Roman Comics Blog

Marvel/DC Comic Film & TV Opinion Pieces by Diego Leon Roman

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Who is the right actress to follow in Margot Robbie's footsteps as DC's most famous antihero?

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With the upcoming Injustice 3 now confirmed, here are ten characters I hope to see in the new game.

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Which of the two DC Universes have better renditions of these beloved heroes?

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Now that the DCU has multiple heroes and teams, here are My Top 5 DCU Heroes!

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Who should play DC's second most iconic detective in the DCU?

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We just made it 600 subscribers on YouTube!

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With Peacemaker Season 2 coming out this month, here’s my pitch for the main antagonist of the third season.

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After the unjust firing of Stephen Colbert, here are two roles he should play in the MCU and DCU.

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With The Authority film on hold, The Engineers inclusion feels very out of place in a Superman film. Who should've been the secondary antagonist?

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With the new Deadpool and Batman crossover comic coming this year, here are 8 DC Comics / Marvel Crossovers I'd love to see.

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With Superman now in theaters, here is my wishlist for a potential Superman Sequel!

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With all 4 major superheroes movies now out, what was the best superhero movie of 2025?

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8 MCU Characters I want to see in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2 & 3

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was a very and surprising entry into the MCU, that felt both like classic Spider-Man and things we have yet to see. I think within time, it will go down as one of if not the best Spider-Man television series to date.

One of the funnest aspects of the show was its inclusion of MCU heroes in classic comic outfits. Not only did this help the world feel more lived in and more of less in a timeline we understand, but it gave new life to characters we've seen before.

It even brought characters who weren't utilized properly, like Scorpion, into not only comic accuracy, but one of the shows main antagonists.

This got me thinking of potential future characters we can see get the YFNSM treatment. It is uniquely positioned as a non sacred timeline MCU property that can give us fun variations on characters. And given where it is in the timeline, I think there are a lot of fun options.

I tried to go for people that weren't necessarily your first thought, that would be fun to interact with characters other than just Peter, and could bring something new to the show.

8. Werewolf by Night

Honestly I just want more Werewolf by Night.

This is probably my second biggest curveball on this list and the least likely to happen, but I'd love to see a mystical horror themed episode centered around the mystery of the Werewolf by Night.

This would be a great opportunity to explain his origin in a way that wasn't explored in his special. Maybe he's being studied by Osborn without anyone knowing and he escapes. Perhaps he's even cured even temporarily by Nico's amulet.

I'm more spitballing than anything on this one I know, but I think bringing on a scary creature like Werewolf by Night will prepare Peter for when he faces creatures like The Lizard or possibly Kraven.

7. Wenwu: The Mandarin

I love a Spider-Man fight where he needs to reassess how powerful he is, and I think the MCU is full of villains he outmatch Spider-Man in a big way.

I could see Peter getting too confident in his abilities, maybe even thinking he's on the level of the Avengers, right before this fight.

The Mandarin feels like the closest thing to an Avengers Level Threat that Peter at this point could potentially walk away from, and even cross paths with. Wenwu is known to make dealings with several criminals, and perhaps even Osborn himself. (Or Others I may get to down this list).

Wenwu is also interesting because he is potentially this universe's archenemy of Iron Man. This could be how the two heroes meet, even if they aren't mentor and mentee.

I definitely don't want him designed like he is in the comics, but having Peter get knocked down a peg every now and then I think is important to ensure his head doesn't grow too big.

6. Taskmaster

One thing I loved about What If was it's redemption of Ultron. Not that Ultron was bad within Age of Ultron, but compared to the comics he felt underutilized.

Not until What If did he feel like he had a place in the universe or feel that badass.

I think Taskmaster needs redemption. I'm sure she will be cool in Thunderbolts* but if not, she could be a very dangerous enemy for Spider-Man.

The two have fought in animation and video games before, and in this timeline she has just barely escaped the Red Room. She could be working for someone, or going off on her own trying to make it in New York.

Either way, I think she's potentially perfectly placed to be an ongoing enemy of Spider-Man, and gain a little bit more of a better reputation and character along the way.

5. Luke Cage

Now we're getting into the good stuff.

Luke Cage is one of the best characters the MCU has not revisited in along time.

With the inclusion of Tombstone's transformation into an unbreakable gang leader in New York, that may put him directly on the path to face the Hero of Harlem.

Whether it is Luke Cage at the end of Season 2 being a criminal leader of his own or as vigilante Luke Cage, I can see Tombstone being the new guy in town who needs to be brought down by Luke. I'd like Spidey to try to talk Luke down and even face him to protect Lonnie, ultimately backing the wrong horse and having to face the consequences.

I'd love this to be a tease for what they do next for Luke Cage, much like Daredevil was. And of course, I'd love Mike Colter to return.

4. Alex Wilder

If we wanted a great antagonist for Nico, there's no better one than her fellow Runaway.

Bringing back Rhenzy Feliz hot off Penguin and giving him his comic storyline of manipulating the Runaways to take their abilities could leave him as a powerful enemy Nico has been running from. It could explain her secretiveness and why she lives in a foster home.

Having a deep cut like Alex would be a great first villain for Nico and Spider-Man to take on together. Plus it throws a little love to those who watched and liked Runaways.

3. Kingpin

I'm so surprised he wasn't anywhere to be seen in the first season.

The most no brainer entry on this list, Kingpin fits well into a show where both Spider-Man and Daredevil exist. Their inevitable team up can and should be against Kingpin.

I'd love for them to make him more comic accurate and massive, still voiced by Vincent D'nofrio of course.

He could be the overarching villain of the series, another threat Norman wants Spider-Man to take out of the picture for Oscorp to gain from.

2. Vision

If there was a character Iron Man would send after Spider-Man due to the Sokovia Accords, I think the Vision would be the most dangerous and interesting.

I'd love for the show to use Vision as a Terminator, an unstoppable force for Peter, Harry and WEB to outsmart and barely beat, putting him even higher on Iron Man's radar.

I think these two could eventually be very fun allies, and maybe even rebuilt and upgraded by Peter in the future.

Also, truthfully, I love the comic Vision design and wanna see it more in animation.

1. The Punisher

There's no hero I want to interact more with Peter than Frank Castle. How to fit a character as gray and grim as The Punisher in Spider-Man's world I think is both challenging and interesting.

I'd love them to be enemies turned uneasy allies. With both having strict codes and ideas of right and wrong so different, I'd love for them to clash and eventually have a begrudging respect for one another.

You can pit him against anyone, Doc Ock, Kingpin, Norman Osborn, Lonnie, and it automatically makes Spider-Man in a difficult position.

This is the team-up/face-off that MCU Fans deserve.

Thank you for reading!

Be sure to follow us on all platforms, and let me know: Who do you want to see in the next season of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man?

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Who should play Clayface in the DCU?

After a wild curveball pick for the third movie in the DCU, James Gunn has announced Clayface will be coming to the big screen in a big way after Creature Commandos.

Clayface will premiere in Fall 2026, and will be a horror thriller tragedy written by Mike Flanagan of The Haunting of Hill House Fame.

Apparently Flanagan is a big fan of Batman: The Animated Series, so we can expect the character to be similar to that version, an actor turned big monster made of goo.

While this is an unexpected film, I do love that the DCU has been a mix of classic DC characters like Superman & oddball choices like this and Creature Commandos. It feels like a choice made because of an exciting story instead of obligation. That being said, this character is going to need a good actor to make the story work.

I have a couple of ideas of who could be The Batman's newest villain. But before we get into my picks, as always let's look at Stipulations.

Legacy of Batman Villains

Unlike most superhero villains, Batman villains have a reputation in Hollywood to be more nuanced, and bigger named actors often will take them as meaty roles. We recently got a sequel to Joker, and a whole television show dedicated the Penguin that got universal acclaim.

Though Clayface hasn't been done on the big screen yet, his association to the Dark Knight means we can definitely get a big name actor to portray the character.

Already in the DCU

Clayface has already been confirmed via the trailers that he will appear in some capacity in Creature Commandos.

Whether this is the same person we see in the movie, who is to say?

This version is played by Alan Tudyk, who could potentially reprise the role in the film, but given he is already playing Doctor Phosphorus & Will Magnus, for now I'll look to other actors.

Characteristics

The version I am going with and the DCU is likely going with is Basil Karlo, a B list actor who becomes disfigured, and undergoes treatment to fix his face, which makes him into the monster he is.

He is dramatic, tragic, and sympathetic. He should have a sadness to him, and the range to play a villain and a man turning into a monster. Other than that, we have a lot of range of actors. Basil can look like anyone, so really any body is on the table.

So let's get started.

3. Kevin Durand

An actor who really impressed me this year was Kevin Durand, specifically in Abigail & Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Durand has a physicality and charisma to him when playing a villain. I think watching him tragically become something else would be a lot of fun, and I think more than any other actor on this list, he definitely has the voice for it.

What particularly impressed me was his motion capture performance of Proximus Ceasar in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. I can see Durand using those skills to bring the monstrous Clayface to life.

If I had a gripe, he may be a little too clean, at least for Clayface. But if they ever needed a Sportsmaster I'd know exactly who I'd call. I like him, but he's not my favorite.

2. Jesse Plemons

No one plays a bad guy like Plemons.

If we're going for the award noms, Plemons could easily bring the acting chops to a role like this. He can be scary, empathetic, sad, and downright evil.

I can see Plemons as Karlo continue to push himself, not knowing what he is becoming. Of all the actors here, he may do tragic better than any of them.

My main concern is, can we root for him? Does him constantly being the villain make it less sad when he inevitably becomes the monster?

Also of the three, Clemons doesn't really have the voice for Clayface. Sure they can adjust it with technology but it isn't the same.

I'm not sure if Plemons is the right man for this job, but if he got the chance, I'd love to see him take a stab it.

1. Peter Dinklage

If we'd like to merge acting ability of Plemons with the tragedy of charisma of Durand, Peter Dinklage takes this easily.

Peter Dinklage feels like an actors actor, which is exactly what we need here. Someone who can steal every scene he's in, someone we can root for and believe his transformation.

He's proven multiple times he can play tragic and a villain. We know he will do big roles in Sci-Fi or Fantasy, such as Bolivar Trask, Eitri, Scourge and Tyrion.

He's done Shakespeare, motion capture, comedy, and even is set to play the Toxic Avenger: A Man who get's horribly disfigured and becomes a hero. Make him a villain and more tragic, that IS Basil Karlo.

This is my Clayface.

Thank you for reading! If you like this, be sure to follow me on all my socials here! And let me know what you think: who should play Clayface in the DCU?

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5 Pitches for MCU Television Spin-Offs

While I admit there are many, maybe even too many, MCU TV shows, the two we got this year were surprisingly refreshing.

Yes, Echo & Agatha All Along benefited from charismatic leads, good writing and fun ideas, but I think them being continuations of great TV added a layer of excitement that the MCU films have previously benefited from.

Given that these were both so successful, I have 5 potential spin-off ideas for the MCU. I'm aiming for Phase 4-6 characters, and looking to continue or expand on storylines set up, with each show having a different purpose and feel.

5. Elsa Bloodstone: Monster Hunter

One of the best MCU Projects since Endgame was the Special Presentation: Werewolf by Night.

In this story, Elsa Bloodstone, a well-known Marvel hero, obtains the Bloodstone, a jewel used to kill monsters, and inherits Bloodstone Manor, setting her up to be the monster hunter she's known to be.

The Monster side of the Marvel Universe is dying to be explored, especially after the success of Werewolf by Night, Moon Knight Agatha All Along, Wandavision, and Doctor Strange

There is plenty of room for Elsa to crossover, and perhaps even start building a team like The Midnight Suns.

And not to put any pressure on Marvel, but DC is exploring their monstrous characters ASAP, so this show will help keep up.

With Laura Donnelly already cast, plenty of room for crossover, and a fun premise just sitting there, this would be an easy slam-dunk for Disney.

4. Gambit

There was no character more fun from Deadpool & Wolverine for me than Gambit.

Though he never get a project of his own, Channing Tatum has been pushing for a Gambit project for decades, holding out hope, looking for directors and even appearing at Comic-Con.

His small part in Deadpool & Wolverine was visually fun and very funny, holding his own with the titular characters and other void heroes.

I'm pitching either a prequel, with Gambit finding his place in the void and facing off against different multiversal heroes & villains, or a post Deadpool & Wolverine Gambit, finding his way in a real world. I'd like if he decides to work with the TVA and form a team like the Exiles, multiversal heroes.

This team could show up in future MCU projects, and even have some characters from What If?

Whatever the case is, I think they definitely can and should throw Channing Tatum a bone.

3. Wiccan & Speed

*Spoilers for Agatha All Along*

The next step in the WandaVision Saga is very easy to see. With a great lead like Joe Locke and a great third in Kathryn Hahn, Wiccan & Speed can be the end of a trilogy for these two leading into Young Avengers or the new Vision series.

Having Tommy & Billy reunite and connect can be the emotional core of the MCU we've been missing, much like Bucky & Steve.

I'd pitch this as Billy & Agatha going to break Tommy out of prison, causing a giant incident with Wiccan's new found powers, and having Nick Fury or a high level government agency after the boys, eventually leading them to working for The Avengers.

Whoever they end up casting with Joe Locke, they both may be the story MCU fans will hold onto during Secret Wars & Doomsday.

2. The Black Knights of Old

While you may think this is a Dane Whitman spin-off, it isn't.

I'm pitching the first full appearance of Mahershala Ali as Blade, as the narrator and arguably main character, telling the stories of the rise and fall of The Black Knights to Dane Whitman.

Each Black Knight will face heroes of old, maybe some SHIELD, Iron Fists, Black Panthers, Super Soldiers, and all fall due to being corrupted by the blade.

I'd love to see different ages of the MCU, expanding both the history and mythology, all while giving a warning to Dane of the danger of being the Black Knight. I'd love for each episode to feel very different, both from directors and maybe even mediums. Some could be animated, others not.

Whatever the case, an epic spanning generations all centered around the one blade, narrated by Blade, sounds really fun.

1. Isaiah Bradley: Red White & Black

There is no character whose history I'd like to see more than Isaiah Bradley's.

In the comics, Isaiah takes up the title of Captain America, doning a uniform and dying to save his people. He is unjustly experimented on and becomes a Super Soldier.

In Falcon & The Winter Soldier, we see he has grown old, was captured for decades, and experimented on. It's implied he fought Bucky and won, and may have done some other heroic battles, though was erased from history.

Seeing his history with a younger actor, showing the darker side of America, all while adding more and more context to the incredible performance of Carl Lumbly, would make for a fantastic miniseries, and could make an incredible political statement.

Thank you for reading! If you like this, be sure to follow me on all my socials here! And let me know what you think: What MCU Spin-Offs do you want to see?

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My Top 10 Anticipated Superhero Projects for 2025

After a year with very few projects from both Marvel & DC Comics, 2025 is set to be an action packed year full of some of the weirdest and most fun Superhero projects we've seen in awhile.

Don't get me wrong, I loved The Penguin & Agatha All Along, but both felt like nice surprises as opposed to projects I was looking forward to.

With DC in a rebuilding phase, and Marvel in a retooling phase, I'm eager to see who will come out on top at the end of the year. While Marvel has way more projects, DC has a few that can easily be among the best, if not THEE best of 2025.

Here are my Top 10 projects to look forward to in 2025.

10. Wonder Man

Yayha Abdul Mateen II returns for his third major comic book role in the upcoming Disney+ series, Wonder Man.

Simon Williams is entering the MCU in a big way, that seems to be leaning into the more acting part of his character. Very little is known about this project besides Ben Kingsley will be returning as Trevor Slattery and "Wonder Man" is a role within the universe.

Wonder Man is a superman like character, who is typically an Avenger and more often than not is a B-list actor in universe. This gives Marvel a lot of room for some Hollywood fun and to take some liberties with the character.

I'm a big fan of Wonder Man, Yayha, and it seems like a big swing for Marvel. If it's anything like WandaVision or Agatha All Along, I will be watching.

9. Marvel Zombies

A spin-off of Marvel's What If, Marvel Zombies is set to bring back some of my favorite MCU characters, including Yelena Belova, Kate Bishop, Ms. Marvel, Shang-Chi, and even our first look at Blade.

First look images even include a look at Zombie Ikaris, Abomination, and Dora Milage.

What If episodes have been a little hit or miss for me, but even so I'm still excited for this miniseries.

I'm not sure what to expect from this show yet, but if it is anything like the comics from Robert Kirkman, I am pumped and ready.

8. Gen V - Season 2

While it is yet to compare to it's original, The Boys spin-off Gen-V has set up quite a few storylines and proved it's a show worth watching and standing on it's own.

Set in a college for Supes, several students have to uncover a mystery at the heart of Godolkin University and discover what it means to be a hero.

With interesting characters, powers and just enough connections to The Boys, it's a show worth watching that many more people need to checkout. With that cliff hanger, the ending of Season 4 of The Boys, and unfortunate passing of Chance Perdomo, I'm interested in seeing how they move the story forward.

7. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

It's about time we got another Spider-Man animated show huh?

In a universe where Peter is mentored by Norman Osborn, Peter Parker must become Spider-Man in this homage to 60s comics, and take on a myriad of his classic villains, with heroes like Nico Minoru, Daredevil & Doctor Strange.

I'm a huge fan of Spider-Man and all the animated Marvel projects on Disney+ so far. While I am patiently waiting for a trailer, I am very optimistic for this.

In a less stacked year this would be higher on the list, but until we get a look it can't break the top 5.

6. Thunderbolts*

The first major film on my list, Thunderbolts feels like Captain America: Winter Soldier meets The Avengers, both films I love.

After several of the antiheroes of the MCU get framed by an unknown entity, they must team up to find what they are missing and become the Thunderbolts.

This is one of the few MCU teams up that have been built up over different projects, so I'm hoping this is a satisfying conclusion and good set up for Avengers: Doomsday.

While I wish the team was different, the cast looks great and the direction looks very fun. And with The Void as most likely the main bad guy, we are likely gonna get a very emotional ending.

Here's hoping it is a winner.

5. Peacemaker Season 2

Even though the DCU starts this year with Creature Commandos, the live action starts with a certain film and Peacemaker.

Peacemaker season 1 revolves around a team of agents looking to stop a mysterious alien invasion and save the world.

With the show now taking place in a connected universe, and Rick Flag Sr out for revenge, we're up for some excellent television.

The first season was some of the best of James Gunn's genius, and with the budget and the stakes rising, I'm excited to see the performance John Cena brings to this one.

4. Fantastic Four: First Steps

I didn't put it fourth on purpose, I swear.

After decades of waiting, we are finally getting a proper Fantastic Four film.

Little is known about this film, but with Galactus as the main villain, and retro futuristic 60s vibe, this film feels like a huge distinct swing, and nothing get's me more excited than that.

The cast looks phenomenal, the costumes look perfect, and I am just giddy thinking of them joining the Avengers in the next Avengers film.

3. Superman

My most anticipated film of next year, James Gunn will be taking on the Man of Steel himself Superman in 2026.

With an incredible cast, director, and several ties to the Justice League, Authority, and hopefully more, this film is crucial in setting the tone for the DCU moving forward, and maybe superhero films in general.

Whether this is a success or failure, this will be a turning point.

2. Daredevil Born Again

My boy has returned.

A sequel to Daredevil, Daredevil Born Again finds Matt Murdock back in NY city, with new enemies and old looking to take over Hell's Kitchen.

Daredevil is one of my favorite television series, and with so many characters returning from the original, including Kingpin, Punisher, Bullseye, Karen Page and Foggy Nelson, this season is going to be explosive.

I'm hoping it has direct connections to Echo, Moon Knight, and other street level heroes, perhaps leading up to another crack at Defenders. Whatever the case, this could be the best show of the year. And it would be my number 1, if it wasn't for...

1. Invincible Season 3

He's in for the fight of his life.

With the stakes higher than ever, an incredible voice cast, animation to beat and a performance unlike any other from Steven Yeun, Invincible has continued to surprise and top itself.

After Mark Grayson gains his Viltrumite powers, he must become Invincible, and find out the ups and the massive downs of being the worlds most powerful hero.

With _______ coming for a huge one on one, a massive war on the rise, and massive repercussions from the finale, this season is all I can think of for next year.

And thank god there will be no massive breaks in-between the season.

Thank you for reading! If you like this, be sure to follow me on all my socials here! And let me know what you think: What is your most anticipated superhero project of 2025?