Summary
Comic booksaren’t always for kids, and the protagonists don’t have to be conventional superheroes. Some ofthe best horror movies are adapted from comic books and graphic novels,giving artists more room to explore the visceral and terrifying, complete with detailed illustrations.
That might be why some ofthe most creative horrormovies are adapted from comic books. It’s a trend that dates back much further than the Marvel universe, beginning in the 1980s with literary and experimental horror, and has evolved from there.
Spawnbroke new ground in horror, comic book adaptations, and adult animation. Creator Todd McFarlane was inspired by shows likeAkiraand wanted something similar for his creation, and not only did he get his Emmy-winning HBO miniseries adaptation, but also a live-action adaptation that featured Michael Jai White as Spawn and John Leguizamo as his underworld guide, the Violator.
Part of thehorror is Spawn himself, a “hellspawn” who has been recruited and resurrected by Malebolgia, a high-ranking demon, and made a Commander in Hell’s army. The intention is that Spawn, formerly CIA operative Al Simmons, will fight for Satan against the armies of God. The story is about how Spawn rebels against the powers of darkness in an attempt to reclaim his humanity.
The premise ofHellboyis that a baby demon is separated from his roots and raised by people, which is essentially what happened when an American scientist, backed up by a part of the US Army, opened a portal to Hell. This adorable little demon dropped out of the portal, accidently summoned by Nazis practicing the occult, and was raised by Professor Trevor Bruttenholm, who also gave him his name.
Hellboy, as a character, is terrifying, dangerous, and overall well-meaning, despite his awkward and often impulsive nature. This makes him an ideal character to carry an exciting horror plot, as he can be problematic and unpredictable. TheHellboymovies also incorporate elements of humor and dark fantasy, in true Guillermo del Toro fashion.
Constantinehas been reappearing in the news cycle lately, thanks to the buzz surroundingthe impending sequel, which has been in the works for almost 30 years. Keanu Reeves is perfectly cast as the brooding and troubled John Constantine, born with the ability to see demons, which is partly how he knows he’s going to hell for trying to commit suicide as a teenager.
The main character uses his powers to act as a powerful exorcist, but he’s connected to a whole network of occultists who have similar abilities, so he’s not exactly alone. The first movie involves him trying to cheat the devil, so to speak, so there might be something similar planned for the second film.
The idea of a “half-vampire” creature was already floating around for a while, but it wasBladethat brought the concept into the mainstream. According to his origin story, his mother was bitten by a vampire when she was pregnant, and when Blade was born, he had all the same powers of the vampire but without the weaknesses, like an aversion to holy water and daylight.
Wesley Snipes plays the role of Blade, and he’s joined by his companion Whistler, a human who lives for revenge because of what the vampires did to his young family. Blade is also a superhero, in the same spirit as modern anti-heroes likeVenomwho also appear in an urban setting, but with a more clearly stated mission and slightly less chaos.
Unlike so many other movies adapted from comics,Bladeisn’t an origin story. The audience only finds out more of Blade’s backstory because of Whistler’s exposition and a few scattered flashbacks. The plot incorporates classic vampire lore, as well as new myths and legends, which are also adapted from the comics.
A perfect example of the dark and gritty movies that defined part of the mid-1990s,The Crowwas the perfect movie for a brooding audience of discontented edgelords. It starts on Devil’s Night, aka. October 30th,following an urban legendthat the night before Hallowe’en is when the jokes, pranks, and vandalism can really begin.
An innocent man and woman are killed in a gang-related act of violence, bringing another ancient legend to life; the one of The Crow that returns as a spirit to life to render judgement on the living who wronged them. Eric Dravin, one-half of the stricken couple, is guided by the crow to avenge his death and that of his fiancée.
One of the earliest examples of comic book adaptation, this anthology movie is made up of five stories from the comic books of the same name. TheTales From the CryptHBO series, produced in the 1980s, features an ensemble of directors, covering quite a few more adapted tales.
Like in the books, the Crypt Keeper appears to tell their story, but this time they’re surrounded by several different people who don’t seem to be connected. As their stories unfold, however, it becomes clear that they do have something in common, and that’s the same horrific fate; they have died without redemption and are bound for Hell.
2h00min
Hal Holbrook, Leslie Nielsen, Adrienne Barbeau, Ed Harris,
Ted Danson, Stephen King
George Romero is a director known for making horror, and Stephen King wrote the screenplay and two of the stories forCreepshow, and also appears in the movie. It’s partly based on old pulp comics likeTales from the CryptandThe Vault of Horror, and the graphic novel was released the same year as the movie. That means it was based on comic books and was then made into its own comic book.
The story begins when Billy Hopkins gets in trouble with his dad for reading aCreepshowcomic. Billy is upstairs in his room wishing his fatherwould go to hell forthrowing out his comic, which is what prompts the Creep to appear and make a sordid deal with the angry child.
