Character Studies

10 comic book superheroes who won't be transitioning to the big screen

blackpanther2.jpg
THE BLACK PANTHER Not coming to a theater near you, although you can catch the animated series on BET (Photo: Marvel)
In 1967, when President Lyndon B. Johnson's wartime approval ratings tumbled, a little NBC cartoon called Super President didn't exactly catch on. But that same year, issues of Batman—a dark tale of an angry billionaire who foists his own fear on the world in the form of a gray-hued bat costume—outsold copies of Superman with ease.

Fast-forward 41 years and here comes The Dark Knight, with all the hype and outsized expectations of the new iPhone. Perhaps Bruce Wayne's longstanding success is no surprise. After all, as dark or complicated as Batman may be, he's still a quintessential leading man—stoic, brawny, easily inhabited by the George Clooneys or Christian Bales of the world.

But what about other, weirder superheroes who fail to be have such instant mass appeal? From an overly buff She-Hulk to a sexually ambiguous cowboy called the Rawhide Kid, Hollywood has so far ignored many beloved but little-known crusaders.

Earlier this year, Wesley Snipes tried and failed to produce a film adaptation of the obscure '60s Marvel character the Black Panther, the first modern black superhero. (Though BET announced in April that it will turn the character into an animated series early next year.)

Black Panther might not make it past basic cable, but in honor of the unlikely hero, Radar nominates 10 other subversive comic book characters who probably won't—but really should—show up at a theater near you.

Next: Elongated Man >>

 


Making Number Two
A brief history of disastrous vice presidential choices

Radlibs: Convention Edition
Create a magic, base-stirring moment with Radar's nomination acceptance speech generator

Full Court Press
Charles Kaiser on McCain's McGovern Moment

Friends Without Benefits
For some celebrities, pals are found on the payroll

Gridiron Bars
Previewing the NFL season through the police blotter


EXECUTIVE EDITOR:


MANAGING EDITOR:


EDITED BY:



Email us at:
tips@radaronline.com
or IM: TipRadar







Stormy Handsy Sober Weekend Ahead!

Bear Busts Pot Farm

RNC Convention: The Final Chapter

Manhunting For Public Health

David Cho Introduces You To The Seductive Arts Of The Donk

America Hoping Condi's Sex Appeal Will Make Gaddafi Forget All About That Lockerbie Stuff

Yigal Azrouel Overrun by Youth, Andre Leon Talley

When Politicians Make Bad Choices

Fashion Week Begins

'NYT' Shrinks Radically





Bristol's Mom
She's got it going on

Andrea Mitchell Battles Republican Balloons
She loses

The Best Political Pundit In The Entire World
Someone give this man a show

They Don't Call Her Sarah Baracuda For Nothing
How John McCain Picked Sarah Palin

An Exclusive Preview From The Forthcoming Feature Film "Choke"
Here's A First Look At The Film Adaptation Of Chuck Palahniuk's Choke