Whether you loved or hated or were “eh” about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, I think we can all agree that the film is chockfull of Easter eggs that set up a larger DC movie universe (officially called the DC Extended Universe). We’ll have a full report on the most noteworthy Easter eggs soon, but for now let’s take a look at some of the crazier and most WTF moments that even diehard comics fans might be trying to figure out.

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Bruce Wayne's Vision of the Future

Attack of the Parademons!

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The Flash Visits Bruce Wayne

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Time to Make a Cyborg!

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When Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne takes a catnap at his computer in the Batcave, he has a couple of intense dreams -- or perhaps visions is a more accurate way to describe them. (This sequence has also been referred to as a “Knightmare,” at least on the toy and merchandising side of BvS.) First up, he finds himself in a hellish, post-apocalyptic landscape where a giant Omega symbol has been burned into the ground. This is the coat-and-goggles version of Batman glimpsed in the trailers for the film. He’s overrun by Nazi-like Stormtroopers (bearing Superman’s “S” symbol on their arms) and what certainly appear to be Parademons -- the flying, alien foot soldiers who serve the cosmic villain from the comics known as Darkseid. Yes, aside from representing Bruce’s fear of Superman taking over the world, this sequence also hints at that character, who is sort of like the Thanos of the DC Universe. Director Zack Snyder certainly seems to be setting up Darkseid, who is one of the New Gods, as the big bad of the upcoming Justice League movies, or the DCEU as a whole.There are several other Darkseid references in the film: The Omega sign is the character’s symbol; the alien tech used to help rebuild Cyborg (more on him down below) looks like it could be a Mother Box (a device commonly used by Darkseid and his people); and at the end of BvS, Lex Luthor refers to “he” having now noticed Earth after the battle with Doomsday ("The bell has been rung," he says). Was Lex’s scheme at the center of Batman v Superman all a bid to get Darkseid to conquer our planet? Who can say right now, but for more on Darkseid, watch our Comics History video below:Immediately following this Knightmare (or perhaps it’s just another part of the vision/dream/whatever), Bruce awakens in the Batcave to find what seems to be Ezra Miller’s version of the Flash appearing to him in a continuous blast of light and sound. He’s yelling at Bruce, and while much of it is hard to hear or understand, it seems that the Flash has either briefly travelled through time here to warn Batman about something, or he’s visiting from another dimension or another Earth -- as Flashes are wont to do. (That bright vortex thingee he’s arrived via is likely either the speed force, the cosmic treadmill, or a boom tube, which is also Darkseid/New Gods tech.) Miller’s costume in this scene seems more futuristic or battle-ready than the traditional Flash suit, and even has a helmet of some kind with a faceplate that opens and closes. As for what he’s saying, it’s something along the lines of Lois Lane being “the key” and how Bruce has always been “right about him.” Then the Flash disappears again in a flash (ahem) of light. Again, it’s not entirely clear who the “him” is that he’s referring to, but that’s why it’s an Easter egg! For more on this out-there moment, watch our Keepin' It Reel BvS discussion below (scrub to 20.40 for the Flash talk):That video footage that Batman steals from Lex about the metahumans he’s discovered out in the world features some familiar faces for even casual comics observers (Wonder Woman, the Flash again, and Aquaman), but then there’s also that poor guy who’s hanging up on that board with half his body missing. That would be Cyborg (played by newcomer Ray Fisher).Cyborg has become a pretty important player in DC Comics in recent years, and is now considered a founding member of the Justice League (sorry Martian Manhunter!). Fisher will play the character in the soon-to-be shooting Justice League movie, but Cyborg has also long been associated with the team of young heroes known as the Teen Titans -- and has been a fixture on both of the popular animated series based on that group.We’re seeing a key part of his origin in this scene in Batman v Superman, as his S.T.A.R. Labs scientist dad (Joe Morton, a.k.a. Miles Dyson, Terminator 2's creator of Skynet) works to save his son after the boy’s been in a deadly accident. For more on the character, watch Cyborg in a Minute right here:Of course, there are plenty more Easter eggs, references, and cool things to dissect in Batman v Superman, so be sure to check back very soon for our full investigation into those…

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