Fans are excited for The Flash to usher in a brand new era of the DC Universe. However, it seems as though Thanos creator Jim Starlin hopes they usher in a brand new age of credits for other comic-based properties like the MCU.
While not an official movie in the new DC Universe being built by James Gunn and Peter Safran, The Flash serves as a testing ground for some of their ideas. This includes their “writer-focused” initiative, which seeks to put creatives at the forefront of decision making for their new universe. Part of this process is pushing the comics these films are based off during their TV spots, as well as crediting the creators of characters front and center in the credits.
Comic creators being acknowledged so early in The Flash credits caught the eye of Jim Starlin, who wrote The Infinity War comic series and created the characters of Thanos, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, and plenty of others. He took to Instagram to praise the film, throwing subtle shade at the MCU in the process by wishing they did the same:
“Was really surprised by how much I liked the new Flash movie! One terrific flick,” he said on his Instagram. “I was especially pleased to see the creators of the Flash acknowledged early in the end credits instead of way after the caterers and so many others. Wish the Marvel movies would do the same.”
Traditionally in MCU projects comic creators are credited at the end of the credits, right before the “Special thanks” section. By this point, many viewers have either left the theater or are scrolling on their phone trying to figure out if there’s another post credits scene they should be waiting for. The Flash changes the game for comic creator crediting by putting them at the front of the line, honoring the material that screenwriters base their films on.
The Flash’s DC Universe future
Warner Bros. Discovery already has a script for a potential sequel to The Flash, written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, the man behind the two Aquaman movies starring Jason Momoa. However, James Gunn and Peter Safran did not discuss the Flash sequel during their DC Universe presentation.
Directed by Andy Muschietti from a script written by Birds of Prey scribe Christina Hodson, The Flash is inspired by the Flashpoint comic book storyline, which followed Barry Allen as he navigated an altered DC Universe. Written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Andy Kuber, Flashpoint radically altered the status of the DC Comics universe and led to the launch of the New 52 titles.
In addition to Ezra Miller, The Flash also features Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck as two separate versions of Batman, Ron Livingston as Henry Allen, Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen, Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Antje Traue as Faora-Ul and Sasha Calle as Supergirl. Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Rudy Mancuso and Luke Brandon Field are also on board in undisclosed roles.
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