Smallville enjoyed a decade-long run as the face of DC Comics on television, and since it ended last season, Warner Bros. and The CW have evidently been looking for another DC property to take its place on the idiot box.  Just over two weeks ago, we learned about Arrow, a potential pilot that would make use of Green Arrow, the bow and arrow wielding protector of fictitious Star City created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp in 1941.  Well, it's going to pilot, and it has found a leading man, as Stephen Amell has been cast as Oliver Queen.

A few weeks ago we learned that The CW was on the verge of ordering a pilot for a potential series based on Green Arrow, the DC Comics hero created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp way back in 1941.  Last week, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the network ordered the pilot to a series that would be entitled Arrow, along with pilots for a Sex and the City prequel, and a contemporary Beauty and the Beast.  Though the character, Oliver Queen, played a major recurring role on the long-lived but recently closed-out DC series Smallville, actor Justin Hartley will not be returning, and a newly-revealed casting breakdown gives a good idea of this new Arrow, along with his supporting characters.

Over the last ten years and change, superheroes of every stripe have come to dominate the blockbuster movie landscape, yet for the most part, the vast plains of television have yet to be successfully colonized by spandex-sporting neon gods.  There have been plenty of kid-oriented animated series, but not so many live-action series.  There are currently several in development, meaning that the idiot box might just finally get its share of superheroics.  One potential show that might just become a reality is an in-development Green Arrow series based on the DC Comics character.

Marvel Studios second superhero film of the summer, Captain America: The First Avenger not only introduced the world to Steve Rogers and his heroic alter ego but it also gave us our first look at another fan-favorite group of heroes from “The House of Ideas” … the Howling Commandoes.

The Howling Commandoes first appeared in the comics as an elite special unit formed in World War II by Nick Fury and the team consisted of Corporal Timothy Aloysius Cadwallander “Dum Dum” Dugan, Private Gabriel Jones, Private Robert “Rebel” Ralston, Private Dino Manelli, Private Isadore “Izzy” Cohen, and Private Jonathan “Junior” Juniper. However, in the film the team closer resembled The Invaders, which was essentially a WWII era version of The Avengers that first appeared in the comics in 1969. Captain America, Bucky Barnes, and Montgomery Falsworth (better known as Union Jack) are all Invaders members who were included as Hollowing Commandoes in the film, while Dugan, Jones, Jim Morita, and Jacques Dernier were actual Howlers from the comics who rounded out the movie’s team.

One of the most beloved members of the Howling Commandoes by far is the bowler hat wearing Dum Dum Dugan, who was played by actor Neal McDonough (Minority Report) in Captain America: The First Avenger. In the comics, Dugan survived WWII and would eventually go on to become Nick Fury’s second in command at S.H.I.E.L.D. It should also be mentioned that McDonough is no stranger to playing superheroes having recently voiced DC Comics’ popular character Green Arrow in the 2010 animated short film, DC Showcase: Green Arrow. On Friday, I had a chance to speak with actor Neal McDonough about playing Dum Dum Dugan in Captain America: The First Avenger, which will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 25^th.

While talking about the film, McDonough said this about playing the role of Dum Dum Dugan. “It was a blast to play him and I still look forward to Cap 2, Nick Fury or any other films in the future.” This comment peaked my interest and I decided to follow up asking McDonough specifically about his involvement in those two upcoming projects. While we won’t be running my conversation with the actor about shooting Captain America: The First Avenger until closer to the films home media release, I wanted to let you know what he had to say about Captain America 2 and Nick Fury. I also took the opportunity to ask the actor about the recent announcement that he will be playing the villain in season 3 of the hit FX series Justified, as well as the possibility of reprising his role as Green Arrow in a live action feature film based on the emerald archer.

This week, ascendant Warner Bros Studio President Jeff Robinov revealed that he hopes to have a Justice League movie in theaters by 2013.  This film have different interpretations of Batman and Superman, so new Superman Henry Cavill is going to compete with another actor playing Supes in a whole different franchise.  Rather than overplaying the most famous superheroes, we here at IAR figured it might be a better idea to show some love for lesser-known comic book saviors.  After all, Iron Man proved that you don't need the biggest heroes to make a bona fide box office success.  So check out these ten comic book heroes who deserve the big screen treatment.