Insanely Convincing DC Superhero Movie Fan Theories

Aquaman (Jason Momoa) is scheduled to make his debut in Justice League, but some, like Alex Welch at SchmoesKnow, believe he’s already appeared in the DCEU. In a scene in Man of Steel, Superman (Henry Cavill) is knocked out and thrown into the ocean by an exploding oil rig. As he floats there unconscious, two whales are seen approaching, and next thing you know, Superman is safe on the shore.

It’s easy to see why some think that Aquaman used his power to communicate with sea life to send a couple of whales to Superman’s rescue.

The Injustice Universe has quickly become one of the most popular “Elseworlds” in DC Comics continuity. Originally based on a video game, Injustice became an even bigger sensation with the start of a comic book adaptation, which is still ongoing six years later.

Many, like Reddit poster Kalfira, think that the DCEU has noticed the success of Injustice, and are taking the films in that direction. The alternate reality of Injustice features a Superman gone bad, embroiled in a war for control of the planet with Batman and his team of insurgents.

The "Knightmare" future glimpsed in Batman V. Superman definitely looks like something out of Injustice, and it would justify the grim and gritty style the films appears to aim for. It would also explain Flash’s cryptic warning of “Lois is the key,” as the death of Lois Lane is what precipitates the events of Injustice.

How is it possible that Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) is just now becoming aware of the Batman (Ben Affleck) in Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, despite the fact that the incredibly prolific vigilante has been active in the city next to Metropolis for decades? According to a theory by Reddit poster come-on-now-please, that may be intentional.

It’s been long-established that the Gotham City Police Department plays along with Batman’s activities, and perhaps the media in the area does as well. Much of Batman’s intimidating presence relies on the mystique surrounding his character, and a partial media blackout on in-depth reporting about him would keep that air of mystery alive. This could be why Daily Planet chief Perry White (Lawrence Fishburne) is so adamant that Kent does not pursue the Batman story. 

The contest for most controversial word in the DCEU isn’t even close – it’s “Martha” in a landslide. The scene in which Batman (Ben Affleck) is halted from his attempted Krypto-spearing of Superman (Henry Cavill) by the name of, coincidentally, both of their mothers, looks ridiculous on the surface. But Reddit user TheLoverHorrific may have redeemed it with a believable fan theory.

In Batman V. Superman, Batman’s actions are motivated in part by the horrific visions of a possible future he sees, which are usually referred to as the Knightmare. In those scenes, a vengeful Superman accosts Batman with “She was my world and you took her from me.” Most fans assume the “her” in question is Lois Lane (Amy Adams), but it might not be.

When Batman heard the name “Martha,” it wasn't the name of his own mother that stopped him, but the introduction of another female person who is apparently important to Superman. After all, he is the world’s greatest detective, and this would be an important clue in the mystery of his Knightmare visions. The theory goes on to explain that by not spearing Superman, Batman allows for the rescue of Martha Kent (Diane Lane), thus preventing the Knightmare future from coming to pass.

The delightfully named Reddit user Jetpack-Guy has come up a theory that sounds silly, but actually makes a frightening amount of sense. In short, General Zod (Michael Shannon) has no penis. The evidence is surprisingly sound. Zod was genetically engineered to be a soldier and a military leader, and that may have meant no need for reproduction.

Zod has been traveling around with other Kryptonians for a while, thinking they were the last of their people, and have yet to attempt to repopulate – perhaps because of Zod and his cronies lack reproductive organs.

Most damning of all, in Batman V. Superman, Doomsday is created from the body of Zod, and very clearly has no genitalia. This unfortunate trait could even explain General Zod’s beef with Superman’s family. Zod freaks out when he discovers that Jor-El broke Kryptonian law and had a natural-born child. Is that really because Jor-El went against the rules, or is it straight-up penis envy?

Some DC fans remain frustrated at the lack of a connection between the DCEU and the “CW-verse,” the continuity most of DC’s current TV series share. This has led to some confusing things, like the fact that the Flash is played by both Grant Gustin and Ezra Miller. However, many fans have pointed out that DC Comics has a long history of crossing over various multiverses, complete with multiple versions of popular heroes meeting one another.

Some, like Reddit user Codoro, think that the films and shows will collide in a storyline mirroring the comic event Infinite Crisis. Others, like Reddit poser Calvin Elliot, see the DCEU ending with a crossover based on the epic Crisis on Infinite Earths.