Comics--Past and Future 6

 Continuing this discussion, the last part of which was here. 

 It could be that the two major comics publishers, DC and Marvel, could accomplish some of what I suggest is needed--expanding their readership beyond the current base of superhero fans--simply be reactivating some projects and properties they already own.

At DC, there are three that come immediately to mind:

Blackhawk. This international team of pilots could be portrayed as a sort of flying A-Team, a group of specialists for hire. Or, if you prefer, a variation on Britain's Thunderbirds. Stories could range from warfare to espionage to covert anti-crime missions.

Sugar and Spike. Chances are no one could handle these pre-verbal tykes as charmingly as their late creator, Shelly Mayer, so why try? DC has several decades worth of the originals to reprint. These are the model for successful series such as Rugrats and Muppet Babies...why not re-present them now?

Amethyst, Princess of Gem World. When DC first published this title in the 1970s, I argued it was custom-made for marketing to pre-teen girls, complete with an animated adaptation and a line of toys. But I guess nobody at DC back then was smart enough to see what they had...even after properties like Sailor Moon and Jem and the Holograms showed them the way. Is anyone there (or at their corporate owners) wise enough to see it today?

Marvel has fewer of these types of titles to pick from, as even in the 1940s, '50s, and '60s, they were less diverse than DC. But there are two I think could work:

Millie the Model. Recast it as the beginnings of Millie's career, not the heights of it. Shows like Project Runway and America's Top Model demonstrate a public interest in the fashion world; all that's needed is a writer and artist with the ability to translate that world to comics.

Patsy Walker. This was Marvel's attempt at an Archie copy...but even in the 1950s, they played it as less of a cartoon than its more successful rival. Since Riverdale has indicated that teen love and angst still has an audience, why not see if you can bring that audience to you?

None of these should be produced as monthly periodicals, either....but as a series of graphic novels, with some continuing storylines from book to book, probably published on a quarterly basis and kept continually in print.

Your thoughts?