James Gunn’s DCU Is Doing the Opposite of the MCU With DC’s Thanos (& That’s a Good Thing)

by

James Gunn is planning to introduce a villain similar to Thanos into the new DC Universe, but he’s taking a different approach than Marvel did. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thanos gradually became a major threat, first appearing as the force behind an attack in The Avengers, then being fleshed out in Guardians of the Galaxy. His ultimate plan and defeat in Avengers: Endgame felt earned because Marvel carefully built up his story over time. Zack Snyder attempted to quickly introduce Darkseid into the DC Extended Universe without that same groundwork, but wasn’t able to fully realize his vision.

James Gunn is handling Darkseid in his new DC Universe very differently than how Marvel treated Thanos or Zack Snyder treated Darkseid in their films. He’s taking a contrasting approach.

Darkseid is Debuting in Mister Miracle Animated Series

When Thanos appeared in The Avengers, he instantly established himself as a significant threat within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In contrast, Zack Snyder introduced Darkseid in Justice League before the team had a chance to fully gel, with plans to make him the central villain in a future film. Now, James Gunn is taking a different approach with Darkseid, gradually introducing him as a character without rushing to make him the primary antagonist of the new DC Universe. This is a clever strategy, as it allows audiences to get to know the villain and gives the DCU time to develop stronger bonds before facing the powerful ruler of Apokolips.

Darkseid will first appear in the animated series Mister Miracle. James Gunn’s DC Universe is designed so that animated projects and live-action shows are connected, with the same actors often playing characters in both. We saw this with Frank Grillo, who voiced Rick Flag Sr. in Creature Commandos and then played the same character in live-action Superman and Season 2 of Peacemaker. This means the actor chosen to voice Darkseid in Mister Miracle will also portray the character when he eventually appears in a live-action DCU film or series.

What to Expect from Mister Miracle Series

One of the most exciting aspects of the upcoming Mister Miracle animated series is that James Gunn chose Tom King to lead the project. King also wrote the critically acclaimed Mister Miracle comic book series from 2017 to 2019, illustrated by Mitch Gerads. This decision highlights Gunn’s commitment to hiring creators with deep roots in the comics themselves, ensuring the show stays true to the original story instead of being overly adapted for a wider audience.

The Mister Miracle miniseries tells the story of Scott Free (Mister Miracle) and his love, Big Barda. They eventually leave everything behind to get married on Earth. The story reveals how Scott was exchanged for Darkseid’s son as a way to end the war between the New Gods of Apokolips and New Genesis. This put Scott in the care of Granny Goodness, who subjected him to torture and abuse, driving him to desperately seek freedom. He finds love with Big Barda, a warrior among Granny Goodness’ Female Furies, and together they manage to escape.

Darkseid’s presence is key because as the tyrannical ruler of Apokolips, he’s the reason Mister Miracle and Big Barda fled to Earth and became heroes—he subjected them to immense suffering. Throughout the Mister Miracle series, Darkseid looms over them as an unstoppable, ultimate evil. Introducing Darkseid early allows the story to showcase his power and establish him as a major threat within the DC Universe. Fortunately, James Gunn doesn’t seem interested in immediately pitting heroes against him; he’s prioritizing careful world-building first.

Read More

2026-06-06 00:17