In light of the news that Marvel Comics is creating a small screen division named "Marvel Television Division", I have come up with some interesting ideas for what would make some great live action TV shows for Marvel Comics. This has been a long awaited event for me. I think there are many Marvel characters that would make for interesting live action shows. I think the success of Heroes, Smallville, Lois & Clark, Hulk, Flash all proved there is a fascination and staying power of super-hero movies. All it takes is great writing and really appealing/endearing sets of characters. Here are some of my ideas for some really smash hit TV shows:

 

SPIDERMAN: This looks to be one of the better ideas Marvel has had in a long time. For one, imagine if you can an ABC show that is all about Spiderman, but not just about him web slinging but a drama about all the things that is going on in the Daily Bugle, or Parkers life at home. The kind of drama where you would see a Harry Osborn getting addicted to drugs or having some love triangles with Peter, or Flash getting cut from a football team and being influenced by teammates to do steroids. I think it would work out so well. The cast of characters and interesting people in Spiderman is so much better then Superman. Superman did so well in Smallville, imagine how great a show we would see if a great writer took hold of Spiderman and turned it into a CW show! I'd watch it!

 

BLACK PANTHER: Remember that great TV show they have on HBO` The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency which takes place in Africa? Well, I think there is lots of untouched potential to that show. I think it would be great to have a crime show connected more with the Black Panther. He is the defender of his home in Wakanda, and he seeks out different criminals every week, or sometimes its 2 parters etc. He works with the African police department, federal investigators, and he also has to deal with the world of politics where he is warding off the West's attempts to meddle in his peoples affairs. He could have to overcome cells or corporate spies who are trying to ruin his political career. Meanwhile as the Black Panther he hunts hardcore criminals. It could be great! The cartoon introduced lots of promising supporting characters for that franchise.

 

FANTASTIC FOUR: There may be some of you who wonder how the FF can be such a smash hit TV show, but hear me out. The Fantastic Four is the comic book industries answer to Star Trek. If you read any of the old Jack Kirby FF comic books, you'll see how amazing it would be to see this on the small screen. Ten years ago this would be an impossible task to ask for due to all the special effects, but now it isn't. Though, even in the 90's the Next Generation had some great action scenes. Imagine Earths most dysfunctional super family- (INCLUDING a young Franklin Richards and Valeria Richards), running the most amazing building in New York's 42nd street and Madison Avenue and fighting off the GALAXIES most dangerous villains/ invasions. Picture them having all kinds of family issues, squabbles and making up. Different members of the families learning important values about family and being apart of a team, learning about responsibility. Mr. Fantastic bringing them across the universe to meet the Inhumans (particularly Black Bolt, Crystal, Medusa, Gorgon, Karnak, Triton, and Lockjaw), going to the center of the earth to go up against the Mole Man and his subterranean army of Moloids, stopping an invasion by the Skrulls, taking on Dr. Doom (possibly the greatest villain in comic book history), to the deepest depths of the Atlantic to face the Submariner. It just goes on and on. Do not doubt this would be a hit!

 

DAREDEVIL: This is a no-brainer. Anyone who knows anything about Daredevil will know that the story of Matt Murdock and his experiences within the tragic streets of Hells Kitchen is a potential Law and Order hit ready to happen. Especially since the character of Daredevil already has had international exposure on the big screen. Holding him off from the big screen and developing his character first in a TV show is a better route in my opinion. The actors that would play Matt Murdock, or supporting characters like Stick, Foggy Nelson, Jessica Jones, Maya Lopez; Ben Urich can become house hold names, and be embraced on the big screen. Besides the Law and Order elements within the Daredevil story, there is also the vigilante/ NYPD Blue element, there is also since Daredevil himself has shown bits of investigative prowess and his amazing echolocation powers will bring in some CSI elements to the show. Amazing villains like the Kingpin (who's head of organized crime in at least NYC), Bullseye, Typhoid Mary, Electra (villain/heroin), and if this is a Marvel Studios production you can have interesting cameos by other heroes who also work the streets like Luke Cage.

 

All and all, Marvel has a tremendous library of Super hero Television shows that would get huge ratings for whichever station they land on. Other potential tv shows would be: Hulk (closer to the comic book), X-Men (love triangles, family dramas), Cloak and Dagger, Dark Avengers, Thunderbolts, Spider-Woman

Am I missing any? Do you agree or disagree? Are there any other Marvel comic Television shows you think would do well on TV?

Duran Rivera