James Gunn recently announced a whole slew of new movies for the rebooted DC cinematic universe. With so many exciting announcements, like Superman: Legacy and The Batman 2, it’s nice to take a step back and look at some of the comics that will no doubt inspire a lot of these upcoming blockbusters. So let's take a look at some of the reading material that will get you up to speed with the new DCU!

1. "Flashpoint" -- Read to Prep for The Flash

The upcoming Flash movie is set to have Ezra Miller’s version of the character accidentally mess with the timeline, creating a world that’s very different from how he remembers it. If this premise sounds familiar to you, then that’s likely because the 2011 comic crossover did it first. In that story, Barry Allen travels back in time to prevent the death of his mother, but once he comes back to the present, the world has changed in all the wrong ways: Superman is imprisoned and quarantined in a secret government base; Aquaman and Wonder Woman plunge the world into a war between Atlantis and Themyscira; and Batman, who is Thomas Wayne instead of Bruce Wayne, is a violent vigilante that fights against the Joker. In this world, she’s an insane version of Martha Wayne mad with grief at the loss of their son Bruce.  

There’s a lot of tragedy to be found in "Flashpoint". But among the harrowing circumstances, there are still rays of hope to be found as Barry tries to correct the timeline. We doubt that you’ll find Micheal Keaton’s Batman in the mix, but "Flashpoint" is still a fun read that paved the way for the massive "New 52" reboot that defined DC for the next few years. 

2. "Blue Beetle Rebirth: The More Things Change" -- Read to Prep for Blue Beetle

For those wondering what’s so special about Jaime Reyes as the Blue Beetle, then his first storyline in "DC Rebirth", titled "The More Things Change", has you covered. The story covers Jaime as he tries to understand the new powers that the mystical Beetle Scarab in his body grants him. Luckily for him, he has the previous Blue Beetle, Ted Kord, to help him as his mentor. Even with this assistance, Jaime still has a lot of work cut out for him if he wants to be a full-fledged superhero. This storyline is a nice jumping-on point for those looking to see what Blue Beetle as a character is all about. It’s not the most complicated thing in the world, but it doesn’t really need to be either. 

3. "Batman and Son" -- Read to Prep for The Brave and the Bold 

With Damian Wayne set to make his debut on the silver screen in The Brave of the Bold movie, why not read the story that saw him make his first ever debut? "Batman and Son" is a story that sees a more reflective take on Bruce Wayne and his accomplishments as Batman. In the mind of Bruce, he’s accomplished nearly everything he ever set out to do as a superhero. He’s defeated the villains in his rogues gallery several times, accrued a huge list of allies and disciples, and feels like he’s at the end of his rope. It isn’t until Damian enters his life that Bruce has to tangle with a bigger threat to the cape and cowl that he’s ever faced before: being a parent. And unlike any of the Robins he’s trained before, Damian is fully trained by the League of Assassins and adept at killing. Faced with challenges like these puts Bruce into a dilemma about prioritizing his responsibilities as Batman, or as father, and what Damian’s inclusion into his new family means for both.

We hope you enjoyed this list! Be sure to let us know what other comics that the films might take inspiration from!