Superhero: 237

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) is a superhero film based on Marvel Entertainment Group’s comic books. In 1986, Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr invite a young Jean Grey to join their school, the X-Mansion, at her parents’ house. Ten years later in 1996, industrialist Warren Worthington II discovers his son’s mutant abilities when he tries to remove his wings. In the present day, Worthington Labs announces a ‘cure’ for mutants and offers it to those who are interested in suppressing their X-gene. This piques the interest of certain mutants such as Rogue, who struggles with her harmful touch, while others are cautious. Magneto gathers a new ...

The superhero film, Elektra (2005), is based on the character from Marvel Comics and directed by Rob Bowman. It serves as a spin-off of Daredevil (2003), with Jennifer Garner reprising her role as the titular character. After being killed, Elektra Natchios is revived by blind martial arts master Stick and trained in the ancient art of Kimagure. This allows her to have precognition and resurrect the dead. However, due to her inability to let go of her rage and fear towards her mother’s killer, she is expelled from the training compound. She then uses her skills to become a contract killer. Many years ...

Directed by Christopher Nolan, Batman Begins (2005) is a superhero film co-written by Nolan and David S. Goyer. After an incident involving bats in his childhood, Bruce Wayne develops a fear of them. Years later, at the opera with his parents, he becomes unsettled by performers dressed as bats and asks to leave. Tragically, they are killed in front of him by Joe Chill, a mugger. Bruce is then taken in and cared for by Alfred Pennyworth, the family’s loyal butler. As an adult, when Chill is released from prison after ...

Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006) is an American superhero animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Boasting a diverse cast of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, it serves as a direct sequel to the previous Justice League series, picking up two years later. As the eighth and final installment of the DC Animated Universe, it brings this shared universe to a close, which began with Batman: The Animated Series. Impressively, JLU is the most continuity-heavy show in this universe, seamlessly combining characters and storylines from previous series. Similar to its second season ...

Blade: Trinity (2004), an American superhero film, was written and directed by David S. Goyer, who also penned the screenplays for Blade and Blade II. In the movie, a group of vampires investigate an ancient tomb in the Syrian Desert believed to belong to Dracula, also known as ‘Drake’. To prevent Blade from interfering, they frame him for the murder of a human familiar. Subsequently, FBI agents locate Blade’s hideout and fatally wound his mentor and friend Abraham Whistler. Feeling defeated, Blade turns himself in and is taken into custody. The vampires’ familiars arrange for Blade to ...

The Incredibles (2004), an American animated superhero film from Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures, follows Bob Parr (also known as Mr. Incredible) on the day of his wedding to Helen Truax (aka Elastigirl). In an act of heroism, Bob stops a man from jumping off a building and then uncovers a robbery by supervillain Bomb Voyage. However, he is interrupted by Buddy Pine, an eager fan who wishes to be his sidekick. Bob turns down Buddy’s offer and manages to remove a bomb that Voyage planted on his cape. Unfortunately, this results in the destruction of an elevated train track and forces Bob to quickly stop an incoming train. Following their wedding, ...

Catwoman (2004) is an American superhero film directed by Pitof and loosely based on the DC Comics character of the same name. The story follows Patience Phillips, a timid individual whose closest source of support is her friend Sally. Patience is employed at Hedare Beauty, a cosmetics company preparing to launch their latest product, a skin cream known as Beau-line that claims to reverse aging. While delivering a revised advertisement to the company’s research and development lab, Patience overhears scientist Dr. Ivan Slavicky and CEO Laurel Hedare discussing the harmful side effects of the cream. Instead of ...

Spider-Man 2 (2004) follows the story of Peter Parker, a young man who gained superhuman abilities two years prior and now goes by the name Spider-Man. Peter is currently struggling with strained relationships with both his love interest, Mary Jane Watson, and his best friend, Harry Osborn. To add to his troubles, he discovers that his Aunt May is facing eviction. In addition to these personal challenges, Peter also finds himself experiencing sudden bouts of power loss at critical moments. Meanwhile, Harry has taken over as head of Oscorp’s research division and is funding a project led by nuclear scientist Otto Octavius. Octavius soon becomes a mentor to Peter ...

Chase Me (2003) is an animated short film, based on the series The New Batman Adventures. It was included as a bonus feature on the DVD for Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman and was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. During a party at Wayne Enterprises, Bruce Wayne takes a break from gazing out the window to join three lovely ladies on the dance floor. But his butler Alfred quickly rescues him and Bruce escapes to his office via elevator. Much to his surprise, he finds Catwoman robbing his safe. In a rush, she pins him against the wall before making her getaway. However, Bruce manages to free himself and transforms into Batman to pursue her across the ...

In an animated film Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003), produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Batman and Robin are faced with a new mystery. A mysterious female hero known as Batwoman has appeared in their city, and her true identity is unknown. Despite her claims to fight for justice, Batwoman goes against Batman’s moral code by using lethal force. As Penguin and Rupert Thorne attempt to sell illegal weapons to Kasnia, they enlist Carlton Duquesne for protection. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne develops a romantic relationship with Kathy Duquesne, the daughter of the crime boss. As Batman tries to uncover Batwoman’s true identity and prevent her from making ...

Daredevil (2003), an American superhero film written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson, is based on the Marvel Comics character created by Stan Lee and Bill Everett. As a child, Matt Murdock loses his sight due to exposure to radioactive waste. His father, former boxer Jack ‘The Devil’ Murdock, is involved with local mob boss Eddie Fallon and feels guilty for his son’s accident. Matt’s remaining senses are heightened as a result of the incident, granting him superhuman abilities such as agility and ...

X2: X-Men United (2003) is a Bryan Singer-directed American superhero film, based on the Marvel Comics’ X-Men team. At the White House, a mind-controlled Nightcrawler attacks the President, causing injuries to several agents before fleeing after being shot. Meanwhile, Logan searches for answers about his past at an abandoned military facility in Alberta, but comes up empty-handed. Jean Grey’s increasing difficulty controlling her powers leads to premonitions and distractions. After returning to Professor Xavier’s school, Logan joins forces with Cyclops and Xavier to track down Nightcrawler using ...

Blade II (2002), an American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character, was directed by Guillermo del Toro and written by David S. Goyer. In Prague, our protagonist Blade sets out to find his mentor Abraham Whistler, who was believed to be deceased after an attack by Deacon Frost but instead was turned into a vampire and held captive for two years. After questioning vampire Rush about Whistler’s whereabouts, Blade successfully rescues him and cures him of his vampirism. Whistler then meets Scud, a young and talented technician working with Blade. ...

Based on the Marvel Comics character created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the American superhero film Spider-Man (2002) follows high school senior Peter Parker on a school trip to a genetics laboratory at Columbia University with his friends Harry Osborn and Mary Jane Watson. After being bitten by a genetically engineered spider, Peter falls ill upon returning home. Meanwhile, Norman Osborn, a scientist and owner of Oscorp, is trying to secure a military contract and tests a performance-enhancing chemical on himself, resulting in him becoming insane and killing his ...

The American animated TV show Justice League (2001–2004) aired on Cartoon Network from November 17, 2001, to May 29, 2004, and was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It is based on characters from DC Comics’ Justice League of America and serves as both a sequel to Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series, as well as a prequel to Batman Beyond. The show is the seventh in the DC Animated Universe. While most characters remained true to their comic book origins, there were some changes. For example, in the premiere story arc ‘Secret Origins’, Diana competes against her fellow Amazons for ...

The Zeta Project (2001–2002), an American science fiction animated series by Warner Bros. Animation, debuted on Kids’ WB in January 2001. It’s the sixth installment in the DC Animated Universe and is centered around the character Zeta from a Batman Beyond episode of the same name. Drawing inspiration from Frankenstein, Blade Runner, and The Fugitive, the show follows Zeta and Ro as they work to clear his name. Hunted by NSA agents who believe he has been reprogrammed by terrorists, Zeta and Ro search for his elusive creator, Dr. Selig. Originally imagined as a darker series, The Zeta Project was instead ...

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000), an American superhero film, was produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment respectively. As the third installment in the DC Animated Universe, it draws from the animated series Batman Beyond and also resolves plot points left open in The New Batman Adventures. A new faction of the Jokerz gang – including Bonk, Woof, Ghoul, Chucko, and the Dee-Dee twins – tries to steal advanced technology but is stopped by Terry McGinnis, who has taken on the role of Batman under the guidance of his predecessor Bruce Wayne. The gang reports back to their ...

The American superhero animated series, Static Shock (2000–2004), was based on the Milestone Media/DC Comics character of the same name. It tackled various social issues, earning praise from television critics. The show even received a Daytime Emmy nomination. However, there were some negative critiques regarding its humor and animation style being perceived as awkward and outdated. Although the series did release merchandise, it unfortunately did not sell well and was cancelled due to low sales, according to creator McDuffie. Despite this setback, the show’s success sparked renewed interest in the original comic ...

Unbreakable (2000), an American superhero thriller film was both written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Set in 1961 Philadelphia, baby Elijah Price is born with Type I osteogenesis imperfecta, leaving his bones extremely fragile and prone to fractures. In present day, former star quarterback and security guard David Dunn returns home from a job interview in New York on the Eastrail 177 train when it suddenly speeds up. He awakens in a hospital room without a scratch, and the doctors inform him that he is the only survivor of the derailment that killed all other 131 passengers. After attending a memorial service for ...

The World of Stainboy (2005) is a flash animation series created by director Tim Burton and animated by Flinch Studio. Stainboy, the main character, initially appeared in two short poems from Tim Burton’s book The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories. This series marks Burton’s return to the superhero genre since Batman Returns. Stainboy is employed by Burbank police, and in each episode he receives instructions to locate and apprehend social outcasts, many of whom are from the Oyster Boy book. Each of the six episodes has a ...