5 Better Versions Of Superheroes We'll Hopefully Get Soon

I'd love to see her played by someone like Marsai Martin (Diane from the TV series Black-ish). Maybe have her, Shuri from Black Panther, and Peter Parker create their own Gen-Z superhero group and save the world from dangerous baby boomers. Perhaps this could be the start of the Young Avengers? Or just a new sect of the existing Avengers. Either way, this is better than simply rebooting the whole thing a few years from now with some other "lovable asshole" type with a Tony Stark goatee.

That's about as far from the standard power fantasy template as you can get, but if you want to keep breaking the mold, these are the kind of risks you have to take.

Marvel Comics

It's a heartbreaking tale, but it also works with Thor's motto in Ragnarok: "Why? Because that's what heroes do." Also, if Portman feels iffy about signing a contract for ten more Thor movies, she could just do one and have the ultimate serious actor's superhero role under her belt.

Instead, Warner Bros. could go the way of the comics and introduce Bruce Wayne's son Damian. See, Bruce's relationship with Talia al Ghul (Ra's al Ghul's heavily cleavaged daughter) results in a boy that she keeps secret from Bruce. Then, when Damian is a teen, she drops him into Bruce's lap, which is kinda hilariously villainous. As can be expected, Damian's pissed and violent, and he hates all of Batman's Robins, presumably because Bruce Wayne actually went to their baseball games.

In the comics after Batman "dies" at the hands of Darkseid, former Robin Dick Grayson dons the cape and cowl, and Damian becomes his Robin. Their dynamic is ridiculous and hilarious, which is much more interesting than the usual self-serious "You're not ready to be, um, in crime stuff" routine that Bruce has with his Robins. Does it bring a "wacky sitcom" atmosphere to the franchise? Maybe, but we haven't had a live-action Batman film with a proper joke in it since the Clinton administration.

DC Comics

Imagine someone like Max Minghella (who is currently killing it in The Handmaid's Tale) becoming Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne (a ripped Timothee Chalamet?) engaging in a weird, violent buddy comedy. It could be DC's answer to Ragnarok, and for a franchise that's always had a problem with taking itself too seriously, this Bat Family film might be the antidote.

In a Hawkeye solo series, we see that she's taken the helm of Captain America herself, and frankly, if we're really going to have a superhero become the physical embodiment of America, we should move past it being a white guy who remembers what having segregated water fountains was like. Let Glee's Naya Rivera bulk up, put her in that star-spangled shirt and hoodie, and let her punch evil in the nuts.

Unlike Bruce, Jennifer embraces being a Hulk from the beginning. Sure, she's a big green monster, but being that monster has its perks. It makes her feel untouchable and powerful -- something that would seemingly resonate with women around the world. As a small meek woman without a lot of control in her life, being She-Hulk lets Jennifer do whatever the fuck she wanted. This might be the most relatable origin story I've ever seen.

She-Hulk is fearless, confident, and ]promiscuous, with all of that translating back into Jennifer's life and making her a more assertive person even when she isn't the color of sour apple Jolly Rancher. Cast a likable actress who would really sell that character arc, like Kristen Bell.

Don't get me wrong, I love ya, Bruce. But I don't need another monologue about how much you hate being the Hulk but can't live without the Hulk. We get it. You can throw a tank over a mountain, and that makes you sad.

Archie loves the superhero genre and is like totally available if Marvel Studios or DC Films needs advice about keeping this whole thing going. Hit her up on Twitter and on her website.

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