Sure we all know the favorites and obvious choices, Heroes for Hire, Daredevil, Punisher, AKA Jessica Jones, etc. But what if Marvel went totally left field in their selection of characters for a Marvel television show. Here's where such a search could lead----
Show:
Night Shift
First Appearance: Captain America #330 (June 1987)
Cast: Shroud, Werewolf by Night, Dansen Macabre, Digger, Needle, Tatterdemalion, Gypsy Moth
Premise: A group comprised of mostly criminals who pull capers against other criminals. They've been known to help superheroes fight bad guys only to help themselves to the spoils after the battle is done. The makeup of the characters would definitely harken back to Joss' Buffy days.
Show:
Howling Commandos
First Appearance: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 (May 1963)
Cast: "Dum Dum" Dugan, Gabe Jones, Jim Morita, Montgomery Falsworth, Jacques Dernier
Premise: We saw this team in Captain America: The First Avenger but with the film focusing on Cap, we didn't explore the back story for any of these characters who had evidently been a group long before Cap came on the scene. It would be interesting to see what these guys did before Cap and what they did after he was gone. Joss has done sci-fi, horror, comedy. mythology and even Shakespeare. How could would it be to see what he could do with a period drama that has World War II as its backdrop.
Show:
Agents of ATLAS
First Appearance: What If #9 (June 1978) Composed of characters from Marvel predecessor Atlas Comics who appeared in stories from the 50's
Cast: Jimmy Woo, The Uranian, Venus, Namora, M-11, Gorilla Man
Premise: The group was formed in Spring 1958 by FBI Agent Jimmy Woo to rescue President Dwight D. Eisenhower from the villainous Yellow Claw (think Marvel version of Vandal Savage). One-part Johnny Quest, Two-Parts James Bond and All-Parts nostalgia, a series featuring the Agents of Atlas would be a decided step in the noir direction. Think Mad Men but you know, with a talking Gorilla.
Show:
Great Lakes Avengers
First Appearance: The West Coast Avengers vol. 2, #46 (July 1989)
Cast: Flatman, Doorman, Mr.Immortal, Big Bertha, Squirrel Girl
Premise: There have been many different members on this roster of heroes not quite popular or powerful enough to make it on the mainstream Avengers. You're talking about the obscure of the obscure when you look at some of the rosters that have have comprised this team. In that sense, it would make for one heck of a comedy show, especially with Whedon at the steering wheel. Imagine a show set in the MCU, post-Avengers where the announcement of the team prompts all sort of costumed weirdos to pop out of the woodwork. And in an effort to catalog and contain these individuals S.H.I.E.L.D. starts the Great Lakes Avengers Initiative. I'd pay to watch this show just to see the spectacle of Mr. Fantastic rip-off, Flatman and the 2nd season Michonne-esque debut of Squirrel Girl. Think about it.
Show:
Damage Control
First Appearance: Marvel Comics Presents #19 (May 1989)
Cast: Ann-Marie Hoag, Robin Chapel, Albert Cleary, John Porter, Tom Foster
Premise: While obscure, an idea for this show has been bandied about on quite a few internet sites. Created by the late, great, Dwayne McDuffie, the basic premise is that with all the superhero battles that take place which cause unfathomable amounts of public destruction, Tony Stark creates a construction company that specializes in cleaning up the after the epic fights are over. Reportedly causing $160B worth of damage to New York City in The Avengers, this would be the least Stark could do to atone for his superhero antics. Would be a good way to have a Hulk show without actually having Mark Ruffalo.
Show:
Secret Warriors
First Appearance: Mighty Avengers #13 (July2008)
Cast: Nick Fury, Quake, Slingshot, Stonewall, Hellfire
Premise: The sons and daughters of prominent Marvel Universe villains, Nick Fury takes it upon himself to recruit these individuals for clandestine S.H.I.E.L.D. operations against HYDRA and other rival espionage agencies. This would be a pretty serious affair with plenty of intrigue and surprises. Think 24.
Show:
Skrull Kill Krew
First Appearance: Skrull Kill Krew #1 (September1995)
Cast: Ryder, 3-D Man, Catwalk, Dice, Moonstomp, Riot
Premise: An unlikely choice, the Skrull Kill Krew were everything right and wrong about the '90s. Created by a team of Grant Morrison and Mark Millar of all people, the teams harkens back to the early days of the Fantastic Four and their encounter with Skrulls. Reed defeats the Skrulls by brainwashing the shape-shifters into thinking that they are cows. These cows are then slaughtered for meat and the people that eat these Skrull burgers are then given Skrull-esque powers. Weird I know, but that's the '90s for you.
Show:
The A-Next
First Appearance: What If #105 (February 1998)
Cast: Thunderstrike, Cassie Lang, Mainframe, J2, Jubilee, American Dream
Premise: A nice jaunt to the future to follow the next generation of Avengers, a few of which just so happen to be offspring of current members, would be a nice way to introduce a television show tied to the MCU while avoiding any continuity issues. The show could also foreshadows the events of what is still to come in the movie-verse.
Show:
Project Pegasus
First Appearance: Marvel Two-in-One #42 (August 1978)
Cast: Robert Rider, Darkhawk, Wendell Vaughn, Michael O'Brien, Bill Foster,
Premise: Created to research alternative forms of energy, we saw Project Pegasus in action in the MCU already. Of course Loki destroyed it, but that wouldn't keep S.H.I.E.L.D. from simply rebuilding and relocating. If you want to explore alternate realities and dimensions, this is the place. I 'm picturing something like Sliders when I think about the potential for this show.
Show:
The Vault
First Appearance: Avengers Annual #15 (1986
Cast: Take your pick from Marvel's Superhuman Criminal stable
Premise The Vault is the superhuman prison where captured super villains go once their story arc is over....I mean when they're defeated. Imagine HBO's Oz but with super villains for inmates.
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