Superhero Shows: 6/27/10

01 July 2010

Retrospective 1989

In my book, or at least on my blog, 1989 was one of the most important years for superhero shows. Looking over the year's entries, it also seemed that green monsters were quite popular that year. After all, who doesn't love green monsters?

The Toxic Avenger Part II

A few years after the cult hit Toxic Avenger, Toxie returned and traveled to Japan (karate kid style). The movie did horribly and even the trailer is so bad / offensive that I won't embed it here, but if you must see it: here ya go.

The Trial of the Incredible Hulk

After Hulk and Thor's successful team up the year before in the Incredible Hulk Returns, Daredevil was ready to do some legal representin'.

The Return of Swamp Thing

"He's got a grudge cuz they turned him to sludge." But "He is turning over a new leaf."

Yeah, pretty much nobody wanted to see this, and so no one did.

Batman

Obviously, Batman was the year's standout. Not only was the movie one of the most successful superhero movies ever made reinvigorating the genre and spawning a slew of Batfilms. Batman also spawned Batman: The Animated Series, itself a highly influential series, as well as other dark takes on heroes such as the short lived Flash series.

Punisher

Marvel's big summer attempt at The Punisher starring Dolph Lundgren fell flat never even making it to theaters.

This fine tradition of Marvel disasters would continue with Captain America and The Fantastic Four before the company finally went on a winning streak some 10 years later with Blade.

The Toxic Avenger III: The Last Temptation of Toxie

As if Toxic Avenger II wasn't enough, 1989 actually delivered two Toxie sequels. Unsurprisingly, this one didn't do to well. Trailer.

X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men

X-Men fans would have to wait a few more years for the acclaimed animated series, but in 1989 they nearly got a series. Pryde of the X-Men was created as a pilot for an animated series which never got picked up. The team consisted of some interesting choices including Kitty Pryde AKA Shadowcat, Cyclops, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Dazzler, Storm, and of course Wolverine.

30 June 2010

Wonder Woman's Got a New Look

OK, I admit, this isn't strictly a superhero "show" related post but it is big news. DC has revamped Wonder Woman's costume. I think one of the the obstacles in adapting Wonder Woman to the big screen had to be her bikini brief bottoms.

Maybe they looked good in animation or on the comic page, but they would be difficult to take seriously in live action. So, how long until we see this new look on screen? Check out Diana Prince's onscreen history here.

Onscreen History of Supergirl and Power Girl

Supergirl first appeared in 1959. Since that time several characters have assumed the name despite various origins - sometimes not even being Kryptonian. Supergirl was one of the few heroes to make her media debut in her own self-titled feature film. The 1984 movie was a bomb then and has virtually been forgotten by now.

In the movie, Kara Zor-El becomes Earth's hero when her cousin Superman is off on an intergalactic mission.

Kara would next appear in Superman: The Animated Series in 1998, this time as Kara In-Ze from Krypton's sister world Argos (keeping Superman as the lone survivor of Krypton).

This Supergirl would befriend Batgirl in a crossover with The New Batman Adventures.

In "Girls Night Out" the two heroines took down team-up villainesses Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy.

This same incarnation of Supergirl would also appear in Justice League Unlimited in 2004 where she would have to fight her clone Galatea who was based on the design of the comic book character Power Girl, herself an alternate world version of Supergirl.

In JLU's final season, Kara grew up a bit, getting a more traditional look and going 1,000 years in the future to join the Legion of Superheroes.

Two Karas have appeared on Smallville. The first in 2004 claimed to be a Kryptonian messenger and had super powers, though she did not claim to be his relative. She even wanted to repopulate their race with him. It turned out she was just a puppet of Jor-El trying to get Clark to start his hero training (which I am not sure he has done yet).

The real Supergirl appeared in 2007 as a series regular for a season. This Kara, Kara Zor-El was in fact Kal-El's actually cousin and had his same powers. She has since gone looking for other Kryptonian survivors.

Supergirl also cameoed in 2008's Justice League: The New Frontier, though 2 seconds of screen time may not even count as a cameo.

It really doesn't seem too likely that we will be seeing much of Supergirl in the future, which is a shame for such a recognizable character. She may appear again on Smallville but she probably wont be getting her own series any time soon. And it is doubtful after the 1984 debacle that she will get her own film, at this rate Superman himself's film career is uncertain. Her best shot is probably at appearing in an adaptation of the historic DC Crisis story, where the head banded Supergirl died. Good luck with that Kara...

Update: June 30 2010

In the year since the original post, the Superman Batman movie series has expanded the exposure of Supergirl. First Power Girl appeared in Public Enemies.

In September, Supergirl is slated to be the focus of Apocalypse.

28 June 2010

Some Serious Water Bendage

How could you not want to pay to see more?

First Look at New Animated Supergirl

And the news keeps on coming. Here she is folks, straight from TVGuide.com, Supergirl. In fact this (I believe) is the first animation we have seen from the upcoming Superman Batman: Apocalypse. By the way, that's Summer Glau of Firefly/Terminator fame who will be voicing Kara from Krypton.

Also, I heard from a credible though semi anonymous source that this is in fact an adaptation of the Supergirl story from the Superman Batman series, and that Wonder Woman will play a major role. So far, its looking to be another success in the making for DC.

TVGuide adds:

As if Summer Glau hadn't already cemented her status as a fanboy favorite, the actress is about to go up, up and away to a new level with the sci-fi set. The Firefly and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles star is providing the voice for Supergirl in the upcoming animated movie Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (out September 28 on DVD, Blu-ray, on demand and digital download). In the film, the latest in a Warner Bros.-produced series based on popular DC Comics stories, Glau plays Superman's cousin Kara, a mysterious survivor of the doomed planet Krypton who shows up on Earth. Tim Daly and Kevin Conroy reprise their roles as Superman and Batman, respectively, from the characters' animated series in the '90s and a previous DC movie, last year's Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.

Apocalypse is based on a 2004 comic book arc, written by former Heroes producer Jeph Loeb, which reintroduced Supergirl into the DC Comics universe. "I thought in the comic that Jeph Loeb had done a really good job of sticking to the basics of the origin story, but putting enough twists on it to give it a fresh feel," says executive producer Bruce Timm, widely considered the dean of superhero animation. Unlike the rocket that brought her cousin to Earth, Kara's pod was delayed in its arrival, leaving her in suspended animation until landing. When she wakes up she is not terribly happy to learn that Earth's yellow sun gives her powers far beyond those of mortal women. "Early on in the story she just wants to fit in," Timm says. "Unlike most people who suddenly attain superpowers, she's terrified of them. She doesn't want to shoot lasers out of her eyes and be able to lift buildings with her pinky."

Glau, an animation novice who is the fifth Serenity star Timm has worked with (following Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Gina Torres and Morena Baccarin), quickly got a handle on the role. "It was a fun part for her to play because it wasn't one-note," Timm says. "She could be young and bratty, like a typical teenager, and then show a little bit more maturity, then get feisty, then scared. She's got quite a gamut of emotions to act out."

Green Lantern's Brightest Days #5

#5 Justice League: In Blackest Night

All throughout Super Friends, even though Hal Jordan was one of the "friends" he never got to be the star of the show. Finally, in this second story of the Justice League series, the Green Lantern was front and center.

The episode not only focused on John Steward, but delved into his back story and into the world of the Green Lantern Corps and the Manhunters. In Blackest Night also opening the door for future Lantern-themed episodes during the Justice League run.