Nowadays, Hollywood is all about the franchise, spending hundreds of millions of dollars in hopes of creating the next billion dollar property. It's gotten to the point where they're scheduling sequels four, five or even six years in advance. But you can't get to part two, three or four without a part one. And, if we're lucky, part one ends up being a solid origin story.
Below are my top ten superhero origin stories. The ones I believe best meet these three criteria for a great origin tale:
MOTIVATION - This includes "why the hero or villain dons the suit" but also goes beyond that. The motivation has to be authentic. Organic. For example, George Lucas offered a backstory on the birth of Darth Vader but the entire endeavor fell flat. All in all, he turns to the Dark Side because the story mandates it.
Another issue is audiences often times accept why a character becomes the hero because they already know his/her story going into the movie. This allows filmmakers to get away with a bit of cheating. Meaning, they might touch on a few familiar elements from the source material while the audience fills in the rest themselves. Nothing is really explained but, because the audience knows how the story goes, writers and directors skim over important details.
In reality, it's the filmmaker's responsibility to deliver a complete story that can exist on its own, without the benefit of an established source material and the audience's knowledge of it.
THE JOURNEY - In some of the best stories, the hero's journey includes a moment where their beliefs are tested. He or she has introduced him/herself to the world as a hero and now has to prove their worth.
For example, facing a pivotal moment where they can either "hang up their cape" or push through and persevere. Or, in the case of the villain, they finally cross that line. The point of no return. It becomes clear they're beyond saving. Moments like these define our favorite characters and solidify their place as the hero or the villain.
This also ties into the importance of a strong and authentic motivation. If the motivation is strong, the hero's decision to commit to the fight against evil will feel justified. And not because "that's what's supposed to happen".
FOUNDATION - Quite simply, is it a worthy beginning? Does it set a strong foundation for a potential franchise? Or, in today's Hollywood, a potential shared cinematic universe?
A sequel should never have to bare the responsibility of "fixing" any errors or shortcomings its predecessor is responsible for. Each subsequent installment should be free to expand on what's been built. All the heavy lifting should be done in the first film. With a solid origin story as its foundation, a follow-up stands a great chance of surpassing the original.
Now that the criteria stuff is out of the way, here are my top ten superhero origin stories. Ranking them from 10 to 1 just wasn't working out, as some are stronger in certain areas than others. So, in chronological order.
1. THE INCREDIBLES (2004)
Written by: Brad Bird
Directed by: Brad Bird
When I was attempting to rank this list 10 to 1, The Incredibles ended up at #1 each time. Frankly, it's the best superhero movie ever made. However, it doesn't get the proper recognition or consideration it deserves simply because it's animated. No, it isn't live action but it still trumps anything Marvel, Warner Bros., Sony and Fox have released. But that's another discussion.
The Incredibles isn't the traditional origin story of a singular hero but rather a team of heroes. In this case, a family of them. As with Brad Bird's The Iron Giant, a strength of The Incredibles is the smartness of the script, which appeals to adults as well as children.
And while the film centers around a family of superheroes, it's still a very human story. The Parrs aren't that different from the families the film was made for. Besides the superpowers, that is. Individually, these characters have depth and, most importantly, are relatable. The film wouldn't have worked if Bird didn't get this right.
We get that Bob can't stand his average life. He desperately longs for the glory of yesteryear. Helen is very much a wife and mother who wants her family's normal life to work. Bob and Helen clash over this, affecting their children Violet and Dash in the process. Things aren't okay in the Parr household when we meet them and it's the journey that brings them together.
And the world Bird creates is a believable one. Where superheroes can be sued by the people they rescue. Where the government can offer these heroes amnesty and a relocation program after the law prohibits them from donning their costumes. And where, despite Pixar's logo over the title, people die - violently.
Word is there are plans for a sequel. It'll be exciting to see where these characters are when The Incredibles 2 does arrive. Violet, Dash and Jack Jack will be older, adding a new dynamic to the family's relationship. Also, there was a sense of history to the world Incredibles established so it's possible villains from Bob and/or Helen's pasts could resurface. So many possibilities.
Here's hoping Bird delivers another top notch entry to this amazing franchise.
2. BATMAN BEGINS (2005)
Written by: Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
A lot of people hail The Dark Knight as the best of Christopher Nolan's trilogy but I differ. Batman Begins is the superior film, in my humble opinion. Never before were audiences allowed access into the inner workings of Bruce Wayne. Sure, people knew the story but Begins takes us on the journey through the moments that lead to Bruce's decision to become the Dark Knight.
These moments are crucial with any superhero tale. Because it's here where the audience gets on board or checks out. Thankfully, Nolan and Goyer deliver in that area. It's clear what drives Bruce Wayne.
The stellar cast was just icing on the cake. Gary Oldman was ideal for Jim Gordon. Next to Alfred, Gordon is crucial to Batman's story and Begins fleshes his character out beautifully. From Officer Gordon to Lieutenant at the end of the film, he's treated with the same care as the main character.
The same could be said for Liam Neeson as Ra's Al Ghul. It might be Neeson's physical presence but it felt like Bruce was no match for Ra's. This is something that strengthens the good guy vs bad guy dichotomy. The hero needs something to overcome. By the way, was anyone else bothered by the way they pronounced it "Razz" or "Rozz" Al Ghul? David Warner didn't pronounce it that way on Batman: The Animated Series. No? Just me? Oh well.
The great, and unfortunate, thing about Batman Begins is it's not only a terrific start to the Batman universe but also a potential DC Cinematic Universe. There's no reason this Batman couldn't exist in the same world as characters like Superman and Wonder Woman. Some insist Superman and Wonder Woman wouldn't fit in the "Nolanverse". I ask what's the difference between the "realism" Nolan was going for and the "realism" the new DCCU is going for?
This could've been more than a trilogy. I don't hold The Dark Knight or The Dark Knight Rises in as high regard as others do. For me, Batman became a supporting character as he took a back seat to the likes of Harvey Dent, the Joker and Bane.
But Begins was a start to a franchise worthy of Batman, his entire library of characters and a potential DCCU.
3. IRON MAN (2008)
Written by: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum, Matther Holloway
Directed by: Jon Favreau
What a fantastic introduction to a character considered to be B-List. At least in comparison to heavyweights like the X-Men and Spider-Man. I wasn't that knowledgeable of the character but knew enough to enjoy references to the Ten Rings and Rhodey's "Next time, baby" after looking at the Mark II. But one of the great things about this film is you didn't have to know any of this beforehand to enjoy it.
Iron Man does a great job of getting the audience to fall for Tony Stark and actually care when his life changes as drastically as it does. Look passed the narcissistic, rock star tendencies and you'll find a man who cares about his impact on the world. The casting of Robert Downey Jr. helped. Seeing Stark Industries weapons in the hands of terrorists is a cold splash of reality for him. There's no question why Stark creates the suit.
Obadiah Stane's betrayal opens Stark's eyes even wider. There was the possibility these terrorists may have stolen his weapons. But to learn a lifelong friend has been supplying them forces Tony to take a hard look at himself and the company his father built. Shutting down the weapons division is a big step for him.
As for the supporting cast, there really isn't a weak link, most of them Oscar nominees. Two of them winners. A delightful surprise was Downey and Paul Bettany's chemistry, even though we only get Bettany's voice.
Iron Man not only sets up his franchise but kickstarted the Marvel Cinematic universe. I didn't have as much of an issue with Iron Man 2 as some do. Iron Man 3, however? I'll be civil - I was disappointed.
There's not that much difference in Stark from the beginning of Iron Man to now. He's committed to Pepper and is using Stark Industries for the better good but he's still the same guy. Nevertheless, this film is still one of the top origin stories out there.
4. KICK-ASS (2010)
Written by: Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
I had never heard of Kick-Ass prior to watching the movie. So, I don't know how faithful it is to Mark Millar's comic. But, judging the film on its own merits, it deserves to be on this list.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Dave Lizewski doesn't have Bruce Wayne's fortune, arsenal or training. He's just a regular kid and Matthew Vaughn establishes that right off the bat. So when Dave takes up crime fighting it's easy for the audience to be concerned for him. He isn't facing a League of Shadows or a scientist who turns himself into an eight foot lizard. The dangers Dave faces are very real in Kick-Ass.
Vaughn paints a very recognizable world.
"How come nobody's ever tried to become a superhero?" "Because they'd get their ass kicked". "They'd be dead in a day." Something Dave discovers on his first outing. And his second. And third…
We often see him questioning what he's doing, acknowledging how insane it is. He knows he's in over his head. Why does he keep putting the suit on? That's answered early in the best scene in the movie when Kick-Ass saves a guy from a trio of thugs.
"Three assholes laying into one guy while everybody watches and you want to know what's wrong with me? Yeah, I'd rather die."
Sums up Dave and the world he lives in. And Vaughn later gives him another character defining moment - after nearly being executed on camera, he's forced to choose between calling it quits as Kick-Ass or help Hit Girl finish off Frank D'Amico.
Kick-Ass was solid enough to build upon. It shouldn't have been difficult to take what was established and create something equally entertaining or even better. Alas, Kick-Ass 2, like so many sequels, came up short. The idea Dave inspired others to become costumed heroes made sense, it's the execution that didn't sit well.
Vaughn and company made the original on their own. Found their own financing. Maybe studio involvement in the sequel was an issue. Again, I'm not sure how faithful the film is to the comics, but Kick-Ass is a terrific movie and origin story nonetheless.
5. THOR (2011)
Written by: Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, Don Payne
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
We essentially got two origin stories in one with Thor. We see Thor's journey to become a hero and Loki's turn to villainy. While the film itself is decent, it's Thor and Loki's arcs that place it on this list.
Brash and arrogant when we're first introduced to him, Thor learns humility and self sacrifice over the course of the film and it doesn't feel forced. Moments like failing to lift Mjolnir and receiving the news of Odin's passing (not knowing it's a lie) help shape the man he becomes by the end of the film.
And Loki's descent progresses naturally. It's understandable because it's rooted in emotions the audience can relate to. Envy. The need for a parents acceptance. What does one do when they learn they share the same blood as their mortal enemy?
Thor was just one step in Marvel's plan to establish a shared universe. I feel they did a great job creating a foundation for the Norse God's very own franchise. The supporting cast of characters (on Earth and in Asgard) compliment Thor well. His relationships and chemistry are different with his Asgardian brethren than with the mortals.
While not the best offering from Marvel Studios, Thor was good enough an entry to build future installments on. Unfortunately, Thor: the Dark World wasn't the best of follow ups.
6. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011)
Written by: Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn, Sheldon Turner
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
After The Last Stand there was a sense that was it for the franchise Bryan Singer built. After all, it was called X-Men: The Last Stand. I was hoping First Class would be the roster from the comics. Still, I was pleased with Matthew Vaughn's film.
It was great watching Charles and Erik forge this friendship only to have fate tear it apart. The film not only sets up younger versions of Professor X and Magneto but also a younger roster of mutants. And the period setting helped set it apart from other superhero franchises. Treating this film as a pseudo reboot would've given Fox a clean slate for future installments.
One of my gripes with the previous films is, in eleven years, how little they delved into the rich library of X-Men villains and mythology. But in First Class alone we not only get Sebastian Shaw and the Hellfire Club but what looks like the formation of Magneto's Brotherhood of [Evil] Mutants.
The movie was a welcome change from the Wolverine heavy films, electing instead to focus on the X-team and their relationships. Cut the cameos from Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Romijn and First Class could've served as the starting point for an entirely new franchise. This would've avoided the infamous continuity issues instead of adding to them.
Some fans praise X-Men: Days of Future Past for "fixing" the timeline but it actually complicated things even more. Rumor is X-Men: Apocalypse will take place in the 80s. That raises a bunch of continuity concerns if it's true.
The most compelling moments of Future Past were with the First Class cast, McAvoy, Fassbender and Lawrence, proving the original cast wasn't necessary. It's one of the better X-films and could've easily been about the creation of the Sentinels in response to the war between Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants and Xavier's X-Men. All we'd really lose are the future scenes and a couple action set pieces...which would've been replaced. A small price for a promising franchise.
7. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011)
Written by: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Directed by: Joe Johnston
I wasn't completely sold on Chris Evans being cast as the Star Spangled Avenger. But I don't mind saying now, I've been pleasantly surprised with how he's grown into the role. That couldn't have happened without The First Avenger.
Playing Steve Rogers brought out an appealing earnestness and humility in Evans that is certainly not business as usual in the comic book superhero genre. It's not until nearly half way through the film when Rogers gets any kind of power at all, and though its elements are awfully familiar, it's the most involving part of the film because it takes advantage of Evans' performance.
Rogers is established as a man with depth. A man who doesn't like bullies, no matter what side of the pond they're on. He'd go out there and fight even without the Super Soldier Serum, his country just won't let him.
One of the best scenes is with Rogers and Stanley Tucci's Dr. Erskine the night before the procedure. He explains, because the drug amplifies "all that is inside you," potential super soldiers must be good men at heart. And Steve Rogers definitely is.
Which brings me to a quick detour - In The Avengers, when Stark says everything special about Steve was grown in a bottle. Oh, how wrong you are, Mr. Stark.
Director Joe Johnston does a great job with moments like showing the difficulty Rogers has being taken seriously as a soldier, even after his transformation. Watching him earn their respect and loyalty solidifies him not only as Captain America but also the future leader of the Avengers.
We wouldn't have gotten the far superior Captain America: The Winter Soldier (or Agent Coulson's man-crush) without the groundwork laid in First Avenger.
8. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2011)
Written by: James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent, Steve Kloves
Directed by: Marc Webb
How does The Amazing Spider-Man make the list over 2002's Spider-Man? Sam Raimi's adaptation may be the better overall film but, in my opinion, Marc Webb's tells the better origin story. It comes down to Peter's decision to become Spider-Man.
Raimi's version practically follows the commonly known story to the letter - Peter's bitten, the pro wrestling gig, he gets screwed over, Uncle Ben shot and so on. A montage later and we're in New York where Peter is already Spider-Man. It falls into that "cheating" category mentioned in the intro. This is one of the most recognized origins. Audiences know it so well it's like "okay, this is the part where he becomes Spider-Man".
In Amazing, the film takes a different approach, probably to separate itself from the original. Still, Webb and the writers offer more insight into Peter's decision and motivation. His initial reason for putting on the costume is revenge. He's searching for the man who shot Ben. It's not until his dinner with Gwen and Captain Stacy when Peter realizes how narrow his vision has been.
This gives his moment on the bridge with the Lizard more weight. He saves the kid in the car and C. Thomas Howell's character asks him who he is. "I'm Spider-Man", Peter answers, finally growing into the role of protector.
I may have my issues with the franchise - casting, the storytelling, this "Spidey Cinematic Universe" idea, The Amazing Spider-Man 2. That doesn't mean I can't give the reboot the recognition it deserves.
9. MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS (2012)
Written by: Joss Whedon
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Writer/director Joss Whedon was in the unique position where the backstories for the main players in this team-up had already been established. Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and the Hulk. As with The Incredibles, this was a story about how they all become a team.
Whedon is known for pitting his characters against one another. See Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the "Scooby Gang" and the crew of the Serenity in Firefly. The Avengers was no different. Things aren't buddy-buddy with the group in the beginning, raising the question "How are they going to save the world if they can't get along". We all know they'll eventually unite but it's the bumpy road they take to get there that makes the inevitable moment gratifying. It feels earned.
A great technique Whedon utilizes in the film is he never shows the whole team together until the invasion in New York. Go back and watch if you didn't notice. It was a goosebumps moment four years in the making. An ensemble superhero movie of this scale had never been done before and audiences finally saw one come to life.
The story is run of the mill - stop an alien invasion. But the film is more about what it would take to unite them all. Agent Coulson says it best before he "dies", "This wasn't going to work if they didn't have something to…"
A tragedy at the time. Now, Coulson is not only alive but the new Director of the new S.H.I.E.L.D. Still, the "death" of a comrade who believed this team could work was worthy and believable enough a cause for the Avengers to assemble.
The sequels to Captain America, Iron Man and Thor took cues from Avengers. It'll be interesting to see if Age of Ultron does, too. Towards the end of the film they show a politician who believes the Avengers should be held responsible for the what happened in New York. Will that come into play in the sequel next summer?
10. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014)
Written by: James Gunn and Nicole Perlman
Directed by: James Gunn
Here's another one I didn't know anything about. I never heard of Star Lord or Rocket Raccoon and had no idea what a Groot was. After the trailers hit, I stumbled upon the Guardians while watching a few episodes of Ultimate Spider-Man on Netflix. As with Kick-Ass, I don't know how faithful James Gunn's movie is to the comic but what was put on screen is a great start to the franchise.
Ensembles are difficult to pull off, especially when, going in, audiences know little to nothing about the characters. The filmmakers are essentially starting from scratch. Add a science fiction element with otherworldly locations and characters with odd names and viewers run the risk of getting lost.
But Guardians of the Galaxy manages to introduce five unique personalities, two of them completely CG. As with The Incredibles and The Avengers, it's not so much the origins of the individuals, although we get some insight into Quill's past. The story is about how the team comes together.
Supporting characters like Michael Rooker's Yondu and the Nova Corp help give the film scope and will no about appear in the next installment. Maybe even a reference to the character Nova himself, if Marvel has plans for him in future Phases. And there's also the mystery of Quill's father.
As someone who didn't know anything about the Guardians mythology, the film didn't feel like a "for serious fans only" outing. The casual movie goer can watch it and enjoy it as much as someone who follows the comic. Maybe more since they don't have to worry about "they got this wrong" or "they screwed that character up". A safe assumption, considering the film has gross over $630M worldwide and is the first of 2014 to top $300M domestically.
So, that's my list. With so many new franchises coming in the next few years, there's no doubt it may change. Until then, agree, disagree, sound off below. And, as always, thanks for reading.