When modern audiences think ofsuperherofilms, they often think of big blockbuster events with lavish effects and celebrities donning tights to play beloved comic book characters. However, they first got their start in film serial in the 1930s and 1940s.
By the1960s, superhero films had taken a bit of a dive, but a lot of experimental films came out around this decade. This was a time when the genre especially felt artsy. After all, this was the decade Andy Warhol directed and produced the fan filmBatman Dracula.
The European comic industry especially saw adaptations of various superhero characters on the big screen, as well as a few original stories featuring superpowered characters.
As superheroes were starting to be seen as campy during this decade, thanks in part to superhero television series of the era, quite a few superhero films from this era were notably comedic. That said, even a few classic superhero characters that would prove to still be icons decades later also got a few movie adaptations during this time.
10Fearless Frank (1969)
Fearless Frankis a fantastic comedy that served as Jon Voight’s film debut. Voight plays Fran, a boy from the country who tries to make something of himself in Chicago. However, he encounters the mysterious Plethora, gets mixed up with gangsters, and is fatally shot. However, this isn’t the end of his story, as a scientist manages to reanimate him, in addition to granting him superpowers. This allows him to start a new life as a superhero.
Frankenstein Creates His Own Superman
Early on, the film is styled to resemble a comic book brought to life. In fact, the film’s opening title is a series of comic book-like illustrations. However, the plot gets more surreal as the story goes on.
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9Flashman (1967)
Flashmanrevolves around Count Alexei Burman, a member of the British royal family, who gets caught up in a plot revolving around an invisibility potion, with a villain harnessing to commit crimes while unseen. Meanwhile, a police inspector wants to pin the crimewave on the title hero. Eventually, a rich maharajah, a princess, and an all-female counterfeiting ring get caught up in the plot.
Bond Meets Batman
In addition to comics books, the film’s main inspiration was the H.G. Wells' novellaThe Invisible Man. The film also came about from director Mino Loy’s interest in creating a film using special effects to create an invisible character.
8Rat Pfink a Boo Boo (1966)
Rat Pfink a Boo Boois an experimental superhero film. The story actually starts out like a typical crime drama beforebecoming a superhero parody. When the muderous Chain Gang target the girlfriend of a popular singer, Lonnie Lord, he takes on the identity of “Rat Pfink” to take them on. He is aided by his friend, Titus Twimbly,who serves as his sidekick, “Boo Boo.”
Started as a Straight Drama, Then Became a Batman Parody
Allegedly, the film was originally meant as a straight crime drama. When it was decided this version wasn’t working out as planned, it was decided to repurpose it into a superhero parody, with the change in tone being inspired by the 1960sBatmantelevision series, with the titular two heroes being parodies of Batman and Robin.
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7Santo vs. las Mujeres Vampiro (1962)
Santo vs. las Mujeres Vampiro, also known asSamson vs. the Vampire Women, revolves around the masked wrestling superhero El Santo, or “The Saint.”. Thequeen of the vampires, Zorina, must appoint a successor. Meanwhile, another vampire, Tundra, targets a young woman name Diana. Her father, Professor Orloff, contacts the hero Santo to protect his daughter, with a prophecy revealing his ancestor had once saved Diana’s ancestor from the vampires.
El Santo Hits the International Market
While Santo had been in earlier films, most were not financially successful andSanto vs. las Mujeres Vampiroproved to be one of the first of his films to gain international attention, being one of four of his films to be dubbed into English. Notably, the film was the basis ofMystery Science Theater 3000’s sixth season’s finale.
6Avenger X (1967)
Avenger X, also known asMister-X, was a film based on the Italian comic series,Mister-X. In the film, George Lamarro heads a pharmaceutical company that deals with illegal drugs. When his secretary tries to blackmail him over this, he has her killed, pinning the crime on a master criminal known as “Mister X.” However, the real Mister X, a retired criminal, takes it upon himself to clear his name.
A Comic Character Patterned After Arsène Lupin
The comic the film was based on was already noted for being less violent than other similar genre comics of the time. The film version allegedly reinforced this by removing most of the violent scenes in order to keep the film appropriate for younger viewers. Mister X’s costume was also notably changed for the film adaptation to be less colorful.
5Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature (1967)
Ultraman: Monster Movie Featureis a superhero kaiju film that served as the first film in theUltramanfranchise. Interestingly, the film was actually made from footage fromtheUltramantokusatsu series. In the compilation, Science Patrol officer Hayata is killed while investigating UFOs. An alien revives him by fusing his own life force into him, also giving him the power to transform into the superhero Ultraman.
The First Film in the Ultraman Franchise
The film being a color production benefited its marketing, as most Japanese homes at the time had black-and-white televisions. Allegedly, the film had been conceived as an original film, complete with a screenplay developed, but was changed to a compilation due to lack of funding.
4The Golden Bat (1966)
The Golden Batis a Japanese superhero film that sees Earth get threatened by analien enemy known as Nazo. To combat them, scientists unearth a powerful mummy in the lost city of Atlantis. This entity is the titular “Golden Bat,” who is prophesied to protect the human race.
One of the World’s First Superheroes
The Golden Batis a Japanese superhero who originated in a kamishibai, or paper theater, show, predating American superheroes likeSupermanandBatman. The character had previously appeared in a 1950 film, and would continue to appear in later adaptations, such as a 1960s anime series. Sonny Chiba also notably appears in the film as Dr. Yamatone.
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3VIP my Brother Superman (1968)
VIP my Brother Superman, also known asThe SuperVips, isan animated superhero parody. The story revolves around two modern day superheroes. The first is SuperVip, who is built like a typical Superman. His brother, MiniVip, is short, bespectacled, and doesn’t have much powers, effectively being a humanoid firefly. However, both find themselves needed in the fight to protect the world from the villainous Happy Betty.
It Got a TV Series Decades Later
The film was financially and critically well-received upon its release. In addition, decades later, the film inspired an animated series, PsicoVip, which sees MiniVip undergoing analytical sessions to deal with his inferiority complex. The characters have also received a few comic adaptations.
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2Barbarella (1968)
Barbarella
Barbarellaisa science fiction filmadapting the comic series of the same name, starring Jane Fonda as the title heroine. Taking place in a distant future, the Earth has been unified as a Republic, issuing a time of peace. However, this is threatened by Dr. Durand Durand. Space explorer Barbarella is tasked with retrieving him. Soon, she will have to contend against the villainous Black Queen and encounter the blind angel, Pygar.
“She’s Out of This World!”
The film proved influential upon its release.Barbarellawas especially popular in the United Kingdom, becoming the country’s second high-grossest film in the year of its release. As with the action filmDanger: Diabolik,Barbarellaalso proved influential on European comic adaptations of the time. The band Duran Duran also notably named itself after the story’s villain.
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1Batman (1966)
Batman, also known asBatman: The Movie, is a film adaptation of the 1960s live-actionBatmanseries. Most of the series' actors reprise their roles for the film, notably Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin, respectively. The film also marks Batman’s first full-length theatrical film.
“Snap On the Batcuffs.”
Four ofGotham City’s greatest villains, the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler, and the Catwoman, join forces at the United Underworld to enact a sinister plot. They gain control of a powerful dehydrator that can transform people into dust, which they use on the international members of the United World Organization’s Security Council.
With Batman and Robin unable to stop the crime in time, Batman will need to develop a Super Molecular Dust Separator to save the day. Of course, the literal mixing of minds might just benefit the world at large.
The film was released a few months after the first season had finished, allowing it to help promote Batman’s adventures on the small-screen. The film also garnered a few animated sequels decades later:Batman: Return of the Caped CrusadersandBatman vs. Two-Face. The series' actors provided voice work for the film, with the second film being one of Adam West’s last projects.
