DC Animated Adapatations I'd Like to See

DC Universe Animated Original Movies recently completed their two-part adaptation of one of the company’s most famous and revered comics: Frank Miller’s classic Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (read my reviews of Part 1 and 2). That makes 15 direct-to-video films adapted from popular arcs so far, and most of them have been pretty solid. Next up is an adaptation of Geoff Johns' “Brainiac" arc, and an adaptation of "Flashpoint" is alleged to be coming out in the future.

But the DC Universe is full of stories yet to be tapped for a film. Here are a few I’d like to see get a DVD release of their own someday:

Batman: The Killing Joke

It’s a shame the great Alan Moore never did a major run on a character like Batman or Superman (check out his classic run on Swamp Thing; I’d rank it higher than even Watchmen). The few stories he did write had a tremendous impact on the characters’ history, none more so than The Killing Joke. The book gave us a peek (not a full look, but enough) inside the Joker’s warped psyche, telling the origin (or rather, a possible origin) of Batman’s greatest foe. Brian Bolland and John Higgins’ artwork featured some frightening images, but an animated adaptation could be a truly dark, disturbing (and definitely R-rated) work for mature Bat fans. 

Batman: The Long Halloween

Set early in the Batman mythos, this miniseries follows the Dark Knight and his allies James Gordon and Harvey Dent as they track down a serial killer who strikes against mobsters on holidays. This whodunit is an entertaining and addicting mystery, featuring popcorn mob movie tropes as well as several members of Batman’s Rogues Gallery (plus a retelling of the origin of one famous face). Like a good crime novel, this one is hard to put down, and is a perfect candidate for an adaptation. Its sequel Dark Victory is pretty good, too.

Superman: Red Son

This Elseworlds story presents an interesting idea: How would the world be different if Superman were fighting not for the American Way, but the Soviet way? As the Man of Steel uses his powers to spread world communism, America's only hope is none other than Lex Luthor. The story also features alternate versions of Wonder Woman, Batman, and Green Lantern, but it explores a theme applicable to all versions of the Superman mythos: What gives him, an alien with powers far beyond those of humans, the moral authority to interfere in mankind’s affairs? At three issues, the arc could easily fit into the 70-75 minute length of one of these movies.

Sandman

Why not take a dip into DC's adult-oriented Vertigo line? There have been rumors for years that Neil Gaiman’s highly acclaimed title is slated for a movie or TV series, but I have my doubts about a live action adaptation. My fear is that it will end up just being actors swimming in a mess of CGI. But an animated adaptation could bring all the fantastic imagery of the comics to life without it looking fake, and there are several arcs in the 75-issue run that can stand alone as individual movies (my favorite: “Season of Mists”). Who knows: maybe Gaiman himself can be recruited to write an original story for a film.

 

A proper Hellblazer

John Constantine has been around nearly three decades, and his series was one of the first books in the Vertigo line. He deserves way better than that awful Keanu Reeves vehicle. A big-screen reboot seems unlikely, but DC could make things right with an animated film, featuring a British Constantine and all the black humor, sociopolitical commentary, and macabre sensibilities of the comic. And since the sly occultist exists within the greater DC continuity, appearances by characters like The Justice League and others (Swamp Thing?) aren’t out of the question.

 

 

Alright, comic fans. What stories would YOU like to see DC adapt?