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The dust has finally settled a bit after this years San Diego Comic Con, and after watching all the panels and breaking news, I was left with one singular thought. What are the “Big Two” doing? Dark Horse snuck in the great “proof of concept” trailer for The Goon, Image Comics all but declared themselves the king of television with The Walking Dead, and Chew. Oni Press, the little comic company that could, had some shining moments with all the Scott Pilgrim hype and the intriguing partnership with CBS. Shoot, even the really small (but growing) publishers like IDW, Dynamite, and Radical Publishing had fun announcements; be it comic or other media. So again, it left me wondering. What is going on at DC and Marvel? Both are producing some of their best stories ever, but for some reason no one in the mainstream seems to notice.

From an outside perspective, it looks like the both companies have acquiesced SDCC to Hollywood. No longer an event designed to celebrate the first American Art Form, comics, but instead a trade show for the newest television show, movie, or game (that wasn’t ready at E3, of course). So, if that is indeed the case, it still felt like a rather lack-luster showing from the Big Two. As much as I hate to say it, DC and Marvel both looked like Oliver Twist asking for some more scraps from the high and powerful Hollywood machine. I get the lure. There is some serious money in turning comic book properties into films and television shows. Hell, I’m in the middle of a creator-owned book right now and I’m dreaming about how it would look to see the characters on the screen. It is a natural thought. Fine. Marvel and DC are now symbiotic with Hollywood. (And, I use the term “Hollywood” as the catch all term for media that isn’t comics, so don’t think I believe all the problems stems from a couple of zip codes in Southern California… Even if it does). Anyway, if both companies are indeed relying on other mediums for exposure, why are both companies seemingly ignoring their rich literary legacy?

Yes, this was an incredibly long way for me to write the “Top 5 Properties Ignored by the Big Two”….

Honorable Mention – Preacher, Fables, Scalped, Y: The Last Man – Screw it, damn near any Vertigo title that isn’t Swamp Thing or Sandman. Not because those aren’t great titles, but simply because Sandman really only works on the page and we already saw what a Swamp Thing movie looks like. If I had to pick just one, I might actually angle for Fables. The time seems ripe for these characters to make the transition onto the small screen. The title is fun, a little sexy, and extremely timely with issues we as a society are currently dealing. I know many people want to see Preacher come to life. However, I can’t help but feeling the time when people want to watch a faithless man of God asking the ultimate question has passed. No matter how many vulgar Irish vampires, undead gunslingers, and sexy ex-assassins you toss into the mix.

Number 5 – Booster Gold & Blue Beetle – Look at that, right out the gate I lose all Geek credibility I garnered with a Vertigo Books opening. Fine, fine, get your laughing out of the way. Done? Good. Now follow me on this one. These two characters are in no way the A, or even B list when it comes to DC Comics. But, when done correctly, they are a hoot to read. Think of them as a modern take on the classic “the time stream is screwed and only we can fix it” show. It’s Quantum Leap, but with capes. Come on, that could be a total blast! Many of the titles making the transition from page to screen have a rather “dark” angle to them, hell, until recently Warner Brothers wanted to give a Dark Knight treatment to Superman. Superman! That needs to stop. Yes, we love our dark and / or flawed heroes. Know what we also love? High adventure without a care in the world. Done correctly, a Blue & Gold series could do just that. Oh boy.

Number 4 – Powers – See, got right back to dark. Happy? Okay, the comic isn’t that dark, but it certainly has it’s moments. The series, by Bendis and Oeming, has one of those simple concepts that makes you think “dur, why didn’t I think of that”? Superheroes are a somewhat everyday occurrence. So much so, there is a department within the police force that deals with “Power crimes”, or any event that involves a super-powered being. Powers already reads like a screenplay, so the transition would be rather seamless. A great mix of police procedure, capes and cowls, and world-bending events. Powers is what we fans call “a no brainer” when it comes to making it onto the screen. Although if the varied rumors are to be believed, we comic book fans may not have to wait too long to see Detectives Walker and Pilgrim on their television sets. Now if only we could convince the powers that be (get it) to shoot the sucker in good ‘ol Portland, OR.

Number 3 – The Legion of Superheroes – I will fully admit that I am going back to the well on this one. I wrote many a years ago that DC and Warner Brothers are really making a mistake in ignoring this legendary title. The Legion of Superheroes damn near has it all! Although trade headlines (and rational thought) may point to otherwise, Smallville isn’t going to last forever. I hope. Anyway, when that day finally arrives, the CW is going to need another superhero to fill Tom Welling’s really old shoes. The Legion of Superheroes is the answer. It literally has everything a television executive and average viewer wants. (Well, the average CW viewer at least). Teenage angst? You bet, most of the team is made up of hormonal teenagers… with super powers! Action and adventure? Yup, it’s called the Legion of Superheroes for Mogos sake, you think they just sit around and talk about punching trans-dimensional bad guys? Sexy stars? Again, the team of made up of late teens and twenty-something characters at the very peak of their physical perfection. The story demands you cast hot stars. Cheap? Okay, that one might be tricky since the title is rife with super villain fights, space battles, and other comic book trappings. Then again, the Legion is constantly in flux… Actor starts demanding more money? Kill ‘em off and call the casting agency.

Number 2 – X-Factor – Oh Peter David, how do you do it? For over 170 issues, X-Factor has been a consistently fun title to read. Through Civil Wars, Secret Invasions, and Dark Reigns; X-Factor has weathered the storm. Taking the rejects of Marvel’s mutant-verse, X-Factor is a mutant based private investigative team headed by Maddox the Multiple Man. Yes, after making Aquaman an interesting character over at DC, Peter David turned his sights onto a character that makes clones of himself whenever he takes a hit. How lame is that power? Extremely. Until you read X-Factor. A classic “monster or crisis of the week” style show, X-Factor has night anchor potential for any hit show hungry network. After a few episodes, as it happened with the book, you would quickly learn the title doesn’t work because of the strange cases… It works because of the fascinating characters David populates within the X-Factor Detective Agency.

Number 1 – Gotham Central – What, did you honestly think I wasn’t going to include a Bat Family book on this list? Well, technically, I haven’t. Batman barely even shows his little bat-ears in this gem of a title. Under series creators Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka, Gotham Central was the closest comics ever got to The Wire or The Shield. Every week viewers would watch the hard working, and not always the purest, members of the Major Crimes Unit as they deal with the darkest elements of Gotham City, all without any help from the Bat. This Eisner and Harvey award-winning title would have the easiest transition onto the television screen. Indeed, the hardest sell would be convincing the suits that you can have a series take place in a DC Comics city, without a single cape ever showing their face… Unless they’re being brought in on charges!