WARNING! This List Contains Spoilers For Black Adam.The hierarchy of power in the DC Extended Universe has changed, for better or worse only time will tell thanks to the exciting release of Black Adam. This film is more than a long time coming. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was first linked to the project back in 2007, before the launch of the DCEU and even the MCU, but it took over a decade longer for it to progress any further. Nevertheless, it is finally here, and it could surely help reinvigorate a struggling franchise.
Black Adam marks an important moment for the DCEU because Henry Cavill is finally back as Superman – albeit for an uncredited cameo in the post-credits stinger, but that teases a long-overdue future for both characters. They are not alone as the film also introduces the Peacemaker, the JSA has many great in the comic who could make for interesting and welcome new protagonists in their own DCEU project.
The JSA
Despite some mixed reviews so far, with The Rock at the helm Black Adam, will still most assuredly be a great commercial success. The DCEU should follow up that endeavor by giving the whole of the JSA their own film. In light of the drought of future Justice League films, this could give the DCEU their much-needed heroic team-up movie. Black Adam already acted like a back-door pilot, so they’d only need to add a few new characters or take the scraps from the Justice League.
The Avengers' formula, or better yet just follow Black Adam with it first. The dynamics between Hawkman, Cyclone, and Atom Smasher are ripe and could lead to something quite fun. They also need to showcase the role the Justice Society plays in the universe compared to the Justice League and their relationship with the corrupt Task Force-X Program and Amanda Waller.
Hawkman & Hawkgirl
In Black Adam, Aldis Hodge stars as Hawkman, the leader of the JSA. Should his story continue then Young Justice, but they deserve better recognition in live-action. Thankfully, Black Adam gives them a strong foundation to build on.
Hawkman and Hawkgirl have some unexpectedly strange origins depending on the story. In some, they’ve been aliens from the planet Thanagar, while in others they are the reincarnations of Ancient Egyptian royals. In the DCEU, it’s the latter, although that was only described in DCEU comics ahead of the film’s release. Their own film could delve deeper into their origins and ancient history in the universe like Black Adam.
Doctor Fate
Pierce Brosnan took on the role of Kent Nelson aka Doctor Fate in Black Adam, and while he doesn’t survive the film, Doctor Fate can still have a bright future in the DCEU. To be frank, it would just be a shame for the design and mystical elements Doctor Fate brings to just be abandoned. This could act like Black Widow in showcasing his past while also introducing his protégé and successor.
Introducing Khalid Nassour as the next Doctor Fate could also link the film to whatever Hawkman and Hawkwoman are up to as they all have origins connected to Ancient Egypt. It would also give an opportunity for a younger talent, but Brosnan could still be involved as a mentor from beyond the grave.
Cyclone
Cyclone, played by Quintessa Swindell, got some of the coolest effects in Black Adam. While a lot of the action sequences could read as oversaturated and redundant, her dance-like motions and colorful animation were a nice respite. For that reason alone, it would be great to see more of her. However, she gave another reason – an interesting origin story, when she talks about being abducted and experimented on as a teenager.
Maxine Hunkel aka Cyclone is the granddaughter to a character named Red Tornado, but not the Red Tornado most would instinctively think of. Ma Hunkel was the first Red Tornado, dating back all to 1939, and someone that would surprise many casual audiences with how cool she could be. A Cyclone HBO Max could even incorporate the main Red Tornado, an android with the same powers, especially if the evil scientist who kidnapped her was T.O. Morrow.
Atom Smasher
The last member of the JSA in Black Adam is the complete newcomer, Atom Smasher, played by Noah Centineo. Like in the comics, he is the nephew to Al Pratt, the first Atom Smasher, and presumably an old ally to Hawkman and Doctor Fate, unexpectedly played by the hilarious Henry Winkler. There’s an eagerness and energy to him that is likable and enjoyable to root for – quite similar to Shazam! – so he could do well with his own HBO Max series too.
Most probably wouldn’t have expected there would be prospects for an Atom Smasher and/or Cyclone HBO Max series, but Black Adam gave reasons for wanting them to stick around in more than movies years down the line. Having him as a protagonist could lend itself to a high school or college setting, allowing the DCEU to play more into new genres and tones. It could also help pave a way for his more prolific contemporary, Roy Choi aka The Atom as played by Zheng Kai in Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
Wildcat
Some of the JSA don’t only have links to the DCEU just through Black Adam. In the case of Ted Grant aka Wildcat, he could be introduced through Black Canary. He is a professional heavyweight boxer turned crime-fighting vigilante, and in the comics, he takes up training and mentoring Black Canary, along with several other heroes. Despite the tragic cancelation of Black Canary is supposedly still proceeding as normal, and as such, Wildcat would be a logical inclusion as a ing character.
Following that, he could spin off into his own show that could mix the intimate stakes of steet-level characters with the grand scale of being in the JSA. In addition to being an expert fighter and martial artist, Wildcat also has some magical assurance – like the myth, a cat has nine lives, which help prolong his and can revive him if he does actually die. With the rise of more mystical characters like Black Adam, that aspect of Wildcat’s story wouldn’t feel strange in the DCEU.
Mr. Terrific
Many of the most interesting JSA are unfortunately often overshadowed by their Justice League contemporaries or colleagues. One such lesser-known and underrated hero that should come to the DCEU is Michael Holt aka Mister Terrific. He is a rich, genius inventor with intellect rivaling Bruce Wayne, possessing fourteen doctorate degrees, and on top of all that, he’s a gold-medal Olympian.
Mister Terrific is someone that could easily be inserted into various projects in a ing role before spinning off into his own HBO Max series. This could explore the dichotomy of running a multi-million dollar company while also being a superhero, but with a less overtly dark tone and atmosphere than Batman.
Jade & Obsidian
One thing many fans have been wanting from the DCEU is a Green Lantern film. The last experience, One important Green Lantern that should be introduced is the first, Alan Scott, and while he could get his own show, his twin children, Jade and Obsidian might make better candidates.
Jade followed in her father’s footsteps to become a Green Lantern – the first female one from Earth – while her brother, Obsidian took a dark turn and is capable of various shadow-based abilities. They were separated as children, yet later found each other, both ing the JSA and starting their own team with other proteges, Infinity Inc. The prospect of following Jade, Obsidian, and Alan in an HBO Max series is quite enticing.
Johnny Thunder/Jakeem Thunder & Thunderbolt
Like the Justice League, the Justice Society has gone through many variations, with some heroes being replaced by the next generation. That’s what happened to Johnny Thunder who es the mantle and his powers to a teen, Jakeem Thunder. They both serve as hosts to a mysterious and powerful genie from the fifth dimension named Yz aka Thunderbolt with vast magical abilities.
Their relationship would make for an interesting HBO Max series with Jakeem serving as the protagonist and Johnny as his elderly mentor. It could explore their histories and varied motivations and through flashbacks to Johnny Thunder’s heyday, it could showcase some other golden characters lost to time.
The Spectre
Both Marvel Comics and DC Comics have their own mystical Spirit of Vengeance with Ghost Rider and the Spectre, respectively. The Spectre is an incredibly powerful cosmic being whose goal is to punish the wicked and evil, using a human host as their vessel on Earth. Along with characters like Batman, Hawkman, and Doctor Fate, The Spectre was a founding member of the JSA in the comics, and his introduction could expand the scope of the entire DCEU tenfold.
Were he to get his own film or TV show – the latter, most likely – it could introduce The Spectre’s opposite, Eclipso, the Spirit of Wrath, as the antagonist. It could also delve into the relationship between Spectre and their host, presumably Jim Corrigan, in how they differ in motivations and morality.
