9) Plenty Of Fan Service And Easter Eggs For Longtime Fans
Fan service can be hit or miss depending on how it’s used. If a movie feels TOO fan service-y, then it’ll be seen as a film that can’t stand on its own merits. If it removes itself entirely from its source material, however, then it may feel TOO separate from what fans like about it. With the DCEU, the fan service is certainly present, but the writers and creators find a way to make it feel like it’s a legitimate part of the universe.
There are the subtle examples (the “Keep Calm and Call Batman” poster in Man of Steel) and then the far more obvious ones (Joker and Harley in the full-on recreation of Alex Ross’ famous cover art). These nods don’t strengthen the plot, but they’re not meant to. They give you those “blink and you’ll miss it” moments that motivate your buddy sitting next to you to repeatedly hit your shoulder and ask if you saw the Darkseid’s Omega symbol in the Knightmare sequence.
They also help hint at potential future movies and characters within the universe. A Lexcorp brand on a random truck was how fans knew they’d be seeing Lex Luthor soon. Zod shoved a Wayne Enterprises into Superman’s face and audiences learned that Batman existed in this universe. Little details and teases like these hidden throughout each movie keep fans alert and bring them back for multiple viewings.
It’s not likely that Wonder Woman and Justice League will stray from this formula, either, so it’s best everyone keeps their eyes peeled for even more teases.
