10 DC heroes who should've been in Justice League

This weekend, comic book fans will finally be able to see the Justice League on-screen together. But while the film’s roster of superheroes is impressive — Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg, The Flash, and Superman — the canon of DC icons is even wider and deeper. We here at EW couldn’t help but wonder how the film could have been different with another one or two of our favorite heroes up there on screen kicking Parademon butt.

Below, we rounded up our biggest omissions.

Martian Manhunter

J’onn J’onzz is the heart and soul of the league, having been there for almost every incarnation of it. In fact, one of the most disappointing things about the New 52, DC Comics’ 2011 reboot, was Martian Manhunter’s absence from the League’s origin story. Supergirl‘s take on the Martian has already proven that he’s a poignant and compelling character who isn’t in need of any kind of reboot (unlike a certain Batman v Superman executive producer once suggested). —Chancellor Agard

Green Lantern John Stewart

It’s easy to see why DC decided against including Green Lantern in the Justice League lineup. Their previous attempt to translate the character to screen failed catastrophically (except in the sense that it kick-started costars Ryan Reynolds’ and Blake Lively’s relationship). But one reason for that might be that 2011’s Green Lantern movie focused on the Hal Jordan version of the character, and not the John Stewart version popularized by the Justice League cartoon. Although Hal has been Green Lantern for longer, he’s actually a fairly boring character — a hotshot pilot with a devil-may-care attitude just doesn’t feel vibrant anymore, if it ever did. John Stewart, by contrast, is driven by a real desire to do justice in the world — which comes complete with lingering guilt over the lives he’s killed in the process. Plus, his background as both an architect and a veteran allows him to produce some really cool constructs with his ring. —Christian Holub

Hawkgirl

Hawkman is a bore, but Hawkgirl, specifically the DC Animated Universe‘s interpretation of her, is a fun and fierce character whose alien origin would spice up make the League’s current line-up. An undercover Thanagarian scout, Shayera is torn between her loyalty to her home planet and her newfound family on Earth, which organically creates tension for the League that rises above the action-figure smashing of Marvel’s Civil War storyline. Honestly, I really just want DC’s cinematic universe to become more like the DCAU, which remains the best distillation of the DC Comics ever. —CA

Mister Miracle and Big Barda

They currently star in the year’s best superhero comic, and it’s safe to say Mister Miracle and Big Barda could have brought some of that energy to the big screen. For one thing, they hail from the same “Fourth World” universe of Jack Kirby characters that produced Justice League villain Steppenwolf, so it would make for easy integration. For another thing, they are happily married, a rarity in the superhero community. Their dynamic could add some much-needed sexiness to the proceedings, while also painting a picture of a healthy and supportive relationship. This isn’t Civil War, we don’t need superheroes at each other’s throats all the time. —CH

Wonder Twins (and Mighty Monkey)

Look, I’m sure Cyborg flinging Aquaman at a bunch of parademons in the sky looks awesome in context, but imagine how delightfully absurd it would be to have an eagle (Jayna, who can transform into any animal) fly into the final battle carrying only a bucket of water (her twin Zan, who can transform into any form of water), or if the twins rolled into the fray in the form of an octopus riding an ice unicycle. TL;DR: Do it for the lolz. — CA

Blue Beetle and Booster Gold

They may not look like much, but these friends were the heart and soul of the comic-book Justice League for years. Booster’s a fun-loving time traveler from the future, and Beetle’s an inventive whiz. But if that buddy dynamic isn’t enough, you could always use the Jaime Reyes version of Blue Beetle, who comes with a cool suit powered by a mystical scarab. —CH

The Question

Having Zack Snyder, who is working on an adaptation of The Fountainhead, take on Steve Ditko’s faceless, Randian conspiracy theorist seems like the perfect match waiting to happen. (Moreover, it’s hard not to want more of the Question after watching Justice League Unlimited). —CA

Plastic Man

His name certainly won’t strike fear into the hearts of supervillains, but Plastic Man’s shapeshifting abilities actually make for a pretty useful power. Plus, his trademark snark could help bring some levity and fun to the superheroics. Jason Momoa constantly screaming “yeahhhhhh” doesn’t quite cut it in that department. —CH

Ambush Bug

“Wait, who the hell is Ambush Bug?” Readers may ask, and well you should — just remember that many people once asked a similar question about Deadpool. And just as Deadpool‘s irreverence for established superhero tropes helped steer the X-Men universe into colorful new directions, a dose of meta-humor from DC’s resident fourth-wall-breaker could bring some of that same energy to another on-screen superhero franchise that badly needs it. —CH