Even before Barry Allen made his debut in season 2 of Arrow, the show that kickstarted The CW's shared universe had already begun introducing heroes from DC Comics. In fact, one that was especially memorable was that of the Huntress.
When Freddy vs. Jason stormed theaters in 2003, it not only gave moviegoers the death match they'd been waiting what felt like an eternity to see, but it also marked the end of a decade-long journey of making the film a reality. Despite it being a reasonable box office success for New Line though, it was never granted a cinematic sequel (more on that later) as both individual franchises had become accustomed to.
By now, those of you who closely follow news related to comic book movies are well aware of how most Marvel characters fall under Disney's "Marvel Studios" umbrella when it comes to the world of cinema, with Fox still laying claim to properties like X-Men and Fantastic Four. But what you may not be aware of is the strange saga that's endured for the past few years that's seen the publisher sideline some of its most beloved characters due to who's in charge of film distribution.
No matter if you prefer Marvel or DC, I think we can all agree that 2017 has thus far been an exceptionally great year for comic book movies. Having said that, I and many of you out there probably can't wait to add each of them to our respective home video collections. In fact, one in particular that I'm especially looking forward to purchasing is that of Peter Parker's first solo outing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Late last year, we were treated to what may very well have been the best DC animated movie of 2016 in the form of Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders. Basically, it reunited surviving members of the 1960's television series' cast, as Adam West, Burt Ward and Julie Newmar reprised their roles of Batman, Robin and Catwoman, respectively, effectively making it feel like the beginning to a fourth season we never received.
When Krypton was first formally announced all the way back in 2014, even the most devoted among us Superman fans questioned if such a series was entirely necessary. After all, the ten-year journey to becoming the Man of Steel that was Smallville (and the epilogue comics that followed) are still fresh in our memories, so why continue milking the prequel cow for all it's worth when there are many other fine DC properties that are ripe for adaptation?
Throughout its first three seasons, we've seen Gotham forge its own path by reassembling the parts that make up the Batman mythos, generously reinterpreting more than a few characters. This has often been to the chagrin of staunch purists, but on the plus side, the producers can lay claim to always keeping us guessing where the story is going.
With roughly two months to go until Arrow and the rest of its DC TV brethren make their return, the hype train continues to pick up momentum. And considering that we've already been given a lot to look forward to in season 6 by knowing that there'll be multiple big bads, Manu Bennett's Deathstroke will appear in several episodes and that another four-way crossover is slated for this fall, it's safe to say that the future is indeed looking bright.
While it's undeniable that Marvel and DC have ruled the box office when it comes to comic book adaptations, that doesn't mean other publishers' properties haven't also found success. In fact, it could be argued that Dark Horse's Hellboy has become one of the more recognizable franchises to emerge outside of the Big Two, effectively amassing an impressive cult following along the way.
Without a doubt, Gotham has boasted a staggering number of villains culled from the Batman mythos throughout its first three seasons. And while some such as the Penguin and Mr. Freeze have become fully realized and made quite the impression on us in that time, one that can be counted among that lot and shouldn't be overlooked is that of the Riddler.
