It: Welcome to Derry Episode 1 hides two major references to the DCU

It: Welcome to Derry Episode 1 shocked audiences with a gory twist, but it also hides two major references to the DC Universe.

The series follows a new group of kids as they try to survive Pennywise the Clown (Bill Skarsgard) when he resurfaces in 1962 to feast on the town’s children again. Creator Andy Muschietti pulled no punches in the opening episode, leaving fans desperate for Episode 2.

It brings the same level of violence from Muschietti’s It movies to the small screen, and we wrote in our review that it “widens the story of the titular town (and clown), alongside the brutal uncompromising violence it inflicts on the entire cast.”

Surprisingly, It: Welcome to Derry Episode 1 features two major references to the DCU, and one of them might tease what Muschietti has in store for his Batman movie.

It: Welcome to Derry references The Flash

Sure, Muschietti’s The Flash movie did not do much for fans or critics alike when it was released in 2023 due to the controversies surrounding lead star Ezra Miller and its messy plot, but there was at least a heartfelt story underneath the poor CGI and messy multiverse storytelling.

The film focused on Barry Allen as he goes back in time to undo his mother’s murder, but in doing so he drastically changes the DCU timeline and accidentally creates an alternate version of himself who winds up becoming evil and twisted.

It: Welcome to Derry references the DCU in a scene where Teddy Uris’ (Mikkal Karim-Fidler) father berates him for reading comics, one of which is The Flash #123 – also known as Flash of Two Worlds. It’s one of the first major multiverse stories in DC Comics, where Barry Allen meets the previous version of the The Flash, called Jay Garrick.

Not only is it a great story, it’s definitely a reference to Muschietti’s movie, which also featured two versions of the hero.

Teddy Uris also reads a major Clayface issue of Detective Comics

But the bigger reference here is when Teddy reads Detective Comics #298, the Silver Age introduction of the iconic Batman villain, Clayface. There’s two reasons why this is important. One, a Clayface body horror movie is in the works at DC Studios starring Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen/Clayface with a script by Mike Flanagan.

Secondly, Muschietti is directing Batman: The Brave and The Bold for DC, and it’s rumored that Clayface will be the villain for the film. It’s not confirmed that he’ll be in it, but since Muschietti just included his Detective Comics introduction, it could be a clue that he will make an appearance.

There’s plenty of speculation about who will play Batman in the DCU and what the film’s tone will look like, and it’s highly likely that it’ll include more fantastical villains (like Clayface) rather than the gritty and grounded takes fans have had in the last two decades.

Interestingly, DC Studios co-chairman James Gunn also posted the same issue of Detective Comics on Instagram to celebrate Clayface’s anniversary. It’s worth remembering that It: Welcome to Derry is also a Warner Bros. property, so this is very clearly a deliberate reference.