Four Future Roles of DC’s Slipknot

DC/Warner Bros' Suicide Squad isn't out yet and we already have a breakout star: Slipknot. Roving gangs of people both online and off obsessing over each costume choice, each line of precious dialogue, each fleeting scene. It's no surprise. The character has been immensely popular in the comics for years. Really, it's surprising this is the first time we've seen him on the big screen. He's played such integral roles in so many landmark DC arcs, everything from Crisis on Infinite Earths to Flashpoint, that it's strange the movies have gotten by this long without him. I could go through the character's history, but it'd be like reciting Batman's origin. I mean, what's the point? I know you're all well aware. Since Suicide Squad is merely the beginning of Slipknot's new, well-deserved career on film, I've put together four other appearances fit for the Noose Man in the upcoming DCCU. [caption id="attachment_86191" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Just Wish They Stuck Closer to the Classic Costume[/caption]

Apokolips' Emissary on Earth

With Apokolips on its way to dominate Earth in Justice League, it's only traditional that a villain leads the charge planet-side. Sure, you could switch things up and have someone like Kalibak, Glorious Godfrey, Intergang, or -- maybe -- a "younger" Darkseid. Look. Things are classic for a reason. We need a tried and true choice. Have Slipknot lead. He's already proven able to take out most of the Justice League in the comics. He's one of the few regular, everyday human characters that the New Gods -- all the New Gods -- respect. He could be a terrifying villain on screen. The entire league -- ENTIRE CITIES, all tied up with ropes. The biggest issue I see with this is that it requires his inevitable demise. You have to go all in on these invasion things and that means a one way ticket to Dead Town. I feel that you're wasting Slipknot as a character. And in a cinematic universe that has so masterfully handled characters like Doomsday, Jimmy Olsen, Mercy Graves, and Lex Luthor, wasting characters would be abominable. [caption id="attachment_86190" align="aligncenter" width="376"] The last thing hundreds of ropes saw before a violent knotting[/caption]

He's Actually Steppenwolf

Make Slipknot Steppenwolf. Okay, I know, it's a bit blasphemous, but you don't have to change Slipknot that much! Have Steppenwolf be more like a legend. A mythic tyrant that's running this gigantic hellish demon-alien invasion. The League battles through army after army and, in the end, when they finally make it to the guy in charge who do they find? Slipknot, that's who. I feel this is more of a fitting role for our favorite villain. It speaks to his oft-overlooked strategic prowess, his leadership skills, and the sheer overwhelming foreboding he exudes. Can you imagine the moment when you find out this goofy space villain is actually a world class badass you'd rather be watching anyway. The DCCU isn't afraid of changing things up, like making Zod into Doomsday, Dick Grayson in Jason Todd, or The Riddler into Lex Luthor. I think a sick twist like that is worth relegating Steppenwolf into  a "mythic" background character. [caption id="attachment_86192" align="aligncenter" width="393"] I mean, this guy hangs A MAN MADE OF NUCLEAR FIRE[/caption]

The Killing Rope

Batman V Superman took a ton of cues from Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. Ben has a solo Batman movie coming up. I'm thinking, since the animated Killing Joke adaption let a lot of people down, maybe take some cues from that. You want to stay away from Joker fatigue, though, so make someone else the central villain. Like, I dunno... Slipknot? Just when Bruce is getting back to that hopeful Batman, his arguably oldest foe Slipknot breaks Barbara Gordon's neck in a brief hanging, leaving her paralyzed. Bruce is driven to the brink of madness as he tries to unwind Slipknot's increasingly complex plot and thwart the mastermind before all of Gotham gets stringed up. It would more than your usual super-fare. This would be deep. It would mean something. Plus, I feel Slipknot would be a better villain for the screen anyway. Whereas Joker is trying to trying to prove the world is only one bad day away from him, Slipknot isn't trying to prove anything. He just really likes hanging people. Single minded, relentless, all-consuming. Like the shark from Jaws. [caption id="attachment_86193" align="aligncenter" width="353"] The same cold, dead eyes[/caption]

The True Death of Superman

Spoilers for Batman V Superman! Now that we've had Doomsday appear in the last hour of Batman V Superman and killed Superman, having an actual emotionally impactful Death of Superman movie is going to be tough. The Brothers Warner are going to have to change things enough to be different, but still appeal to the heart of the story that made it resonate so strongly. Why not replace Doomsday with Slipknot? Now I know what you're saying. Mike, the original comic had Superman and the monster duke it out for, like, days. How are you going to stretch out a fight between Supes and our boy Slipknot for that far? I'm thinking of giving Superman armor. Or maybe a new set of powers, I'm still on the fence. It's hard to know how far to take it. You know what they say: give Slipknot enough time to plan and he can beat anyone. However, we do have the same problem as with the first idea. He'll have to die at the end of the story. It may not be such a bad thing, though! Later on, a few movies later, when you think that everything's settled, Slipknot can come back -- resurrected, I don't know how -- and goes in for a rematch! OH MAN. Talk about drama. It's Shakespearean. [caption id="attachment_86194" align="aligncenter" width="349"] Alas poor Slipknot, I knew him well...[/caption] But those are just my ideas for Slipknot's inevitable future in the DCCU. What are yours? Let me know in the comments below.