Justice League's Biggest Spoilers & DCEU Reveals

Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for Justice League ahead!

Justice League is now in theaters, uniting the heroes of the DC Extended Universe for the first time. And while the film isn't expected to top the opening weekend haul of November's other superhero flick, Thor: Ragnarok, it has already earned more for its Thursday night box office than Wonder Woman, indicating that Justice League is still off to a promising start. It's also been received more positively than previous DCEU films (with the exception of Wonder Woman), suggesting that Justice League is more in line with what audiences want from the big screen versions of DC Comics' heroes.

With fans energized and the film on track to earn a substantial amount of money at the box office, Justice League is all set to serve as the launchpad for the future of Warner Bros.' shared universe. So what big developments and reveals does the film contain and what might they hint of the future? Read on to find out!

Of Gods & Green Lanterns

Though Justice League's main focus is on today's heroes uniting to stop Steppenwolf, this is not the first time Earth has had to defend itself against the Apokoliptian invader. In a flashback set some 5,000 years ago, Steppenwolf first comes to Earth with the intention of using the Mother Boxes to transform the planet into a New Apokolips. But when he arrives he is met with a resistance made up of Amazons, Atlanteans, and the tribes of Men. This coalition successfully repels Steppenwolf and his Parademon army, handing him his very first defeat in battle. Of course, this defeat is then what drives Steppenwolf to return and again attempt his invasion of Earth - but only once the mysterious Mother Boxes, which had been left behind on Earth all those millennia ago, begin to reawaken and call out to him.

The flashback is a tremendous battle scene lifted straight from a fantasy epic, but the first battle with Steppenwolf makes sure to also include some DC Comics flavor. Fighting alongside the armies of Amazons, Atlanteans, and Man, are the Gods of Olympus - specifically Zeus and Artemis - as well as a few Green Lanterns. And while further confirmation of the Greek Gods having existed in the DCEU is neat, it's the inclusion of the Green Lanterns that is sure to get the most attention. These aren't any specific Green Lanterns, but the scene does include them fighting with their light constructs and even features a Lantern dying in battle, their ring shown flying off to choose its next wearer. It isn't quite the Green Lantern cameo some may have hoped for, but having them around for the fight sure makes it feel like a real Age of Heroes.

Oh, Mother

Speaking of the Mother Boxes, these pieces of revolutionary tech are integral to Justice League's plot, but they aren't exactly as comic book fans will remember. Originally, the Mother Boxes were a New Genesis' creation; living supercomputers that bond to their user and offer a variety of useful functions. (Think of them like smartphones for the New Gods). And while these powerful devices could do almost anything, from healing to energy manipulation, they are typically used for teleportation. By opening a portal, or Boom Tube, a Mother Box can send its user anywhere in the universe, and they are the only means of transportation to and from the Fourth World, the home dimension for New Genesis and Apokolips.

The Mother Boxes in Justice League are a little different, though no less powerful. There are three of them and they are the key to Steppenwolf's plan to transform Earth, creating a powerful reaction called "the unity" when all three of the boxes are combined. And though there isn't any reason to assume the Mother Boxes of the comics can't do the same, their most frequent function is the opening of Boom Tubes. Interestingly, Steppenwolf still appears to travel via Boom Tube in Justice League, but whether he does so by way of some other Mother Box or through another means remains unclear.

Welcome to Atlantis

A large part of Justice League's allure lies in its new characters, who while teased during Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, make their proper DCEU debut in this film. Among the newcomers is Arthur Curry AKA The Aquaman. He's a loner, an outcast, and he downright refuses Bruce's initial invitation to join the team because, as he says (or rather quotes of Friedrich Schiller), "a strong man is strongest alone." Obviously, that is just the kind of sentiment Justice League aims to prove wrong.

Once Arthur does decide to join, he needs to pick up a few things from Atlantis, but upon his arrival he finds Steppenwolf has come to take back the Mother Box held there. They fight, but Steppenwolf still manages to escape with the Mother Box. It's a scene which, while important to the film's plot, is mostly here to offer up our first real look at Atlantis. It's a brief visit to the underwater kingdom, revealing a landscape dotted with sunken ruins and the Mother Box held in something of a submerged tower.

What's more telling is that this scene appears to be the first meeting of Arthur and Mera - the future King and Queen of Atlantis. Mera's shown guarding the Mother Box, displaying a little of her hydrokinesis, and it's implied that Arthur hasn't been seen in Atlantis for a long time, though she still recognizes him as Queen Atlanna's oldest son. We also get a glimpse of how the DCEU will handle underwater communication, with Mera creating a pocket of air for her and Arthur to converse inside; a change from the comics in which characters just speak normally while underwater, but a necessary one for any chance at a believable, live-action adaptation. Expect the first trailer for 2018's Aquaman to reveal more, but this was at least a little taste.

Superman Lives!

It is both the biggest reveal and the least surprising moment of the film, but at about halfway through its runtime, Justice League resurrects Superman. This isn't exactly a spoiler, with press for the movie ranging from coy comments to outright confirmation of his return, but the moment itself is exciting nonetheless.

After debating the pros and cons of resurrecting the dead hero, the plan is eventually finalized - they'll submerge Clark's lifeless body in the regeneration chamber within the Kryptonian ship (the very same that Lex Luthor used to create Doomsday) and use the power of the one Mother Box they've recovered to revive him. When Superman died fighting Doomsday in the comics, he was later revealed to have only been in a death-like hibernation and was revived thanks to the solar energy stored within cells, but Justice League goes for the full death and resurrection route. And once the deed is done it appears as if Kal-El is back, looking just the same as ever - but is he really the same man when he returns?

"Do You Bleed?"

Once back among the living, Kal immediately goes to the destroyed Superman memorial, looking lost and a little confused. It's here that his fellow heroes find Kal, cautiously asking if he knows who he is. But before they can get a clear answer, Cyborg's arm cannon - which, since his cybernetic enhancements are connected to the Mother Boxes, has been acting a little twitchy of late - fires a shot at Kal, enraging the Kryptonian and kicking off what may just be the best action sequence of the film.

Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Cyborg all try to subdue Kal-El, but fail, and even The Flash tries to use his super speed to get the upper hand, but isn't fast enough. It's then that Batman - who, considering what went down the last time he and Supes met, wisely chose to hang back - comes on the scene to try and restrain the rampaging Superman. This leads to another heated confrontation, with Kal growling at Batman, "Do you bleed?" Obviously, he remembers their previous encounter quite well, and after Batman is thrown into a wall, he grimaces, "Yeah, something is definitely bleeding." It's a clever and very funny callback to one of Batman V Superman's most infamous lines, bringing just a touch of levity to what is Batman and Superman's second fight in as many movies.

Steppenwolf Defeated

Once Superman has wrecked the Justice League, Bruce calls in the "Big Guns" (i.e. Lois Lane) to calm him down. It works, and after a sojourn to the Kent family farm, Clark rejoins his teammates for the final battle with Steppenwolf. First he helps Flash rescue the few remaining civilians in the vicinity, then he assists Cyborg in separating the three Mother Boxes and stopping "the unity" from destroying the planet. With that crisis averted, he then turns his attention to Steppenwolf, who has been kept pretty busy fighting both Wonder Woman and Aquaman.

However, neither Superman nor any of the Justice League heroes actually land the defeating blow to Steppenwolf. Instead, after having his plans ruined and his butt repeatedly kicked by the assembled heroes, Steppenwolf begins to get a little scared. That fear proves to be his undoing because his loyal army of Parademons feed on fear, and once they get a whiff of it, they descend on him in a feeding frenzy (think the hyenas descending on Scar in The Lion King). It's at that moment a Boom Tube opens, pulling Steppenwolf and the ravenous Parademons inside, leaving his fate somewhat ambiguous. But we can probably assume that this is the last the DCEU has seen of Steppenwolf.

Alfred Jeremy Irons Wayne Manor Batman V Superman

Meanwhile, At The Hall of Justice

So with the world saved and the Justice League an official team, it's time they think about having a base of operations. For much of the film, the gang are working from Bruce's lakeside Batcave, but that won't do now that the whole world is looking to these heroes for hope and inspiration. What they need is a place where the people seeking their help can come, a place from which the League can gather and plan whatever future missions are needed to keep the world safe.

In one of the film's final scenes, Bruce, Diana, and Alfred enter the abandoned Wayne Manor. As they walk through the dilapidated building, they discuss the work necessary to make it again hospitable. Specifically, Bruce tells Diana he's thinking of getting a round table with six seats, to which she responds it must have "room for more." Fans will immediately recognize this as a nod towards the Hall of Justice, the Justice League's headquarters that first debuted in the Super Friends cartoon series and did, in fact, have a large table around which the League would meet. This seems to imply that in the DCEU, Wayne Manor will become the Hall of Justice, and that Diana plans to begin recruiting more heroes to their cause.

Who's The Fastest Man Alive?

As is custom with most superheroes films, and especially those trying to build a shared universe, Justice League has a couple of button scenes tacked on at the very end. The first comes midway through the credits and it features Superman and The Flash gearing up for a race, playing off the few times during the film where Flash finds himself impressed by the Man of Steel's quickness.

This is again one of those moments included for the diehard comic book fans since throughout DC Comics history, Superman and The Flash have competed in several races to decide who is the fastest man alive. Generally, The Flash (either the Barry Allen version or his successor, Wally West) will win these races, proving that even Superman is no match for those imbued with the Speed Force. This post-credit scene, however, doesn't reveal a winner, leaving it to audiences to debate just which of them is really the fastest man of the DCEU.

The Legion of Doom

The second and truly post-credit scene is the perfect coda on which to wrap a film that sees the Justice League coming together for the very first time. For every action, there is a reaction, and an assemblage of the greatest heroes in the DCEU is sure to draw the attention of some not very good people.

Once the credits finish rolling, a new scene opens on a prison riot at Arkham Asylum. The camera moves in on a bald inmate, presumably Lex Luthor, only for them to turn around and reveal it's a body double! The scene then cuts to a motorboat crossing the harbor and carrying Deathstroke, instantly recognizable in his iconic black and orange armor. He arrives at a larger ship where he's greeted by, of course, the real Lex Luthor. The two villains toast to Superman's return, and Luthor says he believes it's time they form a "league of their own." This is clearly a reference to the evil version of the Justice League comprised of DC Comics villains, referred to as either the Legion of Doom or the Injustice League. It's still too early to say for sure whether Warner Bros. plans to have the Injustice League ever actually appear, but it's a great tease all the same.