After you are done catching up with the *takes a deep breath* three Iron Man movies, three Captain America movies, three installments of Thor, two movies on Guardians of the Galaxies, and the three separate singles on Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and Ant Man, and, of course, the three magnum opuses of Avengers (Phew!), more Marvel films have already been announced, including one this year.
Here’s some food for thought: Are MCU characters getting too old for us? Is it time to pave the way for some ‘kick-ass’ new super heroes, maybe in a new superhero universe altogether? That’s exactly what Netflix is aiming for, especially as they are about to lose their exclusive right to Disney films in 2019.
Netflix has bought the rights to Mark Millar’s Millarworld and Rob Liefeld’s Extreme Universe.
If these names don’t ring a bell, remember the super sassy leather suit wearing superhero that stole our heart with wit, humour and sheer badassery?
Yep, Deadpool. Well, he was created by Rob Liefeld.
On the other hand, Mark Millar is credited for giving life to projects like Old Man Logan, that inspired the 2017 blockbuster, Logan.
Now that you get the drift, question is what else can we expect from this brand new superhero universe that Netflix has in store for us? While names of the projects have not yet been announced yet, we tried to take a guess from the range of superheroes both these universes gave in offering.
Here’s our wishlist.
Nemesis
All hail the ultimate anti-hero. Imagine a Batman with the Joker’s moral fibre, and you get Nemesis. In fact their early tagline was, “What if Batman was the Joker?”
The comic does an excellent job of decoding the protagonist’s psyche and in the process you are taken to his childhood and the traumas he had encountered. It’s high octane action fused with psychological intrigue, and deserves a feature on Netflix.
Jupiter’s Legacy
Ever felt like you just can’t live up to society’s expectations, especially with super successful parents before you as examples? Well, Jupiter’s Legacy touches this topic beautifully, with of course, some superpower treatment.
It tells the story of the descendants of superheroes who once banded together and saved the planet, becoming celebrities in the process. How do their kids live in a society that has moved on without any impending threats? Guess we’ll find out when (and if) Netflix produces it for us.
Superior
Meet Simon Pooni, an ostracised kid with multiple sclerosis who finds everyday life to be a major struggle. He is granted a wish by strange magical entity. Pooni is turned into his favourite comic book hero Superior, but there’s a catch. The magical entity is actually a demon and Pooni just sold his soul to the devil. Intense, right?
Empress
If you are into Star Wars-like sci-fi, Millar’s Empress is worth looking out for. It follows Emporia, a galactic dictator’s wife who had had enough of her tyrant husband, and flees with her three children. Protecting her and the kids is her royal guard.
Spaceships, intergalactic wars, and a whole lot of family drama, perfect for a series, if Netflix spares the budget for it, that is.
Kick-Ass/Hit Girl:
Who doesn’t like a bunch of pubescent vigilantes? A comic book geek turned harbinger of justice coupled with an eleven-year old killing machine. Kick-ass and Hit Girl are easy to relate to as a millennial, although the profanity in the series may take a while to get used to.
If you have seen the movies you’d know the ragtag team of misfits has huge potential for a reboot. Taking in the entire Hit Girl storyline, we would recommend this as a bingeable series, especially since the movie version is already out.
Youngblood
If you liked Deadpool's dark humour and sassy one-liners, then you are bound to like the flavour Rob has given to his teen superheroes called Youngbloods – a high-profile team sanctioned and overseen by the United States government. Youngblood's members include Shaft, a former FBI agent with a cool gadget for a weapon; Badrock, a teenager who can transform into stone; Vogue, a purple and white skinned model, and Chapel, a government assassin.
The series gives off a Teen Titan-esque feel, and is sure to be a hit with the TG that loves Stranger Things.
For the most part, the range of Marvel superheroes – well at least the most famous ones – were created in the 60s and rose to fame in the late 70s and the 80s. The current fanbase for the comics have grown up with their heroes and thus the legacy runs deep.
It would be great if kids today also got the opportunity to experience and grow with a superhero world that reflects their times, their struggle, and their society.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)