THE DEADMAN Is the Perfect DCU Adaptation After Supergirl

With the DCU’s Supergirl coming this June – directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Milly Alcock – fans have been wondering what comic James Gunn’s cinematic universe will adapt next. Well, we think that question just received a resounding answer…

Deadman’s New Solo Series Is Perfect for a Supergirl-Style Adaptation

DC just announced a new comic miniseries titled The Deadman. This six-issue series will see classic superhero Deadman, aka Boston Brand, attempting to correct an imbalance between life and death. One of Deadman’s main abilities is possessing others, and so his story will be a tour of the DC Universe, as he body-hops between heroes and villains to satisfy his quest.

The Deadman #1
the deadman comic cover showing boston brand’s face
Release Date:	June 3, 2026
Writer:	W. Maxwell Prince
Artists:	Martín Morazzo
Cover Artist:	Martín Morazzo and Chris O’Halloran
In the aftermath of DC K.O., the balance between life and death has been thrown into chaos, leaving souls trapped in a dangerous loop of ghostly derangement. Only Boston Brand – the one and only Deadman – can possess the living and the metahuman alike to uncover the source of the disruption and restore order before the entire world slips into spiritual freefall.

Released in 2021, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow was a very specific type of comic. Coming from superstars Tom King and Bilquis Evely, Supergirl set out to be the definitive, no-prior-knowledge-needed series about its title character, with DC treating it as such ever since. Now, The Deadman is a series clearly cast in the same mold.

W. Maxwell Prince and Martín Morazzo are an already celebrated comic team, and the talents behind the critically-acclaimed horror anthology Ice Cream Man. Their creepy, darkly humorous style is a perfect fit for the character, and the use of a miniseries with a specific, singular goal signals that DC is trying to create the series starring Deadman.

Not only is Prince and Morazzo’s style a perfect match for the DCU, but the comic seems constructed for movie adaptation..

Who Is DC Superhero Deadman?

DC'S DEADMAN BEING INTANGIBLE — DC’S DEADMAN BEING INTANGIBLE

Boston Brand is a former acrobat who was murdered in his stage persona as the death-defying Deadman. Empowered by the deity Rama Kushna, Deadman remains on Earth and fights for justice and the balance of the spiritual realms, with the ability to possess others for short periods.

By possessing others, Deadman can grant them his athletic prowess, as well as reading their minds to discover hidden information. Deadman also has some supernatural senses related to death, and can commune with other spirits and supernatural entities. The character is a longtime associate of Nightwing, Batman and the Justice League Dark.

Why Is THE DEADMAN So Likely to Get a DCU Adaptation?

James gunn standing in front of DCU Characters such as Superman (David Corenswet), Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), Swamp Thing, and Wonder Woman

Not only is Prince and Morazzo’s style a perfect match for the DCU, but the comic seems constructed for movie adaptation. Deadman hopping between other heroes to fulfill his quest would fit perfectly into the DCU, allowing Gunn to slot in whatever characters he wants to flesh out, exactly in the style the extant DCU movies and shows already do.

Supergirl and The Deadman are a very specific type of comic. Most of DC’s comics are monthly serial stories which run as long as fan interest allows. However, DC has also displayed a habit of releasing miniseries starring lesser-known characters (the majority written by Tom King), seemingly in an attempt to give them a singular, definitive adventure that can be used to attract new fans. Other examples include Jenny Sparks and Black Canary: Best of the Best.

Deadman comic cover showing the character emerging from his own mouth

These stories are structured far more like movies in that they tell a contained, singular, auteur narrative that isn’t intended to go on forever. In this sense, Supergirl and The Deadman are peas in a pod, and fans should expect to see the DCU adapt The Deadman soon after its release, just as Gunn has done with Supergirl.

With its dependable creative team, short-form format and precisely chosen subject matter, The Deadman seems almost custom-designed to follow the same page-to-screen pipeline as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow before it.

The Deadman #1 is coming June 3, 2026, from DC Comics.

Release Date: June 26, 2026
Director: Craig Gillespie
Writers: Ana Nogueira, Otto Binder, Tom King, Al Plastino, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Bilquis Evely