You've been living in your own Batcave if you've failed to notice the impact comic books have recently had on the entertainment industry. TV shows, games, and movies are capitalizing big time on what used to be (and perhaps still is) a relatively niche product. I heard a young person recently say that the, "The Dark Knight is the "defining movie of his generation," yet when asked, admitted he'd never picked up a Batman comic. (A similar claim could probably be made for many casual sports gamers; how many "Maddenites" have never watched an NFL game from whistle to whistle?) Regardless, comic properties are hotter than ever, and are finding their way into mainstream avenues like never before.

An upcoming example is Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. Similar to the old Capcom vs. Marvel fighting games of previous generations, this game looks to shoehorn popular characters like Superman and Batman into an altogether different universe. We can predict that the results will vary, depending on the gamer's acceptance of the premise. However, we can also assume that the game might sell well, simply because of the capes on the front of the box.

What if sports publishers decided to look to comic universes to help peddle their games? Sports and comics have a long history together, dating back to at least 1941. World's Finest No. 3 features Batman at the plate, Robin in catcher's gear, and Superman putting his blue uniform to good use as the umpire. More recently, Shaq has played Steel; nicknames like "The Human Joystick" and "The Big Hurt" imply larger-than-life (even superhuman) powers. It's not a stretch to imagine a sports video game someday incorporating our favorite pen and ink characters.

A friend and lifelong comic aficionado has always yearned for an X-Men football game: picture an evasive Beast avoiding a Wolverine tackle, or Colossus launching a deep bomb toward an open space -- when suddenly Nightcrawler "poofs" in for the touchdown. The idea is no more or less silly than other crossovers (or Mutant League Football), and might create a unique party game where simulation football has no place. Here are three additional ideas that combine a passion for sports with the surging interest in comic properties:

DC's Cosmic Games: Take the standard Olympic "button-masher," drop it on a distant planet, infuse it with a "galaxy in the balance" storyline, and finally populate it with DC's heroes. You draft a team like in the Ultimate Alliance: a thrower, a sprinter, a swimmer (go Aquaman!), and someone with accuracy. They compete in a series of seemingly familiar events, though, each with an outer space twist. It would need a great multiplayer and online component so there was plenty of replay value.

Marvel MLB Heroes: This almost sounds like a title 2K will eventually use. This game would be a throwback to the arcade-like baseball games of the late '80s and early '90s (think Base Wars or Super Baseball 2020). Instead of zany robots and girls in high boots, the teams would be a mix of Marvel characters (Spidey, The Thing, Captain America) and superhuman MLB stars. Ryan Howard might be "The Howitzer" with large steel arms. CC Sabathia could be "C-Squared," a gargantuan pitcher. Manny could be...well...Manny. Anyway, our favorite MLB players would feel at home with the Marvel heroes in a superstar-filled over-the-top baseball game.

Gladius 2: Heroclix: All right, this one's a big stretch, but combines two games which I feel are related and underrated. Gladius was one of my favorite games of last generation: It's basically a gladiator game using traditional turn-based combat, progressive leagues, and customizable athletes. Heroclix is a superhero (Marvel, DC, Indy, Halo, etc.) themed tabletop game that features similar turn-based combat. It's a lot of fun, but the rules can be daunting and it requires a minimum of two people. Taking the best elements of both games, a developer could create a gladiatorial-combat game that features a circuit of superhero fights played alone or online where you use some of the mechanics of Heroclix (turn-based combat, dynamic skills, variable characters, slowly diminishing health and abilities). There would also need to be a collection system that mirrors the fun of opening a pack of the small plastic heroes.

Granted, we might never see a game that even remotely resembles those mentioned. But a game that capitalizes on society's current love of comics and its never-ending love affair with sports might be a unique twist on two solid industries. Plus it never hurts to imagine and wonder "what if?" After all, isn't that what comics and sports are all about?