Comic Book Movies

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.