Comic book movies often struggle to adapt certain aspects of their beloved superheroes, with many scenes causing controversy due to their departure from the source material. There’s nothing wrong with comic book movies making changes to an existing story, a practice widely accepted as a necessity when it comes to condensing long comic runs into two-hour runtimes. However, in certain cases, films will feature scenes that appear to fundamentally oppose the established personality of a given character, generating divisive reactions.
In some cases, these scenes will feature a moment so out of character for a particular comic book hero or villain that it will be hard to swallow, even as a loose adaptation, misinterpreting the appeal of the source material. In other cases, superhero movies will avoid comic books entirely, essentially creating entirely new creations that only share the name of a comic book. With how beloved comic book characters can be, it’s no wonder these divisive moments have shaped some of the worst comic book movie critical receptions of all time.
10
Hellboy kills the giants
Hellboy (2019)
2019’s Hellboy reboot took inspiration from a wide variety of different hell boy comics, mixing various elements from them into a sort of Frankenstein patchwork of Mike Mignola’s beloved work. The biggest inspiration, however, is easily Hellboy: The Wild Hunt, in which a resurrected ancient witch seeks to lead an army of fey creatures against humanity. In a scene taken directly from the original comics, David Harbor’s Hellboy fights a group of giants, giving in to his wrathful side and killing them all in horrific combat.
In the comics, this scene is intended to be something terrifying and disturbing, representing the side of Hellboy that may give in to his destiny as Anung Un Rama, the destroyer of humanity. However, the 2019 film adaptation considers the fight an opportunity for crude violence, jokes, and over-the-top combat, diluting the battle’s thematic implications to crude shock value. No wonder the 2019 reviews hell boy was so clear from both fans and professional film critics.
9
The Batmobile Chase
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
One thing that has always been a controversial subject when it comes to film adaptations of the Caped Crusader is Batman’s death count. Notoriously maintaining a “no killing” rule even in the comics’ most dire situations, cinematic Batman has routinely failed to meet that standard, with Ben Affleck’s DCEU incarnation being the most egregious offender. Zack Snyder made the controversial decision to allow this Batman to kill with reckless abandon and even use firearms, boldly going against the grain of his established comic book ethics.
If there’s one scene that sums up DCEU Batman’s appetite for murder, it’s the Batmobile’s chase into Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. While admittedly an ingenious action set piece, the scene features some troubling use of military-grade firearms, reckless collateral damage, and a spiteful disregard for human life that feels incongruous with Batman’s legacy. It’s easy to see why this version of Batman has become so controversial in the eyes of fans.
8
Pa Kent Suggests Superman Let Children Die
Man of Steel
Batman wasn’t the only area in which Zack Snyder seemed to deliberately misinterpret the common ideals of comic book characters. It’s well known that Superman’s unwavering moral compass can be largely attributed to his homegrown upbringing in the American Midwest, growing up as a normal farmer despite his alien heritage. But while Ma and Pa Kent from the comics encourage their son to use his powers for good in most versions of the Superman mythos, Snyder had other ideas in mind. Man of Steel.
In a shocking flashback to Clark Kent’s childhood, a young Superman talks to Jonathan Kent after using his powers to save a bus full of children from certain death. As his father berates him for using his powers in public, Clark asks what else he should do, with his only other option being to let the children die. Surprisingly, the usually righteous Pa Kent simply looks away and responds “Perhaps…“, implying that he would have preferred the death of innocent children to the interruption of a peaceful life for his son.
7
Lex Luthor’s speech
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
One of comics’ most controversial casting choices, Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor never quite managed to overcome his icy initial reception. In Batman v Superman: Dawn of JusticeEisenberg plays a much younger, more neurotic version of Lex Luthor. His intensely erratic personality and strange mannerisms quickly became irritating to many DC fans, reaching a fever pitch in his rhetorical scene at the end of the film, in which Luthor monologues about gods and men to Superman before revealing that he has Martha Kent hostage. .
Eisenberg’s performance couldn’t be more different from most live-action versions of Lex Luthor, which take cues from his comedic persona. Cool, calm, collected, and smug, Luthor is a ruthless capitalist and selfish genius, who normally doesn’t get confused except in rare cases. Luthor’s big moment atop Metropolis’ skyscrapers wasn’t very reassuring for those who had doubts about the casting, seemingly answering their concerns with an essentially different character.
6
The origins of Catwoman
Catwoman
Halle Berry Catwoman is a notoriously bad film, but not just because of its technical qualities, bizarre ideas or ill-adjusted acting. Although technically based on a DC property, DC’s feline anti-heroine Catwoman is similar to the DC character in name only. This is demonstrated no better than in the film’s origin scene for Catwoman, offering her own version of the name with an entirely new backstory.
Instead of a cunning thief named Selina Kyle, the film’s Catwoman is actually a shy and pleasant person named Patience, who accidentally uncovers a sinister conspiracy about the cosmetics brand she works for. After being murdered, Patience is revived by an ancient Egyptian cat god, returning to life with a new personality and feline superpowers. By inventing an entirely new character, the 2004 film Catwoman it was doomed from the start, leaving behind an infamous legacy that could generously be called divisive.
5
Deadpool’s transformation
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Given Deadpool’s popularity as a character, it’s amazing how wrong Fox treated him in his first attempt at appearing in a live-action film. Wade Wilson enters the film as a member of Logan’s former mutant squad, not resembling the character in terms of appearance but still retaining his trademark katanas and sense of humor. Where the film really discredits its understanding of the character is when Wade Wilson is transformed into a mute mutant monster of incompatible Frankenstein powers, the Bullseye with the Mouth literally having his mouth sewn shut.
By removing Deadpool’s most iconic trait, his final inclusion in X-Men Origins: Wolverine it is completely useless. Not only that, but Wade Wilson himself makes little sense as Wolverine’s final opponent in the film, an opportunity that really should have been given to Sabretooth. No wonder Ryan Reynolds’ solo Dead Pool the films made so much fun of his previous appearance, going so far as to kill him off in the end credits of Deadpool 2.
4
Superman destroys a truck
Man of Steel
Pa Kent wasn’t the only one to be hurt by some very poor characterization in Man of Steel. Superman himself has often had some controversial moments throughout the DCEU, due to Zack Snyder’s divisive portrayal of the character. In a flashback, Superman is shown destroying the truck of a bully who bothers him and a waitress at a local restaurant, impaling the man’s large equipment on massive logs.
As idiotic as the diner customer may have been, his behavior would be far from the kind of evil that would actually provoke such a drastic response from Superman in the comics. It’s a small moment, but it makes Snyder’s Superman seem rather mean-spirited, something that again becomes problematic in the context of his eventual taking of General Zod’s life. This moment is not only unusual for Superman, but it also raises the question of how his secret identity wasn’t immediately discovered by the trucker.
3
Batman sleeps with Batgirl
Batman: The Killing Joke
It’s not just live-action films that often offer problematic takes on iconic superheroes. The animated film Batman: The Killing Joke adapted the critically praised graphic novel of the same name, but with a big twist. At one point, Batman and Batgirl actually meet on a dirty rooftop after a heated argument, launching an explosion of controversy and vitriol into the film’s reviews.
Considering Batman and Batgirl’s mentor-student power dynamic, it’s pretty crass to assume that Batman would ever be romantically interested in a woman he essentially helped raise when he was a teenager. Even more disturbing, this isn’t the first time producer Bruce Timm has fostered this uncomfortable relationship, having done so in other animated films tied to the DCAU in the past. At the end, Batman: The Killing Joke fails Batgirl and Batman for engaging in such a strange and morally questionable act, sparking controversy surrounding the film in the years that followed.
2
Batman and Robin argue about going on a date
Batman and Robin
Batman is an interesting character because he has always existed in two versions – the eccentric crime fighter of the Silver Age and the dark, brooding vigilante of the modern day. Even though Batman and RobinThe buffoonery can be explained by relying on the latter’s presence, there is one particular scene that stands out as an unforgivable characterization for both of the dynamic duo, no matter the inspiration. At one point, Batman and Robin crash an auction, only to find themselves in a bidding war to win the last ticket item: a night alone with Poison Ivy.
It’s true that Batman and Robin are under the influence of Poison Ivy’s pheromones here, which may somewhat excuse the chauvinistic behavior and posturing. However, the way they stand in front of her, dumbstruck, until she has the chance to use her magic, makes it questionable how much of her powers Ivy actually needs in this scene. Add the infamous Bat credit card, which raises far more questions than should be necessary, and it becomes clear that Batman and Robin features a version of its titular heroes that can’t be found anywhere else.
1
Thor becomes depressed and harasses children in Fortnite
Avengers: Endgame
There’s no denying that the Marvel Cinematic Universe had trouble turning Thor into a joke as the series continued. Although the Thunder God’s Shakespearean speech and old-fashioned mannerisms were initially relatively congruent with his comic personality in early appearances, by the time of Thor: Ragnarok, the mighty Avenger had essentially denigrated and become a joke. The low point of this transformation is Avengers: Endgame, in which Thor turned into a couch potato.
In one scene, he spends his time harassing children in Fortnite while chilling with his alien friends, drinking beer and letting Stormbreaker collect cobwebs in the corner. Even though this is a low point for Thor, it’s undeniable that he has essentially transformed into a completely different character, almost unrelated to the Marvel Comics that bears his name. THE comic book movie Thor: Love and Thunder since then, it has only exacerbated the controversy of Thor’s comedy style in the MCU.