Comic Books That Need To Be Films

Comic book films are all over the silver screen these days. With the release of Green Lantern, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger all coming out next summer it doesn't seem like the superhero genre is going anywhere. There have been a lot of good films based on comic books, but there have also been a lot of bad ones as well. Warner Bros. is also in the early stages of making sequels to Batman and rebooting the Superman franchise.

I feel like the studios are forgetting about all the other publishing companies that have great characters, as well as the lesser known characters in the DC and Marvel universes that would make great movies. Let's not forget that a C-List comic book character, Blade, started the whole comic book film craze. Here are some characters or teams I feel would be great up on the big screen.

12) Aquaman

Vincent Chase and James Cameron made this character the biggest film of all time on Entourage, so let's see if fantasy can become reality. Justin Hartley portrayed Arthur Curry in a never aired Aquaman pilot. Arthur was a child of two worlds, much like Superman, Tarzan, and Spock. Even though Hartley's swimming career didn't last I still say this underwater adventure would be cool in 3-D. Aquaman is a hero who can breathe underwater, swim super fast, speak to sea life, and has super strength. It'd be the best sea movie since Steve Zissou.

11) The Darkness

Jackie Estacado was your average mafia hitman, but on his 21st birthday he gained the powers of The Darkness, an ancient power that let him create whatever he wanted, as long as it stayed away from light. Jackie used this powers to take control of the mafia, and along the way he has had to give up his playboy lifestyle, for when The Darkness conceives a child the host then dies immediately, much like it did with Jackie’s father. Talk about a buzz kill. All this power and he can’t even make whoopee.

Jackie has battled the mafia, battled demons in hell, and even somehow procreated with Witchblade without dying. Top Cow Comics has created a great universe with their Trinity and I would love to see it in full force on the big screen, hellions and all.

10) Savage Dragon

From Image Comics comes a hero who fights bad guys in a futuristic Chicago. Dragon was found in the rubble of a horrible explosion. He has no memory of who he is, or why he has a fin on his head, but he uses his incredible strength and agility to the CPD's advantage. Dragon takes down mutants and villains while trying to piece together what happened to him and who he is. Move over Robocop, there is a new officer of the law ready to kick some butt.

9) Green Arrow

Another DC hero that Justin Hartley has portrayed on the small screen, Green Arrow has been a signature character not only in the DC Universe, but in comic book history, for decades. Oliver Queen was another billionaire orphan who drank too much and loved the ladies. But Oliver was betrayed by a family friend who wanted control of Queen Industries. He tried to kill Oliver, and left him on a deserted island to fend for himself. Oliver survived with only a bow and arrows to keep him alive. Oliver finds his way back to Star City to take revenge on the man who wronged him and be the home town Robin Hood.

Through the years Green Arrow has been a controversial character with his use of sharp arrows and his messed up sidekicks. One of the protégés had a drug problem and another was a teenage prostitute with HIV. Oliver Queen is edgy enough for today's generation to relate to, and has enough problems to make a great trilogy.

8) Irredeemable

From Mark Waid, the man who brought us the epic Kingdom Come, comes a story about what would happen if Earth's greatest hero turned against us. As the Plutionian’s reign of terror progresses we learn the story, or stories, that lead him to his breaking point through his friends, comrades, and victims.

Waid's main character is similar to Superman, and even though everyone knows Clark Kent will never turn evil, this a great glimpse into what it would be like if he did. Again, this is another hard edged and gritty film that today's movie goers would eat up. Heroes are dying, people are flying, and everyone has a part to play. It’s just good story telling.

7) Heroes For Hire

The Marvel Universe is full of big characters that fight evil on a global, if not universal, level. But then there are other heroes that are down in the depths of New York's underbelly helping the common man take down the gangs and kingpins who fill the streets with violence. These guys are the Heroes for Hire. The indestructible Luke Cage and the immortal Iron Fist formed a team to help those who can not help themselves. Let Iron Man and Fantastic Four take on Galactus while Cage and Rand take on the drug dealers down the street.

Heroes For Hire is so much more simple than other Marvel teams. I think it could be really relatable to audiences of all ages. Power Man and Iron Fist friendship is also something to be explored as Danny is a billionaire and Luke a man from the streets. With great potential comes great box office numbers.

6) Booster Gold

Heroes are often selfless, sacrificing their own lives to help others, and then there is Booster Gold. In the 25th Century, Michael gets his hands on some sweet gear and decides to travel back in time in the DC Universe to use this futuristic equipment to be a hero. The only problem is that nobody takes him seriously. Michael may be a jokester from the future trying to be a hero, but he's still just a jokester. He tries to steal the spotlight at every occasion, but when the going gets tough he's there to help the Justice League save the day.

I like Booster Gold because he's not as serious as other heroes. He's had a few issues over the last few years, but his real problem is trying to get other heroes to take him seriously. He's very arrogant, which is a great starting point for a character arch. His best friend also just happens to be a robot from the future named Skeets, and everyone loves a robot sidekicks!

5) Witchblade

Another Top Cow Comic, the Witchblade is an ancient weapon that has been used by many women over the years, such as Joan of Arc and Cleopatra. Now NYPD officer, Sara Pezzini wields this awesome weapon and fights off magical creatures who wish to harm this world and also who wish to possess the Witchblade themselves.

TNT had a Witchblade series a few years ago that didn’t last long, but I think mainly because to bring Michael Turner’s terrific drawings to life you need a big budget, and this could be an epic movie. Plus people always say there aren’t enough female heroes. Wait till they get a load of Sara Pezzini.

4) Quantum and Woody

Eric and Woody are childhood friends who lose contact with each other over the years. But when their fathers die in a helicopter crash they are reunited and stumble onto something that gives them powers simply by touching their control bands every 24 hours. Of course they have to do this or they’ll dissipate into energy.

This is one of the funniest and most entertaining comics I’ve ever read! Eric is a military man and Woody is nothing but a goofy slacker. Quantum and Woody has been called, "the Lethal Weapon of comic books" and think that hits it right on the nose. Quantum fights the bad guys while Woody hits on the damsel in distress.

3) Nova

DC Universe is about to unleash their own version of Star Wars next summer with Green Lantern, so I think Marvel should release their own Green Lantern: Nova. Richard Rider was just a high school kid until he was randomly chosen to join the Nova Corps., a group of intergalactic peace keepers. Since then Richard has been from one side of the galaxy to the next, been the sole processor of the Nova power, and saved the galaxy more times than Luke Skywalker's frenched his sister.

The concept is very similar to Green Lantern, but I think Nova has a little more flash and style than GL.  Just look at Nova's badass costume! Plus, Richard only being in high school can play up the comedy and the awkwardness of being a teenager with powers. This should knock the captain of the football team down a few knotches.

2) Iron Fist

I recently picked up an Iron Fist graphic novel just out of curiosity, and now I collect Brian Michael Bendis's New Avengers series just because it's got Iron Fist in it. Danny Rand was a child when he lost his parents in an exhibition to the Artic. Danny was found by monks who trained him in their martial art ways, and ten years later Danny was ready to be worthy of the dragon power known as the Iron Fist.

Danny is one of many who has possessed the power of the Iron Fist, and he uses it, along with his billions of dollars, to fight crime in New York City with the help of his best friend, Luke Cage, and his African-American girlfriend. Ed Brubaker's recent run of The Immortal Iron Fist opened up a whole new world of possibilities for this character, along with seven other realms with champions, just as Iron Fist is the champion of this realm. I feel like Iron Fist is a mixture of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Green Arrow. Brubaker's run also had a dash of Mortal Kombat. I just heard today (August 25, 2010) that Marvel Studio has commissioned writer Rich Wilkes to start working on an Iron Fist script.  This film will have everyone wanting a dragon tattooed on their chest.

1) The Boys

With all these super heroes running around our movie theaters how are we possibly supposed to regulate them all? Bring in The Boys. They're a CIA team whose sole purpose is to take down super being when they start doing things they shouldn't. This team is edgier than any who has come before it with its violence and sexuality running wild like mosquitoes on a pond. One of the main characters is even based on actor Simon Pegg.

And when they’re not hunting down naughty supers they’re telling their life stories to each other. You know with names like Bill Butcher, Mother’s Milk, and the Frenchman they’ve had f%cked up life. Early stages of a film based on The Boys is said to be underway.  Let’s get it on!