It's DC Comics that set the template for the superhero blockbuster. First they convinced audiences that a man could fly with the Christopher Reeves Superman films (where, the first couple at least). Then they carved out a niche for more adult, dark fare with Tim Burton's 1989 Batman film. All comic book adaptations exist in their twin shadows. The first of those iconic films wasn't produced until the seventies, though, after DC originally National Allied Publications and its big characters had been in existence for a good forty years. Had they not tried to adapt their big names to the silver screen before then? Actually, yes. But with decidedly mixed results. And the not-inconsiderable gap of over a decade between Superman and Batman films was peppered with its own missteps and direct-to-video disasters. Then there's the wilderness years of the post-Batman And Robin world...suffice to say, there are a enough terrible DC movies you haven't seen to fuel Apokolips for centuries. It wasn't all Men Of Steel and Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. No, there was a time when comics fans had to deal with vanity projects starring basketball players, racist serials and most perplexing of all musicals. Here are the ten weirdest moments in the early days of DC movies.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
