The Eight Superhero Movies I Want to See Most

I love comics, and comic book superheroes. Some obscure, some pretty commonplace, and in an ideal world the DC and Marvel Universes would be fully cinematic, and feature every character that's cannon. But we're not there yet, in this day and age it's still surprisingly hard to get a movie made for anyone that isn't already an A-lister in the comics world (and even then it's still hard). I mean, things are a little easier on the Marvel side of the coin, but there's still some characters there I want to see get a film... and I guess that's as good a place to start as any on my list of the top 8 superhero movies I want to see the most!

#8 Ms. Marvel

Ms. Marvel is a great opportunity for Marvel to really tap into the female superhero concept with a character who's powerset rivals that of the mighty Thor. Instead of their current female cinematic lead, Black Widow, who's main power is 2 sigs and a skin tight "combat" suit. Ms. Marvel would also be easy to build into the expanding marvel universe that's getting ready to jump to full "Jack-Kirby-Space-verse" with the launch of Guardians of the Galaxy next year (Ms. Marvel's powers are the product of alien technology in the comics... most of the time).

As for which Ms. Marvel (there has been a lot), I think that it should either be Carol Danvers (the original Ms. Marvel) or Kamala Khan (The currently rebooted Ms. Marvel). Carol Danvers is a great character and it would show a lot of faith to the original comics produced in the 70's, But Kamala Khan is an opportunity to not only produce the first good female superhero movie, but the first good female Muslim superhero.
Which I think is really interesting. It provides so much to work with, from a character standpoint, but also I think it would show a much needed wave of diversity to the Marvel Cinematic universe, seriously, enough with the white dudes.

#7 Shazam! (Captain Marvel)

Shazam is a character I absolutely adore. I think it captures the purest essence of a comic book superhero. Billy Batson, an orphan boy is given magical powers by an all powerful wizard, every time he says the word "SHAZAM" (I don't know if it always has to be in all caps, but I feel like it should be). In the most recent incarnation of the character (written entirely by DC creative head Geoff Johns) Billy is in foster care and has a hilarious and heartfelt cast of supporting characters that keep his story fresh and energetic. I also think it might be a good idea to go with the Flashpoint version of the character, where it takes an entire group of kids to say the word together to transform into Captain Marvel (Although it's alternate universe so he's known as captain thunder, but whatever). I think it's the perfect blend of The Goonies and Man of Steel. It'd for sure be a great one for kids, who would also finally have someone to identify more directly with.

Plus the character's got a great look which I think would come across even better on screen and a giant talking tiger named Tawny. I mean, come on! Black Adam as a main villain is one of the strongest ones out there, and is a really easy baddie for kids to digest, while at the same time having a great amount of depth for the adults.


#6 Swamp Thing & Animal Man

I put these two together because I think this is, in a way, the best superhero "buddy-cop" DC could possibly spit out. With the two characters being so related (Swamp thing as the Avatar of all Plant Life, "The Green" Animal Man as an Avatar of all Animal life "The Red") it seems only fitting that their stories be told together. I mean, you don't have to call the movie "Swamp Thing and Animal Man" maybe just Swamp thing or Just Animal Man, but feature the other heavily. I think last year's crossover between the two of them (Rotworld) is the perfect example of how their story should take place both fighting The Rot separately, and in their own way, only to find that they need each other to finish the fight.

OH MAN! So cool!

But seriously, either of these characters would make for such a unique movie. Both are "Superheroes" but not at all in the traditional sense. Swamp thing, a monster by all appearances, fighting to preserve nature's place in the world, and Animal Man, a father and husband forced into the service of animal life, often at the cost of his family. Neither "fight crime" but that's okay. We see that in every other superhero film, this is a real chance for DC to build a fuller more complex and rounded cinematic universe.

#5 Spiderman 2099

Now, I'm going to get this out of the way, I don't know if this would technically be under Sony's Spiderman film rights, or Marvels, and I suspect neither to either of those companies, so the likelihood of this happening is slim. But I think It would be a supercool departure from the awkward, teenage spiderman we've all seen so much of recently. Spiderman 2099 is a geneticist by the name of Miguel O'Hara who accidentally turns himself into a Spiderman and fights crime with all the powers of Spiderman (and a couple small additions) in super corrupt future version of New York. As a sci-fi lover this concept jumps out at me as much as a Batman Beyond movie. Imagine Spiderman fighting giant future laser robots! Awesome!

But speaking of Batman Beyond...

#4 Batman Beyond

Created by the legendary duo of Paul Dini and Bruce Timm in the wake of Batman: TAS Batman Beyond was simple, and awesome concept. Taking place in a future version of Gotham City, Batman Beyond follows Terry McGinnis who, under the tutelage of an elderly Bruce Wayne become's Future Gotham's new Batman. The suit had such an iconic look and the character of Terry was so well written that fans have been begging for this movie for years.

Ironically, it actually almost did get made, in the early 2000's Paul Dini wrote a screenplay for the film while under a screenwriting contract with Warner Brothers during the long development process of Superman Returns. The studio passed on the script however, and that may be the closest we'll ever come to seeing Terry up on the big screen, which is really unfortunate.

#3  Aquaman

Yes, it seems my list is predominantly DC characters, but that's mostly because Marvel is doing such a great job of rolling out their characters on the big screen with plans in the works for most of the big hitters. DC on the other hand has so many of it's A-listers just waiting to be filmed, not least of all is Aquaman.

The thing about Aquaman that many people don't understand is that Aquaman (in the right hands) is one of the most interesting and badass superheroes on the entire Justice League and has been around for almost as long as Batman and Superman. Making him one of the oldest comic book characters currently still featured in his own book every month.

But let me lay it down for the casual fan. Aquaman is a warrior king, bearing Poseidon's trident that is his birthright, Arthur Curry fights to protect Atlantis from threats external and internal, as well as serving to protect the surface world. With not only the ability to command all sea life, Aquaman has super strength, heightened agility, extreme durability and the ability to survive indefinately on both land and in the water. Aquaman is not affraid to dole out his own brand of sea-justice on the criminals of the world. Geoff John's most recent arc with the character is a great example of how interesting and dynamic this character is, torn between his life on the surface and his kingship of Atlantis.

This is a movie Warner and DC desperately need to make to shift the reputation of this truly awesome character away from his comical misconceptions.

#2 Cyborg

With Green Arrow having a hit show and The Flash about to finally receive his due in his own, sister show, the next biggest gaping hole in cinematic representation on the Justice League has got to be Cyborg.

Cyborg, like Ms Marvel is a great opportunity to break from the predominantly white superheroes heading today's movies. But more than that, Cyborg is another very well written and identifiable character ripe material to turn into a movie. Victor Stone, a high school senior, is a star quarterback vying for his scientist father's attention when suddenly and unexpectedly he is seriously injured by alien technology. Seeing how dire the situation is his father attempts to heal Victor with experimental nano-technology which inadvertently combines with the residual alien particles in Victors body creating the first ever Cyborg. A hero whose highly adaptable body and mind form all kinds of cool weapons and tools to take down evil.

Cyborg was originally only a member of the Teen Titans, but DC has finally given Vic the promotion he deserves and he's now a fully fledged member of the Justice League. It's my opinion that they should continue elevating Cyborg in their universe with his own movie. Or at the very least an appearance in the surely upcoming Justice League movie.

#1 Zatanna Zatara

Magic. That's what's been missing from my superhero movies. Sure Thor gives us a little but they're very quick to liken the Asgaurdian technology to real science. I want bonafied magic. And I want That magic to come from the wand and words of Zatanna.

Zatanna is a stage magician, the best in the business, who blows every audience member away with her seemingly impossible illusions. But here's the catch; It's real magic. Zatanna is the daughter of Zatara, a famed magician himself who taught her all the ways of the Arcane arts which she uses to battle embodied evil across the astral and mortal planes. With flick of her wrist, a few backwards words, and a witty quip, Zatanna sends evil back to where it belongs both on her own and as leader of the magic focused Justice League Dark.

I think it's become clear in the course of this article that I really want there to be a greater amount of diversity among the cinematic heroes. But that's not the only reason any people on this list are on it. Least of all Zatanna. She's just the kind of character that I love to see on screen. Someone who can face very dark tragic themes with a sense of humour and the power to back it up. She's such a unique character as well, seeing as there's yet to be any superhero movie that has it's main character really rely on magic this much. Just think Hermione Granger meets Spiderman and that's what this movie could be, whimsical, magical, comical fun.








Honorable Mentions

There are a few characters I would have put down, but it looks like a movie featuring them is actually in the works, those being Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Ant-man and Doctor Strange. I would also love to see a Flash movie, but he;s getting a TV show so I can't be too greedy. Green Arrow would make a good movie, but I've been enjoying the heck out of Arrow on The CW so I think if anything they should just slot that character into the Movie universe.

I also would have said Daredevil, Luke Cage and Iron Fist, but they've all been confirmed to have shows in development for Netflix, so it looks like they're finally getting their due.

I'd like to see Supergirl and Nightwing, but those characters have such strong ties to their mentor characters that DC has to really universe build for a while before we'll see them, even though Nightwing is probably my favourite character mentioned in this article.


See you later, true believers!

-Matt