James Gunn has redefined the DC universe by elevating lesser-known heroes, but there are some characters even the mastermind behind Peacemaker and Creature Commandos is unlikely to bring to screen. As Gunn’s vision for James Gunn DC superheroes matures, shifting to more popular figures, certain outliers remain off-limits, owing to strange histories, creator rights, or outdated concepts.
Why Some Characters Are Left Behind in Gunn’s DC Universe
Despite Gunn’s success transforming quirks like Rocket and G.I. Robot into fan favorites, his evolving approach leans toward DC’s legendary icons – Superman, Supergirl, and the Lanterns. The instability facing Warner Brothers and DC Studios also suggests a narrower lens for future adaptations. While niche characters like those planned for a possible Clayface film still surface, not all underdogs will make the leap, especially when their origins or reputations pose creative, commercial, or ethical barriers. Individuals like Howard Porter, Doug Mahnke, and John Arcudi, as well as properties shaped by Alan Moore or Christopher Priest, present added complexity, from reluctance to relics of a different era, influencing what is viable for Gunn’s slate.
1. Major Bummer: A Relic of 1990s Slacker Culture
Major Bummer, a product of John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke’s imagination, is Lou Martin—a Generation X slacker unexpectedly gifted with superior strength and variable intelligence after a blunder by extraterrestrials. While he can access enhanced mental abilities only when distracted or near sleep, the series failed to secure a following at its 1997 release. Though a cult aspect lingers, Major Bummer’s reliance on 1990s slacker tropes makes the premise feel antiquated to modern audiences. Ownership hurdles also arise, as Arcudi and Mahnke retain rights, adding an extra layer of difficulty for any adaptation. Even a director known for revitalizing obscure figures may hesitate before negotiating permissions, especially for a character so strongly tied to a fleeting cultural moment.
2. Triumph: The Forgotten Leader with a Doomed Legacy
Before Marvel’s Sentry, DC Comics introduced Triumph, crafted by Brian Augustyn, Mark Waid, and Howard Porter. Once positioned as a founding force behind the Justice League, Triumph’s narrative spiraled after his seminal sacrifice led him to a void, erasing his memory from history. Upon return, Triumph joined the Justice League Task Force but developed a reputation for being abrasive, eventually getting expelled. A descent into near-villainy caused the Spectre to freeze him in ice on the League’s Watchtower, where Prometheus ultimately killed him—a fate almost unique among superheroes for its permanence. The fact that Triumph never achieved fan adoration or even a resurrection in The New History of the DC Universe cements his fate as an overlooked and unloved entry. For Gunn, known for crafting audience connection, Triumph’s lack of resonance makes him one hero best left in the archives.
3. Mystek: A Hero Marred by Creator Disputes and a Brief Run
Mystek, envisioned by Christopher Priest and Manny Clark, surfaced in The Ray #12 as a Queens native using her kidnapped father’s armor for justice. Mistakenly perceiving Ray as a threat, she briefly fought him, only to join forces upon realizing their shared cause. Mystek’s tenure on the Justice League Task Force ended abruptly during a space mission, when severe claustrophobia led to her tragic death by suffocation. Importantly, Priest himself opted to write Mystek out, reportedly due to concerns over creative rights, as DC intended to develop the character independently of its original creators. Considering Gunn’s reputation for respecting creative boundaries, especially with personalities like Priest and Clark maintaining a claim to Mystek’s identity, it’s clear this hero’s brief and tumultuous presence practically disqualifies her from future adaptations.
4. Madam Fatal: An Outdated Concept in a Changing World
One of the earliest examples of boundary-pushing, Madam Fatal debuted in 1940 as the alter ego of Richard Stanton, a male stockbroker masquerading as an elderly woman to fight crime. Despite the contemporary discourse about gender in superhero storytelling, Madam Fatal does not represent a positive or progressive example—her disguise is used less for empowerment and more as a means to belittle or deceive, rooted in stereotypes no longer considered acceptable. Even James Gunn, who once relished unusual provocations, seems unlikely to revisit such an ill-fitting idea. The character has sparsely appeared since her inception, and within the comic narrative, Wildcat describes Stanton’s lonely funeral, underscoring the character’s lack of community impact and the broader consensus against returning to this trope.
5. Doctor Manhattan: Respecting Artistic Integrity and Franchise Boundaries
Perhaps the most significant character on this list, Doctor Manhattan—brought to life by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons for Watchmen—has become part of the DC multiverse, influencing critical events like the emergence of the New 52 timeline. This integration, happening despite Moore’s vocal objections, and parallel adaptations like Zack Snyder’s Watchmen film, make using these figures particularly fraught. With Gunn’s DCU existing in the shadow of the DCEU, invoking Watchmen’s mythos now could exacerbate franchise rivalry and alienate both fans and creators. There is a prevailing sense that Gibbons and Moore’s creation achieves its greatest impact as a groundbreaking graphic novel, and that further attempts at adaptation only diminish its legacy.
The five DC heroes detailed here—Major Bummer, Triumph, Mystek, Madam Fatal, and Doctor Manhattan—each carry unique challenges or baggage that make their appearance in James Gunn’s cinematic or televised DC universe extremely improbable. Whether impeded by creator rights, outdated societal views, or the sanctity of original storytelling, these characters serve as a stark reminder that not every figure, no matter how quirky or powerful, fits the modern vision Gunn pursues for DC’s evolving screen legacy.
