WHERE WILL THE LEGENDS GO TOMORROW?

I think at this point it's safe to say that DC's Legends of Tomorrow is a hit for the CW. It's not surprising given that the show features fan-favorite characters from the Flash and Arrow and is produced by the same guys. True, the first couple of episodes might have suffered a bit from too much exposition but that's to be expected with a new show. So far we've seen a dystopian future ruled by Vandal Savage, the present day, and 1975. This week's episode will go to the 1980s. It's also been confirmed that we will see Star City in 2046 with a bad ass, one armed, goateed Oliver Queen and the Old West featuring Jonah Hex.

Here's Old Man Oliver doing his best Sean Connery impression

Personally, I think the crazy future stories are much more interesting than going to the past (although the costume choices are awesome). This got me thinking, where else could the Legends end up? The "Old Man Oliver" cameo is going to be based on Oliver's appearance from The Dark Knight Returns. What other futures will the team see? Maybe not even futures, but maybe alternate timelines? I'm curious . . . 

  THE 31ST CENTURY AND THE LEGION OF SUPERHEROES

As of this writing, the most recent episode of the Flash gave us a brief hint of the Legion of Superheroes. In my personal opinion, I think those characters are better suited for Supergirl than Legends or the Flash but hey . . . what are you gonna do? No matter what network they appear on, it would be great to see these characters brought to life again. They were previously seen on Smallville (in an episode written by the great Geoff Johns, no less). However, there they got the "no tights, no flights" rule. They were not in costume, instead they were jackets hinting at their comic book outfits. It was clever and looked cool for Smallville but now that we're used to seeing superpowered people with crazy outfits, let's see them here! 

As far as the actual episode goes, I'd like to think that Rip and his team would accidentally travel too far in the future and meet the Legion. It doesn't have to be the whole group, after all there are like 100 of them! But maybe a core group of 3-5 would be awesome to see. Plus, it would provide great banter for the characters seeing a group of heroes from all over the galaxy, each with their own personality quirks. And who wouldn't want to see Martin Stein try to out-think Brainiac 5? 

THE FLASH'S "CORRECT" TIMELINE

One of the things established by the Flash's first season was that technically the characters are living in an alternate timeline. When the Reverse Flash killed Barry's mother, he changed history. Granted, history corrected itself (mostly) with Barry still becoming the Flash, but it happened because Thawne (disguised as Harrison Wells) made it so. Now, I love that aspect of the show but it always made me wonder, what was the other timeline like? We know Barry and Iris get married, Barry is the chief of police in Central City, and he is still partnered with Green Arrow and Hawkgirl. Also there was a Waynetech nod! Come on!  . . . 

Anyway, I think it would be really cool for the Legends to stumble into an alternate timeline where we see that future with Barry and his friends. Maybe in that timeline Ronnie is still alive as Firestorm (or not). Maybe Cisco is more active as Vibe. Maybe Harrison Wells is still alive and just a friendly scientist with whom the Flash consults with once in a while. After all, it was established that Wells was a good man with big dreams for S.T.A.R. Labs with his wife.  It's something I've wondered about since day one of the Flash and I'd like to see it. Speaking of the Flash . . . 

FLASHPOINT

All of season one of The Flash was leading us to think that it was going to end with the famous Flashpoint story from the comics coming to life. In hindsight, it's great that they didn't do that and instead gave us the Multiverse to explore in season 2. Granted, Flashpoint could still happen in a future season or maybe it will happen on Legends of Tomorrow. Maybe it won't happen exactly like it does in Flashpoint (considering that the Flash is not a main character). But something like that where history is altered by Barry and the Legends help him restore the timeline. 

Flashpoint is one of my all time favorite comics. Most of the themes of the actual story were covered in season one of the Flash but I think seeing an alternate reality where all the heroes are affected would be really awesome to see. Basically we see each one of the Legends turn out differently but only one of them remembers what the world is supposed to look like and it's up to that one hero to fix everything. Plus it's an excuse to get more Flash on TV and that can only be a good thing ;) 

THE 25TH CENTURY - BOOSTER GOLD

Honestly, I'm quite surprised we have not yet seen Booster on Legends yet. Booster is probably DC's most famous time traveler. He's one of my favorite characters. Also, apparently he is Rip Hunter's father . . . What are the odds? I'm willing to bet that we will see Booster on the show sooner rather than later. 

Booster is a great character. He was a pro athlete in the 25th century that started betting on his own games, deliberately throwing them to make some money. When he was found out, he was kicked out. He worked as a janitor in the Superman museum, stole a Legionnaire flight ring and the tools to make a superpowered costume. He traveled to our time and tried to make himself into the world's greatest hero. It didn't work out too well for him. The other heroes often see him as a joke or a sell out. He's always trying to make a lot of money. Underneath it all, he does have a good heart and does step up when needed. However, it usually takes a minute for him to get going. 

Like the Legion, Booster was brought to life in a Geoff Johns penned episode of Smallville. It was one of my favorite episodes. They perfectly captured Booster's cockiness and arrogance. Basically, he was Ron Burgundy. The actor that played him nailed it! I was always hoping they would cast him in the Booster Gold TV show that was rumored a few years ago. Oh well. Maybe now he'll get his shot with the Legends of Tomorrow.

FUTURES END - OMAC

Ok so it's HIGHLY unlikely that we will ever see Batman Beyond on Legends of Tomorrow. BUT! I'm willing to bet that OMAC is a concept that will rear its ugly head sooner or later. OMAC is an extension of Brother Eye. Brother Eye was created by Batman to monitor the superhuman population on Earth. However, as is usually the case with artificial intelligence, Eye turns against Batman and attempts to kill all the metahumans on the planet. It was a little different with Futures End where Brother Eye turned all the superheroes into cyborg slaves. Either way, or some combination of the two, would be perfect for the Legends to face. OMAC has already been established as something that Queen Consolidated was working on before being bought out by Palmer Tech. Why not expand on that? Granted, if this storyline does make it on Legends it will probably be a season 2, 3, etc arc. Either way, it would be great to see a Terminator type story unfold on the DC CW-verse. 

Well . . .  those are my ideas on where I want to see the Legends go to. The nice thing about the DC universe is that it's actually a multiverse meaning they could go anywhere. True this year they are stuck just doing the time travel thing, but hopefully next year, or even later this year, we'll see them branch out and go anywhere the writers' imaginations can take them! 

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie! 

10 COMIC BOOK COVERS I WANT TO SEE COME TO LIFE

Comic books are awesome. I love them. I bet you already knew that though, given my nickname is The Comic Junkie. One thing that's great about comics is the visual medium. Sure books are great and I've read plenty of books, but comic books have that added bonus of the images in your face! In my opinion, a great artist can make or break a comic book. If the writing is bad but the art is good, then at least I can enjoy that aspect (and vice versa). A lot of my favorite comics have had a great syncing of writer and artist. But let's face it - a lot of times the artist has to be the main selling point. Unless you know specific writers, you're more likely to pick up a comic based on if you like the cover or the interior art. It's similar to movies - you may not like football but if you like Adam Sandler then you'll check out The Longest Yard. 

Not his worst but also not his best . . . 

I've been noticing more and more that my favorite TV shows and movies are adapting specific panels and comic books covers in their films. For example: 

That's the cover to The Dark Knight Returns #1 next to a shot of Batman from the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. That's pretty bad ass if you ask me. This got me thinking, what other covers would I love to see adapted on the screen? Panels, moments, character beats are one thing, but covers? That's a cool concept. It's what sold us on the book in the first place. I actually collect a lot of covers that I think are cool. Some I buy just to get signed at Comic Con. It's uh . . . what I do! Anyway! Here's the list! 

AVENGERS #12

Whew! That's a good one! Freaking Iron Man with the Infinity Gauntlet. I'm not really a betting man, but I think it's safe to say we will see something like this when Avengers: Infinity War Part II hits theaters summer 2019. 

BATMAN #612

One of my absolute favorite covers/comics of all time. I've been wanting to see this brought to life for many, many years. Hopefully, if it doesn't happen in Batman v Superman then we can see it in a future Justice League or other type of team up film. 

ALL NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA #1

Given that Anthony Mackie is a star on the rise and Marvel is really pushing the Falcon to be in more films, given his appearance in Ant-Man, I have a feeling that this will happen in a later film. Rumor has it that Steve Rogers might meet his maker in either Captain America: Civil War or possibly Avengers: Infinity War. If that's the case, then the next Cap is right here! 

JUSTICE LEAGUE #30

While this is highly unlikely, I still think it would be kind of a cool twist if Lex's journey in the films mirrored that of the recent comics. Yes, Lex Luthor is on the Justice League in the current comic books. How cool would that be if he joined up with the League to fight Darkseid in a Justice League film? Oh yeah . . . and Captain Cold is there too . . .

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #35

While Venom was introduced in Spider-Man 3, we have yet to see him really do anything more than just . . . It's probably best not to think about it. I'd like to see Marvel revive Venom for their new crop of Spider-Man films. This image in particular, of Venom howling at the moon, is really scary. Let's see him come into the films and be a worthy nemesis for Spider-Man.

GREEN LANTERN #9

This might just be wishful thinking on my part but wouldn't this be great? I'd love to see a rebooted Green Lantern team up with Ben Affleck's Batman. And I'd love to see Batman either take the right or have it given to him momentarily to keep on fighting. Also, this is my favorite comic book cover ever. I love it!

THE INCREDIBLE HULK #340

This one will probably never happen in our lifetime. Which is a damn shame cuz who doesn't want to see 90 minutes of Hugh Jackman vs Mark Ruffalo? I mean, that probably doesn't sound exciting - but a live action Wolverine vs the Hulk would be amazing. We all know it and they know it too! Come on Fox and Marvel! Quit being assholes!

BATMAN #17

I'm not exactly sure HOW they would do this . . . but wouldn't it be cool? I mean not necessarily the Joker with the ripped off face (cuz that's a bit too much) but the Joker dancing with a bloodied up Batsuit is pretty disturbing. And from what we know about Suicide Squad it sounds like Jared Leto's Joker is pretty disturbing. So . . . let's do it!

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #129

This is another that's unlikely, but should still happen! Even though Marvel has the rights to the Punisher and Spider-Man (kinda), it's been said that Marvel TV and Marvel Films don't play so well together (that was deliberately bad grammar btw). Which is a shame because it would be great to see the Punisher vs Spider-Man. 

SUPERGIRL #16

Yes! This one! This cover could actually almost be real but both networks would have to play nice with each other. Granted, there's no reason not to do it! The Flash is exploring the Multiverse and Supergirl has discussed alternate dimensions, like the Phantom Zone. It's not out of the realm of possibility to happen sometime in our future! Let's do this!

Out of the millions of comic book covers out there, these are the ones I chose! You know what, this was kind of fun! I think I'll do it again soon. In the meantime, what say you, Comic Junkies? Any covers you'd like to see come to life? 

Till Next Time! 

JJ - the Comic Junkie 

5 HORROR STORIES THAT ARE RIPE FOR TV ADAPTATIONS

We're gonna go a little off topic here today. Usually I talk about comics or movies or some combination of the two. However, today we're gonna go a different route. You know what I've been noticing lately? There are a crap ton of TV shows that are based on horror books, comics, movies, etc. We've got The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, Bates Motel, Scream (is that show still on? Was it good? I don't know. I don't care), and soon Damien based on the Omen films will be joining those ranks. There are probably a few I'm forgetting, but you get my drift. It's kind of interesting that there are so many scary stories that people are gobbling up on a weekly basis.

My personal favorite of the ones I listed

What is it about scary stories that gets people so excited? I mean, no one really likes to be scared right? No one wants to live in a constant state of fear! I'm sure there are some studies out there that say that people like the "thrill" or the "mystery." Then again, maybe people are just really fucked up in the head. They like weird, scary shit! That's ok. I'm one of those people! I'm intrigued by the "good vs evil" concept, which is why I like comic books so much. Every now and again, it's interesting to see something scary because often, the characters don't get a happy ending. In a sad way, that's relate-able isn't it? 

I'm sorry . . . Kind of a downer . .  .

Anyway! I started thinking about what other stories out there could be adapted into TV shows. I mean if Scream can be a TV show than anything can right? Huh? Am I right? HAHA! Anyway, here it goes . . . 

AMERICAN VAMPIRE

Written by one of my favorite comic book writers, Scott Snyder, American Vampire is one of the most original and creative tales of vampires. I won't bore you with the details but suffice it to say that it's not the usual garlic, stakes, sunlight that can kill these guys. Each vampire species from different regions has their own weakness. The story is also great in that it travels through time. Not like literally! I mean it starts in the Old West and goes all the way up the 1920s, 1950s, etc, etc. I'd love to see a cool type of ensemble show that follows different vampires and vampire hunters through history. Stylistically, it would be a very unique type of show. It could be filmed differently based on the different time periods. The costumes would be different, the sets, gosh it would be pretty incredible to watch! The comic already has a unique feel to it, despite it being about vampires (a common subject on TV and in movies). I'm a fan of the comic and I'd love to see it adapted in live action.

 WYTCHES

Another favorite of mine written by Scott Snyder. I mean, the dude can write some scary shit! Wytches was another unique twist on a classic tale. Instead of beings with pointy hats, cauldrons, and warts, these were other worldly monsters that barely resembled anything close to human. Granted, it was a mini series comic book, with a possible sequel in the works, but I think there is a rich storyline to draw from here. The Wytches are terrifying and mysterious. In the comic, you never really get a good look at them. In a TV series, I think that would be somewhat frustrating to watch. You'd want to see the monsters. Apparently the rights have been optioned for a film. Granted the story might fit better in a film, but I would argue that a TV show could be much more exciting. There would be a lot more character development as well as mythology to build up about the wytches. I think a 10 episode mini series or anthology series (like AHS) would be really exciting and a lot of fun. And scary. Terrifying really. I mean, this comic was scary dude! 

THE EXORCIST

This one is a bit of a cheat because I read that there is a pilot in the works based on this material. There have been several attempts to make a sequel, spin-off, what-have-you of the Exorcist over the years with varying degrees of success. In my opinion, the closest (in terms of scares) was the Exorcism of Emily Rose. Now, here's a little known fact about me - this is the scariest movie I have ever fucking seen. I watched this with my sister and my dad when I was a kid. My sister and I couldn't sleep for weeks. What made is worse was on a family road trip, my dad told us we were driving through the town that the actual exorcism happened. Needless to say, my dad thought our fear was hysterical. What a bastard . . . eh . . . I'll probably do it to my kids . . . 

Anyway! That was a terrifying movie and one that I don't think I could watch again at night (but maybe!). However, I won't deny that a series based on Exorcisms or demons or whatever would pique my interest. A limited series or anthology type show would be really cool and scary. Or perhaps a show that followed the Exorcist himself would be interesting. Not necessarily as a demon fighting bad ass like in Supernatural, but a subdued, quiet priest that travels from place to place trying to rid the world of evil. That would be cool . . . And fucking terrifying. I take it back. I don't want this!!! (if you listen closely, you can hear my dad laughing at me) 

SWAMP THING

Yes. Technically, another Scott Snyder property. But he's awesome ok?? Believe it or not, one of my favorite comic books is Swamp Thing. I've read Alan Moore's twisted, heartfelt run. I've read Scott Snyder's scary, twisted run. And I read Charles Soule's inspired, twisted run. Basically, in some way shape or form, Swamp Thing is twisted. It's a strange tale of what it means to be a man, destiny, evil, the balance of nature, and love. Supposedly, Warner Bros is working on a live action Dark Universe movie that would feature Swamp Thing as a main character. Granted, I'm all for that, but I think an adaptation of the comics would be perfectly at home on television. There was a Swamp Thing TV show years ago based on the movie directed by Wes Craven (yes . . . you read that right) but it didn't last. It's a tough, and probably expensive source material but it would also be really, really cool. It's got everything people love - Monsters! True Love! Evil zombie things! Corruption (sort of)! Also, there's a great Jekyll and Hyde aspect that people can't seem to get enough of in modern storytelling. I'd be all for seeing Swamp Thing on television or possibly Netflix. Plus it would be an excuse to bring back Matt Ryan as Constantine. 

That just NEEDS to happen! 

STEPHEN KING'S IT

One of my favorite horror stories of all time. It is one of those stories that leaves you wanting more but afraid to ask (in a good way). There was a TV movie adapted several years ago, memorable for the children's dynamic and Tim Curry's terrifying performance as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Topping that performance alone would be tricky. There was a two part film in the works not long ago and it even had Stephen King's blessing, but unfortunately it stalled out. Hopefully, this will turn out to be a blessing in disguise because It would make a fantastic series. The book is filled with a rich, deep mythology and wonderfully fleshed out characters. Even as a limited series, as long as it's lovingly and faithfully adapted, it would be truly exciting not to mention scary as hell. 

I'm a big fan of the TV movie, despite it not having aged very well. However, even just reading the first few chapters I noticed just how much of the story was left out. In a series, that could easily be rectified and even expanded upon. The mythology behind Pennywise, his origins, past killings, etc would be really interesting to see. Also, the town of Derry, Maine as a main character (similar to White Pine Bay in Bates Motel) would be fascinating to see. How does the town react to this creature? Who else has been affected by IT? I'd love to see that! Damn! I'm getting myself all worked up at the possibility! Let's make It happen! Haha . . . get it? 

By the way - I didn't realize how many times I would use the word "it" in describing this. It was unintentional yet kind of funny . . . Anyway . . . 

These are my suggestions of horror stories I'd like to see adapted to the small screen. Great television, if done right, can have a lasting impact. Given the longer narratives there is more time for character development, mythology and world building to happen. There's a reason that people get sucked into shows and binge watch them on Netflix or Hulu. Movies are great and all, but for people that prefer more fleshed out "universes" (if you will), TV is the way to go. And for some reason, horror stories fit well into binge watching sessions. Dang . . . now I kinda want to get caught up on American Horror Story! 

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie!  

SUPERGIRLS ON SUPERGIRL!

Last week it was confirmed that former Supergirl Laura Vandervoort would be a recurring guest star on CBS's Supergirl. She'll be playing the part of Indigo, which in the comics is kinda like a female Brainiac. It's not confirmed if she'll necessarily be the villain yet or not but it is confirmed that she'll make several appearances. Along with Helen Slater (star of the 1984 Supergirl film) this does go to show that nostalgic casting choices are all the rage with these superhero TV shows. I had a previous post about this and how I'm a huge fan of it. Then I started thinking, why stop there? There have been plenty of "Supergirls" on TV over the years and I think a great way to honor their past would be to bring them on Supergirl. Now I'm not saying they should reprise their roles (that would be tough) but it would be cool to see them show up and help Supergirl kick someone's ass. Or possibly try to kick her ass. I dunno . . . Whichever comes first . . .

Anyway! Here's the list!

HAYDEN PANETTIERE

I probably would've tuned into Heroes Reborn if she was still on the show. Just . . .  Uh . . . Saying. Yes, I'm in love with Ms. Panettiere. I had the privilege of meeting her a few years ago at New York Comic Con during the Heroes heyday. She was very sweet and gracious to her fans. It made me appreciate her as an actress a lot more. Trust me when I tell you that a lot of times when you get an autograph, even one you pay for, they don't have to be nice about it. But she was! 

Anyway, I think it would be cool to have her guest star on an episode or two. Maybe pay homage to Claire Bennet in some way. Like the character is the daughter of a man hunting aliens/metahumans or make her a metahuman and/or alien. Either way, Heroes was a big part of selling people on "comic book" type shows, so I believe Supergirl should acknowledge that in some way. But also the more Hayden Panettiere in my life, the better.

ELIZA DUSHKU

Another amazing actress I had the privilege of meeting at New York Comic Con. While everyone will always remember her as Faith from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I also think of her as the voice of Catwoman in the animated Batman: Year One. She's always playing the tough girl with the vulnerable side she tries to hide from the world. Granted, she's very good at that role, but her role in Dollhouse did show us that she does have a bit more range. I would definitely like to see her guest star on Supergirl in some way, shape, or form. Honestly, (and I told her this when I met her) I think she should play a live action Catwoman. I can't think of a character tougher but still with a soft side. But if we're talking about her expanding her roles, She's proved that she can be either an antagonist or a protagonist. Let's see her play a role that challenges her the way Faith did. Whatever happens, I just think she should be in more movies and TV shows. I mean come on! Look at her! Sigh . . . 

SUMMER GLAU

When I came up with this list, I totally forgot that Summer was on Arrow. My bad. Anyway, I still think she should come to Supergirl. She's actually the only one on this list that has actually played Supergirl before. In the animated Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, Glau played Kara Zor El, lost daughter of Krypton. She washes up in Gotham Bay, is discovered by Batman, taken in by Superman, trained by Wonder Woman, and kidnapped/brainwashed by Darkseid. It's a really great story and there's a pretty bad ass fight with Superman and Kara vs Darkseid at the end. I highly recommend the film. 

Over the years, Summer has played sympathetic yet bad ass (Terminator) to rash and impulsive (Superman/Batman) to downright nasty (Arrow). Basically, I think she could play any type of character on Supergirl and it would be a kick ass performance. However, my recommendation would be more along the lines of a Donna Troy type character. Another "legacy" character like Supergirl is with Superman.  Technically she was Wonder Woman's protege as Wonder Girl but she outgrew during later publications of different comics. Ugh . . . It's ridiculous with all the revamps DC does . . . ANYWHO! I think Summer would make a terrific Donna Troy and a welcome addition to the Supergirl world. Hell, even if Summer isn't cast they should use Donna! But they should cast her, because she would be fantastic.

LUCY LAWLESS

I mean, this one was pretty obvious right? I think when the term "supergirl" or "female superhero" gets tossed around, Lucy Lawless/Xena is the first person people think of. I will go ahead and admit that I've never actually seen Xena: Warrior Princess. From what I gather, it was a 90s guilty pleasure, probably best left to nostalgia. However, Lucy Lawless is still gorgeous and a good actress. She guest starred during a few episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Granted, her character was just another agent. I think that was a waste. If you're going to have freaking Xena guest star on your show then give her something to do! She was also the voice of Wonder Woman in the animated Justice League: the New Frontier film. Now that's how you do some stunt casting! She, of course, was perfect in the role. I'd argue that her second best performance was as Diane during Parks and Recreation. I mean, come on, the only woman that could finally make Ron settle down and not drive him to do crazy things would have to be some kind of super-woman right? 

Indeed

I'd love to see Lawless on Supergirl as a Xena or Wonder Woman type of character. She's proven to be a great actress but come on! Wouldn't that be awesome if she was an Amazon or another escaped Kryptonian prisoner? I'd love that! Plus, in a show chock full of nods, winks, and easter eggs, let's give those types of fans something to really get excited about!

LYNDA CARTER

Another one that was pretty obvious. But I mean come on! If you know nothing else about Wonder Woman you know that silly theme song from the 70s. Also the spinning out of her regular clothes into her Wonder Woman costume, which people still reference to this day. For many, Lynda Carter IS Wonder Woman. She's a great actress on her own but I think the most impressive thing about her is that she seems to radiate confidence and authority. If I were to cast her on Supergirl, she would definitely be either Hank Henshaw's boss at the DEO or some other figure like that. While she does fit into the "nostalgia" casting, she's also a good enough actress that it wouldn't feel too gimmicky having her on the show. Give her a great character, maybe similar to Christopher Reeve's role as mentor on Smallville. In a show full of winks and . . . Ah I already said that . . . Well, still. Bring her on and let her kick some ass! 

SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR

As what will come as a shock to none of you, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of my all time favorite TV shows. I felt that Gellar was absolutely perfect as Buffy. When I was a kid, I started watching because I had a major crush on her. Turns out, I fell in love with the series. A few years ago, I started getting the DVD sets. I devoured them. Even had an all night binge watching session before Netflix was even a thing. Yeah I'm super cool I know . . . Anyway, the show was fantastic to me and nowadays I keep up with the continuing "season" comics. While it's clear that Joss Whedon isn't as involved with those comics as I'd like, they are still a fun read. Gellar was the perfect lead star. She was a leader and a warrior, but wasn't afraid to show off her sensitive side. I looked up to Buffy as a kid and kind of wished I could meet a girl like that in real life. But maybe I'm just hoping for too much . . . There's no such thing as a Slayer . . . 

Anyway, Gellar would be a perfect guest star on Supergirl. Granted it would be kind of cheesy to have her guest star as a vampire hunter or something like that, but still I'm sure we can find something. I'd like to see her be some sort of superpowered rival and/or ally to Kara. On Buffy, Gellar proved time and again that she is a very talented actress and can handle any craziness the writers/producers could throw at her. She will probably never guest star on the show but if the producers were looking for any kind of "supergirl" to showcase, she would have my vote in a heartbeat! 

Like I said, I'm a big fan of nostalgia casting or stunt casting. Yes, it's a gimmick to get ratings, but I think more often than not, the actors prove themselves and bring something special to the show. I'd love to see it continue and these women would be fantastic additions to the Supergirl cast. 

Till Next Time! 

JJ - the Comic Junkie! 

5 THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WITH A PUNISHER TV SHOW

All my dreams are coming true! Well I mean not ALL my dreams, but one in particular! Apparently, Marvel and Netflix are starting work on a Punisher TV series to fit into their Defenders corner of the MCU. Granted, this is mostly speculation at this point. But if Frank Castle is received well enough during season two of Daredevil, then they'll move forward with a spin off. I lobbied for this a while ago during a previous blog post. I'm excited at the possibility but of course, we must exercise caution! The Punisher has been adapted to film THREE times with less than stellar results.

No one will ever remember you! 

I'd like to share with you my thoughts on what can be done to make a truly amazing, faithful adaptation of the Punisher for a Netflix series. The first step would be to cast a great actor, luckily that's already been done with Jon Bernthal. So let's see what else will need to be done! 

LEARN FROM WHAT WORKED

I'm willing to bet that a good number of fans liked the Thomas Jane/John Travolta Punisher film. It had a decent plot, good actors, etc. However, the one thing it lacked was a lot of punishing. However that can be a negative (we'll get to that). Hire quality actors, give them a meaty script, and a good director, and you'll be good to go. The action doesn't need to be bombastic and crazy, it just needs to feel real. Sure it's based on a comic book, but the Punisher, more so than most characters in the Marvel Universe, actually COULD exist in our world. The Thomas Jane film did a good job of setting Frank up in a world that felt like ours. He gave a really intense performance surrounded by ordinary people. He was the one that looked off and that's how it should be. At this point, he's the Terminator. He kills and then moves on. That's what we want to see.

LEARN FROM WHAT DIDN'T WORK

It's no secret that I really hated Punisher: War Zone. What a terrible movie! It suffered from what I like to call "The Schumacher Syndrome." Basically, the people making it thought, "Oh it's a comic book! It has to look ridiculous and over the top!" No. It doesn't. If Daredevil and Jessica Jones have taught us anything, it's that the ridiculousness of what the heroes can do is overlooked by a quality TV show. If the actors, sets, and dialogue are convincing and make us feel that it's real, then we will believe that it's real (if only for a short moment). War Zone made the mistake of having the action be too over the top to the point of camp. Even the main villain, Jigsaw, I did not find threatening because of the campy performance. Which is a shame because decent actors were cast in the film, they just were given a subpar script and direction. So, Netflix, please don't worry about giving us over the top action. Just make it look real and exciting. Remember the hallway fight in Daredevil? Yeah that! More of that please! 

GIVE US A GREAT VILLAIN 

Wilson Fisk and Kilgrave are easily the best villains that Marvel Studios has given us (with Loki as an obvious exception). They were compelling, captivating, sympathetic, and yet utterly terrifying. The reason they were so terrifying is because they were polar opposites of the heroes they fought. Kilgrave is manipulative and egotistical, Jessica was honest and brave. Fisk was a child from a terrible family and never matured beyond one terrible incident. Matt was raised to stand up for himself and never back down from a fight. This is a tough one with the Punisher. On the one hand, he doesn't really have a rogues gallery because he kills everybody. But if Marvel could make Kilgrave, a somewhat boring/underused character from the comics, into a terrifying antagonist for 13 episodes, then I have faith it can be done again. The only real issue is that the Punisher in and of himself is a terrifying character. How do you make someone a threat to him without going over the top? I think the answer would be to make the villain likable. The audience should question whether or not to root for the hero in this case. Why not give them a villain that is relatable and interesting? There's a reason people love Breaking Bad. The hero, Walter White, made questionable decisions from day one and became the villain of the piece. That basic idea is what we should see from Frank Castle. He might have the best intentions, but someone out there is much worse than he is . . . 

JUST FILM GREG RUCKA'S RUN ON THE PUNISHER

Greg Rucka is one of my favorite comic book writers. He's really good at making outlandish, goofy ass superheroes feel like real people. His run on the Punisher was some of the best comics I've ever read. Frank didn't have much dialogue, but it was a well crafted story. It ended with Spider-Man convincing the Avengers to look for him and bring him to justice. Granted that's probably not going to happen on a Netflix TV series, but it was still a well written story. The main story took place from the point of view of two NYPD detectives (loosely based on Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt from Seven). Pitt was working with the Punisher because he supported his beliefs that evil must be punished while Freeman believed in the law. Also, there was a story of Rachel Cole-Alves. She was married for only a few hours before her whole family and new husband were killed in a mob shoot out. Frank took her under her wing and tried to teach her how to be like the Punisher. In his mind, emotion is unnecessary. You need to let go of the world and focus only on the mission. She can't do that. She's blinded by rage and vengeance. Like I said, it was a great story. Damn . . . I might go reread it now . . . 

COSTUME!

It hasn't been used in years, and maybe it's just me, but I think that original Punisher costume is awesome! I mean it's spandex, like most heroes, but I think with the right tweaking it could look really great. During War Zone, Punisher pretty much wore a modified military tactical uniform with the skull on his chest. I like the idea of the Punisher having some kind of uniform. Of course, he would probably want to wear some kind of protective gear, but I don't think he would wear that much. This is a guy with a clear mission and he's going to do a job. If he dies on the job, he will consider his life complete. Granted, he probably doesn't care what he's wearing but the audience will. More importantly, his enemies will need something to remember him by, if only for a short minute before they die! It probably won't happen like I'm expecting, but I'd love to see a classic Punisher costume on screen. 

These are my thoughts on what should be done with a Punisher TV series. Netflix is definitely the best way to go with this character. While nothing is set in stone as of yet, I'm confident that sometime in the near future we'll see more of the Punisher. He never stays down for long ;)

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie! 

WHERE DO WE SEND THE TITANS NOW?

Well, it's official. Titans is dead at TNT. The network passed on doing a drama series based on DC's young crimefighters. Which is a shame because it had potential to be really great and exciting.

Unlike some adaptations . . . 

But, as always, we here at For Comic Junkies like to look for the positive in these situations. Since the Titans are not getting their own show it stands to reason that they would be back on the table to guest star on the other superhero shows like Gotham, Arrow, the Flash, Supergirl, and potentially DC's Legends of Tomorrow. I went through the roster and tried to figure out which Titan should guest star where and why. Let's take a look shall we? 

STARFIRE ON SUPERGIRL 

One of the most powerful, and often forgotten, characters of the DC Universe is definitely Starfire. She comes from the planet Tamaran, where she was actually a princess. She was heir to the throne over her sister, who resented her for having special powers. After a long rivalry and war (cuz ya know . . . women can't just TALK their feelings out), Starfire left Tamaran and found refuge on Earth with the Teen Titans. She has the power to fly, super strength, and harness solar energy as concussive blasts. 

In short, she would fit in PERFECTLY with Supergirl's world. She has the theme of sisters and family which is evident in most episodes. Plus, Supergirl is always showcasing new aliens from around the galaxy. Plus, if they go with Starfire's personality from the Teen Titans animated series, she would be a great comedic foil for Kara. She doesn't understand "Earth culture" and possibly even Kara's need to have a secret identity. Plus, I mean, come on! Let's get some more strong, independent women in these TV shows! Speaking of . .  .

RAVEN ON ARROW

Another very powerful hero in the DC Universe, Raven is definitely one of the best characters. There were rumors of a Raven TV series a few years ago, but they never materialized. It's a shame because she's just ripe with potential stories. First of all her father is Trigon, an evil demon hellbent on Earth's destruction or sucking it into Hell. One of those. I guess it doesn't matter. He's pretty bad and a terrible father. Remind you of anyone on Arrow?

It's Thea. The answer was Thea

Not only does Raven fit into this season's theme of "magic and mysticism" but she has obvious parallels to Thea Queen. Both have an inner dark side that they are afraid of. Both have terrible, evil fathers. Both are in need of guidance. I think it would be great to get Raven in the show and give Thea someone to pal around with. We've seen the Canaries work together, Constantine team up with Green Arrow, now let's set a play date for Speedy. I mean it fits! I can't be the only one that thought of this!

BEAST BOY ON THE FLASH 

Beast Boy is a great character. Although he's a bit annoying on the Teen Titans animated series, he's a little more tolerable in the comics. He's definitely the comic relief of the group, but when it comes down to it, he'll jump into the fight to protect his friends. It would probably be difficult to portray his abilities on TV, especially since he's permanently green and that would be tough for an actor to go through every day on set. However, the end result would be really great and fun to watch. Given that Beast Boy isn't as dark as the other characters, it would make sense for him to show up on The Flash and keep things light. 

Beast Boy got his powers from an experimental drug his parents gave him to try to save his life. I'd like to see an arc with him on Flash where Barry helps him cope with his new abilities and forgive his parents for turning him into a "monster." Also, it would be a breath of fresh air on Flash for the team to find out that other people in the world gained abilities from something other than the Singularity or the Particle Accelerator. I mean seriously . . . it can get old . . .

SUPERBOY ON SUPERGIRL

 

I mean this one was pretty obvious right? However, it makes perfect sense. Since they can't have Superman on the show (for reasons), why not bring in the next best thing? A teenaged, pissed off version of Superman! I've stated before my love of Superboy's story from the Geoff Johns run on Teen Titans. I think it's worth retelling, this time with Kal El's cousin having to deal with an erratic but good hearted kid with super powers. Granted, this story might have to wait for season 2 or 3 or later, but I think it's worth exploring. 

Kara spends so much time on the show wanting to make her cousin proud, yet be her own hero, it would be great to see someone treat her that way. We'd get to see a young El look up to Kara and want to be a hero like her. Plus it would be nice to see a brother/sister relationship develop for Kara. She's spent so much time being the younger sibling and looking up to her sister, I'd like to see her be a role model for a younger character, preferably a male. It's important for men to have strong females to look up to. It gives them a good reason to respect the women they are surrounded with on a daily basis. I'm not trying to be political here or anything but I like the idea of superhero stories being parallels to every day life. 

KID FLASH ON THE FLASH 

 

Another one that's fairly obvious and kind of a cheat considering that it's probably happening soon on the show. Wally West was introduced in the last episode of The Flash, so it stands to reason that we'll be seeing him suit up sooner rather than later. Plus it will be great for Barry to be given the role of mentor. He's had many mentors/father figures on the show already with Joe, Henry, Wells, and even Jay Garrick to a certain extent. Barry is still learning how to use his powers and the different things he can do with it. It would be cool to have a new character with the same powers and they either learn together or Wally can show him things that Barry hadn't thought of. What else is there to say but to be patient because odds are this one will be happening before the end of the season! 

NIGHTWING ON ARROW

 

Now this one just HAS to happen already!!! There was a rumor a few years ago that Nightwing would be making an appearance on Arrow based on a tweet by actor Steve McQueen. He tweeted a picture of himself at the gym, wearing a Nightwing shirt, to the Arrow writers account. Now, we don't know the official story behind it. Was he just asking for the part? Was he going to guest star and then the producers backed out? It was never really confirmed (to my knowledge) but I thought it was a great idea. As much as I love how Arrow has embraced more comic booky stuff in the later seasons, I do miss a bit of that "street level vigilante" that the show started off with. Nightwing would fit in perfectly with that concept. Given that he's dark, but not as brooding as Batman, he would probably get along real well with Diggle. However, he could easily click with any member of Team Arrow. With Oliver, he's a driven crimefighter trying to bring justice to the world one street punk at a time. With Diggle, he's a sidekick in the shadow of a famous hero. With Thea, he's young and sees the thrill of fighting crime. With Laurel, by day he works a respectable job trying to bring justice to the world (in Dick's case as a cop) but by night he dishes out the justice that the law doesn't always provide. And with Felicity he . . . Well she would probably remind him of Barbara and that would be good enough. See what I mean? He would fit in perfectly! Let's go ahead and make this happen!!!

Now I am aware that I skipped quite a few Titans like Cyborg, Donna Troy, Hawk and Dove, and many others. I could spend all day on that and where they should go, but I'll save that for someone with either more time on their hands or . .  . I dunno . . . someone who's a bit more obsessed with the Titans than I am. But these are my suggestions! What say you, Comic Junkies? Let me know!

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie!