Something on Superhero Movies...

Superhero movies seem to be big box office hits these days. Batman, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Spiderman, X-men, Elektra, MIB, Hellboy Super Sapiens, the list just goes on. There’ll be plenty more coming soon, if rumours are to be believed, including Ghost Rider.

But back in the late 70’s to early 90's, this wasn’t the case. Most movies studios wouldn’t touch superhero flicks with a ten-foot pole. The only notable one from that era was none other than Krypton’s Kal-El, a.k.a Clark Kent a.k.a. Superman. For some strange reasons the first two movies did exceptionally well against the grain of the genre, at the same time catapulting Christopher Reeves into the big time.

However when Superman III came out, it was utter crap. Part IV was even worse, I doubt any comic fans can ever watch the last two installments without cringing.

Then sometime in 1989 Batman came out, broke all box-office records, and opened the floodgates for DC, Marvel, Image and the other comic houses to turn their paper heroes to films. Some scored big time, some sucked (Captain America? Spawn? Punisher? Shi? Catwoman?!).

It seems like right now all the studio execs are scouring DC and Marvel’s back catalogue of old issues to find the next big summer hit. It will only be time when someone starts hawking a script for Teen Titans, Preacher, the Watchers or Aquaman.

Anyway, just my thoughts and back story for my top ten list. Didn’t manage to get 10 though, so it’s more of 5 questions about comic superheroes.

• How on earth do all those heroines fit into those super-tight body-hugging spandex costumes? Liposuction?
  
  
• What is it with American boys’ and men’s fascination with Wonder Woman? Is it the costume? The lasso? Remember Robert Downey, Jr.?
  
  
• What about Groo?! How come nobody wants to make that movie?! It’ll be damn funny!
  
  
• How on earth do they select all those cool names for superhero team members? Like Cyborg, Gambit, Network, Starfire, White Witch? Do they use a dictionary? Or one of those Internet Name Generators?
  

I can’t think of another one, so I’ll just have to stop here. See you tomorrow.



Back to main page.