Will People Accept James Gunn's DCU if It's So Heavily Adult?

Something James Gunn has often cited since taking over as a co-head of DCU is the wide array of comic books you can find on the shelves of your friendly neighborhood shop. Comic books can be about anything, so they are. You can find anything from kids’ books to adult-only horror. That’s not even just with indie books. The big companies can offer just as wide an array. However, most of their books have their aim set on people who are teenagers or older.

It makes sense that Gunn wants his DCU to have a wide range of tones and subject matter. You don’t want things to get stale. I’m still surprised that he has gone so overwhelmingly adult so quickly. It made sense to me at first. He officially kicked off his run in the DCU with Creature Commandos, which was classic Gunn, complete with gratuitous sex, violence, and language. It felt like he was getting it out of his system. Then, Superman came along.

I loved Gunn’s Superman movie and ended up seeing it three times. Despite enjoying it, I was annoyed every time Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl called Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern an asshole. She only does it once, but it feels unnecessary. Another moment that stuck out to me is Nicholaus Hoult’s Lex Luthor shooting a food vendor point-blank in the head. That moment is a bit more essential, as it raises the stakes in the story and makes it clear Luthor is not messing around, but it arguably lessens the number of people who can see the movie.

Both moments are odd because Superman is supposed to be the “family-oriented” DCU entry, and it mostly is, but certainly has moments that are inappropriate for kids (though that may depend on the kids and/or parents). Superman has been followed by season two of Peacemaker, which, as Mike (and James Gunn) pointed out, is decidedly not for kids. Peacemaker will be followed up by a Green Lantern TV show, which is being compared to True Detective, Supergirl, who was last seen calling Superman a bitch, and an R-rated Clay Face movie.

Gunn says that Supergirl will be more family-oriented. Maybe that’s true. But, for a character who is first introduced swearing at Big Blue and dealing with a potential drinking problem, I have questions. I’m also not averse to more adult themes. If all the aforementioned shows are good, who cares? The short answer is: parents. I was bartending a show last night, and a mom was scandalized that a female character called a male character a “bad boy.” The Puritans are out in full force!

Gunn’s Superman was not the sexless, innocuous kind of film we’ve come to expect from the superhero genre. That said, it certainly wasn’t for kids. It was successful, but could it have been more so? Will moviegoers still be there when the next film rolls around if, in the interim, they’re bombarded with undead sex and floppy dicks? Can you get new fans on board with your universe if they can only watch some of it?