It seems like nowadays, live-action comic adaptations are all the rage. Whether it be Marvel or DC, both companies have put some of their most popular characters into movies and TV shows, expanding their reach into audiences who don't really read comics. It's a successful way of doing things, as it has made superheroes ubiquitous in pop culture.
While it seems like every popular character from both companies has been put in live-action at one point or another lately, there are still a lot of characters who have never been given the live-action treatment. While it's more than likely only a matter of time, for now, these characters are stuck in the pages of comics.
10 Cassie Sandsmark Is An Iconic Wonder Girl Who Hasn't Got A Chance Yet
Cassie Sandsmark has been Wonder Girl for over twenty years, really making the role her own in the late '90 and early 2000s, when she was a member of both Young Justice and the Teen Titans. For an entire generation of readers, she is Wonder Girl. She was even chosen to be the Wonder Girl of the New 52. She might have disappeared for a while, but she's recently returned.
A lot of Cassie's fellow Teen Titans have appeared in Titans, but she hasn't yet. Donna Troy is the Wonder Girl of that show, but maybe Cassie will get her chance one day in the future.
9 Damian Wayne Is One Of The Most Popular Robins
Damian Wayne has become a fan favorite Robin, but it has taken some time for him to get there. The son of Batman and Talia al Ghul, Damian was extremely unpleasant from the moment he debuted as the bratty kid fans weren't super into. He's gone through a lot of growth over the years, learning to be a better person and superhero.
Damian is the last male Robin to not have been done in live-action, as Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake are all appearing in Titans. It would be interesting to see how casual fans react to Damian, and how that compares to comics fans' reactions.
8 Rick Jones Is A Cornerstone Of The Marvel Universe
In the Silver Age, touchstone characters were a big deal. DC had Snapper Carr, the teenage sidekick to the Justice League, and Marvel had Rick Jones. Jones was integral to the creation of the Hulk, as he was the reason that Bruce Banner got caught in the gamma bomb explosion. He was the one who was responsible for the Avengers coming together, and he played host to Mar-Vell, switching places with him via the Nega-Bands.
Rick Jones also acted as Bucky to a returned Captain America, and he played a massive role in the origins of Marvel. It's kind of weird that he's been left out of the MCU.
7 Mister Miracle Is The Greatest Of The New Gods
Jack Kirby's New Gods are a huge part of the DC Universe, with Darkseid, Desaad, and his servants playing a role in the DCEU. So far, though, New Genesis hasn't been introduced in the DCEU, which is a shame because that means no one has gotten to meet Mister Miracle in live-action. Mister Miracle is one of the keys to the New Gods mythos and a great character.
Mister Miracle was traded to Darkseid as part of a peace deal and grew up in the hells of Apokolips, learning to survive. He and his lover Big Barda escaped to New Genesis and joined the war against Darkseid. Mister Miracle is wonderful, and with the cancellation of the New Gods movie, it will be a while before he gets to be seen in live-action.
6 Namor Has Been Held In Development Hell For Years
Namor is an interesting case when it comes to film rights. While Namor is a mutant and has hung around with the Fantastic Four, he isn't included in the old Fox deal. Instead, his films rights were held by Universal, and a Namor movie was never made despite being in development many times.
Namor is one of the strongest aquatic heroes in all of comics and is a rather interesting one. With his rights still up in the air, there are seemingly no plans to bring him into the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far, which is a shame. His mercurial attitude and loyalty to only Atlantis would make him a great addition to the MCU.
5 The Sentry Has So Much Potential If He Joins The MCU
The Sentry is one of the most powerful heroes in the history of the Marvel Universe. He's also one of the most interesting, as he and his worst enemy are the exact same person. He's a very complicated character, a damaged man trying to work through the world with near uncontrollable powers and mental issues.
He opens up a lot of options for use in the MCU and could do wonders to break it out of the formula that often makes the stories feel redundant. It would be intriguing to see how Marvel Studios would use him and if he would reach the heights he has in the comics.
4 Kyle Rayner Is One Of The Best Green Lanterns Ever
Kyle Rayner took up the mantle of Green Lantern in the mid-'90s and brought the concept back to prominence. Kyle was the perfect hero for the '90s, garnering a lot of young fans and dusting off what was thought of as a rather stodgy franchise. His past as a graphic designer meant that his constructs were some of the best ever, and he became a legend.
Green Lanterns are kind of a hard sell in the DCEU, seeing as how Green Lantern film was not well received. The concept needs another chance to shine, and Kyle Rayner could be the perfect hero to make people forget about that movie's poor reception.
3 Mister Sinister Almost Got His Chance
There's a big three of X-Men villains: Magneto, Apocalypse, and Mister Sinister. Of those three, two of them appeared in movies but Mister Sinister never got his chance. He was teased at the end of The Wolverine, but nothing ever became of it. Sinister has long been an iconic villain for the X-Men, responsible for some most devastating attacks on the team.
Sinister is a great villain and has only gotten better over the years. While mutants aren't a part of the MCU yet, he would be a perfect villain to use once they arrive.
2 Doc Samson Is A Psychiatrist To The Superheroes
One of the saddest things about the Hulk not having his own movies is that so many of his great supporting characters have been sidelined. One of those is Doc Samson, a gamma-powered psychiatrist who worked with many superheroes. He was also known to tussle with the Hulk when therapy went bad, and his striking green hair made him an interesting visual.
Samson is a great character, one who could actually be a lot of fun in the MCU. As Marvel Studios branches out into the greater Marvel Universe, it could only be a matter of time until Doc Samson shows up.
1 Animal Man Has Starred In Some Of Most Beloved Comics Ever
Animal Man has long been one of the DC Universe's most underrated heroes. While he's starred in some groundbreaking stories, particularly Grant Morrison's amazing twenty-six-issue run, he's never been given a huge chance to shine in the spotlight of the main DC Universe. He's usually relegated over to the more mystical sides of things.
Animal Man is one of those characters who's known to most DC fans, yet he hasn't gotten a chance to shine in live-action. He's a way more interesting character than his name lets on and would do great in a TV show of his own, starring him and his great family.