At the moment when Marvel productions are going well and Doctor Strange is a hit, Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios still have a lot of characters to exploit in the cinema. The House of Ideas is full of unsuspected characters. A quick overview.
Sentry
Sentry is created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four vol. 1, #64 of July 1967. Sentry is one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe. His real name is Robert Reynolds, a married man and former alcoholic, he begins to remember being a superhero named Sentry, endowed with the power of a million molten suns. He begins a quest to try to find out how he could – and the whole world with him – forget this period. He visits his old friends, Red Richards from the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Hulk or Spider-Man. As he recovers his memory and is remembered, it seems that it was Red Richards who betrayed Sentry by erasing him from the collective memory. Sentry is virtually invulnerable, possibly immortal, and more powerful than individuals such as the Hulk, Thor, or The Silver Surfer. Sentry is the equivalent of Superman at DC Comics. However, Sentry has a dark side, a second personality called Void, who embodies the demonic part of his power. He believed for a long time that it was an enemy before realizing that Void was only a part of himself. Each of Sentry's actions triggers a negative equivalent produced by Void: if Sentry saves a hundred people, another hundred will be killed by Void.
Why would anyone want to see it on the big screen? Because in addition to being a super-powerful character that would allow us to see a real deluge of action and dives into unknown worlds, the psychological aspect of Sentry is absolutely exciting. Sort of Hulk / Banner or Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde in more advanced, this conflictual internal relationship between two aspects of the same personality is an interesting theme, especially in terms of superheroes. A magnificent and immortal hero who cannot exercise his gift without paradoxically destroying his environment. Voïd is the allegorical representation of the dark side of humanity, Sentry its light side. A powerful and indestructible humanity capable of working miracles, whose only enemy is itself. An internal tear that is worth projecting on the big screen, and the worst thing is that Kevin Feige starts talking about it. For comic book fans, Sentry unleashes an unprecedented fury in Greg Pak's World War Hulk vs. the Jade Giant and John Romita Jr. in the 2007 cartoon, or in Brian Mendis' Siege .
Hood
Hood is a super villain created in 2002. Parker Robins is the son of Wilson Fisk's employee, The Caid. He quickly hangs out in shenanigans and finds himself one day confronted, during a robbery, with Nisanti a mystical creature. He kills the beast and grabs its cape and boots. Clothes that give him special powers: indivisibility, strength, the ability to open portals to other dimensions, the production of mystical flames, the ability to see the true identity of shapeshifters like Mystique. Hood quickly becomes a powerful kingpin, a character who often contracts with the Devil himself, who can transform into the stressful creature Nisanti. Hood is a relatively powerful character who can stand up to a hero like Wolverine.
Why would anyone want to see Hood in the cinema? Because in addition to being a super classy character, who fights with two guns that he makes magical thanks to his powers, Hood is ambiguous. A true murderer, he is capable of the worst if it guarantees his safety, he is motivated by greed and serves only his own interests. He is a manipulative character who could offer tasty dialogues in cinema. Charismatic, Hood retains a certain form of morality and loyalty, which makes him fall on rare occasions on the right side of the fence and ensures the empathy of the reader. It's a character that would have easily had his place in a movie like Suicide Squad. Beyond the character itself, a film about Hood could be an entry into a mystical and demonic dimension, make the link with the world of Lucifer, a concept that works very well in comics, and relatively well on the big screen with for example Constantine of the rival DC.
Moon Knight
Created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin, Moon Knight first appeared in Werewolf by Night #32 (August 1975), published in France Dracula No. 25 (1979). His real name Marc Spector he becomes a member of the army and also a mercenary at the boot of the highest bidder. He dies during one of his missions but comes back to life thanks to the deity Khonshu, one of the gods of the moon, the executor of vengeance. He then instituted the mission of defending his neighbor, protected by the spirit of the moon. Moon Knight is very strongly inspired by Batman, especially in the appearance, in the design of the costume. Mark Spector is also very rich, he has no power but knows extraordinary fighting techniques. With the help of his overpriced equipment, he evolves preferably at night and gets rid of vermin. In civilian clothes he plays billionaire philanthropists like his counterpart Bruce Wayne of DC.
Why would anyone want to see this character on the big screen? Well, because unlike Batman, Moon Knight's psychological balance is very unstable. Schizophrenic on the edges, Mark Spector is looking for a conduct, a purpose in his existence, he is a character who doubts himself, his principles and his actions. He knows only loneliness and sadness, the other heroes do not trust him particularly. He is an empathetic character, who could give birth to a feature film somewhere between Batman and Daredevil.
Nova:
Created by writer Marc Wolfman and artist John Buscema, the fictional character first appeared in 1976 in the comic book Nova #1. Student Richard Rider was chosen by the alien Rhomann Dey, the last survivor of the planet Xandar and Centurion Nova, to inherit his power and fight against the Zorr space pirate he had tracked down to Earth. Seriously injured, Dey selected Rider at random. So it's actually a story that's essentially identical to that of Green Lantern at DC. But where the hero was predestined to obtain the ring in Grenn Lantern, raising the idea of prophecy, messiah and destiny, Richard Rider becomes Nova by mere chance.
Nova is capable of doing virtually anything: it breathes in space, flies at high speed, holds colossal force, projects beams of explosive force. When Nova alone possesses the Nova force, his power is increased tenfold. Thanks to the unlimited knowledge of Worldmind, it can open hyperspace jump doors using gravity. Thanks to this ability, it can travel faster than light and release devastating electromagnetic discharges. The Worldmind works like a conscious computer and can take control of Nova when Nova is sleeping. It offers him multiple talents of scanners, detection, navigation, communication, analysis and documentation, within the (huge) limit of the Xandarian database.
The Punisher
Created by John Romita Sr., the character first appeared in 1978 in France. The Punisher, whose real name is Frank Castle, is a former policeman who watches helplessly as his wife and two children are murdered. He decides to become an anti-hero and, wearing a black T-shirt with a white skull, takes up arms to kill the vermin he hunts down without any other form of trial. Killer of killers, the Punisher becomes one of the most violent heroes of the Marvel universe.
So certainly the character has already appeared in season 2 of Daredevil and has undergone three film adaptations. The one worn by Thomas Jane and John Travolta remains relatively entertaining and the treatment of the character in the Daredevil series remains interesting, highlighting a certain ambiguity as to his intellectual balance. However, inveterate fans of the character are entitled to expect better for such a major protagonist. The Punisher can give birth to a very dark film, more legitimately dark than any other superhero, he can be at the origin of an ultra violent feature film, truly bloody and disturbing. A film about the Punisher, psychologically unpredictable, could easily fit into the thriller genre, give it a realistic dimension in a filthy atmosphere. Or on the contrary go on a visual action trip with the effigy of Tarantino. In addition to the visual aspect that could be absolutely sumptuous in the hands of the appropriate artist, the treatment of the character could, as in the Daredevil series, create an ambiguity resulting from the empathy aroused by the character coupled with his extreme violence and his total lack of morality. Find the right balance to legitimize the actions of the character, which would be able to divide an audience that would choose sides to decide if Frank Castle is in his right or if on the contrary he flouts important moral and societal principles, as all the characters of the comics still wonder. Frank Castle divides the Marvel world, strongly that he divides the spectators. Fincher or Tarantino if you read us, there is a character waiting for you wisely.
Ghost Rider
Created by Roy Thomas, Gary Friedrich and Mike Ploog, the character first appeared in his current form in Marvel Spotlight #5 in 1972. Johnny Blaze was a motorcycle cross rider before becoming the Rider. He makes a pact with the Devil to save the life of his father with terminal cancer. Lucifer accepts in exchange for Johnny Blaze's soul. The biker finds himself at the boot of the demon, forced to live with this curse that he can not always control. He cleanses the earth from man-made sins. Ghost Rider has a look of atonement. This look traumatizes the soul of humans, because it makes them feel all the consequences of their bad deeds, inspiring fear to the hardest of thugs with a single glance. He also masters the infernal fire.
Ghost Rider has been at the center of two mediocre film adaptations worn by Nicolas Cage, the hero will also make an appearance in the new season of Agent of Shield. But as with the Punisher, Ghost Rider is a charismatic anti-hero who deserves better. Ghost Rider would be an opportunity to get a dark film in the image of the torments of the hero, where would then appear the complexity of his existence, the difficulty to evolve with a demon untenable in itself. The Ghost Rider is a very powerful character, able to kick the butt of a hero like Wolverine, seeing him in action on screen should be a real visual beauty. The first Ghost Riders were only scratching the surface of the aesthetic potential that this character can reveal. A real film about this anti-hero would also be an opportunity to enter the mystical arts, to unveil an empirical world around the devil and his followers.
Venom:
He first appeared in May 1984 in issue 252 of The Amazing Spider-Man as Eddie Brock. The alien symbiote then appeared in Secret Wars #8 in December 1984. It is no longer really useful to introduce Venom, a very popular character who has become one of Spider Man's greatest enemies. Venom is an alien symbiote that needs a host to survive. He boosts his host's abilities and has the same peculiarities as Spider Man, being his first human host, making him the hero's perfect Nemesis.
Venom appeared in Sam Raimi's Spider Man 3, the worst installment in the filmmaker's saga. However, we would like to see the symbiote on the big screen to fully understand this ultra violent character, very powerful and merciless, obsessed with the death of the weaver. However, Venom can also have a good background towards humans, focusing his insatiable hatred on Peter Parker whom he sees as his rival. Sony studios had a Venom spin-off project in the works. But since Marvel Studio bought the film rights to Spider Man, Sony no longer has the decision-making strength to launch such a film alone. We just hope that Kevin Feige and Sony will find a compromise to make this film.
Black arrow:
Created by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #45, 1965. Born in the secret city of Attilan, Blackagar Boltagon is the son of two brilliant Inhuman geneticists, Agon the head of the council, and Rynda. While most young Inhumans are exposed to Terragen Mists in childhood, Blackagar was subjected to it in utero, acquiring powerful sonic powers. Black Arrow can absorb electrons to increase its strength, speed, endurance and physical stamina, fly or send bursts of energy. When he speaks, he releases electrons in the form of a sonic burst powerful enough to kill, and destroy everyone around him. Thus, he is condemned to remain silent.
Black Arrow is a powerful character in the Marvel Universe, especially in its galactic dimension. He faced characters like Ronan The Accuser or even Thanos himself.Black arrow with interesting powers, a real curse for himself, he must overcome his selfishness and use this gift in an honorable way, which makes him a true noble hero. It would also be an opportunity to see on screen The Inhumans, a potential new team that could cross paths with the Guardians of the Galaxy, but also an introduction to the Illuminati: a team of thinkers composed of Charles Xavier, Mr Fantastic, Iron Man, Dr Strange and Namor. Kevin Feige had planned a movie about The Inhumans but the project was placed on hold to make way for Black Panther, Miss Marvel and Avengers 3.
The Man Thing:
Man-Thing is a plant monster that first appeared in Savage Tales#1, in May 1971, created by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas (concept), Gerry Conway (script) and Gray Morrow (art).Often nicknamed the "Swamp Creature", for his resemblance to DC Comics character Swamp Thing, the Man-Thing lives in the Everglades, and is not really a superhero. The Man-Thing is originally a biochemist, Dr. Theodore Sallis, who worked with Dr. Curt Connors (the Lizard) on cell regeneration early in his career. The latter was part of the Gladiator project, aiming to recreate the super-soldier serum. The lab was located in the Everglades.He injected himself with the only valid sample of the formula. After a chase, his car went off the road, and he drowned in a remote corner of the swamps, channeling magical energy. He transformed himself into an inhuman plant creature with limited consciousness. The swamp of Man-Thing is in fact the nexus of all realities. Each time, the monster was presented as the guardian of the Nexus.
The Man Thing was already adapted to the cinema in 2005 under the direction of Brett Leonard, but the feature film was only a sad horror B series. The Swamp Monster was reduced to a mere creature seeking to punish vile human polluters. The simplicity of the script and the naivety of the subject made Man-Thing a passable entertainment at most. However, this character has a real potential for philosophical reflection. It is about a man who loses his humanity, his conscience, his feelings, to become the guardian of a swamp, dimensional portal of first importance. Ecological reading also exists in comics, but it is treated in a more subtle way than in the 2005 film.He is a character reclusive from the world, an observer who perceives emotions, fear, love and acts accordingly. He also has the power to teleport, he does not fear bullets and has a colossal strength. The Thing Man would be a beautiful study of the loss of humanity and the memory dimension of the human being, the character clings to bridles of his past and has a sympathetic capital with comic book readers thanks to the emotional spring that he regularly conveys. The Man Thing is a touching character and deserves a film, a real one!
DC Bonus:
Because it's not just Marvel in life, back on a DC Comics character. Rorschach is a fictional character in the Watchmen series. Created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, he first appeared in the comic book Watchmen #1 in 1986. Walter Joseph Kovacs is a character traumatized by his past as an abused child. Particularly aggressive and unloved by his mother, Sylvia Kovacs, he was transferred to a special school, the Foyer Lillian Charlton, where he was a model but disturbed student. Walter retrieves a dress returned by a client she did not like, made of a fabric composed of a fluid between two walls of latex, whose continuously changing patterns resemble those of the Rorschach test. Years later, the horrific murder of Kitty Genovese (the woman who refused the dress) pushes him to make a mask of it, ashamed for humanity and his face. This mask becomes his new face, a reflection he can bear in the ice. His rage turns against evil and corruption.
Certainly Rorschach has already appeared in the film Watchmen: The Guardians of Zack Snyder, but the use that the filmmaker makes is so sensational, dark, visceral, uncompromising, that an entire film about this protagonist would be a real fantasy for many fans. His tortured psychological aspect, his ambiguous morality, his abnegation for justice and his raw and direct violence create a real interest in this charismatic and enigmatic character. It even seems that some of his mental disorders are akin to split personality, explaining why he considers Walter and Rorschach to be just two personalities who share the same body.
