Deadpool and the Punisher. We’ve seen them at odds, now let’s see them play nice. Unfortunately, as soon as Deadpool opens his mouth, it’s quite likely the Punisher will put a gun in it. Such is the amount of B.S. that flows copiously from the Merc with a Mouth. And such is the Punisher’s lack of patience for same. But for the approximately 1 issue this team-up would last, it’d be a barrel of laughs. Failing this partnership, let’s try…

Deadpool and The Tick. Take the functioning equivalent of a child and place him in an enormous, indestructible body. Then place him in a team with Deadpool, whose serious lack of maturity and poor impulse control could see the pair of them fall into a whole mess of misadventures. So many, in fact, that readers would probably start to doubt their hero status (if they gave The Tick much to begin with…). As amusing as it would be to see Deadpool scream “Spoon!” repeatedly, as he’d yet again fail to find a unique catchphrase of his own, sooner or later the honeymoon period would wear off. So how about…

Rorschach and Deadpool. Sharing a common bond of batcrap insanity, these two could be peas in a pod. Though they’re both crazy in completely different ways, they’re both utterly awesome. And while we’re fairly certain Deadpool would adore Rorschach, Rorschach would probably just tolerate his newfound partner…barely. But as neither is afraid of going out vigilante style, they’d probably work together quite well. And the dialogue would be, well, simply nuts.

X-23 and Wild Thing. The mysterious daughter of Wolverine and Elektra, known as Wild Thing, doesn’t get much play in the Marvel universe. Her psychic claws inflict pain but leave no physical damage. X-23, on the other hand, is a physical claw-slashing killing machine fashioned as the genetic twin of Wild Thing’s dearest daddy. Somehow the idea of these two young women, both with Wolverine’s powers (albeit slightly modified), forming a partnership and, dare I say it, a friendship, is appealing. One of the most fascinating things we comic geeks get to experience as we read a series is the development of a character from a point of relative weakness to, often, a point of insane strength – of personality and of power. Wild Thing hasn’t had her chance to fully shine, but with X-23 by her side, she’d earn her time in the spotlight.

Michonne (The Walking Dead), Ash (Evil Dead), Ben (Night of the Living Dead), Selena (28 Days Later) and Sherlock Holmes (Victorian Undead). They’ve all done it individually: kicked some serious zombie butt. Can you imagine the powerhouse punch they’d pack against the undead if they teamed up? It’d be an absolute blur of katana slicing, machete chopping, shot guns blaring, and more fists and feet flying than you could ever hope to track with one pair of eyes. And at the end of the day, no matter how much gore they’re covered in or what sorts of absolute horrors they’ve witnessed, they could put their heads to pillow at night knowing all’s right with the world with a mere utterance: “Elementary, my dear Watson.”

Black Terror (Project Superpowers), Midnighter (The Authority), Batman and Black Panther. Do you know what lurks in the shadows? It’s these guys, primarily. And if they emerge together as one unit, think of the mass destruction they could wreak upon villainous sorts everywhere. Another group that wouldn’t be afraid to operate above and beyond the law, with their unpredictable methods and moods, we’d cling to each issue’s every word until we’d inevitably see what we came for: the good guys win. And win big. In the end, isn’t that what we really love?

Having already addressed the pressing issue of defunct comics I’d like to bring back earlier this week, I’m now turning my greedy eyes towards the individual characters I’d like to see receive their own titles, for each to enjoy at least 15 minutes of geek fame.

In no special order, I’d grant the following their share of the spotlight.

Nite Owl & Rorschach: The adventures of this potentially dynamic duo were alluded to in The Watchmen, but never materialized in the form of a separate book. And since Alan Moore turned down DC’s offer of the rights to The Watchmen in return for prequel and sequel work, we’re not likely to see their prior lives without divine intervention. Still, there are bound to be tales in their complicated pasts that I’d enjoy reading, and for that reason alone, I’m willing Alan Moore to work it out.

Jeffrey Garrett: AKA the dead kid from Academy X. Although he was present as early as X-Treme X-Men #20, he played his most memorable role in X-Men history as a student killed when Magneto destroyed the school. As a result his ghost haunted the rebuilt academy. Discovered and tamed by the New Mutants, Jeffrey went on to be a spectral student until Scarlet Witch’s reversal of mutant powers basically erased him from print. I feel there’s a lot that can be done with a ghost whose ability to affect reality is still so strong that he could, as we see in David’s dream, destroy an entire continent. And a ghost who remains a child with childlike impulses, as well. Jeffrey’s tale is really one of melancholy, and a limited run series exploring his time at Professor Xavier’s school would be one I’d surely collect.

Edwin Jarvis: AKA the consummate butler, originally in Tony Stark’s employment but now an important member of the supporting cast for the Avengers. The stories of the unsung always interest me, particularly when it comes to those who’ve put up with years of back story we can only imagine (even on top of decades of stories we already know). What kinds of beans does Jarvis have to spill? Inquiring minds want to know. Even if it’s only a one-shot, Jarvis has more than earned the spotlight for his years of faithful service to an often unmanageable cast of characters. (And let’s face it. Doesn’t being torn apart and eaten by your employers [Marvel Zombies] earn you a big break?)

Michonne: This unpredictable heroine of The Walking Dead is at times so twisted I look forward to seeing her part in the tale unfold from month to month just about more than any other character. While she’s not the main protagonist in the series, she’s become a massive force to be reckoned with, and I’d like to see how she got that way. Like, from the very beginning. A Michonne origins title would be exceptionally well received not just by me, but by the countless other geeks who hang on Robert Kirkman’s every word. We get a glimpse of Michonne’s past in the series, but a glimpse simply isn’t enough. This katana-wielding ass-kicking lawyer has far more to tell.

Evey Hammond: Let’s face it. Judging not only from my previous mention of V for Vendetta as a title I’d like to bring back from the dead, but also from the fact that the creators left the door wide open for any such spin-off material, Evey Hammond as V simply had to make this list. She emerged a pretty tough cookie in the end. Would she hold under pressure? Could she get away with the role? Does the world even need a V anymore, with the wheels of anarchy already in motion? There are plenty of questions. It’s high time we discovered the answers.

Stay tuned for part 3, wherein I deftly arrange superheroes into dream teams with more panache than a world-class interior decorator with Donald Trump’s budget!

Are you a bona fide comics geek, like me? You should check out Why I gave up comic books and its rebuttal Why I haven’t given up on comics here on ForeverGeek, too!

Consider me the Veruca Salt of comic book geeks.

First up in the grand scheme of things I’d change in the world of comics is to enact a rule by which all title cancellations would have to meet my approval and all previous cancellations, if met with my displeasure, would be undone. Add to this the option of bringing back any series that’s simply run its natural course. (I like to think this would generally improve the comic experience for fans everywhere, but it’d probably only serve to make it impossible to collect anything for sheer quantity of material.)

My messianic powers of comic book resurrection would touch the following titles, in no particular order of urgency.

Captain Britain and MI: 13: As a chick with a thing for Psylocke, it grieves me to think the name she once borrowed has lost its share of the spotlight. Captain Britain, the UK’s answer to Captain America, debuted in 1976 but his most recent series met the axe in 2009. I’ve always deducted points from Captain Britain for name and concept originality, and this title has never particularly registered as a big fan favorite. I, for one, have never gone ape for tales of Dracula on the moon. But more than the content of the series itself, I appreciate the delicious irony of its Hugo nomination after it got the chop. I may be the only person to read it, but I’ll take it.

Ms. Marvel: This sometimes-feminist has undeniably become one of Marvel’s most remarkable characters, likable both in her personality and her powers. The aforementioned feminism is the root of some controversy surrounding the title, but that hasn’t stopped her creators from confusing fans and activists alike since 1977. For my part, I love unfettered girl power – especially when it’s in thigh highs and a leotard – and I was disappointed to see her title go. At least she’s still around as a member of the New Avengers.

The Watchmen: DC had a good thing going with this dark title, which began and ended as a limited run series in 1986/1987. As a bonus it was adapted to film very well, something many, many…many comics can’t boast. What frustrates me is that when recently offered back the rights to The Watchmen on the condition that he create a prequel and sequel, writer Alan Moore flipped DC the bird. Thus we wallow without additional adventures of unforgettable characters like the inkblot-masked Rorschach.

V for Vendetta: I’ll readily admit I love a superpowered hero as much as the next geek, but some titles are made much more intriguing by a lack of superpowers and a boost of cold, hard realism. Add a heaping spoonful of politics and history with a heavy dose of anarchy, and you have a comic that I personally just about shed a tear to see end. I’ll also readily admit that it probably wouldn’t bear the same weight without the primary incarnation of its hero V, but there’s still a lot of room for growth and a lot left to be said.

Concrete: A seemingly unsung title – apart from its four Eisner Awards – Concrete’s simple black and white artwork may not make it a flashy read, but it’s an enjoyable one. It’s a shame that this solid Dark Horse series has all but faded into obscurity. At least if the rumored film adaptation with Bill Murray had materialized, we’d have a likely cult classic to relive Concrete by. As it stands, the alien-engineered rocky hero’s hearty adventures, which he embarks upon simply because he can, must languish in the past.

Up next in my free reign to complain are characters I’d like to see with their own titles, so stay tuned!

“While you’re visiting, there is something you need to know to survive in Netropolis. There are no police here; no Emergency Services. You are alone in this city of darkness and light, alone and vulnerable.

That is why we built Norton HQ – a beacon of security against the dangers lurking around every corner. A place you can trust when you come to Netropolis, a place where someone will watch over you.”

Maybe I’m wrong, but I get the feeling that, in general, those for whom comics in this genre will appeal already know about computer security, and as likely aren’t using Norton products.

What do you think? Take a look at some pics of Norton’s “we’re trying so hard not to be corporate” comic: