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While considering the recent spate of really good Marvel Comics movies, I was began thinking of the deal they signed to market some of the their lesser-known characters into smaller budget film franchises (like Blade). So here are some characters that could use the big-screen treatment.
– Cloak and Dagger- Mutant runaways with the powers of light and darkness who fight drug dealers.
– Heroes For Hire- Big time Marvel characters Luke Cage and Iron Fist, joined by female crimefighters Misty Knight and Colleen Wing.
– Doctor Strange- A former surgeon turned Master of the Mystic arts.
– Rocket Raccoon- A swashbuckling raccoon in space.

One of the things I love most in this world is Stephen King's 'Dark Tower' book series. The first volume , 'The Gunslinger", was one of the first books I read by him and I read the first three in rapid succession. When I read the fourth book I nearly flipped out. Near the end, the main characters end up in a version of Topeka ravaged by the Captain Trips virus from 'The Stand'. This was my first experience with King using his Dark Tower series to crossover with many of this others (to the point of adding 'Salem's Lot' priest as a major character in book 5).
So when I recently heard that plans are proceeding for a film series I was very happy. I was even happier when I heard that the movie series was going to be accompanied by TV miniseries between films. That's about the best plan for telling a seven book story that I can think of. And then the best news of all. Javier Bardem has been cast as the main character, Roland Deschain. Bardem is best known as the killer in 'No Country For Old Men' and he will do a great job in the role. I can't wait to see if they score the acting coup and get Alan Rickman to play Walter/The Man In Black. An illustration in the last book of Walter looked so much like Rickman that it couldn't have been anything but intentional. And I would love to see it.

In honor of today's comic, here are my top 5 all time favorite Star Wars characters. This includes the original movies, the prequels, the tv shows, the video games, the novels, the comic books etc.
5) Boba Fett- The Fett-man is still THE premiere no-holds-barred badass of the Star Wars universe. Despite being a whiny little boy in Episode II and having a jetpack like the Rocketeer.
4) Darth Vader- Vader is essentially the point of the whole saga. And his helmet is the single most iconic part of Star Wars.
3) Mara Jade- The former Emperor's Hand and assassin. She was meant to kill Luke Skywalker but eventually married him and bore his son.
2) Mace Windu- The best character in the prequels. Sam Jackson rocks no matter who he plays.
1) Han Solo- Nobody is cooler than Han Solo. Nobody. He's the one I still quote. He's the one that makes me wish I had a Millennium Falcon.
Honorable Mentions: Sebulba, Darth Maul, Lando Calrissian, Grand Moff Tarkin, Ayla Secura, Yoda, Asohka, Bossk

So today so the passing of Elizabeth Sladen, an English actress best known for portraying Sarah Jane Smith on Doctor Who (with the Third and Fourth Doctors). She had apparently been battling cancer for sometime (while continuing work on her Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Chronicles). Sladen was notable for introducing a new kind of companion to the show. A sort of emancipated woman type that shied away from the typical 'damsel in distress' character. And she was really hot.

I am a zombie for DC Comics. I love, love, love the DC Universe and it's characters. And they have an uncanny knack for taking minor and background characters and making them big time (witness their great work with Booster Gold). Here are some minor DC Characters that could top-tier.
– Black Alice- A magic-based goth teenager who can mimic the magic powers of others.
– Fire- A Brazilian model with the power to fly and project green flames. She has been featured in Justice League (the old funny one) and Checkmate but could be an icon. Especially if paired with her best friend Ice.
– Anarky- A true anarchist. A vigilante teenager with a nigh inscrutable moral code.
– The All-Star Squadron- 1940's DC has so many untapped characters that were only mildly explored in the All-Star Squadron series (Red Bee, Red Torpedo, Robotman, Captain Triumph, Neon The Unknown, King, The Whip, TNT)