March 18 – HBO Max released Zack Snyder’s version of The Justice League. (Click for the review) The movie lasted for 242 minutes with 6 parts and an additional Epilogue. For those who have watched the infamous Snyder Cut, we’re all surprised with the 10 minute-long Epilogue (post credits) because we just saw the so called Knightmare Future of the DC Extended Universe.
First, you should know what Anti-life is because that’s the only thing that has been coming out from Darkseid’s mouth through out the movie. The Anti-life Equation is a mathematical equation that can eradicate free will which was first introduced in Jack Kirby’s comics. The man who had control over this equation was Billion-Dollar Bates, who was a insanely rich man but was later on killed by his own body guards during a ritual he held called The Sect.
As per Jack Kirby’s Fourth World setting, the Anti life formula is as follows: loneliness + alienation + fear + despair + self-worth ÷ mockery ÷ condemnation ÷ misunderstanding × guilt × shame × failure × judgment n=y where y=hope and n=folly, love=lies, life=death, self=dark side
Darkseid came to know about the equation 300 hundred years ago when he met the people from Mars. Life equation is a Martian Philosophy about free will and spiritual purpose but s an evil creation that he is, Darkseid came to conclusion that the Martian philosophy can produce a negative equation for this.
While in search for the anti-life, Darkseid discovered that the anti-life is actually on Earth. After Billion-Dollar Bates death, Darkseid has made “Clone Bates”. With the help of Desaad, chief of torture, they tried to extract the equation from Clone Bates brain but was later on stopped by Orion, one of the New Gods and the son of Darkseid. He learned the equation and tried to use it for good but later on realized that suppression of free will can also be a bad thing. In the Final Crisis, Darkseid was able to create the a powerful base on Earth by spreading the equation on earth thru internet via email with the help of Mokkari, one of the new gods.
Before I even tell you more about it, let’s focus on the Epilogue first. In the Snyder Cut Epilogue, we can see what the Knightmare future looked like; Batman and his team of Knightmare heroes, walking in dried up city which I think was the Gotham City. Mera from the Atlantis was there to take avenge for Aquaman who was killed by Darkseid. Cyborg and Flash are the only Justice League that were remaining with him. Deathstroke became his ally too. Surprisingly, Joker was there to, wearing bulletproof vest and armed with a gun, probably that’s how Batman is trying to protect him and also revealed that Harley Quinn was killed and asked Batman to kill Joker for her.
The team is trying to make a final attempt for Flash to create a flashpoint and travel back in time in order to warn the past Bruce about the Knightmare future. We also saw an evil Superman whom I think is finally controlled by Darkseid because of the anti-life equation after Lois Lane’s death. So the question is, would the Knightmare future be possible to exist in a Justice League sequel? We’ll never know but if Zack is looking on making the Epilogue come to life, well, there’s so much to expect from it.
Now, let’s talk about what could happen in Knightmare future. This is an alternate timeline where Darkseid finally invaded the Earth and made its strong base for the anti-life. In this timeline, he was able to control all the planets including the most powerful alien in the universe, Superman.
In the Knightmare future, let’s create the story short, Batman and Superman are not good friends by this time. With the success of Darkseid’s anti-life Equation, the Earth was successfully terraformed by the Mother boxes and then Superman became ally with the with the evil gods.
Batman created a team of superheroes after he eventually got kicked out of the Justice league which is later named as Insurgency. This team was ordered by the government to take down Superman’s Regime, a team created by Superman. Th war between teams created a massive impact into the Earth, making it look a wasteland. The war also killed Aquaman and Wonder Woman. Quinn also died which was revealed in the Epilogue as well.
What’s more interesting is the aftermath of the Knightmare. Flash was able to run back to time to warn Bruce with regards to the Knightmare future and what Superman could do, however he was a little early so when he met Bruce, he still doesn’t know about Barry nor the Justice League.
Eventually, Bruce thought of it as a nightmare but believed in his instinct, later on seek Diana’s help to form the League which we have seen also on both Justice League versions. One thing we didn’t see in Whedon’s version was when Victor Stone had a vision of the Knightmare which was shown in Snyder’s version. He was able to see the future while activating the Mother Box what Superman could do and what will happen to the Earth. So basically, if Flash set everything right, Knightmare can be stopped or if not, then let’s see how Zack pick it up from there.
My take on this is Flash can actually redo the Knightmare only if he runs on the right time just like what the Avengers did, right? But won’t it be exciting to see the Knightmare and a possibility of Justice League 2.
Bonus: Team Members of Insurgency and Regime
Insurgency – Deathstroke, Batgirl , Zatanna, Harley Quinn, John Constatine, Catwoman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Black Lightning, Supergirl, Black Canary, Green Arrow, Aquaman, Batwoman , Doctor Fate, Huntress , Captain Atom, Nightwing, Hawkman, Lex Luthor, Martian Manhunter, Alfred Pennyworth.
Insurgency who died during the Knightmare – Aquaman, Bat woman , Doctor Fate, Huntress , Captain Atom, Nightwing, Hawkman, Lex Luthor, Martian Manhunter, Alfred Pennyworth
Regime – Wonder Woman, Black Oracle, Cheetah, Cyborg, Killer Frost, Lobo, Raptor, Riddler, Solomon Grundy, Two-Face.
Former Members of Regime – Aquaman, Atom,. Bane, Black Adam, Black Lightning, Catwoman, Copperhead, Doomsday , Flash, Giganta, Girder, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Killer Croc, King Shark , Lex Luthor, Man-Bat, Metamorpho, Mister Mxyzptlk, Nightwing, Raven, Shazam, Sinestro, Swamp-Thing, Deathstroke, Yellow Lantern
Credits for the team list: DC Fandom (Fandom.com)
Wonder Roanne 