Like most people, you’ve likely seen a slew of movies based on/inspired by comic books and the characters featured within. But I doubt you’ll have experienced anything quite like these international oddities…
3 Dev Adam (a.k.a Turkish Captain America & Santo vs. Spider-Man) 1973
I’ll start with the good news: THIS IS LIKELY THE WORLD’S FIRST SUPERHERO TEAM-UP MOVIE!
In a less-awesome development, it’s complete, utter bollocks.
The most shameless (and shameful) of cinematic rip-offs, 3 Dev Adam sees Turkish incarnations of the mighty lucha libre Santo and Captain America team up on a mission to capture the villainous, depraved, naked woman-ogling Spider-Man.
Istanbul plays host to the lunacy…a city trembling with fear. Spider-Man is the cause for widespread unrest—bewhiskered with the most sumptuous eyebrows this side of Eugene Levy, the web-slinger has been counterfeiting money, murdering women (with boat propellers and telephone cords, no less), and feeding hapless victims’ eyes to bloodthirsty hamsters.
Well, offered one pair of eyeballs to a solitary (perhaps rather peckish?) rodent. But Captain America and Santo are all set to thwart the web-slinger's gushing bombardment of violence!
Turkish Spider-Man’s inability to a) sling webs, or b) demonstrate any spider-related powers/abilities is entirely coincidental.
It’s fair to say the filmmakers’ character choices make no sense whatsoever. But then, neither does the actual film—bewilderment only heightens as the “story” unfurls. Captain America has a girlfriend whose presence/existence is never explained, while Spider-Man can seemingly resurrect from the dead. Santos, on the other hand, pokes people with a selection of pointy objects. And occasionally forgets to put on his mask.
Did Marvel authorize use of their superheroes for this molestation of moviegoers’ minds? Was Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta fairly compensated for its depiction of Santo, his masked alter-ego?
Hell, no.
“With great plagiarism comes great putridity…!”
La Mujer Murcielago (Batwoman) 1968
Keeping up the Superstars of Mexican Wrestling angle (along with the “borrowing” of American superheroes), La Mujer Murcielago—The Mexican Batwoman—stars Maura Monti as a super rich, very attractive, highly accomplished grappler.
Fusing 1960’s Batmania with Mexico’s love of high-flying wrestlers, our hero is drafted in to investigate a series of unsolved slayings. Each victim is a famous lucha libre, providing Batwoman with an invested interest in the baffling crime spree.
The coldblooded killer turns out to be none other than Dr. Williams, who, along with his trusty assistant Igor, is trying to genetically engineer a fish-man.
Attempted concoction of this aquatic abomination leaves Batwoman far from impressed; Dr. Williams and Igor receive a pitiless thrashing for their endeavors.
On the bright side, La Mujer Murcielago treats viewers to a strong, inspiring, totally badass female lead at a time when villain-thwarting heroes came only in the form of drab, mindlessly macho males. Yay, La Mujer Murcielago!
Oh. Wait. Hold that thought. Mexican Batwoman provides a strong, inspiring, totally badass female lead until the twisted scientists have been defeated. That’s when the “fearless” wrestler starts shrieking and begging for male assistance. What could possibly have prompted this surge of terror? Fish-man, perhaps? A legion of fish-men? Flesh-devouring, undead wrestlers…?
Nope. It's a mouse. A lousy, stinkin’ mouse.
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