10 DC Comics That Would Make Perfect Animated Films

It's time for these DC stories to trade in pulp and ink for the silver screen.

Superman Kingdom Come
DC Comics

DC and movies feel like the odd couple. For years now the studio appears to play second fiddle to Marvel in terms of success. Critics and fans alike seem to prefer Marvel’s softer and more lighthearted brand to DC’s often dark and brutalist style. Here’s the catch: the exact opposite is true when it comes to an animated film. DC is the premiere studio in that medium.

For a few decades now, the animators over at Warner Bros. Animation and DC manage to produce excellent recreations of detailed stories within the full gambit of their comic collection. Graphic novels like All-Star Superman and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns were adapted to the silver screen with care and attention. Not every adaptation is a hit, but, for the most part, DC is a consistent producer of quality content in this realm.

DC still has a ton of excellent graphic novels and comic book series to pull from, and some of them are begging for an animated release. Heck, some of these comics will work as live-action films, but that’s not the point of this list. Let’s celebrate the gift of animation and the flexibility it brings to storytelling in cinema. These stories are unique, and part of what makes them special is their graphic design. Only the animated style can lend itself to paying that off right. Time to dive into some of the grandest DC stories and dream about the animated movies they might become one day.

10. Kingdom Come

Superman Kingdom Come
DC Comics/Alex Ross

During the 1990’s Image Comics was on the come up. They were a premiere spot for darker comics that featured anti-heroes and gritty realism. In other words, Image was stealing all of DC comics' thunder.

In response to this trend, Mark Waid paired with the famous illustrator Alex Ross to create a story critical of this nihilistic approach to heroism. At that moment, Kingdom Come was born. It’s a story about the philosophy of being superhuman, and the role heroes play in the lives of regular, everyday people. Superman is the central character, but DC’s entire trinity figures prominently in this story.

The whole premise is begging for an adaptation. Of all the iconic works under the DC umbrella, this is the graphic novel fans are waiting for the most.

The studios adapted other series that aren’t nearly as compelling as this novel. It’s time for the animators and writers over there to give this story a look. Kingdom Come can remind everyone what these heroes are supposed to represent and what happens to flawed ideals in the face of war.

Contributor
Contributor

I'm a freelance journalist and documentary filmmaker based in Atlanta, Georgia. I write and film on a number of topics. Currently, you can find my work at Dissecting the Director YouTube page, The Binger YouTube page, and WhatCulture.com