Ten Comics I'd Like To See As TV Series
Written by Craig Byrne - KryptonSite Webmaster
Part 1 of 2 - Read Part 2
While the major comic book companies and their corporate parents seem to be focusing on movies for their more well-known character, I have to confess that what I'd really love to see again is another good superhero TV series, especially as Smallville is approaching its final season (or two). It seems as of late, recent adaptations have either been of non-superhero genres (Human Target or The Walking Dead) or mostly unknown (like Midnight, Mass.) And when a new project IS announced, it's either not picked up as a series (see Aquaman), disappears from development with no fanfare (The WB's Flash series), or is somehow blocked by the movie division (The Graysons).
With that said, and ignoring most movie studio limitations - though the most obvious choice, to finally do Young Bruce Wayne, is not listed - here are ten comic book-based TV series that I'd like to see. I'll post my top five DC choices today, and then Disney Marvel choices can be found here. So without further ado... here's my list. If any TV execs or producers are reading this and care to do anything with my suggestions, I promise not to sue.
#5: Wonder Woman
Warner Bros. doesn't seem to want to admit that their development of Wonder Woman as a feature film just isn't happening, so this would be the perfect high-profile character to bring to TV.
It would be a huge challenge to create a modern-day Diana Prince that is relatable to the TV audience, but if done right, it could fit that teen-girl demographic that Dawn Ostroff so craves for The CW. There's also the brand recognition. Everybody knows Wonder Woman. It'd be great.
#4: Teen Titans
What? No Justice League yet Teen Titans is on the list? Well, I know both have been in development for features also, but I think Teen Titans might yield lower expectations for TV and therefore better results. This is one that probably would like to see coexisting in the Smallville "universe" with characters like Bart Allen or a more-cybernetic Cyborg coming in - plus there are characters within the first eight episodes of Smallville Season Nine that may be a good fit. There's such a rich grouping of characters that could be played with, and if Geoff Johns was brought on, maybe he could do for the Titans on TV what he did for them in comics.
(On the note of the Justice League, I'm still shocked that a spin-off wasn't made after the success of Smallville's "Justice" episode. Now it might be too late, but back then, there was some serious traction for such a thing.).
#3: The Flash
Yes, it was done way back in 1990, and sure, there is also a movie in development for this one... but you know, Barry Allen or Wally West never showed up on Smallville, and there's nothing to say they don't exist out there somewhere. The story of the Fastest Man Alive features some of the best rogues for him to play off against - and no matter which Flash you use, there's a ready-made supporting cast. And who couldn't identify with wanting to get places really fast?
If there ever is another Flash series, I hope it would be something optimistic, unlike the Batman-lite version CBS gave us in 1990. Give us a Flash we'll love - Wally West might be the ideal choice for that one - and the rest will come quickly. Pun intended. They don't even need a costume to make it cool.
#2: Starman
Way back in 2002, ABC commissioned Tollin-Robbins Productions (the same people involved with both Smallville and Birds of Prey) to do a TV series based on the James Robinson and Tony Harris comic book Starman. The concept is rich - a perfect look at being a "legacy character" in the DC Comics universe, with a tapestry and a history of characters coming in and out. It'd be affordable to do on TV and believable enough that people wouldn't think "ugh, another comic book TV series." Unfortunately the TV script added some unnecessary characters (like a son for Jack Knight's deceased brother) and - at least in the development stages of the pilot - the mysterious character of the Shade was missing. That's too bad. It could have been good TV, and I'd happily welcome a return to the concept..
#1: Tim Drake/Robin
When The Graysons was announced, with all due respect to Smallville's Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson, I was excited but a little skeptical that a TV series about Dick Grayson before he was Robin would be all that interesting. To me, Dick Grayson didn't become interesting until the night his parents were killed and Batman took him under his wing. Not just that, but how depressing is it to watch a show like that and know the story ends with the main character's parents getting killed?
As much as I like Dick Grayson, I feel his best years were as Nightwing, though I do love his current role in the DC Universe. But with Tim... tragedy didn't necessarily make him Robin. He had detective skills of his own - ones that connected Dick to being the original Robin, and he figured out Bruce Wayne was Batman. Additionally, Tim Drake has had one of the best supporting casts of television. First there's his sometime girlfriend Steph, who happens to be the daughter of a villain with her own alter ego of the Spoiler. There are his friends from school, like Ives. Back in the past there was his dad who he hid his dual identity from. Best of all - Tim could have his own set of adventures separate from Bruce Wayne (as could Nightwing, really). I'd love this so much. Tim doesn't even need a costume, and the only special effects really needed to think about involve stunts or villains. A perfect match for television, I'd say.
#1 Bonus: Nightwing
I've got to throw this one in, though I think it'd be more unlikely as a TV series, just because thanks especially to the writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Perez who first allowed original Robin Dick Grayson to "grow up," the concept of a former teen sidekick who becomes a better hero than his predecessor is fascinating to me. It might not appeal to the teens in the same way that a Robin/Tim Drake series would, but it'd still be the next-best thing to a Batman TV series.
Surely there are some choices I'm overlooking - Deadman, the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 21st century, Warlord, another shot at Global Frequency, and a Smallville Green Arrow spin-off would all be great to see - but that's what I've narrowed down to. Hope you enjoyed the column, and visit here for some Marvel-ous choices!.
Read some Smallville Season 9 spoilers!
