It is a perfectly normalized custom to include more or less subtle references to elements of his past in films and series of sagas of a longevity similar to that of Star wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the DC Extended Universe. Or even the previous adaptations of both companies’ comics and their own illustrated publications about superheroes and villains. For example in Suicide squad (James Gunn, 2021), we can see the significant new tattoo that Harley Quinn has; or three enemies of Batman and one of Flash that appear as gifts in this feature film.
But the juiciest easter egg The one we must talk about is precisely related to one of the most iconic films about the Bat Man, the one he directed Tim Burton in 1989 with Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne and Jack Nicholson as the insane Joker.
Vicky Vale and Corto Maltese: from ‘Batman’ to ‘The Suicide Squad’
The basic premise of Suicide squadA continuation of David Ayer’s near-eponymous film released in 2016, the relentless Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) once again sends a group of skilled DC villains on a delicate mission. This time, to tackle a great danger in the island of Corto Maltese, immersed in a violent revolution. And, at a certain point, they focus a copy of the magazine Time with the photograph of a corpse and the following headline: “Corto Maltese revolution”. And below: “Pics by Vicky Vale”.
That said, as those who know Batman down-and-out, such a photojournalist is the character played by Kim Basinger, who is planted in Gotham to focus on the dark knight with his objective … after having done so with the consequences of the revolution in Corto Maltese. In addition, the Joker himself, looking at the photos of corpses in his portfolio, comments: “I don’t know if it’s art, but I like it.”