Comic Onslaught

It all started in the summer of 2000 with the release of the X-Men; the movie that spawned a new generation of comic book movies. This was what comic book collectors the world over have been anticipating for over a decade and even then we were already taking our pick at who should play what character in the movie. Nothing prepared us for what was to come. Our favourite comic book heroes on screen, larger than life and more realistic than we could have ever imagined.

Prior to 2000 - Blade, Barb Wire and Dick Tracy were probably the only comic book movies to have made an impact on the masses; and even then, Dick Tracy was probably the only character that was known by the public to have originated from the pages of a comic book. Every other production fell short – Spawn, The Flash, Spiderman, The Incredible Hulk, Witchblade, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. The public’s perception of comic book heroes in the movies was that they were for kids. Then X-men came and changed everything. Suddenly heroes could die; villains lived on. Sex, violence and carnage spread across the screen like never before and a “PG-13” tag had to be placed on it. The real people behind the books came up and started a revolution. They showed Hollywood that when you take a comic book hero, you don’t rewrite the plot. Just take the freaking book as the storyboard you dummies. It’s all drawn out in full colour.

Thus far we have seen the silver screen’s rebirth of the Dark Knight, The Man of Steel, Punisher, your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman and The Incredible Hulk. To add to an already spicy dish we have since been served with Constantine, Ironman, 300, Sin City, Aeon Flux, Catwoman, Daredevil, Elektra, Fantastic Four, Ghost Rider, Hellboy, V for Vendetta and then some.

I was so amazed with the realism of Tony Stark’s suit that I watched Ironman 5 times in a fortnight. The Incredible Hulk was just as amazing in the way they brought to life the comic book Hulk and still manage to add a little television sentimentalism to it. Tonight I will be watching the sequel of Batman Begins, The Dark Knight. To prepare for his role as the Joker, Ledger locked himself in a hotel room for a month drawing inspiration from Alan Moore’s comic "Batman: The Killing Joke" and "Arkham Asylum” and from characters from Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange”. Sir Michael Caine is of the opinion that Heath Ledger did better than Jack Nicholson’s Joker.

"If you gotta go; Go with a Smile!"

Dark Knight - Bank Heist Scene

There is more to come. Before the year ends, I’m going to catch Ray Stevenson in Punisher: War Zone and Frank Miller’s “The Spirit” (assuming this makes it through our censorship board). Next year, the fallen return in the Transformers’ sequel and the Watchmen investigates the death of an ex-superhero. In 2010 we can look forward to Thor and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Stan Lee has already thrown at us collectors a little bone in the Ironman and the Incredible Hulk. Samuel L. Jackson appeared at the end of Ironman as Agent Nick Fury, Director of SHIELD. He mentions the “Avenger Initiative”. Then at the end of The Incredible Hulk, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) makes an appearance and speaks to the General about the Avengers. The Avengers movie is set to release in 2011 and would most likely comprise of Wolverine, Mr. Fantastic, The Hulk, Ironman, Spiderman and Thor.

For those who didn’t read comic books or were born after 1983.

• Lou Ferrigno who played the Hulk in the television series back in the seventies appeared in both Hulk (2003) and The Incredible Hulk (2008). He was also the voice of the Hulk in the 2008 release.
• In X-Men, when Wolverine complaint about the suit he was made to wear, Cyclops asked him if he’d rather wear yellow spandex. Wolverine’s original suit in the comic is predominantly yellow spandex.
• Original promotion for Spiderman showed the World Trade Centre as a feature of New York City. These were later removed after 9-11 though you can still catch a blur glimpse of the WTC in the movie.
• Nicholas Hammond the actor who played Spiderman in 1978 appeared at the World Unity festival scene.
• The Iron Man Mark I armour weighed 90 pounds
• In the scene where Pepper discovers Tony removing the damaged Iron Man armour, you can clearly see Captain America's shield partially constructed on a workbench.
• Paul Soles who portrays "Stanley", the owner of the pizza shop, provided the voice for Dr. Bruce Banner in the 1960s "Hulk" (1966) animated series

Stan Lee (co-creator of the Marvel Comic characters) did a cameo appearance in all Marvel character movies:

X-Men - Man at hotdog stand when Senator Kelly comes out of the water.

X3 - Man holding water hose in beginning of movie

Spiderman - Appears in the scene where the Green Goblin attacks the balcony at the World Unity Festival.

Spiderman 2 - Saves a bystander form falling debris during the battle to save Aunt May.

Spiderman 3 - Appears as the man who tells Peter how great Spider-Man is.

Fantastic Four - Willy Lumpkin, the Fantastic Four's kindly old mailman.

Fantastic Four 2 - Rejected wedding guest.

Ironman - Man with 3 blondes that Stark mistakes for Hugh Hefner at the charity event.

Incredible Hulk - Man who drinks the soft drink contaminated with Bruce Banners blood.