10 Comic Book Movie Henchmen Who Deserve Way More Praise
3. Otis - Superman & Superman II (1978 & 1981)
Not all henchmen are dangerous, smart, in shape or skilled with a computer. They just need to be devoted...and useful.
Unfortunately for Gene Hackman's portrayal of Lex Luthor, he got none of that when he hired Otis to be his assistant in his real-estate earthquake scheme.
It's not even that Otis has some hidden talent that comes out later on; he seems to follow Luthor around and hang on to his every word like he's been hypnotised. And considering Lex Luthor treats him more like a whipping boy, we can't help but wonder what their dynamic is.
Ned Beatty plays Otis with enough charm and innocence that throughout the film, we actually feel sorry for the guy.
When the two are arrested and sent to jail at the end of the first Superman, someone should have really stepped in and vouched for him as just a dumb guy being taken for a ride by a madman.
In the second film he makes a daring prison escape with Lex Luthor in a hot air balloon. After being left behind in the jail, we slightly feel sorry for him until we realise it was probably for the best.
Maybe now Otis will find a stable criminal role-model?