2023 Comicbook Adaptation Hype Rankings

Vega
Feb 9, 2023
10 min read

If super-hero fatigue has truly set in, then the major studios are completely disregarding that fact for 2023. There are eighteen major movies and series tentatively planned to be released in the upcoming year from the studios of Marvel, DC, and Amazon. That does not include some of the lesser-known animated adventures, such as HBOMax’s My Adventures with Superman or Disney Channel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. On the heels of the first of these major releases in the form of Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, here is a chance to prepare for the onslaught by seeing where it and the seventeen other releases rank based on excitement level.

18. What If…? Season 2 (Early 2023)

The animated multiversal series debuted with a striking animation style and concluded with a traditional Avengers-style team-up. Though there were a couple of episodes that were pretty fun, the series as a whole was lackluster and the alternate tales were not creative enough. Too many felt like slight alterations to existing stories and did not stand out enough. The best thing to come from this series is the Marvel Zombies animated series in development. Mindless entertainment has its place, but the second season will need to find more original and engaging stories to up its quality.

17. Echo (Late 2023)

Having debuted in Marvel’s 2021 holiday release Hawkeye, Maya Lopez/Echo’s (Alaqua Cox) story will continue in her own series that follows the repercussions of her actions in New York City. The series did not showcase her character enough to generate interest in seeing her lead her own story. Similar to how the best moments in Ms. Marvel surrounded her culture and family, there is potential to build Echo as a well-layered character by exploring her Native American roots and the community from which she came. But that does not require an entire series. The buzz surrounding appearances by Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin will get a few extra eyes on the series, but with a standalone Daredevil series starting production this year, Echo feels like a very pointless addition to the MCU.

16. Agatha: Coven of Chaos (Late 2023)

Kathryn Hahn was just as praised for her performance in WandaVision as lead actress Elizabeth Olsen was, which I am sure had an influence on her earning her own spin-off series. However, like Echo, this is another series that feels wasted on an ancillary character that does not appear to be an MCU mainstay. There are a lot of rumors surrounding this project, but the obvious focus on the magical elements of the MCU is a real win. This could end up being a surprise hit with the hijinks that Agatha Harkness could get into, while also providing more background on the MCU’s magical history.

15. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (December 25, 2023)

The production design, effects, and the action of the first Aquaman were all pretty good, but the franchise has a glaring problem: Jason Mamoa. The actor’s portrayal of the character with his surfer-boy personality and cooler than thou complex is beyond obnoxious. Rarely do I watch a comic movie and find myself hoping the hero bites the dust. The rest of the cast did a fine job and I will always give James Wan a chance, but with Mamoa still heading the movie, I am sure this will remain towards the bottom of the list when the year is said and done.

14. Ironheart (Late 2023)

Riri Williams had a brief, but integral, appearance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to introduce her to audiences before she leads her own Disney+ series. Not yet donning her signature hero name, this series is likely to see her grow into that name as she builds a new suit. Dominique Thorne was pretty likable in the role and the series will also be leaning into the magic realm with the debut of Anthony Ramos as The Hood. Beyond the tech vs magic showdown we are sure to see, the character has a lot of staying power in future of the MCU as a major character, which gives this series a lot of weight.

13. Kraven the Hunter (October 6, 2023)

Yes, I understand that this should absolutely be last on any list for upcoming comic book movies. Sony has continued to get in their own way and not been able to independently produce a substantially good Marvel film. Even worse, each of their three standalone Spidey-universe movies have gotten progressively worse with each release. There is no reason to believe this will be any better, but I am holding out some hope that Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s talents, the writing team from the first Iron Man, and the screenplay writer from the Equalizer films will change Sony’s fortunes. If the movie sticks to a clean cut origin of Kraven’s rise as a superior hunter, includes his voodoo priestess love interest, and keeps the story grounded with good fight scenes involving the rumored villain the Foreigner, this could easily find itself the best of the set.

12. Blue Beetle (August 18, 2023)

Though I know of the character from a few sources, my primary understanding of Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle character is based on his appearances in DC’s Young Justice animated series. There are a lot of similarities to Spider-Man, in his struggling to balance his responsibilities as a hero with his teenage years and expectations from his family. After adding a really cool alien suit and Jaime’s spotlight as the first live-action Latino lead in a comic book movie, Blue Beetle has a great deal of potential, similar to that of Black Panther. However, it also has a lot working against it with its place in DC Studios’ ongoing universe in doubt and it being a lesser known character. Though, the latter should not be too much of a hurdle with good marketing.

11. Shazam! Fury of the Gods (March 17, 2023)

The first Shazam! was DC’s first shift away from the darker tones of its previous entries, resulting in a really fun tone and enjoyable experience. This sequel is likely to follow the same threads, though its first trailer is not good in the slightest and protrudes a really cheesy follow-up. It is carrying the same director, writers, and, mostly, the exact same cast, so the likelihood of a repeat success is high. Tighter writing, better dialogue, and a continued focus on capturing the family element could elevate Fury of the Gods and the character of Shazam into a significant spotlight should DC Studios want to carry this character into their new future.

10. The Flash (June 23, 2023)

The Flash is the best DC hero to not have a live-action movie. Fun powers with the potential for great special effects, campy villains, and some of DC’s best stories, including the Flashpoint story that the movie is rumored to be adapting, leaves Flash as an easy cinematic target. But the character is not the problem with this film, it is the baggage dragged in by its lead actor Ezra Miller. Similar to Mamoa’s Aquaman, I really dislike Miller’s casting as Barry Allen and the multitude of legal issues he has found himself in the past year does not help his image as the vital DC character. Regardless, none of this will have a profound impact on the quality of the movie and I am still excited to see the story on the big screen. However, it all comes with the additional hope that DC Studios will carry out a recast and give the Flash the performer he deserves.

9. Loki Season 2 (Mid 2023)

As a whole, the Disney+ series have amounted to tolerable filler that spend way too much time introducing a new major player to the universe. Loki was a bit different as its story is focused more on plot development than character depth, not that the already well-developed Loki did not see some growth. Having this series directly tie in to the multiversal happenings of the greater MCU story, albeit from a different lens, helps make this series feel more MCU-proper than its counterparts. The upcoming season truly feels like a progression of the Multiverse Saga with its additions to Kang's presence, thus eliciting a more important standing among Marvel Studios' 2023 releases.

8. Gen V (2023)

The Boys has pushed the envelope for not just comic book content, but for what a series can show in its most unfiltered manner. From bloody violence to sexual assault, this Prime original series has never shied away from crossing every line possible in its satire of superhero franchises and political commentary. Now, take all of that and bundle it into a college setting and I do not know how the this spin-off does not push past the boundaries of its predecessor.

7. Invincible (Late 2023)

Another Prime Video original series, Invincible will finally be returning for its second season. This animated series has done a really good job of keeping true with the spirit of the comic, providing a no frills story with likable (and otherwise) characters, great voice acting, and clean animation. The series’ structure promotes a lot of cliffhangers that really stick the landing for building anticipation for the next episode. There is plenty of story left for this series to explore and with a season 3 already announced, the second season can take its time to tell a cohesive story without being bogged down with the fear of cancellation.

6. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (June 2, 2023)

Although the first film did not live up to the "best superhero movie ever" moniker that many branded it with, it does deserve to live among the most fun comicbook films. Into the Spider-Verse did nothing poorly: it had solid writing, a stunning use of animation styles, fun characters, and an easy to digest narrative for all ages. All Across the Spider-Verse really has to do is match those qualities, but this sequel has the added benefit of diving deeper into the multiverse for tons of fan service in the form of different Spider-Mans. The story should be good and, based on the footage thus far, will offer an interesting hero versus hero narrative. Ultimately, it is the prospect of seeing a variety of Spider-Mans on screen with the unique animation styles that really drives the excitement for this sequel.

5. The Marvels (July 28, 2023)

Captain Marvel was not the crapshoot the internet army claimed it to be, however, it was not on the same level as most of fellow entries. The premise for the sequel was set-up at the end of Ms. Marvel and is an interesting one, with Carol and Kamala swapping places after using their powers. This phenomenon will be impacting all three of the female heroines, which leads to their team-up to determine the cause. There is something about the cosmic side of the MCU that is so interesting and very little of it has truly been touched on. Monica Rambeau’s return aside, newly minted Ms. Marvel, Iman Vellani, perfectly represented the character in her own title series and is sure to offer a breath of fresh air in her interactions with Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel. Even with the stain many have attempted to leave on its predecessor, the prospect of a fun space adventure with these three characters playing off each other is deserving of a top honor.

4. X-Men '97 (2023)

In most years, any new X-Men content would be a shoe-in for number one most anticipated. As much as I love the X-Men animated series, the investment in the ongoing MCU leaves the eventual live-action versions of these characters as the real number one priority. Nevertheless, returning to this franchise with any form of new material is a dream. Continuing the story from where it left off with a dying Profession Xavier being carted off by the Shi’ar empire, early reveals show the series will have the same look and feel from the popular Fox Kids program to tickle the nostalgia funny bones. Much of the original cast will also be returning to voice their respective mutants to battle Mr. Sinister and the Hellfire Club. The biggest question is what other major stories the series will tackle after the first five seasons hit on most of the major X-Men stories up to that point. No matter what direction this sequel series goes in, it will have a loyal fanbase waiting on bated breath.

3. Secret Invasion (Early 2023)

There has not been an MCU Disney+ series that has truly felt like a must-watch event. Unless Marvel Studios truly improves the overall quality of these series, they will never even approach the hype of the MCU’s feature films. However, Secret Invasion is a shapeshifter-centric storyline that, if done correctly, should offer enough twists and thrills to elevate itself in the direction of a silver screen blockbuster. Though there is no confidence inducing track record with their live-action series, Marvel Studios has generally done justice to its event stories and could easily elicit that success out of the star-studded cast of Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Emilia Clarke, Olivia Coleman, and Kingsley Ben-Adir.

2. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (February 17, 2023)

All hail Kang the Conqueror!!! Not really, but also very really. The first Ant-Man film is an underrated gem that propelled Paul Rudd’s rendition of the character as a lovable mainstay. The family-oriented approach to this franchise has been quite endearing and will only raise the stakes of this third entry. This movie will, more importantly, open the door to the big picture of the current Multiverse Phase with the introduction of Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror, after his debut as a variant of the character in the Loki series. Adding to that excitement is the return to the quantum realm and a deeper exploration of its mysteries and lore. Audiences might be surprised with a darker tone if the trailer’s are to be believed and, with all things considered, could easily be the most important MCU movie since Endgame.

1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (May 5, 2023)

As praised as James Gunn’s MCU entries have been, I have found them to be a tale of two extremes. Guardians of the Galaxy remains a top-5 MCU entry, while Vol. II, though it has endearing qualities, finds itself sitting with the bottom-dwellers. But the latest trailer and the faith I have in Gunn’s vision for his final entry makes for a high level of anticipation. The introduction of Adam Warlock is sure to make waves for the MCU and the expectation that at least one Guardian will die carries a bittersweet excitement towards the gravity of the film. This franchise also simply holds the best group of characters held over from the Infinity Saga. The MCU has grown exponentially since GOTG Vol. II, but the personal stories of this ragtag team should deliver a small-scale satisfaction and emotional ending that rivals the MCU’s best.

Which of these 2023 offers are you most excited for?

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