In the least surprising slice of news since Alan Moore decided not to shave off his beard, movies and TV shows based on comic books are everywhere. The popularity and profit generated by these properties—whether Marvel Studios’ latest blockbuster or AMC’s incarnation of The Walking Dead—leaves little doubt they’re here to stay.
Bryan Singer’s X-Men (2000) is often credited as the first shot fired in this onslaught of nerd-approved entertainment. But funny book adaptations stretch back way farther than mainstream viewers might think… Many just happen to be submerged beneath the convoluted ocean of time.
Time to do a little fishing, methinks!
CAPTAIN AMERICA (SERIAL FILM, 1944)
Loosely based on the character that prompted absurd bulking of Chris Evans’ body, this black & white serial was released waaaaaay back in 1944. It earns Captain America the accolade of being the first Marvel character to grace a silver screen; fans would wait over 40 years to see his successor. (The reward for such patience? Howard the Duck.)
Independent film corporation Republic produced the serial, originally spread across 15 episodes. The differences between their Captain America and the one published by Timely Comics (pre-1960s Marvel) were rather...stark.
First up, there was no Steve Rogers. Zero “Super-Soldier Serum.” Surely Cap’s shield made the cut…? Uh-uh. Nor did his military backdrop. Instead, the All-American hero’s secret identity was Grant Gardner, District Attorney. Who carried a gun.
Unsurprisingly, Timely didn’t like this one bit. But they were powerless (much like Republic’s version of Cap) to do anything about it.
Fans of atrocious/hysterical “fight” scenes: This is the Captain America movie for you!
Everybody else: Treat it as a slice of intriguing history. Starring a pudgy, gun-wielding "superhero."
DOCTOR STRANGE (TV MOVIE, 1978)
2016 sees Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme star in his own Marvel Studios-produced, Benedict Cumberbatch-starring movie. 1978’s Doctor Strange fans weren’t quite so fortunate—they had to make do with Peter Hooten fronting a zero-budget TV movie. That was meant to be a pilot for a proposed CBS series. Stan Lee worked as a consultant on the project, yet the network turned it down.
The most likely reason: It’s rubbish.
THE SPIRIT (TV MOVIE, 1987)
No, not that Spirit. I’m talking about the TV movie! The one nobody’s ever heard of.
It bears a strangely similar story to that of Doctor Strange—originally filmed as a pilot for a 1986 TV series, ABC finally aired Denny Colt’s 74-minute war against crime following write-in campaigns and a petition circulated by fans. A full year after the series was *officially* rejected by network executives. Moving swiftly on...
SWAMP THING (ANIMATED TV SERIES, 1990)
Already the star of a 1982 movie, while in the midst of a three-season, 72-episode live action TV show, Swamp Thing received his own animated series courtesy of DIC Entertainment.
Lasting a less-than-impressive 4 episodes, the (sort of) series was more influenced by Kenner’s collection of Swamp Thing action figures than anything else coming before it.
But the theme tune. Oh my. The theme tune. It’s…it’s…gaa. GAA. Just watch. Listen. And suffer.
NICK FURY: AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV FILM, 1998)
The Hoff! Playing Nick Fury! What could possibly go wrong…?
Broadcast on Fox in May 1998, retired super spy Nick Fury is approached about a possible return to duty. See, HYDRA has plans to attack New York City with a deadly virus, and only the bloke from Baywatch can stop them.
The film features a fleeting Jack Kirby reference…just about the only thing it gets right.
Except for casting The Hoff, of course.
THE TICK (TV SERIES, 2001)
We all know about The Tick’s animated escapades. Much like the comic books, they’re brilliant.
Several years later, Columbia TriStar tried its hand at a live-action Tick sitcom. Airing on the Fox Network in November 2001, the pilot was scripted by the four main animated-series writers. Despite high praise from fans and critics alike, only 8 of nine filmed episodes were broadcast.
But The Tick’s TV career isn’t dead yet—word on the grapevine suggests Amazon has plans in place to revive the series. If true? Bring. It. On.
WITCHBLADE (TV SERIES, 2001)
Gracing TNT’s airwaves from 2001 to 2002 (following a pilot film debuting in 2000), Witchblade was another show that met with untimely demise despite widespread critical acclaim.
Various sources cite lead actress Yancy Butler’s stint in rehab as the catalyst for cancellation. Ratings were strong, fans loved it, so could a Witchblade revival loom somewhere on the horizon...? Stranger things have happened.
Like Fred and Barney Meet The Thing.
