Marvel Universe
"Flame On!" - The publication of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee's "Fantastic Four" in 1961 heralded the arrival of a new comics continuum - the Marvel universe. In contrast to DC comic's shiny utopian "uber-mensch", Marvel characters had 'feet of clay' - uncertain heroes for uncertain times. Try as they might to do what's right, the world seems set against them. But on they fight. And fight and fight. Etcetera.
Marvel characters are visually bombastic in their goings on, limiting early adaptations to animation. During the rush for Star Wars cash in the 70s and 80s several live action Marvel TV shows were produced but technological compromise fashioned results which were a far cry from the source material. More recently, Marvel has been riding the wave of digital film-making as it has broken through the industry. They have had much success (and some wipeouts) on the big screen building cinematic franchises which will no doubt continue for years to come.
Pictured: The friendly neighbourhood wall-crawler takes it all the way to the top in "Spider-man"(2002) - Marvel's biggest box-office bonanza.
The Punisher (1989)
5.7/10
Director: Mark Goldblatt
Starring: Barry Otto, Bryan Marshall, Dolph Lundgren, Jeroen Krabbe, Kim Miyori, Louis Gos...
Inspired by the infamous Marvel Comic Book anti-hero, The Punisher is a dark and brooding action packed trip into the violent underworld of crime. Whe... Read more
The Punisher (2004)
6.5/10
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Starring: Thomas Jane, John Travolta, Will Patton, Roy Scheider, Laura Harring, Ben Foster...
Based on the Marvel comics brutal anti-hero character and coming across like some down and dirty 70s revenge flick, "The Punisher" finds FBI agent Fra... Read more
The Punisher: Extended Edition (2004)
6.5/10
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Starring: John Travolta, Roy Scheider, Thomas Jane, Will Patton, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Be...
Based on the Marvel comics brutal anti-hero character and coming across like some down and dirty 70s revenge flick, "The Punisher" finds FBI agent Fra... Read more
The Spectacular Spider-Man: Volume 1 (2008)
8.1/10
Starring: Spider-Man
This all-new, action-packed series starts at the beginning, telling the awesome story of Peter Parker and his alter-ego Spider-Man, as he discovers hi... Read more
The Spectacular Spider-Man: Volume 2 (2008)
8.1/10
Starring: Spider-Man
This all-new, action-packed series starts at the beginning, telling the awesome story of Peter Parker and his alter-ego Spider-Man, as he discovers hi... Read more
The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989)
5.9/10
Director: Bill Bixby
Starring: Bill Bixby, Lou Ferrigno, Rex Smith
In this feature film based on the popular 1980s TV series, Dr. David Banner (Bill Bixby) and his ferocious alter ego, the Hulk (Lou Ferrigno), team up... Read more
The Wolverine (2013)
6.7/10
Director: James Mangold
Starring: Famke Janssen, Hugh Jackman, Hiroyuki Sanada, Will Yun Lee
Based on Chris Claremont and Frank Miller's 1982 solo "Wolverine" comic series, this exciting sequel is set after the events of "X-Men: The Last Stand... Read more
The Wolverine ( Blu-ray ) (2013)
6.7/10
Director: James Mangold
Starring: Famke Janssen, Hugh Jackman, Hiroyuki Sanada, Will Yun Lee
Based on Chris Claremont and Frank Miller's 1982 solo "Wolverine" comic series, this exciting sequel is set after the events of "X-Men: The Last Stand... Read more
Thor (2011)
7/10
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard, Clark Gregg, Kat Dennings,...
Marvel Comics' God of Thunder hammers his way onto the silver screen in director Kenneth Branagh's action-packed epic. Banished from the realm of Asga... Read more
Thor (Blu-ray) (2011)
7/10
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard, Clark Gregg, Kat Dennings,...
Marvel Comics' God of Thunder hammers his way onto the silver screen in director Kenneth Branagh's action-packed epic. Banished from the realm of Asga... Read more