Explaining Ultrabunny: The DCU’s Unofficial Mascot

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Summary

  • The DCU is starting anew with Gunn’s “God and Monsters” series, featuring Creature Commandos and the mascot Ultrabunny.
  • Ultrabunny originated from a missed opportunity to feature Wile E. Coyote in The Suicide Squad.
  • Ultrabunny has the potential to become a popular DCU character, potentially leading to spin-off projects.

As a longtime fan of DC Comics and someone who has been following James Gunn’s work since his days with Troma Entertainment, I must say that the introduction of Ultrabunny into the DC Universe is nothing short of brilliant.

As a gamer, I’m diving headfirst into an exciting new phase with James Gunn leading the way for superhero franchises as we embark on the DC Universe‘s “Chapter One: God and Monsters.” Just like Marvel’s initial phases, the DCU is aiming to rekindle the captivating world-building magic, and they’ve officially kicked things off with the release of Creature Commandos. To add to the surprise, a sneaky cameo from our very own unofficial DCU mascot has already made an appearance alongside the animated short in the opening credits!

It’s still unclear which parts of the old DCEU will be incorporated into the new storyline, but Creature Commandos has already linked up with Peacemaker and The Suicide Squad. James Gunn’s adult animated series has also revived a minor Easter egg from the DC Universe’s close relative. Much like Mickey Mouse for Disney and Ronald McDonald for McDonald’s, Ultrabunny seems to have solidified his position as the DCU’s official symbol.

Who is Ultrabunny?

In 2022’s “The Suicide Squad,” we first encountered Ultrabunny, a rabbit character with floppy ears, but it was an episode of “Creature Commandos” that officially incorporated Ultrabunny into DCU lore. This connection was subtly hinted in the second episode on December 5th, titled “The Tourmaline Necklace.” This episode delved deeper into Indira Varma’s character, the Bride, revealing her heart-wrenching past with Eric Frankenstein, played by David Harbour. A flashback to the ’90s in the series showed Eric wearing a black Ultrabunny t-shirt.

In 2021, Gunn explained to BBC Radio 1 how Ultrabunny initially began as a humorous idea involving placing Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag Jr. in a comical Wile E. Coyote t-shirt for The Suicide Squad. However, despite Warner Bros. also owning the Looney Tunes characters, Gunn mentioned that the studio had apprehensions about covering the beloved cartoon character in blood. Moreover, he admitted to feeling somewhat awkward incorporating the character into the film.

I’d find it acceptable if Mickey Mouse or Wile E. Coyote were involved in a Disney film, but using Wile E. for a Warner Bros. production made me uncomfortable, especially since I’m currently working on a Wile E. project. It just felt like too many disparate elements colliding, and I had doubts about it.

Instead, Gunn designed Ultrabunny and later made public his initial sketch (shown above). In the role of a doppelganger for Wile E. Coyote, viewers may notice resemblances, such as both characters displaying comical signs. For the original drawing, Gunn pondered phrases like “the future is striped” and “Elvis rescues”, eventually deciding on “obstacles are chances to excel.

In a manner reminiscent to how Science Dog was featured in the Invincible comics and Seance Dog was depicted in Amazon’s animated series (due to rights issues), Ultrabunny is a fictional character within the DCU universe, similar to The Itchy & Scratchy Show within The Simpsons. Director James Gunn has emphasized the significance of Ultrabunny, sharing his excitement with fans through posts on Threads and social media announcements.

In the thrilling universe of DC, I’ve come across some iconic characters, and one that truly stands out is none other than Ultrabunny. You might have spotted him hopping around in various DC adventures, and more recently, he made a splashy appearance in Peacemaker as well.

Implying that ‘one of the more renowned’ is what Gunn stated, it seems there are other well-known animated characters besides these. However, it’s unclear if Gunn has created his own team of anthropomorphic animal superheroes within this universe. Nevertheless, viewers can find comfort in the thought that Superman and possibly others might unwind with a cartoon after a challenging day of protecting the world.

It’s been pointed out that Eric Frankenstein’s Ultrabunny t-shirt differs from the one worn by Rick Flag Jr. in “The Suicide Squad.” Originally, Flag donned a yellow tee displaying Ultrabunny with a sign saying “obstacles are opportunities” (which is Spanish for that phrase). Interestingly, Ultrabunny resurfaced when Evan Calcaterra (Lenny Jacobson) wore an Ultrabunny shirt in “Peacemaker” season 1, and there’s also an Ultrabunny action figure on the hood of Vigilante’s (Freddie Stroma) car. Furthermore, Ultrabunny’s appearance in “Creature Commandos” strengthens the continuity within the DC Universe.

The DCU Already Has Its Own Mascot

Ultrabunny is something of a mystery, with his name and outfit suggesting he at least has some sort of superpower. There’s also the gag that his slogan was the production slogan for The Suicide Squad. Whether Gunn has even given him a backstory remains to be seen, but with fans seemingly responding well to his inclusion, Ultrabunny has the potential to become a DCU character all of his own. Also, it sounds like a great opportunity for merchandising – just look how popular The Mandalorian’s Grogu became.

Chapter One: Deities and Beasts

Going beyond the crowded Chapter One, there’s a possibility for Ultrabunny to star in his own project. Although a full-length Ultrabunny movie might be unlikely following Warner Bros.’ cancellation of the Wile E. Coyote-led “Coyote vs. Acme” after it was finished, Gunn’s reference to his popularity hints at a potential plan. If Gunn manages to execute this idea and present an appealing project to Warner Bros., an Ultrabunny adventure could potentially fill the void left by Coyote. If not, a series similar to “Creature Commandos” could also be successful.

There are possibly more significant characters to focus on, such as the selection of Batman for a potential God and Monsters project, in addition to eagerly awaited appearances of popular choices like Booster Gold, Martian Manhunter, and Wonder Woman in future productions. Even if Ultrabunny turns out to be nothing more than a humorous sketch created by Gunn when he couldn’t use Wile E. Coyote, it could develop into a recurring Easter egg like the famous Pizza Planet trucks from Pixar films. Nevertheless, consider the potential impact Gunn could have with his own unique and vulgar interpretation of an animalistic Justice League tribute.

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2024-12-12 03:04