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.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
6.7/10
Director: Andy Serkis
Starring: Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson, Tom Hardy, Reid Scott, Naomie Harris, Stephe...
Eddie Brock struggles to adjust to his new life as the host of the alien symbiote Venom, which grants him super-human abilities in order to be a letha... Read more
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (Blu-ray) (2021)
6/10
Director: Andy Serkis
Starring: Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson, Tom Hardy, Reid Scott, Naomie Harris, Stephe...
Eddie Brock struggles to adjust to his new life as the host of the alien symbiote Venom, which grants him super-human abilities in order to be a letha... Read more
Wolverine and the X-Men: Vol 1 - X-Calibre (2008)
8.1/10
'Wolverine and the X-Men' is an all new animated Marvel series, featuring the popular superhero known for shooting razor sharp claws out of his hands.... Read more
X-Men (2000)
7.4/10
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Halle Berry, Bruce Davison, Hugh Jackman, Famke Janssen, Ian McKellen, Anna Paqu...
Born into a world filled with prejudice are children who possess extraordinary and dangerous powers - the result of unique genetic mutations. Under th... Read more
X-Men ( Blu-ray ) (2000)
7.4/10
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Anna Paquin, Bruce Davison, Famke Janssen, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKell...
Born into a world filled with prejudice are children who possess extraordinary and dangerous powers - the result of unique genetic mutations. Under th... Read more
X-Men 2 (2003)
5.8/10
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James M...
Aka "X2: X-Men United". The evolution continues in this "exhilarating thrill ride" that features the extraordinary original X-Men along with amazing n... Read more
X-Men 2 ( Blu-ray ) (2003)
5.8/10
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Alan Cumming, Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Bruce Davison, Famke Janssen, Halle Berry,...
Aka "X2: X-Men United". The evolution continues in this "exhilarating thrill ride" that features the extraordinary original X-Men along with amazing n... Read more
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
6.6/10
Director: Gavin Hood
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, Dominic Monaghan, Danny Huston, Lyn...
Leading up to the events of the three previous 'X-Men' films, see the team's most valued and volatile member as he began - a muscly, fiery fighting ma... Read more
X-Men Origins: Wolverine ( Blu-ray ) (2009)
6.6/10
Director: Gavin Hood
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, Dominic Monaghan, Danny Huston, Lyn...
Leading up to the events of the three previous 'X-Men' films, see the team's most valued and volatile member as he began - a muscly, fiery fighting ma... Read more
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
7/10
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rose Byrne, Nicholas Hoult, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Oscar Isaac, Lucas...
Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel's X-Men universe, amassed the p... Read more