The Silicon Valley 10 & 1: Top 10 DC Comic Characters That Should Be Video Games!

Posted by Steve Gustafson on 02.24.2010

From Lobo and the Doom Patril to Green Lantern and Hawkman, 411’s Steve Gustafson list the DC comic book characters most deserving of a video game in the latest edition of The Silicon Valley 10 & 1!

Hello and welcome back to The Silicon Valley 10 & 1!. My name is Steve Gustafson and this is the spot for a mix of all things game and pop culture. A place to complain, debate, and throw in your suggestions. Whatever you want, I don't judge. But comment at your own risk!

But before we do, make sure you're not missing any Steve at 411mania! Check me out:
Monday: Big Screen Bulletin. I cast the supporting Avengers and more!
Wednesday: The Silicon Valley 10 & 1. Top 10 Worst Movie Based Video Games!
Saturday & Sunday: The Hollywood 5 & 1. Who's hotter? Angelina Jolie or Megan Fox? Who did everyone pick? Click to find out!

Also this week I was a participant in:
411mania Wrestling Fact or Fiction
411mania Movies/TV Fact or Fiction

Last week was another insightful one on the comment tip. Keep them coming and keep the emails coming as well ([e-mail]).

Let's take a look at...



You take the time to comment and vent. I take the time to read and laugh. Let's take the time to look back at what people were saying about last weeks Top 10!

10. Sirois!: I rented the Game Genie from my local video store and used that to beat the Friday the 13th game. That was the ONLY time that game was any fun to me, but what can more you expect from LJN, who not only gave us F13, but also Back to the Future (which was even worse) and Nightmare on Elm Street...?

9. turoklobster: No Waynes World, that sucked more than the worlds largest hoover

8. MissyNEVERWearssocksWithShoes: Why does this list look suspiciously like the one on Spike's website? Anyway...my list, in no particular order...Total Recall. Wayne's World. Predator (*shudder*). Rambo. Independence Day. But one I'm surprised *nobody* has mentioned is to me one horrible tampon-scraping of a game...Gremlins for the Commodore 64. It was a freakin' TEXT BASED GAME! I remember playing it at a B.Dalton's bookstore when I was about 8...I'd rather be tied to a ferris wheel while Carrot Top repeatedly hits me with a dead feral cat than to play that game again. Almost 24 years later, and I *still* remember that crap. Let me interject on this one. After I read that I had to Google the list and see what Missy was talking about. 6 out of 10! WHOA! Then I poked around and saw that several of the "Worst Games" lists were similar so I didn't feel so bad. True story: One time I worked really hard on the TV/Movies Top 5. I was all ready to post it and saw that someone else had posted theirs and it was exactly the same as mine. Exactly. Even worse. It was better written. Go figure.

7. James: The weird part is that also in 1987, the NES had a Star Wars game that was KILLER, and did not fucking involve scorpions. Mad Max for NES is probably the most frustrating, but how... in the HELL.... could you forget PLATOON on NES?!?!?!? Not only the worst movie game of all time, but the worst GAME of all time. Don't believe me? Download the ROM. I dare you.

6. thejyav: The games are like this column. Full of unused potential. If you have these games why not dust them off and play them to give some actual insight. OK, apology time. I have to pull a Tito Ortiz. Two days before I wrote the column I injured my right hand. It was painful to type and I was just limping to get it done. I probably should have gone with one that didn't call for a lot of typing to be insightful but that was the one I stuck with. I agree 100% with your comment and will probably revisit it in the future to get give the full experience. Good eyes!

5. Another game that SUCKED: Please do a piece on Jaws for NES. A piece of shit game if there ever was one. Even with game genie, this game was IMPOSSIBLE to beat.

4. Joe: Dude, Who Framed Roger Rabbit was the shit, you shut your hor stinkin mouth. :P

3. Caboose: There was a Gremlins 2 game back on the Amiga that was friggin awful.

2. Guest#4964: Jaws is only good if you picture all the shark's victims as Jack Thompson.

1. lilwayne1: Fight Club. How they went from an anti-consumerist parable staring Brad Pitt to a crappy Teken ripoff involving fuckin' Fred Durst of all people is beyond me.

Thanks again for everyone who left a comment or sent an email. Let's get to it!



Here it is! I love DC Comics. The characters just have a cool vibe to me and this was next to impossible. I started with a list of 87 characters that I had to get down to the 10 we have here. I had to look at who would really be a good choice to head a game franchise, who had crossover appeal, and the all important "fun factor"! Let's get the party started and take a look at...



Top 10 DC Comic Characters That Should Be Video Games!

In a way, DC has a stable of characters tailor made for video games. From the visuals to the storylines, I had a difficult time getting this one done. I've rewritten this list twice already. If it wasn't for a deadline, I'd never get this set.

Also, I know some of these characters already have been in a game. But if I didn't like it, they get a second chance!

And now...The LIST!



10. Wonder Twins
Zan and Jayna > Wendy Harris and Marvin White! Believe that!

I'm going with the Super Friends FUN version! This is something for the little kids. The story goes that Zan and Jayna are siblings from the planet Exxor who were "in-training" with the superheroes. Let's stick with that. Their powers were activated when the twins touched each other (non-inappropriately) and spoke the words, "Wonder Twin powers, activate!" Zan can transform into water be it a solid, liquid, or gas. Jayna could take the shape of any animal. The potential for silly adventures is endless. The game would focus on these two while they are left alone at the Hall of Justice while the rest of the super team is away battling some space threat. The alarm goes off and they soon find themselves having to defend the base against...THE LEGION OF DOOM! To keep things on the "what the?" tip, you'd be able to unlock superhero help from Black Vulcan, Apache Chief, Samurai, and El Dorado!

Would Gleek make the cut? Why not? Any game with a space monkey is a good game, right?



9. Doctor Fate
It's no secret that I'm a fan of "magic" characters in comic books. Yet I don't like magicians in real life. Strange, no? Doctor Fate has the awesome look and mysterious vibe that would play well on the small screen. I've been partial to the Kent Nelson version. I would use HIS origin as the backstory. He's the son of an archaeologist who died discovering the tomb of the ancient mystical being, Nabu. Young Kent is taken in by Nabu and trained in the arts of magic!

Like I mentioned in the Marvel column a couple of weeks back, magic works best when you have defined guidelines. It's no fun when a character has the power to do anything. Fate would have a variety of powers. Flight, mystical energy bolts, minor transmutation and telekinesis, teleportation. Those will work for the game. Of course you can unlock more powers as you progress.

The story? Magic is going crazy all over the world and only Fate can stop it! But he only has a finite amount of time before he too loses control of the Amulet of Anubis and succumbs to the madness effecting all the other magical heroes. Who's behind it all? The Spectre under control of the returning Lords of Order and Chaos!



8. Doom Patrol
I have a soft spot for the Doom Patrol. They've had plenty of cool stories but never got their due. I would keep this centered on the original lineup of Rita Farr, Larry Trainor, Cliff Steele, and Niles Caulder. Just for kicks, Beast Boy would make a cameo. The Doom Patrol battling the Brotherhood of Evil! Let by The Brain! Seems he's found a way to put his evil self into a body and it's up to our odd heroes to stop him battling Monsieur Mallah and Madame Rouge along the way. I would definitely have them fight Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man!

Sounds pretty bland, right? Let's put a spin on it. The game would mirror their comic selves where whenever you were killed you would be brought back as a different version of the character you were playing. But die too many times and you get stuck playing a incomprehensible Grant Morrison inspired game. See, the joke is while Morrison had a lot of cool influences when he was writing the Doom Patrol, it made no sense and was weird to just be weird. They have a point. But then, that's the charm of the...Doom Patrol!



7. Atom
Imagine taking Honey I Shrunk the Kids and adding a superhero flair. Have the game start off in a park where Atom (Ryan Choi or Ray Palmer...take your pick!) is enjoying the weather is suddenly shrunk down in size and is stuck that way. He has to find a way to get to his lab and get some answers. From there he'll find himself in the middle of a mystery. From having to travel inside the Red Tornado's body for clues to teaming up with members of the Suicide Squad, this game could make the Atom cool.

Oh, who's behind all the hijinks? A rogue splinter branch of Checkmate.



6. Green Lantern
This is one character who could head a huge video game franchise. From Earth based games to space adventures. From fighting solo to teaming up with the Corps. You can take this in a number of directions and the potential is endless! The time is ripe for a huge Green Lantern launch. Focus on Hal Jordan, a test pilot who was given a power ring by a dying alien, Abin Sur, and who became a member of the Green Lantern Corps, an interstellar organization of police overseen by the Guardians of the Universe. That right there is your first storyline.

But how to capture the amazing powers of Green Lantern without limiting the numerous projections the ring could do? Start out with the basic ones. A giant fist, hammer, box, etc. Then as you get more comfortable in the game play, you pick up the "will power" to do more complex items. A cell to capture, a giant faucet to appear above the baddie and wash them away, a big vice to put the squeeze on, etc. Add in some secret combos for even more items. Future games could add in other playable Corps members and maybe a spin off or two.

A Blackest Night inspired game, maybe?



5. The Invisibles
This game would be strictly for adults. Take every scary/strange game you ever played and put them in the closet because one would trump them all! Try to follow. My game would focus on King Mob; Lord Fanny, Boy, Ragged Robin, and Jack Frost. Their enemies are the Archons of Outer Church, interdimensional alien gods who have already enslaved most of the human race without its knowledge. Our "heroes" are part of The Invisible College, a secret organization battling against physical and psychic oppression using time travel, magic, meditation, and lots of violence.

I would really want this game to push the bounds of what games can do in terms of playability and storyline. Grant Morrison wrote this and...wow...where to begin? He said that much of the story was told to him by aliens when he was abducted during a trip to Katmandu and who am I to doubt him?

OK, so what's the game going to be about? The simple version: The team has to find a boy who can help them fight the Archons. The problem: He's bouncing through time, out of control. The complex version: They too are out of control. At random moments you'll be pulled out of the game. I would have small glitches throughout that changes your perception, ever so slightly, high pitched sounds that you barely hear, when you try to fight, the controls will reverse on you....right becomes left, left becomes right, white flashes, screen dimming, you'll be playing as one character then suddenly playing as another...See where I'm going. I'd even try to get permission to crossover with other games, even if for a moment.

The content of the game would be more about the story then the fighting. Almost like playing a movie where you are the director. It won't be for everyone, that's for sure. Slap on a Mature rating and go to town.



4. Hawkman
How do you make a simple game about such a muddled character? Easy, it's a video game, make your own continuity. Archaeologist Carter Hall is the reincarnation of Khufu, an Egyptian prince. For the game, Hawkman is keeping the St. Roch, Louisiana safe from strange invaders. Think Grand Theft Auto with Hawkman. With a swerve. Very quickly Hall finds a spaceship. From Thanagar. From there things get crazy as he travels to a world filled with Hawkmen and Hawkwomen. A new adventure that only he can accomplish. A mission that involves him going to Apokolips and teaming with the New Gods.

I dig Hawkman because flight in video games is pretty cool and yet, still has potential to be cooler. Fully explorable and playable, you can check out Louisiana, Thanagar, and Apokolips. I really wanted to do a game with the New Gods and Darkseid but they need some mainstream love. Maybe a storyline that runs through a few games. Like this one and Green Lantern.



3. Bizarro
I've been talking about a Bizarro game forever! Superman has had several great games. Combine all of them, pop in Bizarro, reverse the storyline and there you go! And yes, the controls would be in reverse.

"DON'T STOP HITTING BIZARRO! ME HATE YOU!"



2. Legion of Superheroes
I love the Legion. I can't think of anything you can't do with them. I blame their inconsistency on a stable writing and art team. At times you get a glimpse of their potential, then it's dashed when someone new takes over and doesn't have a plan. If DC gave me the chance I'd unload my 5 year plan and really cut a rug.

But let's talk about the game. You have a number of missions available on a number of worlds. From there you pick the Legionnaire best suited for that mission. The mission and character determines where your storyline goes. You also get to pick the team that backs you up. Every member would be available Chameleon Boy, Invisible Kid, Colossal Boy, Star Boy, Triplicate Girl, Bouncing Boy...I was going to list EVERY MEMBER but that would go on for a while. But needless to say, you would have a lot to choose from. Also, your villain would change depending on what mission you picked. So game play would change. One time you could be fighting the Fatal Five the next Mordu. Maybe the Legion of Super Villains one day and the Time Trapper the next. This game would be HUGE! Have some cool special features like Customize your own Legionnaire, a homeworld guide, an you are set!

Oh, and have an unlockable area where you are Matter Eater Lad eating your way through headquarters being chased by ghosts. Pac-Man HOMAGE!



1. Lobo
The interstellar mercenary and bounty hunter needs and deserves his own game! Note to DC: Give me this character for one year and I will fulfill the potential he has and give you back gold. Bet.

Alright, let's talk Lobo. The arrogant Czarnian has great strength, fortitude, and loves nothing better than extreme violence. Before we get into game specifics, I did some research and found out that in 996, Ocean Software had developed a Lobo game for the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. It got a preview and looked OK, but still had some bugs. For some reason or another, the game was canceled. So close.

Keep it simple. Lobo doing the bounty hunter thing, flying around the galaxy, destroy ish, and causing havoc. A couple DC cameos here and there to tie it in. Think God of War times 10,000!

Lobo Fans! Last year it was announced that Guy Ritchie would direct a live-action movie that Variety described as: "(Lobo) is a seven-foot tall, blue-skinned, indestructible and heavily muscled anti-hero who drives a pimped out motorcycle, and lands on Earth in search of four fugitives who are bent on wreaking havoc. Lobo teams with a small town teenage girl to stop the creatures." Production is supposed to start early this year, but no word yet, since Ritchie made good with Sherlock Holmes. Something that has me a little nervous is the studio aiming for a PG-13 rating. Not good.


What about you? What makes YOUR list of DC Comic Characters That Should Be Video Games?




Gaming has come a long way. From the dark basements it has come up and been embraced by young and old. Man and woman. And super hot chicks! Let's take a look at Asia Carrera!

Don't discount Asia! She's super smart (IQ over 150) and talented (builds her own computers and websites)! Plus, she loves video games! How can you lose? A former AVN Performer of the Year and serious competitor in Unreal Tournaments, she is a gamer to the bone!






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