Christian Polastry

SPC 1024
Persuasive Speech
Topic: DC Comics
Title: Creating a Universe
Purpose: To persuade my audience that DC Comics can have a successful Cinematic Universe.
I. Introduction
A. Present the opening theme of Justice League the animated series (2001)
B. Over the past ten years Marvel Studios has had nonstop success with their
cinematic universe, but Warner Brothers has been struggling with catching an
audience and establishing their own series of interconnected films.
C. Today I want to show you, and hopefully persuade you, how the DC universe can
be successful.
II. The Source Material
A. DC started in 1938 with the release of Action Comics Number 1
a. They completely redefined the comic superhero genre.
B. Detective Comics is responsible for publishing some of the most iconic characters
ever.
a. They’ve introduced heroes suchs as Batman, Wonder Woman, Green
Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg.
b. Villains like the Joker, Harley Quinn, Lex Luthor, Reverse-Flash,
Catwoman, Deathstroke, Darkseid, Cheetah, Sinestro, Black Manta,
Doomsday
c. Even some bizzare ones, like Polka-Dot Man, Music Miester, Condiment
King, Matter-Eater Lad, Arm-Fall Off Boy, Crazy Quilt, The Eraser, Orca,
Calendar Man, Clock King, Zebra Man, Zodiac Master.
d. There’s is an endless amount of dynamic, and complex characters that
filmmakers can play with
C. Additionally, they've had some of best storylines ever written, including:
a. The Long Halloween, A classic noir fiction with Batman still new to
crime-fighting, investigating a serial killer who only strikes on holidays
 while also trying to prevent a gang war between Gotham's organized crime
families and going against some his rogues gallery
b. JLA: Tower of Babel, Batman's secret files explaining how to take down
every member of the Justice League in case any of them ever went rogue
is discovered, it establishes Batman's ultra preparedness as well as how his
methods can bring tension between him and his fellow superheroes
c. Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, one of their most memorable stories with
the beloved teen superhero team brought to defeat when they are betrayed
by one of their own members, Tara, she was revealed to be an ally of the
villain Deathstroke
d. Flashpoint, Barry Allen decides to travel back in time to save his mother
but sparks a a temporal ripple that creates a fractured reality where the
Justice League never existed
e. Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Anti-Monitor has traveled across the
multiverse to bring the end of all existence, as alternate earths are
destroyed, the Monitor quickly assembles a team of super-heroes from
across time and space to battle his counterpart and stop the destruction.
D. The Multiverse
a. An infinite number of parallel earths
b. This was written to avoid the confusion of two characters existing
simultaneously
c. Allows us to see different interpretations of characters
d. There’s been A Nazi Superman, Steampunk Batman, A Vampire Batman,
Kingdom Come, even a version of the Justice League reimagined by Stan
Lee
III. Success in other forms of Entertainment
A. Animation
a. They’ve released a number of straight-to-DVD films
b. Personally, I think they’ve done a better job with their animated universe
than their film universe
c. Animated films released in theaters have even received positive reviews
 d. They’ve released TV series such as Teen Titans, Batman the Animated
series, Superman the Animated series, Young Justice, Batman Beyond,
and Justice League
B. TV Shows
a. There have been a number of DC TV Shows
b. Prequels such as Krypton and Gotham
c. The CW has produced Arrow, Smallville, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends
of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, and Batwoman
d. The CW has done more with the Arrowverse than their Cinematic
Universe
C. Video Games
a. The Injustice Games don’t just give us a fun fighting game, but also a
great story
b. Arkham Games have been absolute perfection, with an amazing cast, a
compelling Batman narrative, and gameplay that truly makes you feel like
the Dark Knight
c. Also they’ve given us some pretty fun LEGO Games
D. Films
a. Outside of DCEU we’ve had many other DC Films
b. The films from the 80s and 90s were great.
c. Some of the more recent films weren’t the best
d. But others were successful at the box-office and have also earned
Academy Awards
IV. The DC Extended Universe
A. The DCEU has been a hit or miss
a. It’s kind of been a mess
b. They’ve had two different directors for one film, stunt doubles filling for
their characters, actors stepping down from their roles, the studio
interfering creatively, and the loss of millions
B. Superman.
 a. It was a great idea to start off their universe with Superman, considering
he was their first superhero ever
b. What Zack Snyder did with “Man of Steel” was place Superman in the
modern day while reinventing him as edgy with a much darker tone, but
Superman doesn't need to be reinvented, he's Superman!
c. “People are always like... "If you change Superman..." I'm like- If you're a
comic book fan, you know I didn't change Superman. If you know the true
'canon', you know that I didn't change Superman.” - Zack Snyder.
d. Man of Steel fails to portray who Superman is.
e. Zack Snyder has created an unrecognizable Superman and Justice League
C. They need a plan and have to take time with it
a. They threw in too many stories and sub-plots in Batman v.s. Superman
b. Rather than jumping to Batman v.s. Superman, give us a Batman movie.
c. If they want an interconnected universe do it through a credits scene
d. Instead of doing a Batman v.s. Superman movie why not “World’s Finest”
e. From there, unite the seven and expand the universe
D. Moving forward
a. Warner Brothers has their heart set on keeping this universe alive
b. They have a few confirmed films
c. Personally, I’m really looking forward to Suicide Squad and the Batman
d. The Flash movie could be the key to fixing their universe
e. Hopefully we’ll see a DC universe that balances a lighthearted tone with a
dark aesthetic
V. Conclusion
A. DC Comics has been around for almost 80 years with success in other formats,
but has a film franchise that no one really cares about.
B. They have potential to be just as successful, if not more, than Marvel Studios
Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoK8tXzSIl8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA0GoxcnbgU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZxGgplgyWI
https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/dc-comics-weirdest-characters/2900-683/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLYhFhtBb7s
https://whatculture.com/film/10-quick-ways-to-fix-the-dceu
https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2016/10/03/dc-comics-101-why-is-flashpoint-so-important
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/