The Flash's new big bad, the Red Death, has a confounding line in the latest episode of the Arrowverse series that actually serves as a fun reference to one of DC's most classic films. The speedster villain has made quite the impact in her first few episodes of the series, which is in the midst of its ninth and final season, proving the colossal threat that she poses to Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and the other members of Team Flash. As the battle between the Red Death and the Flash heats up, the conniving villain manages to sneak in a nod to a beloved DC project.
The Flash revealed the Red Death's identity to be Ryan Wilder (Javicia Leslie), the former Batwoman, during the third episode of the season. However, episode four, entitled "The Mask of the Red Death, Part 1," expands on this revelation, confirming that the villainous Wilder hails from another timeline where she was raised by the Wayne family, eventually becoming Gotham City's sole protector. After losing her war against Gotham City's criminals, the alternate-reality Wilder fashioned an artificial Speed Force, making an enemy of her world's Flash, who banished her from her timeline. Now desperately trying to get home, the Red Death challenges yet another world's Flash.
The Red Death Pays Homage To Michael Keaton's Batman
The Red Death pays homage to Michael Keaton's Batman in the latest episode of The Flash. The moment comes as Ryan Wilder confronts Iris West-Allen (Candice Patton) in her home, attempting to gain her aid. When Iris refuses, Wilder summons her Red Death armor and utters a distinctly familiar phrase: "You wanna get nuts? C'mon, let's get nuts!" The line is a clear callback to Michael Keaton's first appearance as the Caped Crusader in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman film. In a now-iconic scene, Bruce Wayne memorably shouts this exact line when he and Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) are confronted by the Joker (Jack Nicholson) and his goons inside Wayne Manor.
1989's Batman film is becoming increasingly important to multiple DC properties in 2023, with the upcoming movie, The Flash, revisiting Keaton's aged Batman. Keaton was even originally set to appear in the DCEU's Batgirl HBO Max movie before it was canceled last year. Despite over thirty years elapsing since his first portrayal of the Dark Knight, it would appear that Michael Keaton's Batman continues to hold a special place in DC cinema and television. Even the Arrowverse can't help but reference one of Keaton's most iconic scenes as Bruce Wayne before his upcoming return to the role later this year.
How Previous Batman Incarnations Inspire The Flash's New Big Bad
The Flash's Red Death draws inspiration from several previous incarnations of Batman, both animated and live-action. In addition to her sly reference to Keaton, the Red Death also copies Robert Pattinson's Batman in an earlier episode of the season. When Chillblaine (Jon Cor) questions why he and the other Rogues can trust their new boss without knowing her identity, the Red Death seizes the opportunity to unmask herself, revealing her face for the very first time. She menacingly utters "I am vengeance," mirroring one of Pattinson's most buzzworthy lines in 2022's The Batman and a commonly repeated line in Batman comics and television series.
"The Mask of the Red Death, Part 1" also includes a thinly veiled reference to a line made iconic by the beloved Batman: The Animated Series and the late Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy, who himself appeared as a Bruce Wayne variant in the Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths event. Upon meeting Barry Allen, the Red Death utters a familiar monologue: "I am vengeance. I am the night. I am the Red Death." Her words echo Conroy's unforgettable monologue, adding yet another inspiration to the Arrowverse's new villain. Only time will tell what other Batman incarnations may influence the Red Death's portrayal in the final season of The Flash.
