5 Writer/Character Matchups I'd Like to See

As we've seen, many non-comic writers (like Brad Meltzer, Allan Heinberg, and Jodi Picoult) have been matched to some comics projects with mixed results. However, in the spirit of "how cool would that be", I am suggesting some writers who could do some cool things with specific comic characters.

(To the companies involved - if you use one of my ideas, I deserve a finder's fee. A huge one)

1. Rob Thomas on Supergirl/Legion of Super Heroes: It seems like an almost cliche pairing (given Thomas' work on Veronica Mars), but I think it goes a little deeper. Both Veronica and Supergirl are teenage girls who are outsiders - one in high school, the other in the super-hero community. With his ability for sharp dialogue, great plotting, and an atypical father/daughter relationship (at least, atypical for television), it seems only natural that he take the reigns of a character and give her some further dimensions. (Plus, his slightly knowing take on high school dynamics might make a great addition to Legion of Super Heroes).
2. Sara Paretsky on Black Canary: Again, it might seem obvious (Paretsky's main character being a hard boiled female PI), but my selection goes deeper. Paretsky's writing seamlessly melds social consciousness with hard boiled atmospherics - with the Canary coming into her own as a character, this seems an almost natural match. Make Dinah Lance more of a crusader, and have some friction between her and Oliver Queen (mostly in terms of class and wealth), and you have the makings of a great series, and Paretsky would deliver an excellent comic series.
3. Robert B. Parker on Batman: Let's look at how Spenser's creator fits the character....knight errant fighting for justice in his own way - Check. Interesting supporting cast, mostly in terms of main character's "building" a family - Check. Skewed take on justice and fairness, with some moral ambiguities- Check. Enough face punching action to keep ISB and Long Box fans happy - Check. Novel that could serve as template for Batman/Robin relationship - Check.
4. Jonathan Kellerman on Doc Samson: Kellerman's work focuses mostly on Alex Delaware, a clinical psychiatrist who consults with the police on murders. (Kellerman's also written about an LA Detective, and even wrote a murder mystery set in Israel.) Match him up with Doc Samson, make Doc a consulting psychologist to, say, SHIELD in a post-Civil War Marvel Universe, and you'll get a cool-as-heck series.
5. TIE - Simply Because I Can't Decide Which is Cooler:

• Jasper Fforde on Exiles - His Thursday Next novels are metatextual takes combining Monty Python surrealism, Douglas Adams whimsy, and a love of English literature (as well as parallel universes). His latest novels are hard-boiled mysteries featuring nursery rhyme characters. Who else would be appropriate to invigorate Marvel's universe-hopping mutants, giving them a slightly loopier tone, but also increasing the danger?
• Robert R. McCammon on Swamp Thing - Much of McCammon's early novels combined horror contrasting with real world settings, including werewolves in World War II, vampires in Los Angeles, and alien bounty hunting bees. So, since DC seems churlish on bringing Swampy into the regular universe, why not have McCammon have a go? At the very least, Swamp Thing won't be as lame.

Now, realistically, these will never happen, but just remember - there are two lessons you can walk away with after reading this post.

One, there are some great authors to read and watch - here are six suggestions. When you don't want to read a comic, head for one of these fine people.

Secondly, I have way too much free time on my hands.