3. X-Factor Investigations
This is my favourite thing. Ever. Peter David is my favourite comic book writer and X-Factor (No, not that one. No, not that one. No, not that one. YES, that one!) is my favourite comic book series. Were it a living, breathing human I would marry it, take it on a honeymoon to Barbados and have thirteen kids with it. I love it that much.
What’s it about? A mutant detective agency. SOLD! Also operating in Mutant Town, X-Factor was about Multiple Man, Siryn, Wolfsbane, Strong Guy, M, Layla Miller and a de-powered Rictor getting into all sorts of hi-jinks and mutant related crimes and other threats. Other members in later issues were Longshot, Shatterstar, Darwin, Havok, Polaris and Pip the Troll. Oh yes, you heard me right! Pip the bloody Troll! Words don’t do justice to how cool this comic was. If they got Peter David in as a writer, this show would kick all kinds of ass! Make it happen Marvel!
2. Runaways
Teenage super humans on the run from their super villain parents? What kid wouldn’t want to watch that? Created by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona, the comic revolved around teenagers Nico, a magic user, Karolina, an alien unaware of her heritage, Molly, a super strong eleven year old mutant, Gertude, the daughter of time travellers, Chase, the son of mad scientists, Alex, an expert strategist, and Old Lace, a genetically engineered, telepathic Velociraptor. Intrigued yet?
Their parents were part of the criminal organisation known as The Pride and they were BASTARDS! Like, truly evil, despicable people. But they still loved their kids, even after they renounced them and dedicated themselves to bringing them down! Awww. And the worst part? They nearly made a film, but it got shelved in the build up to Avengers. Shame! Still, there’s always hope for the future.
1. Spider-Man 2099
Another Peter David creation, Spider-Man 2099 was Spider-Man… in the year 2099. Kind of self explanatory. But instead of Peter Parker, we got Miguel O’Hara, a scientist working for the Alchemex corporation. After an experiment went wrong he tried to resign, but was tricked into taking Rapture, a highly addictive drug that bonds with the user on a genetic level, as a means of blackmail. Miguel tried to reset his DNA back to normal but accidentally combines his DNA with that of a spider, giving him powers that, although similar, are vastly different from Peter Parker’s. In addition to Peter’s powers (With the exception of Spider-Sense), he has enhanced vision, organic webbing, pointy teeth (Seriously!), venom and tiny talons on his fingers that allow him to crawl on walls, as well as inflict serious damage on his foes!
The great thing about this show would be that it’s set in a futuristic world, full of potential and action up the wazoo. And yes, this does sound similar to Spider-Man Unlimited. Truth is an animated show was in development in 1999 but lost to Unlimited. So we could have had Miguel O’Hara kicking ass in the future, but instead we got Peter Parker on a “Counter Earth” (Ugh.) fighting these animal people, one of whom is a rat lady who flirts with him. I think I’m going to be sick.
What do YOU think of these ideas? Should they be rushed into production or left in development hell? Let us know in the comments or send us your thoughts on Twitter! Meantime, I’m going to work on my vows for my wedding to X-Factor. “My love, some said: ‘Scott, you can’t marry a comic book series, that’s crazy!’. But we showed them!”.