DC’s small-screen output has never been richer, yet a handful of fan-favorite characters are still waiting for their moment in the spotlight. Between the interconnected sprawl of the Arrowverse and James Gunn’s increasingly eccentric DC Universe slate, live-action superhero television has proven it can handle just about anything — cosmic weirdness, body horror, detective noir, you name it.
Shows like “Peacemaker,” “Creature Commandos,” and the newly launched “Lanterns” (starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as Hal Jordan and John Stewart) show just how far DC is willing to push format and tone. And with “Lanterns” already shaping up as one of HBO Max’s standout series, it’s clear there’s an appetite for lesser-known corners of the DC mythos.
Given how deep the comic book bench really goes, it’s a little surprising that several beloved characters have never anchored their own series — even when some have already popped up in supporting roles on screen. Below are five DC characters who’ve earned a series of their own, along with the comic runs that could serve as their blueprint.
1. The Question
Batman may claim the title of world’s greatest detective, but he’s never worked a case in a fedora and trenchcoat quite like The Question does. Multiple characters have taken up the mantle over the years, but Renee Montoya is the version DC Studios should build a show around. A former GCPD detective, Montoya steps into the identity after losing both her job and her relationship, giving the character an immediately compelling emotional foundation.
The obvious source material is “The Question: All Along the Watchtower,” a comic that pairs the classic mentor-trains-rookie formula with a genuinely strange premise. In the story, the Justice League brings Montoya aboard as sheriff of the Watchtower — their orbital headquarters — after something starts going seriously wrong up there, and no one can figure out what.
A television adaptation would fit naturally alongside the rest of the DCU’s film and TV slate, largely because of how many heroes and villains would inevitably show up along the way. It also puts a compelling, grounded character front and center: essentially a hardboiled detective story set against a backdrop of cosmic chaos. Between space-faring big cats, a bar built for superheroes, a cyborg version of Superman, and material practically begging for its own theme song, this is about as ready-made a pitch as DC could ask for.
2. Etrigan the Demon
Jason Blood’s story starts in medieval times, when Merlin bound him permanently to a demon named Etrigan. The fusion left Blood essentially immortal, able to summon his demonic alter ego at will simply by reciting a rhyme. Despite the fire-breathing, yellow-skinned exterior, Etrigan brings more nuance to the table than the average monster-of-the-week.
DC has already shown it can nail supernatural horror on TV — 2017’s “Swamp Thing” blended body horror with eerie, otherworldly atmosphere to great effect. Etrigan offers a similar opportunity, with built-in Jekyll-and-Hyde tension between Blood’s human side and his demonic counterpart. There’s an obvious parallel to the Hulk’s man-versus-monster dynamic, but Etrigan’s mythology — rooted in demonology and Arthurian legend rather than gamma radiation — gives it plenty of room to feel distinct.
Etrigan’s comic history is also surprisingly rich for a character who flies under the radar: he’s battled in Hell, clashed with the Justice League, and even mounted a run for President of the United States. That range gives a potential series a lot to draw from, and depending on who’s steering the ship creatively, it could easily lean into horror-comedy territory.
3. Zatanna
For a more traditionally heroic take on DC’s magical side, Zatanna is the clear pick. Following in the footsteps of her father, Giovanni Zatara, she wields magic as both a stage performer and a full-time demon-and-monster fighter. The ideal blueprint is the 2026 run by writer/artist Jamal Campbell, which sees Zatanna named the first Primus Magus on Earth in nearly a thousand years, putting her in charge of overseeing the entire magical realm.
Compared to something more contained like an Etrigan series, this story would allow for a much broader canvas — introducing new dimensions, magical factions, and creatures across the DCU. It’s not purely about spectacle, either. There’s a strong personal thread running through the story as Zatanna grapples with living up to her father’s legacy, particularly after his self-sacrifice against “The Great Evil Beast” in “Swamp Thing” #50.
Zatanna is also a founding member of the Justice League Dark, the team of magic-users and supernatural beings that Warner Bros. has reportedly been trying to bring to live action for years without success. A well-executed Zatanna series could be exactly the foot in the door that finally gets Justice League Dark off the ground.
4. Mister Terrific
The case for Mister Terrific practically makes itself. Reports have already suggested a “Mister Terrific” spin-off is in development, but nothing has been confirmed yet — which is exactly why he belongs on this list. Played by Edi Gathegi, Mister Terrific is one of the smartest minds in the DC Universe, blending elite tech skills with sharp detective instincts to round out the Justice Gang. His gadgets and quick thinking made him a standout in 2025’s “Superman,” and a solo series would be the perfect chance to dig deeper into his character.
The natural source material is “Strange Adventures” by Tom King, Mitch Gerads, and Evan Shaner, in which Batman enlists Mister Terrific to investigate whether space hero Adam Strange is secretly a war criminal. Since Batman hasn’t yet been introduced into the DCU proper, that role could easily shift to Superman instead — though there’s also a case for using a Mister Terrific series as Batman’s formal entry point, if Gunn wanted to go that route. Either way, the real draw is more screen time for Gathegi’s take on the character, whose blend of intellect and charisma made him one of the more memorable additions to the DCU so far.
5. Martian Manhunter
For something genuinely different, Martian Manhunter offers the most ambitious pitch on this list. In mainstream DC continuity, he’s a shapeshifting alien with a suite of psychic abilities, quietly wrestling with what it means to live as an outsider on Earth. But the recent “Absolute Martian Manhunter” series — from writer Deniz Camp and artist Javier Rodríguez — reimagines the character through a far more experimental lens, and the results are striking.
In this version, FBI Agent John Jones becomes host to a mysterious entity called The Martian in the small town of Middleton, Colorado. The entity grants Jones the ability to perceive other people’s thoughts and memories, all rendered through vivid, psychedelic visuals. As he adjusts to his new powers, Jones uncovers a town-wide conspiracy tied to a second metaphysical force turning residents into darker versions of themselves.
A TV adaptation of this story could be visually daring and genuinely unlike anything else in the DCU — whether told in live action or, perhaps even more fittingly, as an animated series that leans into Rodríguez’s distinctive art style. DC has already been experimenting with animation through projects like “Creature Commandos” and the upcoming “Mister Miracle” series, so the appetite — and the format — clearly exists. However it’s eventually adapted, John Jones and The Martian deserve real screen time of their own.
FAQs
Which DC characters have never had their own TV show?
The Question (Renee Montoya), Etrigan the Demon, Zatanna, Mister Terrific, and Martian Manhunter have all appeared in DC media over the years but have never headlined a solo series.
Is a Mister Terrific TV show actually happening?
There have been reports of a potential “Mister Terrific” spin-off in development following Edi Gathegi’s appearance in 2025’s “Superman,” but as of now nothing has been officially confirmed by DC Studios or HBO Max.
What comic would a Zatanna show be based on?
The strongest candidate is Jamal Campbell’s 2026 run, which sees Zatanna become the first Primus Magus on Earth in nearly a millennium, tasked with overseeing the world of magic.
Why hasn’t Justice League Dark happened yet?
Warner Bros. has reportedly explored a live-action Justice League Dark project for years without it moving forward. A solo Zatanna series is seen as a potential stepping stone toward finally getting the team on screen.
Would a Martian Manhunter show be live action or animated?
It’s unclear, but given the psychedelic, artistic style of “Absolute Martian Manhunter,” many believe an animated adaptation would better capture the source material’s visual tone than live action.
What is “Lanterns” and how does it fit into this DC TV wave?
“Lanterns” is an HBO Max series starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as Hal Jordan and John Stewart. It’s part of the broader DC Universe TV expansion under James Gunn that has opened the door for more niche characters to get their own shows.
Conclusion
DC’s television slate has grown bold enough to support just about any tone or genre, from the noir detective energy of The Question to the trippy psychological horror of Martian Manhunter. That flexibility is exactly why characters like Etrigan, Zatanna, and Mister Terrific feel less like long shots and more like inevitabilities — the source material is there, the appetite from audiences is there, and DC Studios has already proven it isn’t afraid to get weird.
What ties all five of these characters together is that each comes with a specific, ready-made comic arc that could anchor a series without much reinvention. That’s a rare gift for any studio trying to expand a shared universe, and it suggests DC’s next wave of TV hits might not come from its most famous names, but from the characters patiently waiting in the wings.
Which of these five would you want to see get a series first — and which comic run would you want it to follow? Let us know in the comments.
