Hello ComicBookMovie.com! Whether you prefer Marvel, DC, Image or Dark Horse we all love comics and we all love the thrill of seeing our favorite stories and heroes translated from the page to the big screen. With the recent release and success of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) it seems like the door has been opened for us fans to see even the most obscure of comic book films on the big screen. In 2012 when Marvel first announced that they were going to be making a movie based off of a comic series I and other hardcore comic readers had never heard of before I was puzzled and a bit skeptical to say the least. Two years later however Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) blew away all expectations and proved to be a roaring success. Now with the success of this unknown property it is safe to say that studios are now looking at even the most obscure and offbeat comics for a potential film. These are my top five comic stories and comic books that I hope our turned into a movie before I die. Before I begin my list I would like to mention a couple honorable mentions, these are comics that I do adore and almost made it into my top five.
Honorable Mentions
Ultimate Fantastic Four
I'd like to clarify that I am only talking about parts of the Ultimate Fantastic Four series. In my experience with most of the Ultimate titles it starts off great, but then it slowly starts to get worse and worse until it is just a muddled mess of mediocrity. So just to clarify I am only talking about issues #1 through #7, #13 through #18 and only parts of #8 through #12. The Ultimate Fantastic Four was suberb in the beginning, but like most Ultimate comics it didn't last. At one point they turned the Thing blue! Why? I still don't know. These few issues however have everything I love about the Fantastic Four in them. If you haven't checked out this series I strongly recommend you check out the earlier stories because they truly are worth a look. One reason I only listed this one as a honorable mention is that it kinda already looks like Josh Trank's The Fantastic Four (2015) is taking inspiration from this series because of the much younger cast.
When I was growing up this used to be one of my favorite cartoons and actually helped me discover the magical world of comic books we all love. I love the story, characters and especially the fatherly relationship between Bruce Wayne and Terry McGinnis. There are many reasons I want this story to be adapted onto the big screen, but my main one is the fresh and unique take it gives us on the character and mythos of Batman. We haven't had a superhero film even remotely similar to Batman Beyond, so this would give the audience something they have never seen before. We all know Warner Bros. is going to eventually make another Batman film so this time how about they give us something new?
Etrigan the Demon (The Demon)
Etrigan the Demon is a personal favorite of mine. For those of you who don't know Etrigan the Demon is a DC comics character created by Jack Kirby in 1972 under the title The Demon, who is forcibly bound to Jason Blood. If you want to get a sense of the character I recommend you read some of the original Jack Kirby stuff or the New 52 comic Demon Knights both are great. Etrigan could greatly expand the DCCU by adding elements of magic and sorcery. I know Etrigan is rumored to be appearing in Guillermo Del Toro's Justice League Dark film and I would be thrilled if he does. He offers a lot as a character and could potentially steal every scene he is in. Are any of you a fan of this rhyming demon from hell?
This comic is relatively new when compared to the rest of my honorable mentions. It is an Image comic written by the amazing Matt Fraction (who is most know for The Immortal Iron Fist and the new Hawkeye series) and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky. I don't really know how to describe this comic book without it sounding stupid or silly, so my best advice to you is to read it as soon as you can. Basically the main story is about these two people, Suzie and Jon, who meet and after sleeping with one and other they realize that when they have an orgasm they have the ability to freeze time. Now what would a normal person do when they discovered this power? Obviously they would start robbing banks to try and save a closing library. Also if any of you are concerned about the nudity don't be it is all handled very tastefully. This is a great comic and it would make an even greater film.
That is it for my honorable mentions! Did any of your own favorites appear on my honorable mentions? So now without any further interruption let us begin my top five list of comics or comic stories I want to see before I die!
Five Ghosts is another relatively new comic; it was published by Image and written by Frank J. Barbiere. It is about the many adventures of Fabian Gray a treasure hunter who after an incident with a mystical artifact can now summon and utilize the abilities of five different ghosts. Are you hooked yet? Just hearing the concept of this comic makes me want to see a movie based off of it. If I had to describe this comic I'd say it is a mix of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Big Trouble in Little China (1986) if you like either of those films you'll love this series. This would be a great movie that could hearken back to those pulpy adventure films of the 80s and 70s that we all miss and love. Plus with this amazing concept who wouldn't go see it?
This is one of my favorite comics; I love everything from Alex Ross's dazzling art to Superman's Reed Richards esque graying hair. If any of you haven't read this book (Jeez first of all how have you not read this book?!) I hastily suggest you buy and then repeatedly read this book. Then after you've read it buy an altar so you can place your copy of Kingdom Come on said altar, you can then properly worship it. This story makes me remember what I love about comic books and I actually tear up whenever I read the bitter sweet ending of the book. Now I understand that it would be almost impossible to see this comic translated in all its glory to the big screen. So I am hoping we just see a Justice League sequel that is based on this book and takes ques from this comic's main story. I don't want a direct adaptation just something inspired from this great book.
3. Superman: Escape From Bizarro World
Me No LOVE Bizarro and me no want to see him on big screen at all! Stupid Bizarro... Alright I give up on trying writing in Bizarro talk. Basically I just want to see Bizzaro on the big screen... He is one of my favorite villains and since this is my favorite Bizzaro story so naturally I would love to see it adapted on the big screen. I don't know if Bizarro would fit the tone of the current DCCU, but I just want to see him on the big screen so god damn much! I want to see Bizarro more than Doomsday, Parasite or even seeing Joker again. There is something about this story that I just love to, it makes Bizarro sympathetic and not just another villain of the week. Do any of you want to see Bizarro on the big screen too?
This book was written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples, who is one of the best artist working today. Before I begin however I need to get out of the way how much I love Brian K. Vaughan, I admit that I am a huge fan boy of his work. I would read anything he does and I worship the very ground he walks on. A lot of people describe this book as being like a mix of Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Romeo and Juliet, Game of Thrones and many other things. However the only thing I can really compare this series to is itself because there is truly nothing like it. This is such a strange and magnificent book. It is Vaughan's best work and you might need to buy another altar after you've read this. If this adapted to film I would hope they would go the Sin City (2005), Watchmen (2009) or 300 (2006) route where they used the comics as storyboards and basically through the comic book panel for panel onto the big screen.
The basic story of We3 follows a group of three animals who have been turned into prototypes for a new form of warfare involving animal slaves and their journey towards freedom. We3 was written by Grant Morrison, who is most well known for All-Star Superman, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, Animal Man and New X-Men, and illustrated by Frank Quitely (a frequent collaborator of Morrison who has worked on Batman and Robin, All-Star Superman and New X-Men. I am dying to see this comic done properly on film, also I think it could be done really well as an animated movie. I know there have been rumblings about this film being made and I know Grant Morrison was brought on as a screenwriter, but I haven't heard anything on it for a long time. I actually think that a film could greatly expand on the comic's story, since my one complaint about the miniseries is that it was too damn short! I need to see this wonderful story turned into a film.
Thanks for reading I hoped you enjoyed my editorial. Let me know if you agree or disagree with my list. What comics do you wish to see on the big screen? Thanks again, sincerely ScottMontgomery.