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  • Top Ten Greatest Superheroes of All Time

    Top Ten Greatest Superheroes of All Time

    At their very best, superheroes are inspiring emblems of all that it means to be heroic. They should make us wonder at how we can be better in our own lives. Superhero comics fill us with a type of awe and feelings of surety that are unmatched in other mediums. It’s no surprise that superheroes are a big deal in the modern era, with surety and stability the furthest thing from our real world. Today, we’re undertaking the Herculean effort of rounding up the ten greatest superheroes of all time. Up, up and away!

    Ten Greatest Superheroes of All Time

    10. Daredevil

    Photo Credit: Comic Book

    The first hero on our list is the Man Without Fear, Daredevil. While his adventures have hardly been large-scale, cosmic affairs, Matt Murdock remains as inspiring as the best of them. A blind lawyer by day and a street-ninja by night, Daredevil has an intangible cool factor that is unmatched. His ideals of justice and equality are refreshing, and his dedication to his cause makes him awesome. As street-level superheroes go, Daredevil is the very best.

    9. The Hulk

    Photo Credit: Bounding Into Comics
    Big, green and mean, the Incredible Hulk is an unstoppable berserker. He lands a spot on our list for how tenacious and unstoppable he is. While he’s hardly heroic, his alter-ego Bruce Banner is the very definition of a hero. Always looking for ways to protect the world from the monster he becomes, Bruce is a tragic hero. When things hit the fan, though, Bruce is always ready to save his friends by becoming the big monster.

    8. Green Lantern

    Photo Credit: DC

    While many have worn the title “Green Lantern,” we’re talking about the Hal Jordan version of the character here. Hal was originally a fighter pilot before he discovered a powerful green ring. The Green Lantern ring, it turned out, allowed him to create energy projections based on his willpower. What makes Hal so inspiring is his optimism, strength and dedication to defend humanity. His adventures are always exciting and uplifting!

    7. Iron Man

    Photo Credit: IndieWire

    Tony Stark may be a billionaire playboy philanthropist, but he’s also one of the best superheroes ever. While he has no superpowers of his own, he’s a genius with a powered suit and he knows how to use it. If anything, Tony’s lack of “real” superpowers only makes him cooler! Who else can go hand-to-hand against Thanos without superpowers and come out without being pulped? Tony’s freewheeling, fun-loving attitude and genuine determination make him a fan-favorite for good reason.

    6. Batman

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    Batman may be a bit overplayed, but he gets all that attention for a good reason. He’s a very dark, complex superhero with many layers. He’s been reinvented and rebooted countless times, but through it all there are some common themes. First, he’s dedicated to protecting the common people of Gotham. Second, he’ll never kill, no matter what. And third, he believes that everyone can be redeemed. If those aren’t the tenets of a true hero, I don’t know what are!

    5. Thor

    Photo Credit: Amazon
    The literal god of thunder, Thor is hard to top when it comes to superheroes. Drawing on the depth and richness of Norse mythology, Thor is always a fascinating character. His complex relationship with his brother Loki makes him that much more engrossing. Further, the weight of the kingdom of Asgard and the responsibility of defending Earth always weigh heavily on the Thunder-Bringer. Watching the Asgardian Prince go toe-to-toe with demons and monsters on our behalf is always a sight to behold.

    4. The Flash

    Photo Credit: The CW

    The fastest man alive, the Flash is one of DC’s perennial titles, passed from one superhero to another. Most noteworthy of their number is Barry Allen, the Silver Age speedster. Allen, a forensic scientist, believes in the merits of lawfulness and goodness, and always strives to make the world a better place. Free from much of the moral quandary that comes with superheroes like Batman and Daredevil, the Flash is always sure of himself. In many ways, the Flash is sort of an echo of DC’s other superstar, Superman, but we’ll get to him!

    3. Captain America

    Photo Credit: Encyclopedia Britannica
    Truth, justice and the American Way: these are the values Captain America stands for, and we love him for it. Steve Rogers is the very model of the all-American superhero, and he reminds us what the best parts of our nation are. Kindness, responsibility, strength and honesty are Steve Rogers’ cornerstones, and he always strives to live up to the high bar his title requires. It’s hard to not feel at least a little patriotic when you see Cap in front of an American flag, punching a Nazi or saving someone from a burning building.

    2. Superman

    Photo Credit: Sideshow Collectibles
    The Big Blue Boy Scout is beyond iconic, he is the emblem of the genre. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t recognize his trademark red S emblem immediately. The alien savior from another world, Kal-El always puts others first. His bulletproof smile and Mach 5 punch keep the people of Earth safe, no matter the odds. If you’re even a passing fan of comics you’ve heard of Superman, and there’s a good reason for that. I can think of worse characters to base a genre on!

    1. Spider-Man

    Photo Credit: Digital Spy

    He can do anything a spider can and he’s the best superhero in the world. Peter Parker is a believable character due to his flaws and foibles. He deals with the pressure of high school while also risking his life to save the world. His principal conceit is that those with the greatest power have the greatest responsibility to help people. That’s an inspiring message, and it reminds us that we can all help our world more.

    Swinging from a web, beating up bad guys and saving lives are Spidey’s hobbies, and he’s the best at them. While other superheroes may be stronger or more epic, none match just how likable and relatable Spidey is. After all, the entire purpose of a superhero is to remind you of the greatness within yourself.

  • Top Ten DC Stories that Could Save the DCEU

    Top Ten DC Stories that Could Save the DCEU

    The DCEU isn’t doing so hot with critics, although it manages to impress audiences. However, the recently-unveiled Shazam shows a side of DC that has been sorely missing from the big screen: humor. Zach Snyder’s half-baked attempts to create dark, edgy films on par with Christopher Nolan largely missed the nuance and subtleties of the fabled director. As such, films he helmed or executive produced have been heavy, boring and generally trying to hard to be taken seriously. Here are ten DC Stories that could save the DCEU from its dark, boring history and bring it into fresher, brighter territory.

    Ten DC Stories that Could Save the DCEU

    Kingdom Come

    Photo Credit: Nerdist

    The first major event that could help restore faith in the DCEU would be Kingdom Come. The comic was expertly illustrated by Alex Ross, his photorealistic style lending weight to the proceedings. The premise of this story is that a number of dark, edgy new vigilantes have taken the mantle from the older, more measured superheroes. This tale was largely a response to the dark heroes that had become the norm following Watchmen and comics like it. Frank Miller’s work, in particular, had a profound effect on DC and weighed many heroes down with dark and gritty tales. Kingdom Come, in movie form, could allow for a self-correcting commentary on the nature of heroes and villains in the DCEU.

    The New Gods

    Photo Credit: Syfy

    Created by Jack Kirby to give the DC Universe its own unique mythology, the New Gods are epic and larger than life. A New Gods film based on some of the more epic Forever People tales penned by Kirby would be a great way to introduce audiences to DC’s cosmic characters.  The deadliest force in the DC Universe, the powerful and dangerous Darkseid, is directly related to the titanic New Gods, hailing from the planet Apokolips.

    If they were to follow this track, DC could follow a Kingdom Come film with a flashback New Gods film to set up Darkseid. This would keep the hype rolling for future Justice League films and lend legitimacy to the DCEU’s cosmic threats.

    JLA: Tower of Babel

    Photo Credit: DC

    Following a Kingdom Come film to establish a new tone and status quo, a soft reset of the Justice League could be just what the DCEU needs. This famous Justice League tale follows the villain Ra’s al Ghul’s attempt to destroy the League using intel stolen from Batman. This is the origin of the conceit that Batman has a plan to defeat all of the League members. Perhaps this story would work better as a subplot in a different JLA tale, like the next entry on this list. However, we feel this story is likely strong enough to stand on its own merits and help us get a good feel for what kind of person Batman is.

    JLA: Rock of Ages

    Photo Credit: Comics Bulletin

    A natural conclusion to the arc that starts with Kingdom Come redefining the DCEU would be Rock of Ages. A Justice League tale that is as renowned as they come, this is a whirling sci-fi epic. The League faces off against the likes of Lex Luthor and Darkseid in this time-traveling, space-hopping romp. Seeing a massive conflict with Darkseid to cap off the first wave of DC films would be similar to Thanos’ awesome debut in the third Avengers film. This one is a no-brainer for the DCEU!

    Flashpoint Paradox

    Photo Credit: DC Animated Movie Wiki

    The first entries on this list all assumed a linear path from a Kingdom Come-style reimagining of the universe. Another potential reimagining, one that could bring some major changes to the DC film universe, would be the Flashpoint Paradox. In the comics, the Flashpoint Paradox is a seminal Flash story that resulted in the creation of a new reality. That reality was referred to as the New 52, and it was a pretty major relaunch for DC.

    Such a move could allow for a pretty major recasting of several characters that are in need of new actors. We would like to see characters like Batman, Joker, Lex Luthor and Alfred recast to fall more in line with their comics counterparts. It could also wash away the sub-par aspects of this universe’s Superman, bringing him more in line with the version we know and love.

    Crisis on Infinite Earths

    Photo Credit: DC Database

    Another option, rather than using Flashpoint to reset the world, could be Crisis on Infinite Earths. This massive tale concerns the Anti-Monitor as it attempts to destroy all of reality. It largely succeeds, leaving but one Earth and simplifying the heck out of the DC Universe. A huge number of parallel dimensions are destroyed, streamlining the types of stories told in the comics from that point forward. It’s likely this story would be merged with a Flashpoint-like tale, allowing DC to re-sculpt and simplify their film universe.

    All-Star Superman

    Photo Credit: ComicsVerse

    The Flashpoint or Crisis route would make All-Star Superman a natural fit for the DCEU. Grant Morrison’s iconic tale follows a dying Superman, exposed to far too much solar radiation. Superman attempts to make the world a better place before his time runs out. Such a farewell to the Henry Cavill superman would allow him to be a symbol of hope He could then be replaced in a new reality by a more positive, traditional Superman for later stories.

    Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters

    Photo Credit: Comic Book Realm

    Green Arrow is one of DC’s coolest characters, and he deserves his own place on the big screen. His best story, by far, is the Longbow Hunters arc. A serious and weighty tale, it features Ollie at his very best. Green Lantern and Black Cat oppose street-level threats like drug dealers and gang members, as well as dangerous assassins. This would serve as a great way to introduce audiences to the street-level aspects of the DCEU. It would also be a great way to bring Green Arrow in after his successful TV series.

    Batman: The Long Halloween

    Photo Credit: Den of Geek

    One of the best Batman tales ever told, the Long Halloween stands toe-to-toe with Knightfall and the Court of Owls. Long Halloween is a story about a younger, less-experienced Batman attempting to stop a serial killer who strikes on holiday. The story was incredibly well-received in its original run. It would work well as an introduction to a younger, more heroic Batman. This would be an excellent way to follow up on a cosmic reset of the DCEU, redefining Batman as a hero. Instead of, y’know, a scowling bully.

    Blackest Night

    Photo Credit: Comic Book Herald

    Blackest Night would be a great way to bring Hal Jordan into the DCEU. Nekron, a force of pure death, brings a legion of undead heroes to Earth. They’re animated by the Black Lantern rings, and they’re a huge threat to all life on the planet. In order to repel him, the heroes of Earth all band together. They join with the Lantern Corps to weather Nekron’s attack in an epic clash.

    This story would allow for a deeper exploration of the Lantern mythos. It could also serve as an awesome crossover, Justice League-style film. It might even wash the taste of the Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern from the mouths of disappointed fans. Well, if it’s done right, that is!

  • Ten Superheroes Who Need Their Own Movies

    Ten Superheroes Who Need Their Own Movies

    Superhero films are red-hot at the moment. You can’t turn around without bumping into a superhero movie. If you feel as though there still aren’t enough big names out there in the superhero cinematic sphere, however, you’ll love this list. Today, we’re taking a look at the ten superheroes who need their own movies.

    These are some lesser-known heroes from both DC and Marvel, characters we might not be likely to see. That said, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor and Iron Man were hardly A-listers before their films came out. Which is to say: there’s always a chance!

    Superheroes Who Need Their Own Movies

    Blue Beetle

    Photo Credit: Amino Apps

    DC’s technologically-outfitted hero Blue Beetle is a fan favorite. Three different heroes have carried the name throughout the character’s history, but the one we’re most likely to see on-screen is Ted Kord. Kord is a student of the original Blue Beetle, Dan Garret. He has no superpowers but uses technology to augment himself to fight crime. Ted would be an excellent protagonist in an Indiana Jones-style swashbuckling adventure.

    Moon Knight

    Photo Credit: Bleeding Cool

    The dangerous, multiple personalities of Marc Spector allow him to blend into normal society before striking out as Moon Knight. Moon Knight, his night-time, crime-fighting identity is outfitted with all manner of gadgets and technology. Marc’s fascinating backstory and multiple personalities would lend him perfectly to a noir-style superhero crime film.

    Booster Gold

    Photo Credit: DC

    Beginning his run in comics as a bit of an anti-hero, Booster Gold would be an ideal protagonist in a deconstruction-style movie. Born Michael Jon Carter in Gotham in the 25th century, Booster Gold grew up in poverty. Upon stealing Rip Hunter’s Time Sphere, however, he traveled back in time and now uses his advanced technology and knowledge of future events to perform superheroics. However, Booster Gold is originally motivated only by a desire to become wealthy and famous, and cares little about actually helping people. While he eventually came around and became a true hero, his origins as a wealth-seeking glory hog would make for a fantastic change of pace in superhero movies.

    Nova

    Photo Credit: Freehdw.com

    Richard Rider’s best shot at entering the MCU would have been through the Nova Corps on Xandar in the Guardians franchise. Given that Xandar has been destroyed, it seems more likely that the current Nova, Sam Alexander, is the more likely Nova to appear in the MCU. Sam’s place as a young hero trying to figure out what happened to the Nova Corps would play quite well with the current state of the MCU. It would also set Rider up to make a return from deep space, perhaps with Captain Marvel, thus explaining how he avoided death at Thanos’ hand.

    Static Shock

    Photo Credit: Comic Vine

    A fan favorite, Static Shock had a very popular Saturday morning cartoon in the early 2000’s. He would be a great, lighthearted hero to get his own film to bring some levity to the DCEU. His expansive rogue’s gallery and charming personality would make him ideal for a standalone movie. It seems DC is more focused on films of this vein after the critically panned Justice League, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see Static in his own movie in the next few years.

    Cable

    Photo Credit: Marvel Database

    He may have had a major role in Deadpool 2, but we still want Cable to get his own movie. The ultra-dark, scowling portrayal by Josh Brolin is absolutely excellent, and we’d just love to see more of him. Also, now that Fox and Disney are merging, Cable would be an excellent candidate to introduce the MCU to the X-Men. Perhaps some kind of temporal cascade or colliding reality brings the two universes together. It would also be delightfully hilarious to see Josh Brolin as Cable fighting Josh Brolin as Thanos.

    Hercules

    Photo Credit: Pinterest
    Marvel’s take on Herc is often sarcastic and parodies his earliest appearances. In the modern comics, he’s a drunk, washed-up has-been of a superhero. A version of him in the MCU who comes out of his drunken retirement to fight ancient Grecian supervillains that threaten the modern world would be a cool use of the character. In many ways, the personality displayed by Thor onscreen is a bit more akin to the Hercules of the 80’s and 90’s and could be why we haven’t seen him yet. Thor’s presence in the MCU may have been too much ancient mythology for the series early on.

    X-23

    Photo Credit: Marvel

    While she technically had a starring role as a little girl in Logan, we’d love to see the adult X-23 take to the screen. Now that Fox and Disney have merged, the odds of seeing a grown-up X-23 have gotten much better. Wolverine’s cloned daughter, Laura is a savage force to be reckoned with and an excellent candidate to star in an action movie.

    Batman Beyond

    Photo Credit: DC
    Terry McGinnis takes up the mantle of Batman in a futuristic Gotham City after Bruce Wayne becomes too old to carry on the name. Another DC character with a strong cult following due to his early 2000’s cartoon, Terry would be a great star for a cyberpunk Batman film. Given the relative age of the Batman seen in the DCEU, this could be a route DC goes in a few years. We’d love to see Terry’s iconic black suit on the big screen.

    Master of Kung Fu

    Photo Credit: writeups.org

    Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung Fu, would be a perfect fit in the MCU. For one thing, the character would be a perfect opportunity for the MCU to have a leading male Asian character. Shang-Chi’s unique backstory and powers would make him an ideal fit following the mysticism of Doctor Strange and Iron Fist. It would also be a unique opportunity in the MCU for a straight-up Kung Fu movie within the superhero setting.