SwanShadow Thinks Out Loud

As a voice actor — and in particular, a voice actor with a yen to work in animation — I often think about characters that I would enjoy voicing, if given the opportunity.

As a comic book fanatic — and in particular, a comic book fanatic who also happens to be a voice actor — I think especially about comic book characters that I would enjoy voicing, if given the opportunity.

Herewith, then, Uncle Swan’s Top Seven Superheroes He’d Like to Play in an Animated Series or Feature. (Animation directors and casting professionals, kindly take note.)

7. The Rocketeer.

Someone really ought to do an animated version of the late, great Dave Stevens’s signature character that would do justice to Stevens’s memory. Then, that someone should hire me to play Cliff Secord, because no one else would approach the job with as much enthusiasm. And, playing a character requiring different vocal qualities when speaking with and without his helmet would pose an intriguing challenge.

6. Daredevil.

Playing Daredevil would be kind of like playing Batman, only without the added burden of living up to the solidly established vocalization created by Kevin Conroy over the past decade and a half. It would also be interesting to physicalize a blind character — how would I get that aspect across vocally?

5. Booster Gold.

Snarky, smarmy, borderline obnoxious know-it-alls are right up my alley. Some might call it typecasting. Besides which, my natural speaking voice sounds like a hyperactive surfer dude (30 years in California will do that to you), and that’s how I imagine that Booster would talk.

4. Doctor Strange.

I’m actually not a major Doctor Strange buff — he’s a bit outré for my tastes. But I would totally dig on spouting dialogue laced with such juicy epithets as, “By the hoary hosts of Hoggoth!” and “Begone, dread Dormammu! I alone possess the all-seeing Eye of Agamotto!”

3. Green Arrow.

Oliver Queen would be a blast to portray. He’s egotistical, passionate, crass, and more than a little bent. He has to be — he’s constantly engaging in close-quarters, hand-to-hand combat using a weapon best used from long distance. What kind of sane individual does that?

2. The Prowler.

One of my all-time favorite characters, the Prowler deserves to be a far bigger star than he is. With my voice emanating from behind his mask, he just might become one.

1. Mr. Terrific.

Technological genius? Check. Third-smartest man in the world? Check. Dashingly handsome behind a stick-on T-shaped facial appliance? I’ll work on it. Don’t you just have to love a guy with the chutzpah to refer to himself as Mr. Terrific? I’ll bet he gets all the ladies.

Some of you may be wondering why my two all-time favorite heroes, the Black Panther and Spider-Man, aren’t on this list. The answer on Spidey should be obvious — he’s been done and overdone by plenty of other actors. I was trying to focus on characters whose voices and personas are less familiar to the general public, thereby offering me more latitude to establish a fresh take.

As for the Panther… I can’t do a credible African accent, and the character demands that. Djimon Hounsou is voicing T’Challa in the upcoming Black Panther animated series, and is an absolutely perfect choice for the role.

If you need Mr. Terrific, though… have your people call my people.

And that’s your Comic Art Friday.

[View the back catalog of Comic Art Friday posts here.]

This entry was posted on June 26, 2009 at 12:19 am and is filed under Comic Art Friday. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.