When "Spider-Man" debuted in theaters nationwide in May, the movie shattered box office records, taking in more than $114 million in one weekend and reaching the $200 million mark in nine days.
"Batman & Robin," the fourth in a series of contemporary films focusing on the Dark Knight of comic books, has not come close to that number since its opening in 1997, earning roughly $130 million over the last five years.
Despite the seemingly successful total, which is not as impressive when the budget for such an action movie is taken into account, "Batman & Robin" is usually talked about as one of the most infamously unwatchable movies in years.
"They just tried to make it way too campy," said Daniel Johnson, a store clerk at the comic book shop Comic Relief in Lawrenceville. "That was the stuff you used to see on the '60s TV show."
While no Batman movie has found its way to theaters since then, the two most recent comic book adaptations, "X-Men" in 2000 and the aforementioned "Spider-Man," have garnered tremendous popular support and higher profits. The success of "X-Men" did not see as intense a financial performance as "Spider-Man," yet its status as a hit is undeniable.
This reversal in the downward turn comic book movie adaptations had taken coincides with a changing of the guard at Marvel Comics, the company that produces Spider-Man and X-Men comics.
"I think they've finally admitted that characters alone won't sell a book," said Scott Melzer, the owner of Knight Dreams on Nassau Street, about the changes at Marvel.
Melzer said that the improvement in writing quality in the books was coupled with Marvel's decision to sell the rights to many of its characters in order to avoid bankruptcy.
"Marvel has been very cocky," he said, adding that the company has shown a lack of respect for the film industry in the past. But it would seem that these attitudes are a thing behind them, or at least shelved for the time being.
Movie popularity has also helped the comic book industry in return, as merchants agreed that sales have improved in the last few years, a shift from the previous trend of comic book fans dropping the hobby.
Johnson said his sales have definitely increased: "Comics are just getting into peoples' minds more and more."
But the increase could be attributed to an improvement in quality and a host of new projects, centering primarily on X-Men and Spider-Man.
Melzer said that, while they may be more successful, comic book movies have been consistently trying to find a foothold with movie audiences.
"We've always had the occasional comic book films," he said, referring to such efforts as the recent "Punisher" film, which was a box office flop despite being a widely read comic book.
Both Melzer and Johnson said that the industry's change of attitude toward Hollywood has been the key.
"These movies are being treated more as viable properties," Johnson said, adding that bigger budgets and better production teams have helped make the adaptations higher quality and less cheesy. The effort to appeal to a wide audience rather than just fans of the comic has also contributed.
"They really have to play it safe," Melzer explained. But though targeting a large audience, he said the movies will "have certain nods for the fans."
Chad Spano, owner of Comic Lair in Hamilton, said that better special effects have helped, making the movie representation of characters incredibly close to comic book style.
There seems to be little doubt that these movies will continue the trend of box office success.
"I think they'll do very well," Spano said.
But Melzer cautioned that one bad apple could ruin the whole bunch.
"I think that people tend to lump comic book movies together," he said. This combined with Melzer's skepticism about some of the upcoming movies could mean that the success streak of comic book movies might end before it has a chance to take off.
Next year will see the release of three major projects from Marvel Comics – a sequel to "X-Men," "The Hulk" and "Daredevil."
"X-Men 2"
Nearly three years after "X-Men" broke box office records to become one of the most successful films of 2000, the majority of the original cast and director Bryan Singer (of "The Usual Suspects" fame) reunite for the highly-anticipated sequel, to be released May 2, 2003.
The cast returns with increased star power, partly the result of success since the first movie. Hugh Jackman, who plays the mysterious and dangerous Wolverine, was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in "Kate and Leopold." Sir Ian McKellan, who plays the villain Magneto, picked up another Oscar nomination for "Lords of the Rings." And Halle Berry, who plays weather goddess Storm, won an Academy Award for her performance in "Monster's Ball."
Other returning cast members include Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as Mystique, Famke Janssen as Dr. Jean Grey, James Marsden as Cyclops and Anna Paquin as Rogue.
With a budget of over $100 million (nearly double that of the original), "X-Men 2" will feature upgraded special effects, additional characters and — rumor has it — a better wig for Storm, whose hair is white.
The X-Men is a group of superheroes and teachers composed of mutants — people born with genetic abnormalities which give them special abilities. Because their abilities are mostly physical impossibilities like walking through walls or shooting force beams from the eyes, an increased special effects budget will allow for more intense battle scenes.
Where "X-Men" was bogged down with introductions and explanations, the sequel will have more room for plot and character development and will include more of the X-Men and villains from the comic book series.
Fan favorite Nightcrawler will be played by Alan Cumming ("The Anniversary Party"), and Iceman and Kitty Pryde will feature more prominently.
One of the major criticisms of "X-Men" was that so many characters were excluded. Even some of the most popular comic book characters, like Gambit and Beast, were left out of the film. They're not likely to have much screen time, if any, in the sequel.
Melzer cautioned that "X-Men 2" may go the way of many sequels, riding on the popularity of the first movie without the same quality. "Sequels usually suck," he noted.
Another challenge to box office sales may arise because "X-Men 2" is only the second most anticipated sequel of the year. In first place is "The Matrix Reloaded," which opens just two weeks after "X-Men 2."
The long-awaited follow-up to the 1999 blockbuster "The Matrix" may siphon fans and ticket sales from the X-Men sequel.
Still, with its solid comic book sales (at least five of the X-Men's titles usually land within the top 20 each month), "X-Men 2" should have no problem turning a huge profit.
"The Hulk"
The list of major players in the Incredible Hulk movie might easily be confused with that of a tragic love story. When "The Hulk" premieres on June 20, 2003, fans can expect vein-popping action to be tempered with lyric storytelling.
Ang Lee, Academy Award-nominated director of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," will bring his notoriously meticulous perfectionism to the not-so-jolly green giant, the story of his origin and relationship with love interest Betty Ross.
Australian actor Eric Bana, recently in "Black Hawk Down," will play the nerdy Bruce Banner and his towering alter ego, the Incredible Hulk.
Bana is a relative unknown next to Lee and his supporting cast — "A Beautiful Mind" Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly as Betty Ross, Academy Award nominee Nick Nolte as Bruce Banner's father and Sam Elliot ("The Contender") as the general charged with stopping the Hulk's devastating rampage.
Having spent more than $100 million during production, Universal Studios and the other powers behind "The Hulk" expect to fare very well at the box office, already touting the film as the blockbuster hit of next summer.
Spano said the Hulk's status in pop culture would ensure a strong turnout for the film. "If you grew up in the '70s, you watched the Hulk," he said.
In addition to the live action television show, which ran from 1978 to 1982, Hulk has been the star of several animated series.
While the higher-ups have remained tight lipped about most plot details, the movie promises to deliver extensive special effects, chilling action sequences and a well-crafted love story.
The film will focus on the radiation accident that caused Bruce to acquire his Incredible Hulk persona, and the way that he deals with the Jekyll-and-Hyde-like situation.
During production, press leakage led to rampant rumors about conditions on the set, including claims that turmoil among the cast and crew would deter production. Universal Studios strongly denied the accusations.
Though sales of the Hulk's comic book have not been spectacular, they been strong, and there is no doubt that the Hulk is a well-known part of American superhero iconography. Filling theater seats is not likely to be a problem.
"Daredevil"
The Man Without Fear will be the first of next year's comic books adaptations to hit screens on Feb. 14 and is slightly different from the other two movies.
The film, directed by Mark Steven Johnson, who worked on the 1998 movie "Simon Birch," boasts a wealth of rising and popular talent. Ben Affleck will play the title character, who is Clark Kent-like mild mannered lawyer Matt Murdock by day and vigilante crime fighter Daredevil by night.
Daredevil's edge is his enhanced senses, the result of a brush with radioactivity that also left him blind.
Jennifer Garner, a budding star with her television action drama "Alias," will play Elektra, an expert ninja and Daredevil's love interest. Michael Clarke Duncan (of "The Green Mile") and Colin Farrell (of "Minority Report") will play the film's primary villains, Kingpin and Bullseye. Kingpin is a ruthless crime lord and Bullseye is a psychotic assassin.
Live action, up-close and realistic, is one of the movie's main features. Since the characters' special qualities are enhanced physical abilities, hand-to-hand combat will be heavily emphasized. Actors participated in intense training sessions to prepare for their stunts and fight scenes, and fans should expect to see Affleck, Garner and Farrell come to blows.
The production team has a strong dedication to the comic — Affleck penned the introduction to "Guardian Devil" trade paperback — and the film will include winks to many Daredevil creators, including a cameo appearance by Kevin Smith of "Jay and Silent Bob."
Unlike the other slated projects, "Daredevil" will be the first major screen project for the superhero, with no animated series or vintage television show under his belt.
While this is exciting for some, others are wary of the film's quality.
"It doesn't look like it's going to be very good," said Melzer, explaining that the movie does not seem to have anything special.
Daredevil comics have not been the popular sellers that X-Men and Spider-Man lines have been in recent years, but they have seen something of a resurgence with the restructuring of Marvel Comic's executive line up.
The Daredevil comic was relaunched in 1998, Elektra gained her own title last year and the first issue of "Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra" limited series went on sale just a few weeks ago.
Industry hype for the Daredevil flick has not been lacking, and few people seem worried that a relative dearth of comic book fans will lead to box office failure. Given the star power in the movie, it is probably a safe bet that the film will hold its own in theaters.
Other projects
And the action definitely does not stop in 2003.
"Spider-Man" is slated for a sequel in May of 2004. Tobey Maquire reprises his role as the web-slinging crime fighter, with Kirsten Dunst and James Franco returning as Mary Jane Watson and Harry Osborn, respectively.
Most other character and plot details for the film are vaulted away, though rumors suggest that Christopher Walken could play the tentacle-wielding supervillain Doctor Octopus.
DC Comics, which reined this arena in the '80s and '90s with Superman and Batman movies, is planning a comeback with a Warner Bros. Project that would pair Batman and Superman for a tag team adventure, and likely a slugfest between them. Solo movies for both heroes are also reported to be in the works.
A second sequel to 1998s "Blade" — half human, half vampire — starring Wesley Snipes should be hitting theaters some time in 2004.
And the demonic "Hellboy," a lesser known title from Dark Horse Comics, will be making his big screen debut in mid-2004, from Sony Pictures and Revolution Studios.
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