It’s true that the DCEU has yet to launch solo films for all its main characters. Heroes that haven’t received their own movies include such Justice League mainstays as the Flash, Cyborg, and, arguably, Green Lantern. However, DC might find some success in bringing more minor superheroes to the silver screen first, following the model that Marvel’s Ant-Man and Doctor Strange have already proven. The recent release of Birds of Prey may show that DC is already heading in this direction.
If that’s the case, then they’d better be reading this article. Because here’s a list of 10 minor DC heroes that are ripe to make their big screen debut.
Hawkman
Katar Hol is a policeman from the planet Thanagar, who comes to Earth in pursuit of an interplanetary criminal and adopts the alias Carter Hall, curator of the Midway City Museum. He stays on Earth with his wife Shayera (Hawkgirl) and eventually becomes a member of the JLA.
What makes Hawkman and Hawkgirl particularly suited to the big screen is their origin story. When Thanagar invades Earth, they’re torn between their home civilization and the one that they have adopted, and ultimately must decide whether to keep fealty to what is familiar, or what is just. A fittingly dramatic tale for a film. Though perhaps they should change “Hawkgirl” to “Hawkwoman.”
Long Shadow
Long Shadow is based on the Super Friends character Apache Chief, who was slightly too stereotypical to be allowed to continue operating in the modern age. Long Shadow can change his size at will, growing to extreme heights (thus, Long Shadow), and exhibiting superhuman strength.
The argument for Long Shadow to receive his own film or at least a minor role in an ensemble film consists of two main points. First, he would be the first Native American superhero, in any franchise, to appear on the silver screen. Second, his story is fundamentally tragic. The project which gave him his powers also doomed him to die of cellular atrophy which he cannot control.
Plastic Man
In 1995, the Wachowski Sisters of Matrix fame penned a script for a Plastic Man film. The script was an origin story, which featured Daniel “Eel” O’Brien as an environmental activist who becomes Plastic Man in an accident during a robbery at a lab where scientists are undertaking animal testing. Though the script never made it to production, maybe it should have.
Aside from the fact that he’s named “Eel,” Plastic Man has a lot of things going for him. For one, he’s a lovable jerk, something that DC is missing from their lineup, and a jokester. Good thing, since there’s not a lot that’s not funny about being Plastic Man.
Great Ten
It’s true. The Great Ten aren’t a single superhero, they’re a team of superheroes, but they’re on this list anyway. The Great Ten are a team of superheroes created by the government of the People’s Republic of China to protect their nation. They’re beholden to the government to an insane degree, as every action taken in battle must be pre-approved by their overseers.
With so many Chinese co-productions in the works in Hollywood right now, a Great Ten movie may not be outside the realm of possibility. Though, since they sometimes come in contact with the JLA, they may not initially appear as heroes, but as villains.
Animal Man
Buddy Baker, aka Animal Man, is the living embodiment of The Red, a force that connects all human and animal life on Earth. As such, he’s entrusted with the protection of all living things. Luckily, he has superpowers to help; namely, he can mimic the abilities of any animal, even those that are extinct.
What’s unique about Buddy Baker, and the reason he should appear on the big screen, is that he’s a family man first, and a hero second. Or a family man second and a hero first. Therein lies the core conflict of any film with Animal Man as the protagonist, a conflict underlined by the fact that his daughter Maxine has a mysterious connection to her father’s powers which often puts her in danger as well.
Jade
Jennie Hayden is the daughter of Green Lantern Alan Scott, who is given up for adoption as a baby and raised by a normal family in the Milwaukee suburbs. She discovers she has superpowers while protecting herself from a sexual assault as a teenager, an origin story that could be particularly timely in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
The source of her power, and her father’s power, is Starheart, an entity that was imprisoned long ago by the Guardians of the Universe. It would be interesting for potential filmmakers to tackle the idea of a girl growing up in the ] shadow of her father, and what it means to be a superhero’s kid.
Doctor Fate
Dr. Kent Nelson, aka Doctor Fate, could be DC’s answer to Doctor Strange. After discovering the magic helmet of Nabu, Nelson was imbued with nearly-unrivaled mystical powers, including flight, telekinesis, precognition, and teleportation. He’s a founding member of the Justice Society of America, which actually predates the Justice League.
With a dramatic origin story that involves archaeology and the tragic death of his father, Doctor Fate protects the world from threats of the magical variety. He could even team up with Hawkman, who’s also a founding member of the JSA, for a fun buddy cop sort of movie.
Mister Terrific
Mister Terrific, aka Michael Holt, is one of the smartest men on Earth, a child prodigy, and, like his name suggests, terrific at everything he does. That’s his superpower: the ability to become a master at any task. He’s an Olympic Gold Medalist in the decathlon, a black belt in 6 different martial arts disciplines, and the CEO of one of the biggest tech companies on the planet, which he founded himself.
He’s also assisted by T-Spheres, floating spherical robots that respond to his voice commands and can provide all sorts of help, including holograms. Granted, he might be a little cheesy for the silver screen, but as Aquaman proved, cheese isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Black Orchid
Black Orchid, whose real name is Susan Linden, is a mysterious private investigator and a master of disguise. She often goes undercover as characters seen as inconsequential, like secretaries, nurses, and girlfriends, in order to gain access to dangerous criminals and bring them to justice.
She’s a plant-human hybrid, part orchid, which gives her the power to manipulate her appearance. She always leaves a calling card once her criminals have been brought to justice: a black orchid. As a sometimes-member of the Suicide Squad, she may be more of an antihero than a straight-up hero, but DC would do well to put forward a low-budget, female-led mystery film.
Zatanna
Zatanna is perhaps the most well-known character to make this list, with appearances in Smallville and Harley Quinn. There were even rumors that Zatanna would appear in James Gunn’s upcoming The Suicide Squad film, but those were quickly debunked by the director himself.
Zatanna is a stage magician who has actual mystical powers. Her story often intersects with more famous heroes, like Batman and John Constantine, but it’s time to let Zatanna stand on her own two feet, and not rely on a male character to carry the narrative. Descended from Leonardo da Vinci, Nostradamus, and Nicholas Flamel, Zatanna is a force in her own right, and due for a starring role.
