5 Comics that Studios Can Adapt Next

With the Marvel Cinematic Universe celebrating their 11th successful year on a high, Warner Bros and DC finding success in solo stories such as Aquaman, Shazam, and recently Joker, and Sony starting up their Valiant universe with Bloodshot, it's safe to say that the field of comic book movies are thriving. However, in this field, the movies themselves have only recently started to stretch the boundaries.

When somebody mentions such-and-such is a comic book movie the general audience will automatically think that it has capes and superpowers. While not wrong, comic books as a medium are so much more than that misconception. Yes, that's the most popular genre, but there are many great horror, sci-fi, and romance comic books out there that do not include capes. So, with that in mind, here are five comics that studios can adapt right now to start pushing boundaries in this thriving field.

Midnighter & Apollo

While I did say there's more to capes in comic books a paragraph ago, that doesn't mean studios will jump into that deep end just yet. That's where Midnighter and Apollo come in. Not quite in the DC universe, this power couple are a grittier, gayer, analogue to the Superman and Batman icons. This will provide the audience with something familiar while the characters are featured in unfamiliar stories. This can be a great way to insert a romance/action movie while also giving a bigger spotlight to representation in cinema's most profitable field. Their stories are more R-rated and deal with morality as they're more bloody and ruthless in their peace making.

Sword of Sorcery

Another DC title, this time from a fantasy anthology, mainly deals with the story of Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld. This could be akin to Wonder Woman, but for teens and lovers of YA. While having the DC trademark on it this property doesn't need to tie in with the world of capes. It can easily stand on its own as it deals with a very classic story of an orphaned girl who learns of another world, her destiny, and a great battle against a the vile Dark Opal. It'll itch that fantasy genre, be another leading lady property, and will be set in a fantastical land that everyone could enjoy.

  Mech Cadet Yu

With many of the superhero films being PG13 some of them are more likely than not going to be less family friendly. That's where Mech Cadet Yu comes in. This would fit right in with the popularity of Pacific Rim and the return of giant monsters and robots. Its designs are simpler, and the story deals with class and making friends all while dealing with alien giant robots that you bond with. There will be action, friendship, comedy, a perfect movie for the whole family. Best of all, it doesn't exist in any universe. Not every comic book movie needs to be a part of a universe.

  Black Science

One of the biggest names in the indie comic scene is Rick Remender. He seems to put out book after book with the same high quality non-stop with Black Science being his most notable. A family and some of their acquaintances are sent throughout the multiverse. Hopping dimensions to find their way home as they encounter worlds with different histories. This series is absolutely bonkers, and will make a stellar science fiction movie. The imagination held together in the pages of this book will be a challenge to adapt to screen, but so worth it in the end as it deals with a broken family and characters oscillating between good and bad.

The Autumnlands

Probably the most expensive comic to adapt on this list simply because of all the CGI they'd have to use, but if they pull it off this could easily be the comic book equivalent of The Lord of the Rings. An anthropomorphic society is thrown upside down with the arrival of the legendary champion. Wizards, word building, billed as Conan meets Game of Thrones, this series would be the comic book equivalent of a David Lean epic. The comic is currently on hiatus, so probably best to wait for a few more trades before adapting, but if there ever were a power move to throw into the field of comic book movies it would be an adaptation of The Autumnlands.

These are but five choices that studios could try to push the boundaries of the comic book field with many more equally great options around the corner. Tell me what you think as well as sound off on what you want to see adapted that could push boundaries in this cape filled field.