So I was reading the latest issue of Swamp Thing and I found myself thinking... this arc would make a pretty decent movie. (yes i'm aware of the older swamp thing movies and tv series. this is just how i started thinking about it)
Anyway... That train of thought got me on to the topic of what DC has been doing with their movies lately. Batman trilogy. Superman. Joining the two. And the avalanche of sub-par other attempts. Needless to say they should stop with the same recycled ideas and get something done right! Maybe take some tips from Marvel, cause they are killing it!
My first pick, and the subject of this article, would be...
ANIMAL MAN
Created by Dave Wood, Buddy Baker (Animal Man) first appeared in Strange Adventures #180 in 1965, (So I would say he has got some tenure), Animal man has the ability to gain strength and abilities from animal life though "the red" a web of life that connects all living creatures.
Some points to consider.
1. POWER SET
He isn't held down by just one/limited power. Like for example Superman, who really only has a handful of abilities. Need something smashed? He taps into the brute strength of a gorilla, or rhino, etc.. Need to get out of a jam? He can tap into camo abilities from lizards or octopi. Or he can snake his way out of tight spot, etc... He can fly if he needs to. He can spit venom. Regrow lost limbs. Dig holes. Jump high. Run fast. And (I must have missed this issue, but according to Wikipedia), shoot lightning out of his face.. i gotta find that one! He can even combine abilities and not have to use just one at a time. POINT IS, if an animal can do it, he can do it. Making him of the very few characters with nearly limitless abilities.
2. RELATE-ABLE-NESS
He (in recent years) is also an actor. So he has the day job/human side to him. He doesn't take kindly to bullies. Animal activist. Good father and husband. He has a wife and kids, a nagging mother in law. A brief drinking problem. All around human troubles, and that is always needed on the big screen for the audience to relate to. He has an other-worldy quality also, "the red" Like I mentioned above, he can tap into "the red". A life web that connects all living creatures. This is not too far fetched an idea. Philosophers, hippies, open minded thinkers, writers, just about anyone can relate to this concept. It's not aliens. It's not religion. It's not another dimensional figure bestowing cosmic powers unto some jo-schmo. It's easy to grasp and it's a modern idea I think we all think about sometimes. (Although I do think his origin story needs work, it was an alien spacecraft that exploded a little close to him and the radiation from that explosion gave him the powers.) (But! it was the 60's and aliens were all the rage with the conspiracies popping up and all that awesome stuff. So... meh)
3. GRANT MORRISON
What I'm saying here is.. if Hollywood hired Morrison, they could make one hell of a movie. But they will never hire him, so we go to the source material. After Crisis on Infinite Earths, Animal Man was passed onto Grant Morrison for a revamp. Morrison pretty much made the character into what he is today. Giving him a more human side. Putting him out of costume more, and all around just developing the character. Morrison wrote Animal for 2 years before he was taken off the project in 1990, and is arguably the best thing to happen to the character..ever. Yes, Morrison gave Buddy Baker some qualities like temporarily making him a vegetarian, and making his a huge animal activist. But with the power set Buddy Baker has, the activist thing makes sense. Also I'm sure the movie going public would love to see a crime fighting, animal loving, hero to kick some tail.. pun intended. (How else to you explain the huge success of anything with a talking dog...)
4. DUH BAD GUYZZ
He has went up against some top notch villains. Now me personally, I think a lot of people have passed on Animal Man, maybe cause of his horrible costume designs in the past. But he has seen it all. Teaming up along side nearly every big name in the DC universe and taking on just as many big name villains. Some of the most notable being. Gorilla Grodd,
Brother Blood, Felix Faust, Mirror Master, and Anton Arcane
Animal Man, like any hero, also has his cast of 'why is this guy even real' villains. Like my personal favourite to hate, Ongur Nielsen. He just kills dolphins. Animal Man doesn't like that and stops him. YAY! .... WHY!
And then there is the current arc of the new 52 where there is Mr. Hogue and his cult of Splinter folk (pictured above). People dedicated to taping into the red to gain the powers Buddy Baker has that they performed experiments on themselves where they graft animal parts onto they bodies. Although it didn't work out for them and now they are horribly disfigured, should be living in the sewer, don't you dare touch me, looking freaks. They would be awesome for a darker more horror oriented film. (When are we going to get some rated R/18A CBMs!!)
Conclusion. I would really love to see this movie. Be it a top selling mind blown of a movie. Or a crape in the pants comparable to Green Lantern. This fan would be happy. Still need some convincing as to why Animal Man would make a great movie? Then head to your local comic book store and pick some copies up. (or torrent.. i won't tell)
Sound off with your opinions below. Tell me what you think. What I missed?
I think i'll be doing my next article on either Images 'Revival', or OniPress' 'The Secret History of D.B. Cooper' HMMMMMM..DECISIONS