On National Comic Book Day, we are hitting you up with the definitive list of the best comic characters to appear on the big screen.
2018 has been the year of the comic book film. Sure, it seems as though every year is the year of the comic book film, but never before have we seen an array of super flicks that succeed in so many different areas. Black Panther redefined what we thought was possible for comic book films when it comes to artistic merit and social impact. Avengers: Infinity War stole the show at the box office, raking in over $2 billion globally. Films like Ant-Man and the Wasp and Deadpool 2 were still able to make their presence known amongst fans and critics alike, and Venom is still on the way.
To celebrate National Comic Book day, we are providing you with our list of the best characters from super hero adaptations on the big screen. The list is based on actual scientific research and definitely not on one person’s subjective opinion.
1. Shuri – Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther came at us with great effects, gripping action sequences, and not to mention a cast of incredible characters. While T’challa and Nakia will always hold a dear spot in our hearts, perhaps none are more lovable than Letitia Wright’s Shuri. This 16 year old child prodigy is not only incredibly impressive for her scientific abilities that outdo other notable MCU scientists like Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, but she also brings devious little sister vibes reminiscent of Megan from Drake & Josh. All aboard the bandwagon for a stand-alone Shuri film.
2. Negasonic Teenage Warhead – Deadpool (2016), Deadpool 2 (2018)
Though she is described by Deadpool as being “all about long sullen silences, followed by mean comments, followed by more silences,” this teenage hero brings so much more to the table than that. Her punk attitude, witty sarcasm and nuclear explosion powers make her one of the most entertaining parts in two films that are nonstop riots. The dynamic between Negasonic Teenage Warhead and her cheerful, always-smiling girlfriend, Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna) is one of the best aspects of Deadpool 2, and offers a much need change of pace from Deadpool’s constant erratic demeanor.
3. Korg – Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Part of me wants to believe that the actors on set of Thor: Ragnarok were having so much fun that director Taika Waititi wanted to get in on it as well, and that’s why he stepped in to takeover Korg’s voice. Waititi brings a hilarious passivity to the massive and potentially violent Korg that allows him to stand out in a film overflowing with larger than life characters. The harmless-rock-paper-scissors joke-making Korg consistently provides adds some much needed comic relief to tense moments, and his politeness and good nature are every bit as enjoyable. Leaving him out of Infinity War felt like putting a cake in front of us and then throwing it out the window. More Korg please.
4. The Joker – The Dark Knight (2008)
Heath Ledger’s Joker remains the only comic book adaptation role to win an academy award for acting, and this is less of a testament to poor acting in super flicks than it is to how brilliant the execution of this character truly was. When we think about villains, the most compelling usually have clear motives that, while misdirected, make some sense. That’s what’s so amazing about this incarnation of the Joker. He’s an absolute madman and we really don’t have any idea as to what drives him other than to see the “world burn.” Ledger’s performance is incredible, and the character is as entrancing as he is terrifying. Here’s looking at you, Joaquin Phoenix.
5. Blade – Blade Trilogy (1998-2004)
Blade is probably one of the least popular Marvel films outside of its dedicated cult fanbase, and yet, it is arguably the most important. Many people credit the success of the X-Men franchise or the Raimi Spiderman films to the advent of the MCU, but none of that happens without Wesley Snipes playing the human-vampire hybrid, Blade. Blade was the first Marvel hero shown on the big screen to come in with a “take-no prisoners” attitude, and none have been quite able to fill his shoes since. Two decades before Black Panther, Blade proved that a Black-American could take the lead role in a superhero film and carry the movie to success. Snipes’ real life martial arts experience provided him with the abililty to execute great fight scenes that differ greatly from the CGI-heavy battles we now see in the MCU. Blade saved the comic book adaptation industry and paved the way for much of what dominates the film landscape today.
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