Can the Suicide Squad get any love ?

Today, on this beautiful Labor Day afternoon, I've been at home with nothing much to do, so I decided to have a little movie marathon. I watched all three of the Direct-To-DVD movies from Warner Bros. DC Universe line; these are those Bruce Timm produced, animated movies that seem to be mostly aimed at "mature" comic fanboys with all the swearing, blood and gore that were so noticeably absent from Saturday mornings. Being the comic/cartoon junkie that I am, it's only natural that I think about these more than should be healthy. After making it through Superman: Doomsday, Justice League: New Frontier, and Batman: Gotham Knight, I decided to make a little wishlist.

These are the projects I wish were in production. Please note, I'm not good at this blogging thing. Heck, the only reason I'm posting this is so that it's documented and not just some bit of madness running free in my head. Anyways...

1) Teen Titans: Judas Contract - C'mon DC, there's a few reasons you guys first announced this as one your initial projects besides the fact that it would play with my emotions. The New Teen Titans book was one of your biggest hits in the 80's. The book was actually pretty damned good, whether it was Perez' gorgeous, highly detailed art or Wolfman's dark, melodramatic and entertaining writing. The animated series on Cartoon Network was kind of a hit with the kids, just browse any fan-fiction group on LiveJournal. not to mention, the Titans have kinda got a rabid fanbase. If I had my way I'd do this as an 80's period piece. Who wouldn't want to see Nightwing's disco suit, Jericho's golden afro and mutton chops, Beast Boy's super wavy hair, Starfire's ankle length locks or Donna Troy's perfection (Hey, nothing about her needs changing, no matter what Terry Long or her backstory would have you believe). Honestly, it wouldn't even need to be Judas Contract, just as long as a really good Titans movie was made.
PS- the more Wally West, the better.

2) Suicide Squad (Ostrander Style) - Task Force X is too damned cool to not have their own movie. They were represented pretty nicely on Justice League Unlimited, especially with CCH Pounder's excellent Amanda Waller performance, but I think a movie can really do them justice.

3) The Flash - Recently Green Lantern and Superman/Batman: Public Enemies movies were announced but neither were the movie I was hoping for. The Flash has always been one of those DC heroes I really loved, from the comics to the live-action TV show to his animated appearances. Of all the Flashes, Wally West would be my particular favorite. I loved the way he progressed as a character and The Return of Barry Allen is my all time favorite storyline from any DC book. His depiction in the Justice League TV series was also the main reason I loved that show. His Rogues are also the best. I know writers say he's hard to write for because he's ridiculously powerful (no more so than Superman if you ask me) but I think it's an injustice if a Flash movie isn't a high priority with the WB Animation guys. I know they'll eventually get to one if the DC Universe line lasts past the next few movies but I'm just hoping that I'm not cashing a Social Security check by the time they make it.

4) The Dark Knight Returns - It's probably the story thats most responsible for the way most people think of Batman today and it's always on somebody's Must Read list. With the current epidemic of Batmania and Frank Miller's name appearing to be worth gold in Hollywood (still can't believe they let him direct The Spirit movie), I'd have thought this would be a no-brainer by now. We already know it can work as a cartoon, as evidenced by Batman's Legends of the Dark Knight episode, and it's one helluva story so why no rush ?

5) A New Frontier Sequel, of sorts - This would probably be the single one of my dvd dreams that would be the least likely to happen. When I write the word sequel, I mean something more along the lines of a cross between the Justice League: New Frontier Special they published after the DVD's release, and Batman: Gotham Knight. In other words, a collection of short stories that take place within the New Frontier continuity; ie, The Losers, John Henry, End of the JSA, How Batman beat Superman, Robin meets Kid Flash, etc. Maybe a certain Time Master could even host the segments. Other stories that I think could play off of New Frontier would be either JLA: Year One or Flash/Green Lantern: Brave and the Bold, neither directly related to New Frontier but two great stories of DC's past.

*Honorable Mention* Kingdom Come & Red Son - These would be my first picks if I thought it was possible with the current format. Maybe someday.

Ah well, those have been my thoughts and I'm going to bed where I'll have dreams of storyboards and animation cels.