Between Batgirl's cancellation and the chaotic news cycle surrounding The Flash, 2022 has been a difficult year for DC fans. However, regardless of the DCEU's bad luck, DC Comics has a lot of incredible stories that would work perfectly as movies if Warner chose to give live adaptations a second chance. In fact, some of these comics would be even better if adapted to the big screen.
Whether it is because they emulate a beloved genre or because they're self-contained, enthralling stories, a ton of comics could make great movies. If it was possible to create a cinematic universe surrounding them, it would be even better, of course. However, if it isn't possible, there's nothing wrong with a superhero movie being just a superhero movie.
10 Supergirl: Being Super Gives Kara A New Origin Story
Created by Mariko Tamaki and Jöelle Jones, Supergirl: Being Super sees a teenage Kara trying to balance her two worlds. This miniseries is an emotional coming-of-age comic that follows her as she understands her origins while making sure to fit in in her small town.
Now that The CW Supergirl has ended and Sasha Calle's version is on thin ice, fans would love to have Kara back somehow. Supergirl: Being Super is a great candidate. It has action, wholesome friendships and a lot of emotions. All these traits could be enhanced in a film.
9 Grayson Is Like Nightwing Meets James Bond
After the events of Forever Evil, Dick Grayson faked his own death, but it didn't last long. In Grayson, he returns as an undercover spy investigating a mysterious organization called Spyral. This series, by Tom King, Tim Seeley, and Mikel Janín, is a spy thriller that checks all the boxes.
Fans love Dick Grayson, but his story is always so intertwined with Batman that it's difficult to enjoy his character development. A live-action adaptation of Grayson could fix this problem while also offering the audience a top-notch spy story straight from from an ex-CIA agent like King.
8 Superman: Red Son Offers A New Take On The Man Of Steel
In Superman: Red Son, Mark Millar wonders how different life would be if Superman had landed on a Ukrainian collective farm instead of Kansas. This three-issue series sees the Cold War as it turns into a metahuman conflict instead of a nuclear one, slowly and steadily introducing new heroes to the plot.
After a dozen of live-action iterations of the Man of Steel, fans have already seen the classic, mainstream Superman. Superman: Red Son is a perfect chance for Warner to shake things up a bit. It doesn't always have to be Truth, Justice, and the American Way.
7 Gotham Central Gives A Realistic Take On Gotham's Police Department
Gotham Central, by Ed Brubaker and Greg Ruka, is a 40-issue series that follows different stories starring Gotham's most famous cops like Renee Montoya and Crispus Allen. In this series, the GCPD deals with superpowered villains while balancing their job with their civilian life.
Superheroes aren't a must in comics. Criminal drama beyond superpowers often translates better in cinema, so Gotham Central could make a great film. After Gotham's success, Gotham Central would make a great movie sequel, especially if it involves Batman, as the Gotham series finale did.
6 Batman: Dark Knight, Dark City Has The Potential To Become A Cult Film
In one of the many stories where Batman goes too dark, Batman: Dark Knight, Dark City centers on Batman's attempts to capture the Riddler while this villain lures him into becoming the sacrificial sheep in an ancient ritual to wake up a Bat Demon named Barbathos.
Fans are always complaining that Batman films aren't dark enough, especially those who are also horror fans. Batman: Dark Knight, Dark City would completely satisfy their needs. In this series, the Riddler forces Batman to perform a tracheotomy on a baby, slay a dog with a dagger and bathe in human blood. All these moments would make iconic scenes in the hands of the proper horror director.
5 Green Lantern: Far Sector Would Introduce Green Lanterns Without Commitment
Far Sector, by N. K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell, tells the story of Sojourner "Jo" Mullein, a rookie Green Lantern who protects the City Enduring, a place where citizens are forbidden from having the ability to feel. When she's assigned to investigate the first murder in 500 years, things get morally complicated and extremely exciting.
If the worst rumors are true and the DCEU is about to disappear, then fans have missed out on seeing a good Green Lantern adaptation. Far Sector is a self-contained, interesting story that involves enough Green Lantern lore to make a fine film that without needing any following installments. While it's already a great comic, its premise would make it an equally memorable sci-fi film.
4 Crisis On Infinite Earths Needs A Proper Cinematic Re-Do
Easily one of the most important events in DC History, Crisis on Infinite Earths by Marv Wolfman and George Peréz rebooted the entire DC universe through a universal cataclysm that merged all Earths in the Multiverse into one. DC history is, in fact, divided into a pre-Crisis and post-Crisis era.
Granted, the Arrowverse already attempted to adapt Crisis on Infinite Earths. But even if they accomplished more than fans expected, they still failed at showing many iconic moments from this series. A film with proper CGI and a mind-blowing cast could make Crisis on Infinite Earth even more dynamic than it is on paper.
3 DCeased Would Prove That Zombies Are A Live-Action Kind Of Monster
When a corrupted version of the Anti-Life Equation infects Earth with a virus through the internet, most people become violent zombies trying to catch the uninfected. DCeased, by Tom Taylor, Trevor, Hairsine, Stefano Gaudiano, James Harren, Ken Lopez, and Rain Beredo, follow the stories of the survivors as they attempt to flee this Earth.
Comic horrors are a staple in the industry, but few stories manage to translate the true vicious nature of zombies, which definitely shows these creatures belong in movies. Although DCeased has a great premise, the comic series lacks that shocking factor that only movies can give. Hopefully, Warner will make a live-action adaptation of this event soon.
2 Justice Riders Can Bring Westerns Back
Justice Riders, by Chuck Dixon and J.H. Williams III, turns the DC universe into a Wild West classic. This comic follows an uncommon team — US Marshal Diana Prince, outlaw Wally West, inventor Ted Kord, detective Guy Gardner, and gambling expert Booster Gold — as they try to defeat Maxwell Lord, a corrupt and capitalistic railroad baron.
Justice Riders does an excellent job at recreating the vibe of a Western film, but it still lacks its campy dynamism, practical effects, and the renowned pan-flute-based soundtrack. In order to fully grasp what a western really is, this comic needs to become a film.
1 Kingdom Come Would Blow The Fans' Minds
When vigilantism gets out of control, the Justice League ends up on the wrong side of history. Kingdom Come, created by Mark Waid and Alex Ross, is set in a universe where violence has become the norm to deal with supervillains, going against everything the classic heroes fought for.
Kingdom Come is already an excellent comic book. Its premise is enthralling, its character development is flawless, and Ross' gouache art can't be matched. However, even considering this, this story has the potential to be one of the best films ever if its director can balance its action with its strange beauty.