17. Zod
Movie: The Flash (2023)
The Flash was a movie full of returns and cameos, but one audiences did not expect to see heading into it was General Zod. Michael Shannon reprised the role from his previous appearance in the DC Extended Universe in Man of Steel as the Scarlet Speedster went up against the very first DCEU threat after breaking the timeline.
But what has this got to do with Batman? Well, everything, actually, as the speedy hero needed assistance from this new world’s Caped Crusader, who also happened to be Michael Keaton’s veteran Caped Crusader. The retired vigilante donned the cape and cowl once more to help the two versions of Barry Allen break Supergirl out of captivity as the four of them went to war with General Zod and his army.
Unfortunately for Zod, this was not the nuanced version of the character we met in Man of Steel. Aside from a few one-liners like “this world must die”, he didn’t have much to say at all, and the one-dimensional approach hindered him and the movie from living up to its potential.
Still, though, we had Keaton back as Batman, and he was wonderful.