Written By Jason S. LockardI think we will all agree that Marvel has been doing a great job bringing the superheroes to the Big Screen. And the new Black Panther movie has me thinking this is going to be another great one! But I have seen people writing that this is the first black superhero movie based on a comic book! But is that true?! Let's go back to the 90s.
SPAWN
On August 1st 1997 Michael Jai White took the reigns of Todd MacFarlane's Spawn. White played Al Simmons is a Force Reconnaissance Marine Colonel and Black Ops operative who is betrayed and killed, but comes back from Hell as a reluctant soldier of the Devil. The budget for the film was 40 Million and it made 87.8 Million at the Box Office. And it's still a pretty cool film even today, even thought the CGI leaves a little to be desired.
STEEL
In the comics The death of Superman was an epic story arc many people tried to fill the void left when Superman was killed by Doomsday. One such man was John Henry Irons aka STEEL. On August 15, 1997 Shaquille O'Neal took the role of Irons. The film never speaking of Superman. it instead tells the story of John Henry Irons a weapons designer who sees gangs using weapons he designed and builds the suit to fight back. The budget was 16 Million and it only made 1.7 Million at the box office. A Bust! But when you watch it, it's still a pretty nostalgic look at the 90s.
BLADE
August 21st 1998, Wesley Snipes first took the iconic role of the Half-Vampire Half-Mortal protector of the mortal race. As he slays the evil vampires. The budget was 45 Million dollars and it made 131.2 million at the Box Office. BLADE II
March 22, 2002 Wesley Snipes slipped back into the ray-bans and leather trench coat for Blade II. In the film Blade aligns himself with the vampire council in order to combat the Reapers, who are feeding on vampires. The films budget was $54 million and it made 155 Million at the Box office.
BLADE Trinity
December 8, 2004 Wesley Snipes dons the ray-bans for the final time in the Blade trilogy. In this final film Blade is a wanted man by the FBI. So He joins forces with the Nightstalkers to face his most challenging enemy yet........ Dracula. The budget was $65 million and it made $128.9 Million at the Box office.
Now we see that black superheroes based on comics have graced the big screen (and been successful for the most part) long before Black Panther. The Interesting thing is even before these films, there were other superhero movies and shows not based on comics that starred black actors.
METEOR MAN
On August 6, 1993, Robert Townsend played a high school teacher from a troubled inner city Washington D.C. neighborhood becomes a super-powered hero and takes on the gang. This film has a great cast of black actors. Defiantly on to check out!
BLANKMAN
August 19th 1994, Damon Wayans plays a clumsy inventor who becomes a superhero with a bulletproof costume and a low budget.
Very funny film by Damon Wayans.M.A.N.T.I.S.
Dr. Miles Hawkins (Carl Lumbly) a wealthy, mild-mannered doctor is shot in the spine during a riot, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. He invents a powered exoskeleton that not only enables him to walk but gives him superhuman abilities in the process. Thus becoming the vigilante
"M.A.N.T.I.S." (Mechanically Augmented Neuro Transmitter Interception
System). This is an extremely underrated TV show canceled way before it's time.Now let's be honest technology has come so far that the films use the CGI and it is almost seamless. Just take a look at what was done on Star Wars Rogue One bringing Princess Leia and General Tarkin back to life. Case in point! So Black Panther is going to be epic, no doubt about it! But by no means is it the first film starring a black actor in a black superhero role.
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