Despite DC Comic's belief that every comic book needs to be about Batman, there is a rich pantheon of DC Comics character with loads of potential to have their own books. Given all the new titles introduced through DC Rebirth, now is the time to express my interest in the following characters. So here is The Panel Biter's Top 5 DC Characters Who Should Have Their Own Book!
5. Hawk & Dove
The original pair known as Hawk and Dove were created in 1968 by Steve Ditko and Steve Skeates and were a team of brothers named Hank Hall and Donald Hall. The concept was the unity between two political viewpoints of the 1960's, one hero (Dove) would stand for reason, peace, and compassion, while the other hero (Hawk) stood for aggression, strength, and pride. The core of the story was that two heroes with differing ideologies could respect one another and combine their skills to overcome any task. More than any other detail about the characters the idea of left wing and right wing heroes working together is the element I'm so very interested in. Especially in a time like now when the border between liberal and conservative viewpoints are so opposed to each other. I think by creating two new characters-maybe an inner city brother/sister duo-and keeping the theme of Hawk and Dove in tact you may have yourself a timely and inspiring story. Mix in mysticism and the lore of previous Hawks and Doves and give the new duo interesting designs and powers inspired by their respective beliefs and the comic reading public might start to see the potential complexity of this otherwise obscure comic book team.
4. Etrigan The Demon
Etrigan The Demon was created in 1972 by Jack Kirby. Jason Blood was once a Knight of Camelot who betrayed his king and as punishment was immortally bonded to a demon named Etrigan. For centuries Jason walked the Earth and used his connection to Etrigan to defend the helpless and seek vengeance on evil doers. A really cool element of the character is that while Etrigan has mastery of magic, fire breath and incredible strength and more Jason isn't exactly helpless. He himself is a former knight, has many magical abilities and is overall a survivor using centuries of experiences to guide him. Etrigan only speaks in rhymes which makes him both a popular and unpopular character to write. I think that placing Jason Blood as a modern day police officer (carrying on the feeling on knighthood) just trying to do good without his Demon would be interesting. When his normal life is interrupted Jason is forced to call on Etrigan again even if it means risking the life he's built without the Demon. For comparison he's like a mixture of Ghost Rider and The Hulk.
3. Plastic Man
Created by Jack Cole in 1941, Plastic Man is actually a favorite among DC Comic's creators like Alex Ross, Grant Morrison and Frank Miller. No surprise as Plastic Man represents a funnier, more light-hearted side of DC Comics. Formally a common crook Eel O'Brian turned his life around when an accident gave him elasticity powers. Under the guise of Plastic Man, he and his buddy Woozy Winks went off on heroic adventures to make up for his checkered past. Plastic Man can shapeshift into whatever he pleases, he can survive almost anything, and-believe it or not-he's one of the most powerful superheroes on Earth. All that aside I love Plastic Man because he's just another lovable schmuck trying to redeem himself even if he suffers from old habits like sneaking off with a few stolen dollars. His place in the DC Universe reminds readers that not all is gloom-in-doom, that no matter how dark Superman or Batman gets, no matter how many beloved characters are changed or killed there will always be Plastic Man. A character who deserves his own goofy, friendly and open-armed comic book series.
2. Raven
Created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez in 1980, Raven is one of the few Teen Titans not to have her own book right now. Nightwing, Cyborg, even Starfire got a solo series, but despite the huge fanbase this character gathered after the "Teen Titans" animated series she's gone quite underused. Raven is the daughter of the human Arella and the demon king Trigon, she was to be the portal in which Trigon would enter our world and take over, but she decided to fight against him and become a hero. I think a series following the life of Raven would be an interesting perspective story. Here you have a teenaged Demi-Demon trying to be a normal girl in a world so unbalanced by good and evil. And that balance would reflect on to her. Picture the "angel and demon on the shoulder" plot element where in every choice she makes Raven is advised by both her father Trigon (representing the evil in her) and by the paranormal superhero The Phantom Stranger (representing the good in her). Tying more threads to established DC magical characters you could have people like Zatanna showing interest in tutoring Raven and The Teen Titans trying to have a personal relationship with her and how she deals with those interactions. Or maybe Raven's cloak is inspired by Spectre-the embodiment of God's wrath-and she has to resist becoming like him. Really with all these magical influences Raven could recapture the hearts of fans old and new.
1. Shazam
Created by C. C. Beck and Bill Parker in 1939, Captain Marvel/Shazam is a criminally underused character as of 2011. When he was first created the character gained huge popularity among comic book fans, there was a time when he was even more popular than Superman. Imagine, a character more popular than Superman one day and then degraded to a supporting character in a Cyborg comic the next. His popularity comes from the fact that Shazam's alter ego is Billy Batson, a ten year old kid who sold newspapers and had a radio show. Billy was given his powers by a Wizard who's life was spent after protecting the Earth and The Wizard chose Billy for his pure heart. Endowed with the powers of the Greek pantheon, Billy became Earth's Mightiest Mortal when he yelled the word "Shazam". Recently the character has been sidelined and really darkened up in tone, and that really bothers me. Shazam should be a fun character, he's Superman with the whimsical disposition of a child. Stories about how Billy-as a child-deals with adult problems and how Shazam-as an adult-interacts with child characters and how that distance in age effects Billy's life. I want to see the return of The Shazam Family, the awesomeness that is Black Adam, the goofiness that is Doctor Sivana and The Monster Society. I want to see Shazam go through his trails and tribulations, I want to see the champions before him and why The Wizard truly chose Billy to be the Earth's protector. I don't want Shazam to punch stuff, I want to see him learn not to punch stuff! Shazam/Billy is a character dying for growth, a character who's insight and personality is needed by the DCU. I'm not saying he'll ever be as popular as he once was, but Shazam is enough of a big hitter that he should be kept loyal to his roots and have the following he deserved.
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