Comic Book Movies

206 movies, 1 book, 2 interviews in this series

Superheroes. Vigilantes. Hitmen. Demigods. And the occasional fascist regime in a Guy Fawkes mask.

Now Playing Podcast has reviewed over 200 comic book movies spanning DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Image, and beyond. From the spandex action of Batman and Spider-Man to the artsy Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and 300, to the cult favorites Hellboy, The Spirit, and Swamp Thing, to even dramas like American Splendor, Road to Perdition, and A History of Violence.

We’ve covered the capes, the cowls, the indies, and the prestige adaptations that barely look like comic books at all.

Big studio tentpoles. Cult oddities. Faithful panels brought to life and “in name only” adaptations that took wild swings. The comic book movie didn’t start with shared universes, and it doesn’t end there either.

Our hosts explore the full spectrum of graphic storytelling on screen, breaking down what works, what doesn’t, and how this once-niche genre took over Hollywood one panel at a time.

Movie Reviews

Now Playing Approved

Batman (1989)

I have given a name to my podcast, and it is Now Playing

Reviewed May 22, 2012
Having witnessed his parents' brutal murder as a child, millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne fights crime in Gotham City disguised as Batman, a costumed hero who strikes fear into the hearts of villains. But when a deformed madman known as 'The Joker' seizes control of Gotham's criminal underworld, Batman must face his most ruthless nemesis ever while protecting both his identity and his love interest, reporter Vicki Vale. Genres: Action, Crime, Fantasy, Superhero, Theatrical Release

Captain America (1990)

Captain in the Rye

Reviewed Jan 31, 2012
During World War II, a brave, patriotic American Soldier undergoes experiments to become a new supersoldier, "Captain America". Racing to Germany to sabotage the rockets of Nazi baddie "Red Skull", Captain America winds up frozen until the 1990s. He reawakens to find that the Red Skull has changed identities and is now planning to kidnap the President of the United States. Genres: Action, Adventure, Direct to Video/Streaming, Science Fiction, Superhero, War

Batman Returns

Batman Returned this summer Christmas gift, can I?

Reviewed May 29, 2012
The monstrous Penguin, who dwells in the sewers beneath Gotham, joins up with corrupt mayoral candidate Max Shreck to topple the Batman once and for all. But when Shreck's timid assistant Selina Kyle finds out, and Shreck tries to kill her, she's transformed into the sexy Catwoman. She teams up with the Penguin and Shreck to destroy Batman, but sparks fly unexpectedly when she confronts the caped crusader. Genres: Action, Christmas/Holiday, Fantasy, Superhero, Theatrical Release

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Ok, we did it. We heard your cries.

Reviewed May 31, 2012
Andrea Beaumont leaves her father to return to Gotham, rekindling an old romance with Bruce Wayne. At the same time, a mysterious figure begins to hunt down Gotham's criminals, wrongly implicating Batman in the murders. Now on the run from the law, Batman must find and stop the culprit, while also navigating his relationship with Andrea. Genres: Action, Adventure, Animation, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Superhero, Theatrical Release

Tank Girl

Isn't Keanu Reeves in this? No, that's Johnny Pneumonic. ...

Reviewed Feb 26, 2013
After a comet disrupts the rain cycle of Earth, the planet has become a desolate, barren desert by the year 2033. With resources scarce, Kesslee, head of the powerful and evil Water & Power Corporation, the de facto government, has taken control of the water supply. Unwilling to cower under Kesslee's tyrannical rule, a pair of outlaws known as Tank Girl and Jet Girl rise up, joining the mysterious rebel Rippers to destroy the corrupt system. Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Superhero, Theatrical Release

Batman Forever

Podcast-gasm!

Reviewed Jun 5, 2012
Batman faces off against two foes: the schizophrenic, horribly scarred former District Attorney Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face, and the Riddler, a disgruntled ex-Wayne Enterprises inventor seeking revenge against his former employer by unleashing his brain-sucking weapon on Gotham City's residents. As the caped crusader also copes with tortured memories of his parents' murder, he has a new romance, with psychologist Chase Meridian. Genres: Action, Crime, Fantasy, Superhero, Theatrical Release
Now Playing Approved

Men in Black

Now Playing - the first, last, and only defense against b...

Reviewed Apr 22, 2016
After a police chase with an otherworldly being, a New York City cop is recruited as an agent in a top-secret organization established to monitor and police alien activity on Earth: the Men in Black. Agent K and new recruit Agent J find themselves in the middle of a deadly plot by an intergalactic terrorist who has arrived on Earth to assassinate two ambassadors from opposing galaxies. Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction, Theatrical Release
Brown Arrow

Batman & Robin

Cool Podcast!

Reviewed Jun 7, 2012
Batman and his sidekick Robin attempt to the foil the sinister schemes of a deranged set of new villains, most notably the melancholy Mr. Freeze, who wants to make Gotham City into an arctic region, and the sultry Poison Ivy, a botanical femme fatale. As the Dynamic Duo contend with these bad guys, a third hero, Batgirl, joins the ranks of the city's crime-fighters. Genres: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Superhero, Theatrical Release

Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Hell hath no Fury like David Hasselhoff!

Reviewed Jan 10, 2012
Marvel's hard-boiled hero is brought back to fight the menace of Hydra after exiling himself in the Yukon since the end of the Cold War. The children of the former Hydra head, Baron Von Stucker, have taken charge of the terrorist organization. Under the lead of his vicious daughter, Viper, Hydra has seized a deadly virus and threatens the destruction of America. Genres: Action, Science Fiction, Superhero, TV Movie

Men in Black II

Rip Torn pulls a Keanu and does kung fu! What more do you...

Reviewed Apr 29, 2016
Kay and Jay reunite to provide our best, last and only line of defense against a sinister seductress who levels the toughest challenge yet to the MIB's untarnished mission statement – protecting Earth from the scum of the universe. It's been four years since the alien-seeking agents averted an intergalactic disaster of epic proportions. Now it's a race against the clock as Jay must convince Kay – who not only has absolutely no memory of his time spent with the MIB, but is also the only living person left with the expertise to save the galaxy – to reunite with the MIB before the earth submits to ultimate destruction. Genres: Action, Comedy, Science Fiction, Theatrical Release

Book Reviews

Interviews