As live action superhero movies continue to falter and flail (Jonah Hex reshoots, Spider-Man reboot, actors leaving Thor, etc) one place that has continued to see excellence are the animated films. Both DC and Marvel are coming out with DVD release animated versions of their characters that easily match if not surpass these live action debacles. In February two films are coming out DC’s Justice League: Crisis On Two Worlds and Marvel’s Planet Hulk. Both films are highly anticipated and will hopefully set the benchmark even higher.
Where I think Marvel has the edge release wise is the fact that it’s animating an already beloved story. Planet Hulk has long been heralded as the last truly great story of the green skinned monster and author Greg Pak has given readers the best new angle on Hulk since Peter David. This fully realized story seems a lot more interesting than the sort of muddled storyline for the DC’s Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths.
Looking at the DVD releases in a deeper fashion I began to see that the best of these animated films came from adapting pre-existing storylines. DC’s JLA: New Frontier based on the Darwyn Cooke story and Superman/Batman: Public Enemies taken from the Jeph Loeb/Ed McGuiness run have really been the best of the big two’s animated collections. The other stuff, while still quality, never manages to live up to the bar set by New Frontier and Public Enemies. I decided to give a list of ten DC and ten Marvel titles I think would kick ass being made into animated features. I start with my top ten from DC:
10. Blackest Night
Okay, I realize this storyline isn’t finished yet but I’m willing to bet it finishes just as strong as it began. With that in mind what an incredible story to bring to life with animation. The Black Lanterns, the dead heroes, the torture of the characters, it would be epic. For those in need of a back-story one can be drummed up in the first five minutes of the movie and then we’re free for zombie Black Lantern good times. Blackest Night is the most important crossover of the last fifteen years so an animated version just makes sense.
9. Kingdom Come
Oh come on don’t even try and tell me it’s never crossed your mind. This Mark Waid/Alex Ross story still rings through the DC Universe today (see the recent JSA storylines) and the idea of an animated version kills me. Imagine watching Alex Ross’ art move and breathe. It would be a new dawn in animation and possibly one of the lushest looking features ever. The story of the JLA old and disillusioned being forced back into action because the new crop of heroes has lost their minds makes for compelling drama. Great drama and great animation, where’s the problem?
8. Jack Kirby’s New Gods
I’m stepping a little outside of the box here and that’s mainly because I want to see Jack Kirby’s art brought to life in a fashion worthy of its greatness. We’ve seen these characters before in either the long running JLA animated series or the films but to completely step back and tell their story would be amazing. It would also be the first time these characters could be seen animated not with a modern look but a full on Jack Kirby style. Darkseid against Highfather, the birth of New Genesis and Apokolips, the introduction of Mister Miracle, Orion, Big Barda, Metron, it would be amazing. The added bonus is if the film did well DC could also release Mister Miracle and The Forever People.
7. Green Lantern/Green Arrow - More Hard Traveling Heroes
This is the collected title of the Neal Adams & Denis O’Neil seventies Green Arrow/Green Lantern series that got such high praise. Not only did this series revolutionize how comic stories were told it also ushered in an age of political awareness that DC had been sorely lacking. I can’t think of anything more perfect for these times then a look back at the mistakes we’ve made through the eyes of two of DC’s greatest heroes. The animation would have to be dark and gritty drawing more inspiration from animated films like Heavy Metal or Ralph Bakshi’s Wizards. Taking that kind of dark animation and applying a Neal Adams feel would not only be a great gift for fans but also a more adult spin on these animated films.
6. Transmetropolitan
Continuing outside the box, Transmetropolitan is a DC/Vertigo property that aches for an animated feature. True it would be hard to press the entire run of the series into a two-hour movie but it could be done and it would give DC a reason to lengthen their movies from 85 minutes to a full 120. The story of anarchistic journalist Spider Jerusalem and his quest to bring down the President not only speaks to the times we’re in but could also be such fun to do. This animation would take its cues from Bakshi movies like American Pop and Heavy Metal as well but then DC could let the weirdness go over the top. If this kind of hard hitting, adult, animated film did well it could open a new venue for DC’s animated properties. Imagine a more mature line of animated films like Y: The Last Man, Ex-Machina or The Unknown Solider.
