10 Iconic Superheroes Comic Book Movies Nailed The Second Time

Even the most famous Comic book movie Characters often need more than one film to really get it right. The superhero movie genre has come a long way, from the direct-to-TV movies of recent times to the expansive films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As the genre has evolved, so has the presentation of its most famous characterswhich often are not exactly depicted in their first feature-length appearances.

Movies have respected the art form of comic books in recent years, striving much more for accuracy of 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 really identify with.. The best comic book movies are able to learn from the failures of their predecessors and improve accordingly, especially when it comes to the leading hero.

10

Batman

batman (1989)

Respect must 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 has not seen comics in years.

Fortunately, Micheal Keaton's Batman was there to provide fans with the first properly dark and gritty version of Batman that actually stayed true to the source material. Tim Burton Batman was able to single-handedly shift the general public's perception of the character from a word-spewing cornball who couldn't get rid of a bomb to a dark justice who prowled the dark 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.

9

War machine

Iron Man 2

The MCU is no stranger to recasting roles when it suits the needs of the cinematic empire, and War Machine was one of the first major examples of such. In the original iron man James Rhodes is played by Terrence Howard, who only alludes to War Machine rather than actually fitting. To become the gunmetal gray armored hero. in iron man 2, However, Marvel Studios decided to recast Rhodey with Don Cheadle, who went on to play the character in all future MCU crossover films.

For what it's worth, Cheadle gives a lot more personality to the seemingly straight-laced pilot than his predecessor. While Cheadle's take on War Machine is still very much a rule follower, Which sometimes causes him to conflict with his fellow heroesHe has a certain moral and personal sense of flexibility that makes him a more believable friend to Tony Stark. Don Cheadle's War Machine is one of the most underrated heroes in the entire MCU.

8

Daredevil

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Back in 2003, Ben Affleck was able to test his power as a tile-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 held back more by the baffling decisions of the early 2000s superhero movie than his own acting ability.. That being said, Charlie Cox's version of Matt Murdock blows Affleck's incarnation out of the water.

While Cox got his start at Netflix Daredevil series, he technically made a movie appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, And it wouldn't be surprising to see him headlining his own film this time around. 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. Now, Charlie Cox's name has become all but synonymous with the character, a clear improvement on the original.

7

Thor

Thor (2011)

It may surprise many to learn that Chris Hemsworth's debut in 2011 Thor Because the MCU's God of Thunder isn't the character's first on-screen appearance. Thor has actually been represented in live-action once before in a direct-to-television low-budget superhero crossover film titled The Incredible Hulk Returns. Here, Thor teams up with Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno's Bruce Banner/The Hulk in a highly-anticipated final chapter to The Incredible Hulk Series.

In some ways, this version of ​​Thor is actually more comic-accurate than the MCU's retaining the Donald Blake personality that Marvel Studios left from Thor's comic origins. However, the actor of Thor is quite too arrogant and clumsyAngering the Hulk by sheer accident just to challenge him into fighting. It's safe to say that the made-for-TV performance doesn't hold a candle to Chris Hemsworth's irreverent charm, even at first glance. Thor Solo film.

6

Deadpool

Deadpool (2016)

Of all the biggest and brightest superhero glow-ups during second attempts at the movies, Deadpool might be the most obvious. Ryan Reynolds was able to play his dream role in X-Men Origins: Wolverinewhich briefly presented Wade Wilson as a mouthy mutant with no mask, no scarred face, and no fourth-wall-breaking antics. Even more terrifying, at 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.

Fortunately, 2016s Deadpool Came to correct the mistakes. Not only does this more faithful version of the character give Reynolds full license to play his wildest bits fully clad in a faithful Deadpool costume, but in deadpool 2, Wade Wilson gets to canonically kill his weak incarnation on screen thanks to Cable's time machine. There is no better proof that the second incarnation of Deadpool has the superior performance.

5

The Hulk

The Incredible Hulk

Disregarding his participation in the direct-to-TV Thor crossover, the Hulk made two theatrically-released solo movie appearances. of them both, Edward Norton The Incredible Hulk is a much stronger story, spending less time establishing the origins of the Green Goliath and more time letting him deal with the weighty responsibility of protecting the world from himself And other monsters worse than him. Meanwhile, the Ang Lee 2003 film, simply titled Hulkfalls short.

For one, the early 2000s CGI was unable 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 is also not the right choice for Dr. Banner, turning anger into awkward shock while not selling Banner's scientific acumen.. Although Mark Ruffalo's third Hulk incarnation is somewhere between the two, it's a shame Edward Norton didn't return to the MCU.

4

Captain America

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Like Thor, Captain America also had a rarely seen live action movie to his name before his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 1990s Captain America was only direct-to-video in the United States, but has seen theatrical releases internationally. Here, Steve Rodgers gets little time to shine before he becomes Captain America, glossing over the origins of the hero in favor of jumping straight into the action, which involved Red Skull coming into possession of a dangerous arsenal of nuclear weapons.

Considering the production values, it's no surprise that Captain America: The First Avenger Beats 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 origin 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 viewed as a hawkish remnant of wartime Marvel comics..

3

Poison

Venom (2018)

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 good-hearted vigilante. So far, Venom has spent more time in the Marvel Comics canon as a hero than a villain, Making the image of Tom Hardy in the 2018 film Poison Much more faithful than Topher Grace's ill-fated take on Sam Raimi Spider-Man 3.

Even as a villain, Grace is unable to establish Eddie Brock or Venom as genuine threats to Peter Parker's well-being, dwarfed by the two other main villains jockeying with him for screentime. Meanwhile, Sony's Poison Gives Tom Hardy's Eddie time to breathe and grow while desperately trying to form a functioning relationship with his parasitic symbiote. Venom is the only character that Sony's ill-received Spider-Man villain movies really work for, and for good reason.

2

Superman

Superman (1978)

Being such an old and prolific comic book character, it should come as no surprise that Superman has such a long history of cinematic appearances. 1951s Superman and the Mole People was the character's first real foray into modern cinema, Even though the film was essentially a pilot for George Reeves' Adventures of Superman TV show. Although George Reeves was a perfectly serviceable iteration of the Man of Steel, it would take another actor to really live up to the character's promise.

Christopher Reeve truly showed the world what Superman could be in the 1978s Superman. With an uncanny ability to shift between Clark Kent and Kal-El at a moment's notice, Reeve can actually make Kent's meager disguise seem believable while providing Superman's trademark optimism and hope for humanity. until today, Superman Has a strong argument for being the best movie iteration of DC's flagship hero.

1

Gambit

Deadpool & Wolverine

Deadpool himself isn't the only mutant to be given a second chance by Ryan Reynolds' star vehicle, with Deadpool & Wolverine Featuring numerous cameos that give forgotten characters another chance at cinematic glory. The most notable among these is Channing Tatum's Gambit, which finally was able to manifest after a plan of Gambit movie helmed by Tatum fell through.. Gambit's first live action appearance, as Deadpool, was in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Taylor Kitsch does an okay job as the fiery mutant gambler, although he barely appears in his debut film. Meanwhile, Deadpool & Wolverine Get a lot more mileage out of Tatum's gambit, from his comically spot-on costume to his hilariously played Cajun accent, Not to mention some choice action scenes that take advantage of the film's R-rating. Gambit might just be the one hero to make the most of a second Comic book movie Appearance.