For 90 years, DC Comics has created some of the most beloved superheroes in the genre. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, and so many more have even broken free from the paneled page and made their way onto the big and small screen. However, there are plenty more that haven’t received the attention they deserve. The Justice League has had an ever-shifting roster for decades, meaning many heroes have been introduced and become fan favorites within the comics. However, since many aren’t as immediately marketable as the Trinity and the League’s heaviest hitters, they have yet to see the transition to live action.
All of that may be changing, though. With James Gunn taking the reins of the DC live-action universe moving forward, there is a chance that many of DC’s more obscure characters could find the spotlight. After all, Gunn once brought a Marvel superhero team known as the Guardians of the Galaxy from comic book obscurity to massive mainstream popularity in the MCU, and he did so again with his iteration of The Suicide Squad. The following 20 Justice League members are some of DC’s best characters, but directors have yet to lean into their potential. Now is the time to change that and give them the solo movies that they deserve.
20 Plastic Man (1941)
Debuting in 1941 under Quality Comics, Plastic Man was acquired by DC in 1956, and he has become a fan-favorite superhero for his offbeat superheroics. A former criminal, Eel O’Brian, was left to die during a heist, but exposure to an unknown chemical saved his life. Developing insane stretching powers, Eel took the name Plastic Man and turned away from his life of crime.
His powers would later evolve, allowing him to alter his appearance. While a main member of Grant Morrison’s Justice League, wherein the League often relied on his criminal background, Plastic Man has recently joined the Terrifics after exposure to Dark Multiverse energy.
Plastic Man is Not a Mr. Fantastic Clone
While Plastic Man is often compared to Marvel’s Mr. Fantastic, Plastic Man actually debuted 20 years earlier, but he hasn’t received the same mainstream attention. However, Eel O’Brian is the perfect character for Gunn’s DC universe. Gunn loves to play with the ridiculous and bizarre in his films, and given Plastic Man’s original DC Comics’ moniker of “the World’s Weirdest Hero,” he could help provide a fun comedic foil to more serious superheroic adventures. With the right comedian behind the role, the character could bring a fresh and wild perspective to modern superheroes, enlivening the genre with some truly bizarre antics.
19 Zatanna (1964)
Created by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson in 1964, Zatanna Zatara is one of the DC Universe’s most gifted magicians. The daughter of Giovanni Zatara, Zatanna grew up with magic, mastering a unique spell casting method called Logomancy that utilizes words spoken backwards. Zatanna began her superhero career while searching for her missing father, taking time from her work as a stage magician to aid the Justice League in various mystical capers. She has since become one of the most trusted names in the superhero community, leading the Justice League Dark in recent years to confront supernatural threats.
Zatanna Could Help Introduce DC’s Live-Action Supernatural Superheroics
It sadly makes too much sense why Zatanna hasn’t found the mainstream popularity of DC’s other greats. Other than a handful of miniseries and one-shots, Zatanna is normally just a secondary character in various teams. This has changed in recent years with her leadership roles, but even there, she doesn’t receive the attention she deserves.
She is one of DC’s most powerful sorcerers, deeply embroiled in its supernatural realms, but she is constantly overlooked in favor of bigger names. Given the live-action reboot, now is the right time to introduce her, giving her the leading role she has deserved and bringing viewers into DC’s brilliant mystical domain.
18 Martian Manhunter (1955)
Martian Manhunter, a.k.a. J’onn J’onnz, made his debut in Detective Comics #255 in 1955. While his origins differ between the various continuities, the general story sees a Martian peacekeeper displaced in space (and often time). Teleported to Earth, this Martian took the name J’onn J’onnz and took on a human appearance. Using his immense telepathic powers and his unparalleled shapeshifting abilities, the Martian Manhunter became a staple of the superhero community. He was once recruited by Amanda Waller as the only possible opposition to Superman, and in recent years, he has become the chairman of the Justice League itself.
The Time Has Come for a Martian Manhunter Solo Film
Can anyone tell me why Martian Manhunter hasn’t received his own solo or team film debut? Yes, J’onn J’onnz did make an appearance in the Snyder Cut of Justice League, and he has made several small-screen appearances. However, this hero is a founding member of the Justice League of America.
In universe, he is considered one of the most powerful superheroes of all time, with Superman even admitting that he might not win a one-on-one match with the alien telepath. There is so much potential in Martian Manhunter’s story, and yet no filmmaker has fully explored this brilliant character. It’s time for that to change.
17 Kyle Rayner – Green Lantern (1994)
Kyle Rayner debuted as the fourth Green Lantern of Earth in 1994 during Emerald Twilight. After Hal Jordan’s break with sanity and his subsequent slaughter of several Green Lanterns, the Guardian Ganthet comes to Earth to bequeath the ring on this aspiring artist. Gaining all the power of a Green Lantern, Kyle pushes the ring to its limits, creating constructs based on his love of pop culture and his own extensive creativity.
His prowess and willpower were so great that he once became the host for Ion, the spirit powering the Green Lantern power battery, and during the New 52, he even became the embodiment of life itself as a White Lantern.
Kyle Rayner Needs to Rise Above the Controversies of His Past
Despite being one of the coolest and most interesting Green Lanterns in the DC Universe, Kyle Rayner’s absence from DC’s live-action films makes sense. Firstly, Green Lanterns in general have been underrepresented, especially after Ryan Reynolds’ failed adaptation in 2011. More pressing, though, is the controversy surrounding the character, namely the issues surrounding “women in refrigerators.”
With that said, the character deserves another chance, one not marred by this unnecessary violence. Kyle Rayner’s creative flair would be perfect for the big screen, and outside of John Stewart, he is easily one of the best Green Lanterns in comics.
16 Aztek (1996; 2017)
The original Aztek, the alter ego of a man simply known as Uno, debuted in the 1996 miniseries Aztek: The Ultimate Man, while his legacy counterpart Nayeli Constant filled his shoes in 2017’s Justice League of America. Uno grew up in a secret facility, trained for decades to the peak of human physical and mental ability so that he could one day become the champion of Quetzalcoatl and battle the Aztec god of conflict, Tezcatlipoca. After sacrificing himself to save the world, the mantle went unused for nearly two decades before Nayeli was chosen to become the new champion due to the return of Tezcatlipoca.
The Azteks Bring Mesoamerican Mythology Into the Modern Day
Both iterations of Aztek are among some of the most obscure characters in DC Comics, which makes them a perfect addition to this list. As mentioned earlier, Gunn has a talent for finding the potential in very obscure characters, and both of these heroes have potential to spare. While the original Aztek was short-lived, Blue Beetle proved that a legacy character can be a great way to dynamically introduce the original character.
No matter how the story plays out, though, these characters would give the DC live-action universe a chance to expand on their mystical realms while simultaneously bringing underrepresented world mythology to life.
15 Animal Man (1966)
First appearing in 1966 within the pages of Strange Adventures, Animal Man or Buddy Baker is a film stuntman with the power to mimic the abilities of animals. While hunting, Buddy stumbles upon a crashed alien spaceship, whose radiation bestows upon him his amazing gifts. Originally, this power was limited to animals within his vicinity, but he soon realized that he could access power from throughout the animal kingdom, even extinct creatures. He would later discover that his exposure to the alien energies somehow bound him to the Red, a mystical energy connected to all animal life, and this connection has even passed to his children.
Animal Man is the Star of Some of DC’s Most Groundbreaking Stories
While not a household name, Animal Man has featured in some of the most beloved storylines in the comic book continuity. Grant Morrison’s run took the character in some absolutely bizarre directions, transforming him into a metafictional icon that was meant to deconstruct superheroics.
The focus on Buddy as a family man, first and foremost, helped set him apart from other superheroes at the time, and it also allowed future writers to explore less typical story beats, introducing the Red and major horror elements, in future arcs. All of this is to say that Animal Man’s place in comic book history has at the very least earned him a shot at the big screen.
14 Vixen (1981)
Vixen debuted in 1981 in Action Comics #521, but her story starts centuries in the past. Her ancestor, a Ghanan shaman named Tantu, made a deal with the spider god Anansi to gain the powers of the animal kingdom to defend the innocent. Anansi gave him the power in the form of a mystical totem, one passed down through the generations.
After her father is killed by her uncle and the totem is stolen, Mari Jiwe McCabe moved to New York and became a model. Years later, she would return to Zambezi and reclaim the totem, discovering its powerful connection to the Red through her work with the Justice League and the Suicide Squad
Vixen Stands Out Amidst Other Animal-Themed Superheroes
Unlike many of the characters on this list, Vixen has seen quite a bit of screentime through her appearances in the Arrowverse, while also appearing in a number of DC’s animated ventures. Still, this is a character wholly deserving of her own solo film. While she and Animal Man share a number of big similarities, the visual appeal of her superpower (i.e. the summoned animal spirit) helps her stand out among other heroes of the Red.
More importantly, she is a fantastic representation of not only Black women but also the blending of modern society and traditional values, and her role in several iterations of the Justice League shows how important she actually is.
13 Orion (1971)
In 1971, comic book mastermind Jack Kirby created his own space-age mythology in the DC Universe. Dubbed The New Gods, his series detailed the conflict between two factions of extraterrestrial deities. Darkseid, evil tyrant of Apokolips, and Highfather, benevolent ruler of New Genesis, warred for millennia, but in a bid for peace, the two traded one of their sons each. While the peace would not last, Highfather’s influence on his adopted son Orion would provide New Genesis with one of their greatest warriors. Taught to control and harness his rage, Orion came to value and love his new home, stopping his true father’s forces at every turn.
Orion is the Perfect Representative of DC’s New Gods
This entry and the following two are mostly just an appeal for DC to bring the New Gods to live action. The mythos of this cosmic conflict are highly regarded among the comic book community, and the dense lore has fascinated readers for decades. The reason Orion is mentioned specifically is in his fascinating story. He is the epitome of the nature vs. nurture debate, just on a cosmic scale.
Orion is the product of the universe’s greatest evil, but he instead chose his adopted father’s ideals and chose to defend instead of destroy. It’s a brilliantly constructed origin story, and it helps to flesh out and humanize what many consider to be Kirby’s masterwork.
12 Mr. Miracle (1971)
Scott Free is the opposing half of the New Gods’ peace Pact, traded by Highfather to prevent a cosmic war. Raised in a Terror Orphanage, Scott suffered endless torture in an attempt to brainwash him, but despite never knowing his heritage, he refused to give in to Granny’s machinations. He later joined a resistance movement, where he met his future wife, Big Barda.
Fed up with the abuse, Scott managed to escape to Earth, where he met escape artist Thaddeus Brown, a.k.a. Mr. Miracle. After Brown’s death at the hands of Intergang, Scott took his mentor’s alias and decided to use his array of New Gods tech to protect his new home.
Scott Free Could Introduce the New Gods to the Larger DC Universe
If Orion represents nurture, then Scott Free clearly represents nature. Mr. Miracle is a product of New Genesis through and through, but while his origins and character are interesting, it is his role in the DC Universe that earns him a place on this list. Mr. Miracle is the bridge between the New Gods and the other superheroes of the DC universe.
Scott’s stories were based in more traditional superheroics, downplaying the New Gods mythology in favor of exploring Scott’s time on Earth. He even had a stint in the Justice League International, and several team-ups with Batman showcase his more grounded perspective.
11 Big Barda (1971)
Introduced in Mister Miracle #4, Big Barda has always been connected to the universe’s greatest escape artist. Like Scott Free, Barda was raised in an Apokoliptian training facility, bred from birth to be the next great leader of Granny Goodness’ premier battalion, the Female Furies. Unlike her future husband, though, Barda served Darkseid faithfully for centuries until she met Scott.
Sensing his inner peace, she joined the resistance movement and helped him escape to Earth. She would later follow after, joining him as a stage performer and superhero, and she even served beside her husband in the Justice League International.
Big Barda Could Give DC’s Viewers the Next Great Female Lead
Again, any number of the New Gods could feature here, but Barda is so highly regarded among fans that she deserves a place on this list. She was one of the more multidimensional female characters at the time of her release, but she hasn’t seen many appearances in the modern day.
Outside of a few minor appearances in team-up specials, Barda hasn’t seen a starring role in some time. A live-action debut could bring this character back into prominence, and though a “solo movie” would likely have to include her future husband, it might provide a fun shake-up of the superhero genre to have a more heavy-handed romance subplot.
10 Captain Atom (1987)
Alongside Blue Beetle, Peacemaker, and several others, Captain Atom initially debuted in Charlton Comics, but DC acquired the rights to their action characters in 1983. Since his arrival on DC’s Earth, Nathaniel Adams, has been a sleeper hit. An air force pilot, Nathaniel Adams was involved in an experiment involving a crashed alien spaceship. Seemingly disintegrated by radioactive energy, Adams was presumed dead until he reappeared 18 years later, bonded to the ship’s metal. Now, with immense strength and radioactive powers, Nathaniel Adams has gone on to be one of Earth’s most powerful heroes, as well as one of its greatest threats.
Captain Atom Could Be DC’s Next Great Hero (And Villain)
Captain Atom has been slept on for too long. On a number of occasions, he has proven himself a match for Superman. Yes, as the inspiration for Watchmen’s Dr. Manhattan, viewers would be familiar with many of the character’s main story points, but there is still so much promise to this military-owned superhero.
More importantly, there is potential for DC to break new ground, namely by making one of their most respected heroes into an event-level villain like Thanos. Give us a handful of films showing the true power of this radioactive powerhouse, as well as his moral fall, before turning him against all the other heroes in his Monarch persona.
9 The Question (1967; 2007)
Another Charlton Comics acquisition, the Question initially debuted in 1967, just before Charlton retired their action heroes line. He then made his DC Comics debut in 1987 and has since become one of DC’s best and weirdest anti-hero detectives. Vic Sage is an investigative reporter in Hub City, but a press pass can only get you so far. Donning a pseudoderm mask, Sage took on the identity of the Question to find the hidden truths of his home. In 2007, the Question legacy was passed on to Gotham City detective Renee Montoya, though recent years have seen her give up the faceless mask to focus on her police career.
Both Versions of the Question Could Ground the Superpowered DC Universe
The Question is a fascinating addition to DC’s vast superheroic cast. As a street-level detective, he adds a more grounded element to the more outlandish superpowered universe, and as time passed, he even became one of DC’s premier paranormal investigators as well, tackling cases with his intellect and shamanistic abilities.
More interestingly, though, Sage is a canvas for writers, giving them the chance to expound on their own philosophies accessibly. Renee Montoya’s role as the Question isn’t nearly as deep, but the thrilling street-level heroics she exhibits makes her an overlooked addition to Gotham’s vast array of cinematic crimefighters.
8 Booster Gold (1986)
Jon Michael Carter, a.k.a. Booster Gold, is a futuristic superhero who debuted in his own series in 1986. While his origins have changed slightly between reboots, Carter was a security guard in a superhero museum in the 25th century. Tired of feeling like a nobody, Carter steals several pieces of technology from the museum and travels back in time to find celebrity as a superhero. Using his robotic sidekick, Skeet’s, encyclopedic knowledge of the past and mimicking powers using his stolen tech, Booster has become one of Earth’s most recognizable heroes, though the hardships he has faced have managed to temper his grandstanding.
Booster Gold is the Perfect Hero for this New Chapter in DC Filmmaking
Booster Gold provides a healthy dose of comedy to whatever stories in which he features. After all, this is a character that WANTS the spotlight, saving the world to get attention. However, he is so much more than a glory-seeking wannabe. Over the years, he has become one of DC’s most respected heroes, and this character development makes him the perfect hero for this next phase of the DCEU.
Given Booster’s deep friendship with the original Blue Beetle, who was alluded to in the most recent Blue Beetle film, chances are good that we will see this futuristic hero make an appearance sometime soon.
7 Steel (1993, 1994)
Debuting in 1993 after The Death of Superman, former weapons engineer John Henry Irons created a mechanized suit of armor and took on the alias Steel in order to defend Metropolis in Superman’s place, and after Superman’s resurrection, Steel became one of his greatest allies. He has recently appeared in the Superwoman series, helping Lana Lang understand her growing energy-based powers, but much of the focus has fallen on his niece, Natasha Irons. Creating her own variation of the Steel suit, Natasha has become a well-known superhero in her own right, joining the Titans after the events of No Justice.
Steel Has Yet to Receive the Attention He Deserves
As a genius engineer who builds an armored super suit, Steel is clearly meant as DC’s allusion to Iron Man, but where the latter is arrogant and proud, John Henry Irons is far more grounded. This is a man who saw the world in need, and despite having no powers, he stepped in to fill Superman’s big red shoes.
While Irons did get a live-action solo film in 1997, Shaquille O’Neal’s portrayal of this underrated character didn’t do much to win him any fans. Given the character’s growth in the comics and his new role as mentor to his niece, a modern film could better explore this character’s role in the Universe and bring to life one of Superman’s greatest allies.
6 Fire and Ice (1979; 1988)
While Fire and Ice are two separate heroes with completely opposing superpowers, they have been inseparable since their time together in the Justice League International. Fire debuted in 1979’s Super Friend’s comic with the name Green Fury, but her Post-Crisis reboot saw her take the alias Fire. Beatriz Bonilla Da Costa was a Brazilian government agent until an explosion imbued her with fire-based powers. When she is invited to join the JLI, she convinces her long-time teammate and friend Ice, a woman named Tora Olafsdotter who grew up in an isolated Nordic community and developed ice-based powers, to join her on this new adventure.
Fire and Ice’s Unique Dynamic is a Breath of Fresh Air in the Genre
Fire and Ice haven’t received the same amount of love as many of the characters on this list, but that doesn’t mean their dynamics don’t make them two of the most interesting female superheroes in DC’s repertoire. They are wholly devoted to each other, sisters by choice, and that dynamic could lead to an interesting take on a superheroic buddy cop film.
After all, the pair are known for their roles in the more comedic Justice League International, and their most recent comic, Welcome to Smallville, sees them hilariously trying to make the most of small-town heroics after saving the world. It’s time for these two to get the mainstream attention they deserve.
5 Jessica Cruz – Green Lantern (2014)
Jessica Cruz made her debut at the tail end of the New 52, after the Forever Evil event. After the Crime Syndicate of Earth-3 were driven away from Prime Earth, the fear-consuming Ring of Volthoom finds a new host in the agoraphobic Jessica Cruz. Traumatized after witnessing the murder of her friends, Jessica locked herself inside her apartment, but the Ring found her and forcibly transformed her into the new Power Ring. After overcoming her fear and managing to remove the Ring, Jessica was granted the power of a Green Lantern, though her anxiety impeded her ability to access its full power.
There have been plenty of Green Lanterns chosen from the planet Earth, but few are as interesting as Jessica Cruz. Her struggles with anxiety make her one of the most relatable new heroes in recent memory, and the way her mental illness directly impacts her powers leads to some brilliant storytelling possibilities.
A Green Lantern’s power comes from willpower, from the ability to overcome great fear, so while Jessica has the power, she can’t always use it. Not only does this raise the stakes, especially as her anxiety leads her down a path toward the Yellow Lanterns, but it also acts as a brilliant metaphor for life with mental illness.
4 Red Tornado (1960)
The windy android superhero Red Tornado has had some distinctly different origins since his debut in 1960. Originally, he was an alien sentient tornado that was tricked into an android body by villainous scientist T.O. Morrow, but Post-Crisis, this was ret-conned. Now, he is an air elemental who uses an android body constructed by Morrow as a host.
Though disconnected from his humanity, Red Tornado is an ardent defender of Earth, utilizing his wind manipulation powers to defeat Morrow’s other creations. He even took on a prominent role mentoring the next generation of heroes in the Young Justice comics and television series.
Red Tornado Could Bring Classic Silver Age Weirdness to the Big Screen
Red Tornado is the perfect representative of the weird science fiction of Silver Age DC Comics. Only DC would conceive of a sentient tornado operating an android body, and it is that ridiculousness that could make him a household name. While recent comics have largely forgotten this classic character, his role in Young Justice helped show his immense potential as a character.
His inner conflicts, namely his attempts to grapple with his own growing sense of self, feel like a modern take on Frankenstein, and given his early role as a villain turned to the side of good, there is definitely a place for this character in the new DC universe.
3 Power Girl (1976)
Power Girl has one of the most consistent backstories in DC Comics. Kara Zor-L hails from Earth-Two, the multiversal home of the Justice Society of America, but after years serving alongside these wartime superheroes, she became trapped on Earth-Prime, serving alongside that universe’s versions of Superman and herself.
After Crisis on Infinite Earths, with the multiverse no longer present, Kara was revealed to be the descendant of Atlantean sorcerer Arion, though this was actually a lie. In reality, she was still the same woman from Earth-Two, but her past was forcibly rewritten to fit her new status quo.
The Justice Society and the Mulitverse Could Be Introduced through Power Girl
There isn’t a lot to separate Kara Zor-L from the rest of the Superman family, but her role as a representative of multiversal storytelling makes her the perfect candidate for a new DC universe film. Not only would an origin movie allow filmmakers the opportunity to introduce other realities, it could also help integrate other characters into the cinematic lore.
The Justice Society of America in general has largely been overlooked in modern media, so Power Girl could help right this wrong. With Supergirl already slated for a live-action debut in the coming years, Power Girl could easily find her place in the new Gunn-built universe.
2 Deadman (1967)
Boston Brand wasn’t a good man when he was killed during his circus trapeze performance. Killed by an assassin known as the Hook, Brand’s spirit is transported to Nanda Parbat. Confronted by the god Rama Kushna, Brand is tasked with aiding those in need to make up for his misdeeds in life. Problem is, Brand is a ghost, meaning he cannot interact with the physical world. Taking his stage name Deadman as his superhero alias, Brand uses his powers to possess the living. More recently, he has served alongside the Justice League Dark as a key member, confronting supernatural threats alongside John Constantine, Swamp Thing and Zatanna.
Deadman Could Help Introduce Viewers to DC’s Mystical Realms
Deadman is a fascinating character, one wholly embroiled in the entire supernatural side of the DC universe. As a ghost who cannot directly interact with the physical world, he is forced to find roundabout ways to solve problems, and the moral implications of his possessions have become an interesting storytelling element in recent years.
An origin film would be a great way for DC to introduce a number of the more complicated elements of their supernatural elements, using Brand as a stand-in for the viewer. Thankfully, with directors like Guillermo del Toro showing interest in the character, it’s likely only a matter of time before he graces our screens.
1 Adam Strange (1958)
Adam Strange is one of DC’s longest-running characters, first debuting in 1958’s introductory series Showcase. Strange is an Earth archaeologist, but during an expedition to Peru, he was teleported to the planet Rann through a Zeta-beam sent by the planet’s ruler, Sardath. Sardath and his daughter Alanna call on Adam to help them save their planet from extraterrestrial threats, supplying him with hi-tech weapons and equipment to aid his ventures. Over the years, Adam would act as the centerpiece of many intergalactic conflicts, helping to quell wars between the peoples of Rann and Thanagar after the latter’s destruction.
Adam Strange Could Be the Crux of DC’s Cosmic Storytelling Moving Forward
With so many interesting characters, it makes sense that some of DC’s classics get lost in the shuffle, and sadly, this is the case with Adam Strange. Strange helped define DC’s cosmic storytelling during the early days, and his roles in the Rann/Thanagar wars and other intergalactic conflicts provides some thrilling storytelling opportunities for DC moving forward.
Strange could be the perfect character to introduce the interstellar elements of the new DC universe, providing viewers with a natural bridge to introduce the Green Lantern Corps, the Omega Men, Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and so many more classic, beloved characters.
