The Wonder Woman. However, it does seem as though DC is adapting–at least in the comics. Whether or not this will apply across the board for the future in comics and film has yet to be seen. Superhero movies have come to the forefront of attention and with them, new heroes have found success.
For several decades, DC's best-known—and most successful—characters have been Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. They are some of the world's most recognizable heroes. They have also seen some of the most screen time cinematically. This idea of a main trinity is beginning to shift. The Marvel Cinematic Universe initiated a transition when it came to making superhero films and telling the stories about comic characters. Previously, Marvel had largely relied on some of its bigger name heroes, like Spider-Man and the X-Men. However, the MCU delivered more. It gave other heroes the chance to tell their stories in a way that resonated with audiences. It made characters that aren't as recognizable as DC's Batman into household names.
Some heroes would have largely been unknown to anyone who wasn't a big fan of Marvel comics—the Avengers and the Guardians are seeing success in the comics and are gaining larger followings while being included in continuously bigger stories.
Now, DC is trying to catch up and it seems like they are finding that the same concept can hold true for them. Justice League was not the hit movie it was expected to be. Batman and Superman are big names that were included, but they may have become a bit oversaturated in the movie market. Even the cinematic debut of DC’s most popular team wasn't enough to catch the love of audiences. Surprisingly, there was Shazam—characters who had not appeared on screen before. Shazam is not as popular a hero as Aquaman, since he doesn't have as prominent a presence in other media involving the Justice League, which makes his film's success even more of a shock—and an eye-opener. The oversaturation of DC's big three heroes isn't limited to just the films, however. It also extends into the comics.
DC's trinity has often been put together, such as in the series Trinity from 2008, and a similar series bearing the same title in 2016. DC also throws these heroes together regularly in partnerships and partner books, such as Superman/Batman (2003) and Batman/Superman (2016; 2019). The trinity often works together and many conflicts arise that stem from their relationships and interactions. They headline books, lead numerous teams and iterations of the Justice League, and headline events regularly—potentially too often.
Trinity Changes in Future State
With Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman all undergo large changes that shift up the dynamics of their storylines, as well as the future Justice League. There was also a broader range of stories and storylines than usual, which makes for a bigger, more complex world for readers to explore.
Diana as Wonder Woman is a beacon of hope for various characters, while Yara Flor as the Wonder Woman of the future has more ties to Brazilian Amazons than the Greek mythology-inspired Amazons of Themyscira. Clark Kent as Superman is missing in action on Earth for several issues while he is fighting on War World or is an older iteration of the character sacrificing himself for the Earth. His son, Jon Kent, is in a position where he can make a lot of mistakes and have a lot of success based on decisions his father, Clark, wouldn't have made. He is clearly overstretched at times and brings new life to the Superman identity. Bruce Wayne takes a largely background role when it comes to fighting the Magistrate, while the people he has inspired are at the forefront. Otherwise, the future Batman, Jace Fox, is under the cowl, operating with an actual family to protect and deal with. Their roles are different now and it is refreshing to see new life breathed into characters that have existed for so long.
With new names under the capes and cowls, the characters' roles are also shifted. Jace is not Batman in a way that makes him the world's greatest detective. The new Green Lantern, Sojourner "Jo" Mullein, has a much more calculating personality. She takes up the lead on investigating the deaths of the Legion of Doom. This is a big changeup from the norm that has been established for decades. It also allows for new team dynamics and conflicts for the Justice League that would otherwise seem out of place or overdone by the original group. Going forward into Infinite Frontier, DC could potentially find a lot of success keeping these changes and instituting new ones.
New Characters in the Lead
The other thing that Future State did was introduce a lot of new heroes and villains. As mentioned previously, the big three were all changed from their original identities. Additionally, the rest of the Justice League was changed up. Instead of Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, or even the newer Lanterns, the main Lantern in the future is Jo. Instead of Wally West, Barry Allen, and the other speedsters, the future Flash is Jess Chambers. The Suicide Squad was headed up with Peacemaker, a character that is now gaining a lot of attention due to his inclusion in the The Suicide Squad film.
Lately, reception to some of DC's new characters or at least just shifts in character focus s this idea.
Harley Quinn is a very popular character, yet she is only recently being placed in bigger projects. Her various solo comic series and presence in the Suicide Squad film projects, as well as her animated series, have proven that there is a market for characters that aren't Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Though some of these characters exist in the same cities and are villains for the trinity, they have their own stories that are worth hearing and seeing, meaning that they are worth DC's increased attention. Joker's solo movie proved to be highly successful and it had nothing to do with Batman or Bruce Wayne. It was solely the story of the Joker. It is no secret that DC has a lot of iconic, worthwhile characters in its comics.
It is also no secret that the MCU has found a lot of success with seemingly less popular characters, because of the investment that has been put into developing them and finding compelling stories for them. WandaVision has been a major hit and it largely doesn't follow the stereotypical storytelling method of superhero shows and movies. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. also did something different than other shows before it had, particularly when it came to expanding the lore of the MCU films it connected to. Phil Coulson isn't Nick Fury and didn't have much of a presence before, but he quickly became a fan-favorite after his appearance in The Avengers. Now is the time for DC to do the same, but in its own way with its own unique characters.
The End of a Comic Era
DC is moving away from its trinity approach and it is probably for the best. There is a big chance for success if it takes the right gambles and gives fans something fresh. The company has already shown that it is capable of changing things up and has projects that seem to carry on this idea. The Justice League: Last Ride digital-first series plays upon a routine conflict, but its effects on continuity will remain unknown until the series releases. The Justice League has become more disharmonious as of late, with the fighting each other, reconciling to fight against evil, then going back to former conflicts. With this sixteen-part series, the Justice League will break up, then regroup, as the thing that broke them up is gradually shown through flashbacks.
Regardless of what effect this series has, it is clear that the time to base comics on the same big characters and rehashed tropes should be over. It is time for a new era of DC comics to rise: an era that is more diverse in its characters and storytelling with a willingness to innovate. DC is more than just its Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman trinity; it can tell stories that are as varied and intriguing as what the MCU has presented to its fan base so far.
