3 Other Marvel Characters Who Need Netflix Shows: in the wake of Daredevil’s success, let’s look at other heroes who deserve a spot in the Marvel Netflix-verse

Marvel continues their multi-media reign with Daredevil, the terrific new Netflix series that finally does justice to one of the company’s most  underrated superhero’s (his costume needs a bit more work, however).

Three more Netflix shows of Marvel characters are in the works, with Power Man and Iron Fist, AKA Jessica Jones, and ultimately the supergroup The Defenders, which will team up all the respective characters.

But why stop there? Now that they’ve proven they can handle a gritty, mature take on a superhero property not beholden to huge budgets, there are several other dark, brooding characters that would benefit from the same format.

Let’s take a look at the 3 most deserving candidates to get the streaming bingewatch treatment:

3. Hellstrom

Daimon Hellstrom is the Son of Satan. Literally. He’s the spawn of the devil and a human mother. After learning the dark arts from his father, he rejects evil, becoming an occult investigator, defending earth from supernatural threats.

Why he’s perfect for Marvel’s Netflix Universe:

• He’s a member of the comic book incarnation of The Defenders.
• He opens up the realm of the occult, which will add a layer of horror intrigue that’s lacking in other Marvel properties, making the series a superhero equivalent of The X-Files.
• And lastly, he would make an excellent tie-in to the upcoming Dr Strange film, further exploring the mystical side of Marvel.

2. Moon Knight

There have been many comparisons between The Dark Knight and Daredevil, but one can argue it’s Moon Knight that is the closest parallel to Batman. That is, if Bruce Wayne had lost it completely.

He’s a former mercenary equipped with superior fighting skills. Plus he’s also instilled with the powers of an Egyptian God that increases during the peak of the lunar cycle. He also boasts an impressive arsenal of weapons, and a mental state bordering on multiple personality disorder.

The character was actually being developed into a series for Spike TV but plans fell through. He’s ready for his spotlight.

Why he’s perfect for Marvel’s Netflix Universe:

Moon Knight’s dark avenger status would blend in seamlessly with the gritty NYC that Daredevil inhabits. And that he boasts three personas (a playboy, streetwise cab driver, Egyptian Moon God) gives him a volatile, psychotic element that hasn’t really been explored before in any superhero related film or tv series.

 Click here to see where Moon Knight, Daredevil and Hellstrom rank in my list of most underrated Superheroes.

1. The Punisher

When I learned that Marvel Studios reacquired the rights to The Punisher, I was shocked he wasn’t one of the first series announced for Netflix. Even more so than Daredevil, he’s a character that would benefit from the network’s serialized format.

The problem with the cinematic interpretations of the Punisher is that his character development is so incremental, he comes across as a lackluster vigilante in a 2 hour time frame. But he would thrive in a TV series.

The Punisher’s real name Frank Castle, a Vietnam veteran who declares a one-man war on crime when his wife and child are killed by the Mafia.

Castle is a single-minded unstoppable killing machine. There are no shades of gray in his moral compass. If you’re in anyway affiliated with a criminal enterprise, he will kill you.

Why he’s perfect for Marvel’s Netflix Universe:

• Castle has had many run-ins with Daredevil in comics, and he could easily be introduced in its next season, before spinning off into his own series.
• Both are obsessed with taking down the Kingpin, but Matt Murdock can’t abide by Castle’s mercenary tactics. This makes the Punisher a badass anti-hero that clashes with hero and villain alike, which would make for an excellent crossover episode arc.
• Castle has worked on several black op missions for Nick Fury. It would be great fun to see a cameo from Samuel L. Jackson.
• The Punisher’s damaged psyche and toxic world view could equal the next great crime series.

The good news? The cast and crew of Daredevil feel the same way, so fingers crossed this becomes a reality.

The bad news? It’s too bad Frank Grillo is already playing Crossbones in the Captain America films. He’s the spitting image of Frank Castle:

So those are 3 Marvel characters I feel would make for killer Netflix series. Which characters do you think deserve their own show? Tell me in the comments.

And if you’re looking to get acquainted with the aforementioned characters, I’ve included Amazon links to their best comic book story-lines:

[amazon_image id=”0785123873″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Hellstorm: Son of Satan – Equinox[/amazon_image][amazon_image id=”0785154086″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Moon Knight Volume 1: From the Dead[/amazon_image][amazon_image id=”0785119078″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Moon Knight, Vol. 1: The Bottom[/amazon_image][amazon_image id=”0785113916″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Punisher MAX Vol. 1: In the Beginning[/amazon_image][amazon_image id=”0871353512″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Daredevil Punisher: Child’s Play[/amazon_image][amazon_image id=”078512375X” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The Essential Punisher, Vol. 1[/amazon_image]