This Villain Is Perfect for the DCU’s Thanos, and I’m Convinced 2026 Will Be Setting Him Up

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James Gunn’s new DC Universe is officially underway with the release of shows like Creature Commandos, Superman, and Season 2 of Peacemaker. The finale of Peacemaker Season 2 was especially important, kicking off a major storyline called “Salvation” by sending Peacemaker (John Cena) to an off-world prison as a test subject, ordered by Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo). Gunn has emphasized that this event will be central to the plot of Man of Tomorrow and other upcoming DCU projects, creating a connected universe.

Although the “Salvation Run” comic storyline involves Darkseid, James Gunn has stated he won’t be the main villain in the DC Universe’s initial story arc. Gunn is intentionally saving the New Gods for future installments to avoid repeating past portrayals and similarities to Marvel’s Thanos. This means the DCU currently lacks a major, overarching threat to bring its heroes together. However, Nekron, a powerful cosmic entity, is a strong possibility to become that central antagonist, and could appear as soon as 2026.

Who Is Nekron in DC Comics?

Nekron, in the DC Universe, isn’t just a typical villain; he’s more like a fundamental force of the universe. He is the original emptiness that existed before anything lived – a conscious darkness determined to erase all of creation. His power comes from ruling the Land of the Unliving, making him the master of every soul that has ever died. This makes him a threat to existence itself – something that can’t be defeated through fighting or strategy, because he represents the ultimate end of everything.

The ‘Blackest Night’ storyline perfectly demonstrates how powerful the villain Nekron is. He created black power rings and used them to bring back the dead – both heroes and villains – from across the universe, forming an army called the Black Lantern Corps. These undead beings remember their past lives, which allows them to exploit the emotional weaknesses of those still living. This causes intense emotional pain, which Nekron uses as a source of power, turning feelings like love and grief into fuel. The conflict is especially devastating because heroes are forced to fight the reanimated corpses of their loved ones, making their own personal histories a weapon against them.

Lanterns Could Introduce the Black Hand (And Nekron)

The new HBO series Lanterns, expected in 2026, will likely set the stage for the introduction of Nekron. The show will be a mystery, similar to True Detective, and will follow experienced Green Lantern Hal Jordan (played by Kyle Chandler) and new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) as they investigate a series of unusual murders.

Although it hasn’t been officially confirmed, many fans believe the deaths happening in the series are building towards the introduction of Black Hand, a major villain from the comic books. This idea is largely based on the casting of Garret Dillahunt as a character named William Macon – a name similar to Black Hand’s, William Hand – and a mysterious post Dillahunt shared on social media that fans think was a hint about his role. Before becoming a powerful cosmic villain, William Hand was a troubled man with a fascination with death. This makes a dark and complex murder investigation the perfect way to introduce him as a uniquely disturbing serial killer, one whose crimes are so strange they eventually attract the attention of the Green Lantern Corps.

Things are starting to come together, with different storylines connecting in exciting ways. The Lanterns series can position the Black Hand as the key to Nekron’s power on Earth, while the Salvation Run story provides the manpower for his army. Because so many supervillains are facing certain death on that alien world, they could easily become new members of the Black Lantern Corps. This creates a powerful chain reaction: Peacemaker supplies the casualties, the events in Lanterns create the means to resurrect them, and it all leads to Nekron making a grand entrance in a huge crossover event.

Do you think Nekron could be the biggest bad guy in the new DC Universe, or is someone else a better fit? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-10 01:41