It's easy to see why the Jessica Cruz's new Green Lantern show. And what better place is there for animated projects to gain inspiration than comics?
Comics are well suited to animated adaptations, and there are so many DC Comics that deserve this treatment, as well as the heroes who star in these iconic books. Some comics exist outside the main continuity, allowing a show to take even bigger swings than initially thought. Meanwhile, some comics, even in the main continuity, prefer to focus on the more slice-of-life elements of living in a world with heroes and villains. Of course, then there are comics that embrace exactly what they are - superhero comics. As such, we've found 10 comics and their respective heroes that are all deserving of an animated adaptation.
10 The Jurassic League
By Juan Gedeon and Daniel Warren Johnson
If the DCU wants to commit to animation, then it should go larger than life with a unique, fun premise, like Jurassic League by Juan Gedeon and Daniel Warren Johnson. The comic itself is pretty self-explanatory. Jurassic League is a re-imagining of iconic DC characters as dinosaurs, enough said. This series is made for dinosaur kids at heart, with every page exuding Mike Spicer's vibrant colors. Meanwhile, some of the action feels ripped from a WWE match. In short, this comic is an awesome, fun story for young readers, as well as long-time fans of DC, so it'd make a perfect, visually stunning animated movie.
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9 Wonder Woman: Dead Earth
By Daniel Warren Johnson And Mike Spice
Jurassic League is not the only comic by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer that exudes cool. Any title by them would make a gorgeous animated series unlike any other. These two are one of the greatest comic teams today, and fans can read Wonder Woman: Dead Earth to see why. As a Black Label series, this story is a more mature one, and it earns that reputation with some of its graphic, jaw-dropping page turns and monsters. In this four-issue series, Wonder Woman wakes up in an apocalyptic future and grapples with the question whether humanity is worth saving. Wonder Woman: Dead Earth is an apocalyptic nightmare with a solid gut punch, and only animation could do it justice.
8 Zatanna: Bring Down the House
By Mariko Tamaki and Javier Rodriguez
Honestly, the DCU would be foolish not to bring Absolute Martian Manhunter.
7 Far Sector
By N.K. Jemisin And Jamal Campbell
Fans of Campbell's Zatanna should not sleep on his prior work, Far Sector by N.K. Jemisin and Campbell. Far Sector is one of the best Green Lantern comics, and it serves as Jo's introduction as a Green Lantern. What makes Far Sector a stand-out is that it perfectly blends sci-fi and film noir elements for an intergalactic murder mystery unlike any other. Plus, the possibilities are limitless for a Green Lantern, with Jo's constructs being larger than life. This is also a Green Lantern series that is set in deep space, so you can imagine what its other worlds would look like through the lens of animation.
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6 Fire & Ice: Welcome To Smallville
By Joanne Starer And Natacha Bustos
Recently, the superhero duo Fire and Ice were given their own series, but it was not a glorious welcome back like Fire would've loved it to have been. Instead, the two are sent to Smallville upon Superman's request in light of their recent superhero mishaps. At its heart, Fire & Ice is a comedic comic, one that blends slice-of-life elements with superheroes and villains. It's also a story about friendship and overcoming rough patches together. Adapting this run to a cartoon makes perfect sense, and it would be the perfect show for fans of Harley Quinn to turn to once Season 5 is finished.
5 Batgirls
By Becky Cloonan, Michael Conrad, and Jorge Corona
Of course, there is no denying that one of the biggest disappointments for DC recently was the cancelation of its Batgirl movie. If the live-action world is not ready for Batgirl, then perhaps animation is. However, instead of having just one Batgirl, a Batgirl series could give fans three -- Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, and Barbara Gordon. In the titular Batgirls comic, Stephanie and Cassandra work together as Batgirls while Barbara takes on the role of Oracle, but she occasionally steps back into the Batgirl role too. Stephanie and Cassandra have an endearing friendship, one that would be a delight to see in a cartoon, especially with Jorge Corona's dynamic art style.
4 Nightwing
By Tom Taylor And Bruno Redando
Dick Grayson is busy these days as the hero is set to co-star alongside Jason Todd in DC's new animated movie, Dynamic Duo. However, it would be phenomenal to see Dick Grayson's Nightwing get an animated series on his own. What better comic to pull from than Nightwing by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redando. While Dick Grayson got his start as Batman's sidekick, now, he's the protector of Bludhaven. He's not just a hero as Nightwing, though. Dick Grayson himself uses his resources to give back to the community. How Taylor and Redando push the boundaries of comics as a medium makes one want to see how Nightwing can push the boundaries of animation.
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3 Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen
By Matt Fraction And Steve Lieber
Where Dick Grayson started as a sidekick and became a hero, one of Superman's best ing characters, Jimmy Olsen, got his time to shine in his own titular series in the 2020s. In it, someone tries to kill Jimmy, so he takes matters into his own hands, wanting to keep Superman out of it. Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen is a love letter to the character and his wild comic history. As a result, it is a hilarious read that is unafraid of embracing the weird side of comics. With that in mind, it would make for a charming, meta animated series.
2 Spirit World
By Alyssa Wong And Haining
When it comes to animation, some of the best comics to adapt are those with vivid worlds unlike anything in reality. In that case, DC needs to look no further than Spirit World. The star of this series, Xanthe Zhou, can travel between the Spirit World and the land of the living. They also have the ability to turn anything they fold with ceremonial paper into a real object, like a massive sword. Xanthe is a hero whose powers stem from their creativity, so a series about them works perfectly for animation, a medium where anything is possible.
1 Wayne Family Adventures
By C.R.C. Payne, Maria Li, Lan Ma, and Suzi Blake
When it comes to the comics and heroes DC should adapt as animated series, the top contender has to be the Webtoon Wayne Family Adventures. Batman and family dominate the shelves at most local comic shops, but most of these titles focus on the action and adventures of the heroes. Meanwhile, Wayne Family Adventures is a more slice of life approach to the iconic characters. It's a phenomenal, comedic, and heartfelt look at some of DC's most iconic characters, one that humanizes these heroes even more and would appeal to fans of cartoons like Teen Titans.
