American Splendor Theatrical Trailer
“I’m Harvey Pekar.”
“That doesn’t sound like a superhero to me.”
We were very sad to hear the news this morning that Harvey Pekar, our favourite underground comic book author and curmudgeon from Cleveland, passed away yesterday. We’re big fans of Harvey’s American Splendor comic book series, as well as the 2003 part-documentary-part-biopic of the same name, with Paul Giamatti portraying our disgruntled, working class hero.
To celebrate Harvey’s contribution to the way in which banal occurrences are portrayed both in graphic novels and on film, we’ve put together a Top Five list of our favourite comic book adaptations, only a couple of which feature heroes with powers or fancy gadgets.
Men in Black trailer
Men In Black, 1997, Dir. Barry Sonnenfeld.
Based on the comic book by Lowell Cunningham.
After hanging up his fluoro baseball cap and saying goodbye to Bel Air, Will Smith turned his attention to saving the world. First in 1996’s Independence Day, and then in this adaptation of Lowell Cunningham’s Marvel Comics series. He proved on the film’s soundtrack, though, that Jazzy Jeff might’ve been gone, but he wasn’t ready to stop rapping just yet…
The Addams Family Movie trailer
The Addams Family Movie, 1991, Dir. by Barry Sonnenfeld.
Based on the comic strip by Charles Addams.
In the 50 years it was published in the New Yorker, Charles Addams’ macabre family introduced us to iconic characters like Pugsley, Wednesday, Lurch, Fester and Cousin Itt. It wasn’t until it made the switch to film (and television), though, that it created the most identifiable finger-clicking theme song in the history of bodily percussion.
Sin City Theatrical Trailer
Sin City, 2005, Dir. by Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller and Quentin Tarantino.
Based on the comic books by Frank Miller.
With inter-connected stories spanning decades in Basin City, Robert Rodriguez manned up to a huge challenge in bringing Frank Miller’s Neo-Noir Sin City series to the big screen. Recruiting the creator as a co-director, the inventive Rodriguez pleased fans and critics alike with his violent and grim interpretation of the Dark Horse Comics classic.
Ghost World Official Trailer
Ghost World, 2001, Dir. by Terry Zwigoff.
Based on the graphic novel by Daniel Clowes.
After directing Crumb – the revealing documentary about the comic book visionary responsible for inspiring Harvey Pekar’s early work – Terry Zwigoff didn’t stray too far from the graphic novel arena. His interpretation of Daniel Clowes’ series (which is even popular with fictional characters) added a brilliant extra dimension to the books’ teenage heroines, thanks to smart and sassy performances from leading ladies Thora Birch and Scarlett Johannsen.
Watchmen Trailer
Watchmen, 2009, Dir. by Zack Snyder.
Based on the graphic novel, written by Alan Moore.
The only heroes of the super variety on this list are featured here, in the alternate New York City circa 1985 that DC Comics’ Alan Moore created. Zack Snyder’s groundbreaking film stayed loyal to its source material and, in doing so, set a new standard for all future comic book adaptations.
