clark the drink to begin with revealing him. As Wally smiles that he did it, he begins to fade as his own timeline ceased to exist.
As the heroes stand there in shock at what just happened younger Wally looks up to see Bruce staring at him, with a knowing nod they are the only two who seems to have retained their memories of what happened all those years in that alternate timeline.
That is it for part 2! Thank you so much for reading I know this took awhile but as you now know I went WAY over board writing this doing more research ordered a couple comics to reread I adored doing this. I am doing a StokesVerse Part 3 that will obviously need to be a step in a new direction from the much darker tone in part 2 but all the seeds have been sowed for the new line ups and characters.
Part 2's "theme" was mourning and loss, how would our heroes react when they lose. We see so many of our heroes at their absolute lowest but it I hope you felt those moments were earned not shoved in their forcefully. I tried to build to those moments, and give us something we have never seen before.
Please subscribe and share this everywhere with friends on social media it means the world to me as I am definitely thirsty for that serotonin of someone liking my work. Hit me up on twitter I'd love to talk about the StokesVerse with you.
