The news that Warner Bros. is aiming to get a Justice League movie in theaters for the summer of 2015 has once again set up the inevitable Justice League vs. The Avengers franchise comparisons. A lot of second-guessing at WB’s plan has already begun as “The Avengers 2” is currently dated for May 1 that same summer—a follow-up to a blockbuster that grossed a staggering $1.5 billion worldwide.
If WB is indeed going to launch Justice League opposite “Avengers 2,” they are going to have to seriously differentiate themselves in what could be a lose-lose proposition. Yes, Justice League will have Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and The Flash in the mix, but the superhero team could also recruit from its long list of lesser known members. Some of these characters might help the League outshine their Marvel counterparts.
With that in mind, we chose 5 former or current members of the Justice League comic book team that we believe Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment should consider for the first and hopefully not last Justice League movie.
5. Red Tornado
Pros: A longtime fan favorite, Red Tornado has the power to control wind and channel it into powerful cyclone blasts from his arms, is extremely fast and has superhuman strength. He’s also a DC character that has barely been mined outside of the comic books. He would seem fresh and original to many casual super hero movie fans.
Cons: His origin is cumbersome and might take too long to explain in a 2 1/2 hour movie.
4. Doctor Fate
Pros: Doctor Fate is a sorcerer whose power comes from a helmet that contains the spirit of Nabu, an ancient wizard. Doctor Fate would be a good way of doing something that doesn’t really have a corresponding equal in Marvel’s universe yet: Magic.
Cons: DC has never totally figured out what to do with the character, and the constant reinvention of his origins and his identity are emblematic of DC’s larger problem as a company. When fans aren’t sure who your character is, it makes it hard to pin down which version you use for a film.
3. Aquaman
Pros: Thanks to the attention from DC’s top writer Geoff Johns, he’s currently one of their best selling comic books. His powers are more interesting and diverse on land than he’s given credit for: superhuman strength, invulnerability to bullets and amazing leaping ability.
Cons: The name Aquaman and his abilities may just be too silly for moviegoers to take seriously.
2. Cyborg
Pros: He brings some much needed diversity to a superhero team (something The Avengers haven’t rectified on the field) and his current incarnation of a man who is unsure he is even human anymore makes for an intriguing character arc.
Cons: Honestly, not many. Granted, it might be expensive for Hollywood’s CGI wizards to recreate his current design form, which many have noted has a “Transformers” vibe to it.
1. Hawkman
Pros: Alien cop. Really, that’s the key thing to keep in mind. That's a pretty cool character to play with. He came to Earth in pursuit of a criminal, then stayed here and ended up joining the Justice League. He flies thanks to wings made of Nth-metal, and he typically uses slightly antiquated weapons.
Cons: There’s the possibility that the costume will look silly if handled wrong, and audiences may wonder why he would strap on fake wings and a mask that outrageous if he’s not actually half-man, half-bird. One of the things DC has to acknowledge is how silly many of their characters could be if done wrong, but how much fun they can be if they take the time and get them right.
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