We just met the new Batman of the DCU

While much of the buzz surrounding DC Studios has fans looking forward (or up in this case) to Supermanreturns to the movie screen this July, weekly watchers of James Gunn’s adult animated series Commando creature they just saw Batman for the first time.

In the sixth episode of Commando creaturetitled “Priyatel Skelet,” we learn the origin of Creature Commandos member Dr. Fosporus. The episode opens with a shot of the Gotham skyline, an orchestral fanfare similar to Batman: The animated seriesand a reference photo of a stone gargoyle overlooking the city, setting the stage for the presence of the Black Knight throughout the episode through iconography and leitmotifs. In the same vein as previous episodes, which jump from past to present, fleshing out the backstory of characters like The Bride, GI robot weaseland Frankenstein beyond their first impressions as C-level villains, “Friendly Skeleton” provides insight into how Alexander James Sartorius went from being a scientist forced to work with the mob to becoming the walking nuclear skeleton he is today.

In the middle of the episode, it is revealed that what originally started out as a nuclear fusion treatment to cure cancer quickly transformed into a torture method that the mob imposed on Sartorius after killing his wife. After surviving his The fly-esque atomization, Dr. Phopherous executes his vendetta against the mob and becomes Gotham’s head honcho. That is, until Batman’s silhouette, illuminated by lightning in the hatch of their nightclub, interrupts their party with Russian folk dancing.

Unfortunately, a blue flash on Batman’s imposing frame doesn’t give away soft details like what his suit design will look like. Speaking with Rotten TomatoesGunn revealed that we only got a glimpse of Batman in the latest episode of Commando creature because he wasn’t quite ready to commit to the character’s costume design.

“When they first showed me the episode, there was a lot more Batman,” Gunn told Rotten Tomatoes. “And I said, ‘I’m not ready to commit to this … more silhouette!’

Seeing as how Gunn previously revealed that Superman actor David Korensuet had to convince him to give Kal-El pulls with his silver screen after filming the crap with Zack Snyder about failed screen tests not making the look work, it would stand to reason that Batman with Suitcases could be another hurdle Gunn isn’t ready to commit to right now. One thing we know about Batman v an updated version of the DCU is that we won’t see his origin story again.

“(Batman) already exists in this universe, just like when we come in Superman movie. We see (that) Superman already exists. He’s already known to the people of Metropolis,” Gunn said. “We don’t need to hear the origin story again. It’s just a way to represent that Batman is part of that universe. He’s an important part of that universe and has an impact on it, including defeating some pretty dangerous, scary people like Phosphorous, who’s pretty tough.”

The seventh and final episode of Commando creature‘ season one airs January 9 on HBO and HBO Max. The series has also been renewed for a second season.

Want more io9 news? See when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Warsand Star Trek releases, what’s next for DC Universe on film and televisionand everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.