Nick Fury
First appeared: Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos #1 (Marvel) 1963
Origin: Long characterized as a Cold War spymaster, Fury was restyled to resemble Samuel L. Jackson.
Movie potential: Jackson dons Fury’s eye patch in Iron Man, sparking fanboy demand for his own muthafuckin’ franchise.
Hollywood identity: Relying on focus groups, the studio will probably cast Martin Lawrence.
The Savage Dragon
First appeared: The Savage Dragon #1 (Image) 1992
Origin: A green-skinned, head-finned powerhouse wakes up in a burning field with no memory of anything except the last few months’ worth of cable TV and joins the Chicago police department. Who wouldn’t?
Movie potential: He’s got the blend of sarcasm, superstrength, and general indie-comic weirdness that made Hellboy a cult hit.
Hollywood identity: Just spraypaint the Rock green.
Emma Frost
First appeared: Uncanny X-Men #129 (Marvel) 1980
Origin: Bad girl gone good! This mutant telepath, a.k.a. the White Queen, ditched the nefarious Hellfire Club (named after an infamous N.Y.C. S&M joint) to join the X-Men.
Movie potential: Her dominatrix style would make her a va-va-voomish addition to the Wolverine flicks.
Hollywood identity: Charlize Theron is wearing this outfit in our heads.
The Flaming Carrot
First appeared: Visions #1 (Vision) 1979
Origin: After reading 5,000 comics, this working-class surrealist hero launches a war on crime using a carrot mask and a pogo stick.
Movie potential: A concept rich in satirical humor and beta carotene; it could make the zaniest superhero movie since, um, Howard the Duck.
Hollywood identity: We’d say Carrot Top, but he’s probably much, much too busy.
Thor
First appeared: Journey Into Mystery #83 (Marvel) 1962
Origin: The God of Thunder is a square-jawed, kinda dumb blond with one boot in Norse mythology and one on Earth.
Movie potential: By Odin’s beard! With Hulk-like strength and a storm-wreaking Hammer, all Thor needs is a Led Zep soundtrack.
Hollywood identity: Your winged helmet awaits, McConaughey.
The Green Arrow
First appeared: More Fun Comics #73 (D.C.) 1941
Origin: Robin Hood redux: Millionaire playboy becomes master archer to survive a shipwreck, then defends the helpless and left-wing social causes back in Star City.
Movie potential: Kevin Smith made this goateed cheeseball hip again by penning a limited series long on cred, violence, and references to oral sex.
Hollywood identity: Is Sean Penn’s facial hair a fashion statement or Method preparation?