RetroCollect

Living in the shadow of Batman and Superman is tough, and most Justice League characters have always remained mere assistants. During the comic boom of the 1990s, there was another big trend in creative entertainment culture: video games. It’s only natural to look at the five heroes who should’ve received their own video game.

5. Martian Manhunter

J’onn Jonzz, or as he is known in the Justice League, Martian Manhunter, shares various similarities with Superman. Between super strength, the ability to fly, and “Martian Vision” (A fancy term for x-ray vision,) Jonzz has many super powers that seem to scream all-star superhero. On top of these stellar abilities, Jonzz is capable of shape shifting and even reading people’s thoughts. Plus, he’s a stellar detective. In addition to becoming invisible and intangible, the man from Mars might be too powerful for his own good.

Why He Hasn’t Received a Chance At Stardom?

Due to his powers, Martian Manhunter might be too powerful to see his own game released. While many can object to this because Superman has his own title, few people realize that the green hero from outer space has had too many convoluted plot twists to base a single story off of his tangled past. Between his times as a humanoid detective on Earth, to his battle with his constant shapeshifting tactics, a game based on Martian Manhunter may be too ambitious for a retro system to handle. While Jonzz is certainly capable of defeating most of his foes, there isn’t a true threatening gallery of rogues for him to battle. Sure, he’s had his quarrels in the past few decades, but the lack of super-villains, along with the ridiculous variety of powers may make gamers feel they can’t lose.

How Could This Game Be Made?

In all honesty, the weaker Manhunter is, the more likely we’ll see ourselves wanting to play as him. There’s numerous ways the game can go, but there are two distinct ideas that could put this game into motion. Creating a persona that only involves a detective/crime based game would limit his super-power use to a minimum, and leaves vast gaming types available. The game can stick with traditional action/stealth/platformer, or go with a point and click perspective. Creating new villains may also be the key to having someone do battle with him and live to tell the tale. We know he has a (somewhat inconsistent in the comics) fire weakness that could be exploited with a group of invaders who were fire-elemental-based warriors. Sometimes, to take down someone who’s limited in weakness, there has to be an exploit to that disadvantage. Going this route would lead the developer to new depths and create a newfound fondness for the character.

4. Green Arrow/Black Canary

Now here’s something you don’t see every day: A married superhero couple starring in their own comic book. Sure, Marvel has Cyclops and the constantly dying Jean Grey/Phoenix. On the DC side of things, Green Arrow and Black Canary would make a stellar starring couple. Introducing a video game where they work together on their marriage and their villains would be something unique and challenging.

Why They Haven’t Received A Chance At Stardom?

Despite the recent marriage of these two heroes, there hasn’t been a big push towards working together in an ongoing series. There have been plenty of attempts at showcasing these characters side by side in the comics, but their marriage is still fairly recent. There still seems to be a lack of force behind these two characters. Sadly, the married duo isn’t able to sell too many books, so a game seems highly unlikely. With Green Arrow and Black Canary, it seems the real issue with creating a game based off of them would involve a lack of interest and profit. With the right team of artists and writers, these two could become top sellers, but the major focus would need to be how their marriage would affect their crime-fighting situations.

How Could This Game Be Made?

It’s really important to focus on a simplistic goal when writing for these characters, and a classic beat-em-up would really showcase these two quite well. Imagine their unborn baby from the future being kidnapped, or even rescuing the rest of the Justice League from imprisonment. There’s a lot that can be done to make a simple yet satisfying game with just punches, kicks, special moves and jumps. Some may say that using the Black Canary’s ultrasonic scream would possibly prove to grow annoying, especially with some of the old-school sound effects that could be used for a deafening scream. Looking back on games like the X-Men arcade game, Colossus’ scream was abused more than any sound effect in a beat-em-up, and it managed to stay fun and nostalgic. There’s also room for upgrades in attacks for Green Arrow. Each upgrade makes his arrow stronger, enticing players to collect power-ups. With a strong but simple plot, this game could’ve run through arcades and created stellar memories.

3. Power Girl

Aside from the fact that many of us would just like to see certain (how do I put this,) assets of this heroine in our control, Power Girl is actually a solid character that really needs her own title in video games. Let go of the image you have of giant breasts and a cape, this girl has a story and game that’s just begging to be fondled.

Why She Hasn’t Received A Chance At Stardom?

Similar to the reason why we don’t have a Supergirl, Superboy, Batgirl or Robin game, Power Girl seems to be just another overpowered Superman clone, but with a lack of enemies to fight. She mostly ends up cleaning up after Superman’s lower-tiered villains, begging the question as to why we would even care to play as her to begin with. Though she may fill a role as a backup or assist character, many would doubt that the fellow Kryptonian bombshell would actually be able to pull off a title on her lonesome.

How Could This Game Be Made?

Taking the Power Girl comics of the past few years to heart, especially the earlier issues drawn by the truly underrated Amanda Conner, and written by Jimmy Palmiotti, is the key to making a successful Power Girl title. Kara Zor-L is a woman who continues to struggle with living as a superhuman woman pretending to live as a business executive, which could bring a strong story to the game. On top of Superman-like powers/weaknesses, all that we’d need to see is a stronger line of super-villains. The game would be best suited as a beat-em-up, though it would do well as a platform-oriented action title. The game would benefit from various other superhero activities, such as rescue missions, test-your-might style challenges and stealth escapes from big time baddies. Despite the title character not being as well known as Superman, she’d certainly fill his boots.

2. Zatanna

Since a large amount of heroes and heroines rely on super powers and abilities, it’s always charming to see the sheer embrace of magic. Sorcery is a weapon only Zatanna can pull off with such style and finesse. Zatanna Zatara has the ability to use her magical powers to do the impossible. Between healing herself from major injuries, to memory wiping, Zatanna has such a wide variety in skills that it’s shocking she’s not a bigger star in the comic book world, or in other mediums.

Why She Hasn’t Received A Chance In Stardom?

Zatanna shares many similarities with Black Canary such as relying on her voice to use her abilities. In other formats such as television, video games and movies, these heroes are very easy to mold into something believable. Voice requires audio, something that the comic book medium lacks. Sadly, this is one of the biggest reasons why these two characters work better in other mediums than just comics. Zatanna also lacks major fighting skills that most other superheroes have.

How Could This Game Be Made?

It’s actually a positive thing that Zatanna isn’t a world class brawler. It leaves room for the imagination to run wild in Zatanna’s potential retro game. She’s seen her side of adventure by becoming a murder-mystery solver in some of the comics. Combining elements from a point –and-click adventure, mixed with some adventure/platformer moments would allow Zatanna to show off her magical abilities. She’d be able to pick up new abilities that will help players solve puzzles and traverse buildings with the greatest of ease. Puzzles would be essential to solving the cases she takes on. Using Zatanna’s abilities to enhance the experience without limiting her to a simple brawler will drive a strong story and characters, making a memorable (and dare I say it,) magical experience.

1. Wonder Woman

The Amazon warrior princess from Themyscira, Wonder Woman has such huge potential to star in her own video game. The fact that she hasn’t starred in one is sad and strange. She can deflect bullets and projectiles with her armlets, has super strength, and all kinds of accessories that double as weapons. Though her limits in strength have never really been fleshed out, they deserve to be realized in a format that makes us want to control her.

Why She Hasn’t Received A Chance in Stardom?

Wonder Woman has always been a big part of the Justice League, and the fact that she has only been a part of a few Justice League games is puzzling. The character has such a huge following, meaning so much to so many fans. She was an icon for girls and women of all ages, and yet, she stays away from the spotlight. Though Wonder Woman has had her issues with getting a big Hollywood feature film debut, she’s had some fantastic moments in the realm of animated movies and shows and becoming an important character in the DC Universe.

How Could This Game Be Made?

Since we’ve only seen Wonder Woman in supporting roles in video games, there are a few ways that this game can work. A self-starring action game would be the most rewarding to play. By giving Diana access to all her weapons and items, the game will give her the ability to take on anything. From small time thugs robbing banks, to fighting her ongoing battles with the villainess, Cheetah, heck, even destroying sea monsters, Wonder Woman’s range is immense. It’d also be possible to have her star in a beat-em-up, but it’s essential that she leads a pack of other super heroes in a multiplayer adventure. Diana’s played third wheel to Batman and Superman for so long, it’s only right for her to star in her own adventure.

Tell us who your pick would be in the comics below!