5 More Marvel Characters That Need Their Own Netflix Series
Netflix has greatly expanded the Marvel Cinematic Universe on the small screen. But even after multiple seasons of shows like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage, they've barely scratched the surface of the characters available. Here are five other Marvel characters who would be perfect for the serialized Netflix approach.
Moon Knight
Moon Knight is basically the closest thing Marvel has to a Batman. That alone makes him a no-brainer to join the MCU. However, this grim vigilante has plenty of unique qualities that set him apart, too. For one thing, he suffers from dissociative identity disorder, constantly shifting from rich playboy to hardened soldier to streetwise cabbie. For another, he's empowered by an ancient Egyptian god, and the two of them have a dysfunctional relationship at best. Combine that with a rogues gallery that includes some of the most sadistic killers in the Marvel Universe, and you have all the makings of a great TV series. We've been waiting for a Moon Knight show ever since the character was teased on Spike TV's short-lived Blade series.
Howard the Duck
Yes, we're all too aware that Howard the Duck was the inspiration for what many regard as the worst Marvel movie ever made. But that hardly means the character isn't leading man (or leading duck) material. It's all about putting him in the right hands. Howard the Duck rose to prominence in Marvel's '70s era comic book lineup thanks to its satirical, subversive sense of humor. More recent comic book revivals prove how much like there is left in this sardonic duck detective. It's time that Marvel upgrades him from a few cameo appearances in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and allows him to start bumping wings with the Defenders. And given the higher budget afforded by Netflix, this anthropomorphic duck hero could work on streaming in a way he probably couldn't on a traditional network.
She-Hulk
For various reasons, it's probably going to be a while before Hulk headlines his own movie again. So why not let his cousin enjoy the spotlight instead. Far more than being just a female version of Hulk, Jen Walters is a high-class lawyer constantly struggling to balance her legal career with her superhero adventures. And unlike her cousin, Jen tends to keep her Hulk side under control (most of the time). There's plenty of potential for a Netflix show that combines legal drama with superhero antics, especially when it's combined with the self-aware humor that's so prevalent in the best She-Hulk storylines.
Blade
Blade has certainly had his time in the spotlight. The first Blade movie practically revived the ailing superhero movie genre on its own, while also showing how much untapped potential there was in the Marvel Universe. But even as the MCU has formed and heroes like Spider-Man and Iron Man have become pop culture icons, Blade has fallen into obscurity. There's no reason why Netflix couldn't reverse his fortunes and craft a truly epic series about this stylish vampire hunter. Heck, we wouldn't even complain if they chose just to bring Wesley Snipes back and pick up where the original trilogy left off. The Spike TV series was a start, but it was also well ahead of its time. Now is the time to truly do justice to Blade on the small screen.
The Hood
One of the greatest strengths of the Netflix shows compared to the MCU movies is that they're able to devote far more time and energy to fleshing out Marvel's villains. What movie villains can hold a candle to the likes of Kingpin or Kilgrave? With that in mind, why not frame a Netflix series entirely around a villain for a change? The Hood seems especially well-suited for that approach. This former small-time crook is given a major boost when he stumbles across an enchanted cloak. Numerous Marvel stories have featured Parker Robbins tapping into his misbegotten power and trying to rally various superhuman criminals in order to become the ultimate crime lord in the Marvel Universe. But in true Marvel fashion, he's just a working stiff trying to provide for his girlfriend and child.
