Comic books may be the best thing to happen to Hollywood since buttered popcorn.
They come neatly wrapped with almost everything filmmakers need to attract the masses: Compelling stories that unfold frame by frame, a cast of colorful characters and dialogue to set them in motion.
Comics are just movies waiting to happen.
For many of us, these pulp fantasies were our first (and remain among our favorite) literary sources. So it’s not hard to drum up interest in their big-screen adaptations.
Just mention, say, James Cameron and Aquaman in the
same breath and see if you don’t get a barrage of casting suggestions. (Tom Cruise? Pee Wee Herman?)
In honor of the arrival of “X-Men” this week, here’s a look at some other
classic comic book characters that have (or at least hope to) become
full-fledged Hollywood franchises.
DICK TRACY
First print appearance: 1931
First radio show: “Dick Tracy,” 1935
First feature film: “Dick Tracy, Detective,” 1945
Best Incarnation: Warren Beatty as producer, director and star of Disney’s “Dick Tracy,” 1990
Best Supporting Player: Al Pacino’s Big Boy Caprice in Beatty’s tour de force
In development (or not): “Dick Tracy: New York City Mayor”?
Why we love him: his 51-year marriage to Tess Trueheart – a Hollywood record
SUPERMAN
First print appearance: 1938 (Action Comics)
First feature film: “Superman & the Mole Men,” 1951
First TV show: “The Adventures of Superman,” 1963 (syndicated)
Best incarnation: Christopher Reeve in “Superman: The Movie,” 1978
Best supporting player: Richard Pryor in “Superman 3,” 1983
In development (or not): A big-screen remake rumored to star Nicholas Cage
Why we love him: Truth, justice and the key to Teri Hatcher’s apartment
BATMAN
First print appearance: 1939 (Detective Comics)
First TV show: “Batman,” 1966 (ABC)
First feature film: “Batman,” 1969, starring TV duo Adam West and Burt Ward
Best Incarnation: Michael Keaton in Tim Burton’s “Batman,” 1989
Best Supporting Player: Toss-up between Jack Nicholson’s Joker and Burgess Meredith’s Penguin
In development (or not): Yet another “Batman” feature from Warner Bros. with George Clooney back in the rubber suit
Why we love him: No super powers, just a $10 million credit line at The Sharper Image
SPIDERMAN
First print appearance: 1963 (Marvel Comics)
First TV show: “Spiderman,” 1967 (ABC animated series)
First feature film: “Spiderman: The Deadly Dust,” 1978
In production: “Spiderman: The Movie,” slated for Thanksgiving 2001 from director Sam Raimi
Why we love him: It was Spiderman, not Al Gore, who invented the World Wide Web
WONDER WOMAN
First print appearance: 1941 (All Star Comics)
First TV show: “The New Original Wonderwoman,” 1976 (ABC)
Best incarnation: Lynda Carter in CBS’s “The New Adventures of Wonder Woman, 1977
In development: a feature film from producer Joel Silver, with names
such a Sandra Bullock and Madonna being bandied about for the lead
Why we love her: One word: crime-bustier
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS
First print appearance: 1963 (Archie Comics)
First TV show: “Josie and the Pussycats,” 1970 (syndicated animated series)
In development: Feature film starring Parker Posey and Rachel Leigh Cook slated for 2001 release
Why we love them: Courtney Love will never be welcome in the band
The Incredible Hulk
First print appearance: 1964 (Marvel Comics)
First TV show: “The Incredible Hulk,” 1966 (NBC animated series)
Best incarnation: Lou Ferrigno in CBS’s “The Incredible Hulk,” 1978; runner-up John Belushi in a “Saturday Night Live” spoof
In development: Feature film by “The Player” author Michael Tolkin targeted for summer 2002
Why we love him: Never gets kicked out of any nightclub
