Summary
Even the most famouscomic book moviecharacters often need more than one film to truly get things right. The superhero movie genre has come a long way, from the direct-to-TV movies of ages past to the expansivefilms of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.As the genre has evolved, so too has the presentation of its most famous characters, who often aren’t justly depicted in their very first feature-length appearances.
Movies have come to respect the art form of comic books in recent years, striving much further for accuracy to the source material when it comes to bringing the most famous Marvel and DC heroes to life on the silver screen.This reason alone explains why it took at least one iteration for even the most popular superheroes to get a live-action movie representation that fans could truly identify with. Thebest comic book moviesare able to learn from the failures of their predecessors and improve accordingly, especially when it comes to the leading hero.
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Respect has to be given to Adam West’s Batman where it is due. Making a name for himself playing the first popular live-action incarnation of the character,West’s sense of timing and tongue-in-cheek comedic delivery helped popularize the character to the degree of fame Batman enjoys to this day. However, it would be inaccurate to call Batman’s appearance in the eponymous film that spun off from the Adam West TV show faithful to the source material, subsisting on a campy version of the character that hadn’t seen comics in years.
Tim Burton’sBatmanwas able to single-handedly shift the general public’s perception of the character from a pun-spewing cornball that couldn’t get rid of a bomb to a dark avatar of justice
Luckily, Micheal Keaton’s Batman was there to provide fans with the first properly dark and gritty version of Batman that actually stayed faithful to the source material. Tim Burton’sBatmanwas able to single-handedly shift the general public’s perception of the character from a pun-spewing cornball that couldn’t get rid of a bomb to a dark avatar of justice that prowled the dim back alleys of Gotham City.Even if it was tonal whiplash, the evolution of Batman between his 1966 and 1989 films is easy to appreciate.
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The MCU is no stranger to recasting roles when doing so suits the cinema empire’s needs, and War Machine was one of the first major examples of such. In the originalIron Man,James Rhodes is played by Terrence Howard, who only alludes to War Machine rather than actually suiting upto become the gunmetal gray armored hero. InIron Man 2,however, Marvel Studios opted torecast Rhodey with Don Cheadle, who went on to play the character in all future MCU crossover films.
For what it’s worth, Cheadle provides much more personality to the seemingly straight-laced pilot than his predecessor did. While Cheadle’s take on War Machine is still very much a rule-follower,which sometimes causes him to clash with his fellow heroes, he does have a certain moral and personal sense of flexibility that makes him a more believable friend of Tony Stark’s. Don Cheadle’s War Machine is one of the most underrated heroes in the entire MCU.
Iron Man
Cast
Iron Man is the first film in the long-running Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. Robert Downey Jr. stars as Tony Stark, who becomes Iron Man after he is kidnapped and discovers terrorists are using weapons developed by Stark Industries. Gwyneth Paltrow stars as Tony’s love interest Pepper Potts alongside Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan and Jeff Bridges as the villainous Obadiah Stane.
Iron Man 2
The third film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man 2, is an action-superhero film that occurs six months after the original film’s events. After outing himself as the heavy metal superhero known as Iron Man, Tony Stark goes to great lengths to avoid demands from the government for his tech. But, unfortunately, the technology Tony used to save his life is beginning to impact his health inversely - just in time for a man named Ivan Vanko to arrive, who creates his version of the Iron Man tech to settle a decades-long score with Howard Stark’s son.
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Way back in 2003, Ben Affleck was able to test his might as a cowl-wearing vigilante long before his Batman days as the blind superhero Daredevil in a movie of the same name. In all honesty,Affleck isn’t exactly terrible in the role, and is more so held back by the baffling decisions of the early-2000s superhero movie rather than his own acting ability. That being said, Charlie Cox’s version of Matt Murdock blows Affleck’s incarnation out of the water.
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While Cox got his start in the NetflixDaredevilseries, he has technically made a movie appearance inSpider-Man: No Way Home,and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him headline his own film in due time. This is thanks to Cox’s incredible performance as a blind man, which was commended by the American Foundation for the Blind for its accuracy, not to mention his struggle with his faith and internal turmoil.By now, Charlie Cox’s name has become all but synonymous with the character, a clear improvement on the original.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the trials and tribulations of being a superhero. In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) asks for help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) when his identity becomes a problem for the ones he loves. Unfortunately, when the spell goes wrong, Spider-Man will now have to face off with villains such as Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) and Electro (Jamie Foxx) as Peter finally comes to terms that he can’t run from being Spider-Man. Supported by his close friends and help from an unexpected place (or multiverse), Spider-Man will go toe-to-toe with some of the most legendary foes in his storied history.
Daredevil
Daredevil is a 2003 film featuring Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock, a lawyer blinded as a child who becomes the vigilante Daredevil. Utilizing his heightened senses, he battles crime in Hell’s Kitchen, facing off against villains such as Bullseye, portrayed by Colin Farrell, and crime lord Kingpin, played by Michael Clarke Duncan.
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It might surprise many to learn that Chris Hemsworth’s debut in 2011’sThoras the MCU’s God of Thunder wasn’t the character’s first on-screen appearance.Thor had actually been represented in live-action once before in a direct-to-TV low-budget superhero crossover film titledThe Incredible Hulk Returns.Here, Thor teams up with Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno’s Bruce Banner/The Hulk in a highly-anticipated final chapter toThe Incredible Hulkseries.
It’s safe to say this made-for-TV performance doesn’t hold a candle to Chris Hemsworth’s irreverent charm
In some ways, this version of Thor was actually more comic-accurate than the MCU’s retaining theDonald Blake personality that Marvel Studios left outof Thor’s comic origins.However, Thor’s actor comes across as altogether too arrogant and clumsy, angering the Hulk by sheer happenstance just to provoke him into fighting. It’s safe to say this made-for-TV performance doesn’t hold a candle to Chris Hemsworth’s irreverent charm, even in the firstThorsolo film.
Thor
Thor, released in 2011, introduces Chris Hemsworth as the titular Norse god. Banished to Earth by his father Odin, portrayed by Anthony Hopkins, Thor must live among humans and learn humility. As he adapts to his new circumstances, a threat from Asgard, led by his brother Loki, endangers Earth.
The Incredible Hulk Returns
The Incredible Hulk Returns, a 1988 television film, reunites Dr. David Banner with a former student who possesses a magical hammer summoning Thor, the Norse god. As they initially clash, the duo ultimately joins forces, combining their formidable powers against common adversaries.
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Of all the biggest and brightest superhero glow-ups across second attempts at the movies, Deadpool might be the single most obvious.Ryan Reynolds was able to play his dream role inX-Men Origins: Wolverine, which briefly presented Wade Wilson as a mouthy mutant with no mask, no scarred face, and no fourth-wall-breaking antics. Even more appalling, by the end of the film, Wade Wilson is revived as a mute mutant superweapon, sewing shut the most important element of the Merc with a Mouth.
There’s no better proof that the second incarnation of Deadpool had the superior performance
Luckily, 2016’sDeadpoolcame along to rectify these mistakes. Not only does this more faithful version of the character give Reynolds full permission to act out his wildest bits fully clad in a faithful Deadpool costume, but inDeadpool 2,Wade Wilson gets to canonically kill his weaker on-screen incarnation thanks to Cable’s time machine. There’s no better proof that the second incarnation of Deadpool had the superior performance.
Deadpool
The Merc With The Mouth gets his very own film in Deadpool, an action-adventure comedy movie starring Ryan Reynolds as the titular hero. When mercenary Wade Wilson discovers he has an aggressive type of cancer that threatens to cut his life short, he decides to take a shady offer from a businessman who promises to cure him. Tortured and left for dead, the treatment makes Wade immortal - and a little bit twisted - as he seeks out his tormentors for revenge.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
X-Men Origins: Wolverine explores the backstory of the iconic mutant Wolverine, portrayed by Hugh Jackman. Released in 2009, the film delves into Logan’s journey through the Weapon X program as he seeks revenge for his girlfriend’s death while uncovering complex relationships with other mutants.
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Disregarding his participation in the straight-to-TV Thor crossover, The Hulk has had two theatrically-released solo movie appearances. Of the two of them,Edward Norton’sThe Incredible Hulkis a far stronger narrative, spending less time establishing the origins of the green goliath and more time allowing him to grapple with the weighty responsibility of protecting the world from himselfand other monsters worse than him. Meanwhile, the Ang Lee 2003 film, simply titledHulk, falls short.
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For one, the early-2000s CGI wasn’t able to keep up with Hulk’s SFX needs, looking like a poorly-rendered Playstation game in the few instances it saw broad daylight.Eric Bana was also not the right choice for Dr. Banner, turning anger into awkward shaking while not selling Banner’s scientific acumen. While Mark Ruffalo’s third Hulk incarnation is somewhere in between the two, it’s a shameEdward Norton didn’t return to the MCU.
The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk (1977): In this film, scientist David Banner suffers a gamma radiation overdose, triggering a transformation into a giant, muscular green creature whenever he becomes angry. This condition compels him to undertake a journey to understand and control his monstrous alter ego.
Hulk
Hulk is a 2003 superhero movie directed by Ang Lee, starring Eric Bana as the titular character. Predating the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hulk ended up being a critical flop despite being based on a popular superhero. However, the film still made a huge profit at the box office upon release.
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Like Thor, Captain America also has a seldom-seen live-action movie to his name prior to his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.1990’sCaptain Americawas only direct-to-video in the United States, but did see theater releases internationally. Here, Steve Rodgers gets little time to shine before becoming Captain America, glossing over the hero’s origins in favor of jumping straight into the action, which involved Red Skull coming into the possession of a dangerous arsenal of nuclear weaponry.
Considering the production values, it’s no surprise thatCaptain America: The First Avengerbeats the 90s movie out of the water in its portrayal of the all-American hero. Chris Evans' performance gives so much more to appreciate, and the 90s movie glossed over important details like the genesis of Captain America’s shield or why Steve Rogers was chosen for the super soldier experiment.Audiences were lucky that Marvel Studios was willing to take another swing at what was once looked at as a hokey remnant of wartime Marvel Comics.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Captain America: The First Avenger follows Steve Rogers, a frail man from Brooklyn transformed into the super-soldier Captain America during World War II. As he aids the war effort, Rogers confronts Red Skull, who seeks world domination through a powerful device for a nefarious organization.
Spider-man 3 (2007)
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Admittedly, Venom is far better-known for being a Spider-Man villain than a hero in his own right. However, the comic character has since evolved into something of a darkly vicious if kind-hearted vigilante.By now, Venom has spent more time in Marvel Comics canon being a hero than a villain,making Tom Hardy’s portrayal in the 2018 filmVenommuch more faithful than Topher Grace’s ill-fated take in Sam Raimi’sSpider-Man 3.
Sony’sVenomgave Tom Hardy’s Eddie time to breathe and grow
Even as a villain, Grace isn’t able to establish Eddie Brock or Venom as genuine threats to Peter Parker’s well-being, crowded out by the two other major villains that jockey with him for screentime. Meanwhile, Sony’sVenomgave Tom Hardy’s Eddie time to breathe and grow while desperately trying to shape a functioning relationship with his parasitic symbiote.Venom is the only character thatSony’s ill-received Spider-Man villain moviestruly work for, and for good reason.
Venom
Venom is an action sci-fi movie that stars Tom Hardy as the titular Marvel anti-hero. When the Life Foundation begins experimenting on alien lifeforms they find on a comet that landed nearby, Investigative Journalist Eddie Brock begins to investigate them. When an infiltration goes wrong, Eddie finds that one of the aliens has bonded to him, forcing him to learn to live with his new uninvited host. Giving him superhuman powers, the two begin to work together to stop the rest of the symbiote’s invasive species.
Spider-Man 3
Spider-Man 3 is the third entry in Sam Raimi’s trilogy, where Tobey Maguire reprises his role as Peter Parker. Released in 2007, the film sees Spider-Man confronting new adversaries, including Sandman and Venom, while grappling with personal challenges involving an alien symbiote and complex relationships.
Superman and the Mole Men (1951)
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Being such an ancient and prolific comic book character, it should be no surprise that Superman has such a lengthy history of cinematic appearances. 1951’sSuperman and the Mole Menwas the character’s first true foray into modern cinemas,even though the film was essentially a pilot for George Reeves' Adventures of Superman TV show. While George Reeves was a perfectly serviceable iteration of the Man of Steel, it would take another actor to truly live up to the character’s promise.
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Christopher Reeve truly showed the world what Superman could be in 1978’sSuperman.With an uncanny ability to shift between Clark Kent and Kal-El at a moment’s notice,Reeve could actually make Kent’s meager disguise seem believable while providing Superman’s trademark optimism and hope for humanity. To this day,Supermanhas a strong argument for being the best movie iteration of DC’s flagship hero.
Superman
Superman, directed by Richard Donner, stars Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent, an alien from the planet Krypton living on Earth who adopts the persona of Superman to protect humanity. Released in 1978, the film features Gene Hackman as the villain Lex Luthor, who creates a plan that threatens millions of lives. Margot Kidder co-stars as Lois Lane, a journalist at the Daily Planet and Clark Kent’s colleague.
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Deadpool himself isn’t the only mutant to be given a second chance by the Ryan Reynold’s star vehicle, withDeadpool & Wolverinefeaturing many cameosthat give forgotten characters another chance at cinematic glory.Most notable among these is Channing Tatum’s Gambit, who was finally able to manifest after a plan ned Gambit movie helmed by Tatum fell through. Gambit’s first live action appearance, like Deadpool, was inX-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Gambit might just be the one hero to benefit the most from a second comic book movie appearance.
Taylor Kitsch does an okay job as the firey mutant gambler, though he barely appears in his debut film. Meanwhile,Deadpool & Wolverinegot much more mileage out of Tatum’s Gambit, from his comic-accurate costume to his hilariously played-up cajun accent,not to mention some choice action scenes that take full advantage of the film’s R-rating. Gambit might just be the one hero to benefit the most from a secondcomic book movieappearance.
Deadpool & Wolverine
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
