Four films and a series that Marvel prefers that you don’t know about

Did you know that there are two versions Captain America what do you not know? As for the one played by Samuel L. Jackson, was Nick Fury? MarvelOrder recently dived into the vast Marvel Universe beyond the current blockbuster saga. Or, equivalently, in unknown Marvel films that are not as successful or of the same quality as the current ones. The result is an extensive collection of movies, appropriately titled “Phase 0” by Marvel.

An interesting investigation into all the attempts of the publisher, and now I’m studying, to bring my characters to the screen. From failed versions of his most famous characters to narrative experiments that failed. The vast majority of the obscure Marvel Phase 0 movies seem to make it clear that the company didn’t have a very clear idea of ​​where it was headed. Or, more curiously, what did you want to achieve with a unique collection of hero storieseverything is crazy and weird.

We leave you with five Marvel Phase 0 movies that you may not know. And that they are undoubtedly part of that historical cinematic phenomenon, like an almost accidental reimagining of the franchise. From superheroes painted green to an almost parodic quartet of superheroes. The compilation includes some of the weirdest mishaps, narrative audacity, and accidents from the recent Marvel timeline.

Howard Superhero by Willard Huyck

Before becoming part of El Coleccionista’s species breeding guardians of the galaxyHoward Duck came in live action. And he did it in a feature film that scared and confused viewers.

It wasn’t just a reimagining of the classic Marvel character created by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik that twisted the entire story into context. Also someone who made the inexplicable decision to turn an existentialist satire into a full blown sci-fi adventure. And this is also with some social, cultural and erotic accents which stunned the audience.

Unknown Marvel movie was a disaster from start to finish. From its cheap production, rewriting the script (more than three times), to its insistence on an adult and ambiguous tone. In the end, the dispute turned into a major nonsense. A mindless mixture of genres that doomed the production to a major commercial failure.

The Fantastic Four by Olei Sassone

The rights to the characters were bought by the German production company Constantin Film. Fantastic Four from Marvel. And before losing them, he decided to film very low budget feature film. The intention was to tell the origin story of the superhero family contained in the volume. fantastic Four No. 1 of 1961.

Shortly thereafter, some narrative lines from Fantastic Four Yearbook #2 of 1964, telling the story of a traditional Marvel villain. But this combination was so disastrous on several different levels that it turned the film into a big mistake. Fantastic Four the title holders had an unusual combination of non-comic book abilities. So while Reed Richards could stretch his body, he could also he was capable of throwing pieces of it like projectiles. On the other hand, Sue Storm had an unresolved emotional conflict that affected her powers, causing her to spew force fields when she cried.

As if all of the above wasn’t enough, Victor von Doom was an outlandish combination of tragic villain and anti-hero. So similar to the Phantom of the Opera character – yes, you read that right – that even the mask is similar. As a result, there was a public confrontation between Marvel and the manufacturer due to the poor quality of the product. The ranting was so nasty that this unknown Marvel movie was never shown in US theaters.

Captain America series by Elmer Clifton and John English

In 1944, the Republic Pictures Corporation adapted Timely Comics (later Marvel Comics) of Captain America into a 15-episode series. A company that was going through tough economic times decided it was a good time to boost American morale with an incorruptible hero. But despite wearing the country’s flag as a costume, the experiment failed.

The plot of this unknown Marvel series is completely different from the origin story of the Captain America comics we know today. At that time, Grant Gardner, the District Attorney, was in charge of wearing the stars and stripes. A hero who embodies all North American virtues and, in addition, had to face the villain Beetle. The latter’s alter ego was the curator of the museum, Cyrus Maldor, who had access to a mysterious and slightly mystical weapon.

The combination was a fiasco and was extremely expensive. Each chapter cost $182,623 and when it failed, it caused the production company to go bankrupt.

Nick Fury: Rod Hardy’s SHIELD agent.

Before becoming the dangerous agent he is today, Nick Fury’s character was embodied by the idol of the nineties David Hasselhoff. An unknown Marvel TV movie about the adventures of a super spy, which premiered in 1998, left the audience baffled. Not only because of the extravagance of his script (which tried to combine up to nine different comics), but also because of the absurd production.

This time, Fury must confront HYDRA and its plans to devastate Manhattan with a deadly virus. He also has to deal with issues related to his divided morality (which has less of a line in the script) and Fontaine’s Countess Valentina “Val” Allegra. The combination of elements made the film the laughing stock of the industry. So much so that Samuel L. Jackson later admitted that the very existence of the film swayed his decision to play Fury.

The Punisher by Mark Goldblatt

Back in 1989, five years after meeting Rocky Balboa, Dolph Lundgren plays Marvel’s most charismatic anti-hero. Or at least he tried to do it without good results. An unknown Marvel movie has a very bad script, a lot of blood, senseless explosions and a conflict that is not fully understood. What is clear is that Frank Castle must kill (and in the most exaggerated way) and show muscles.

And showing muscles is, in fact, how little Dolph Lundgren doeswhile walking with a heavy weapon. Ultimately, the film picks up steam and tries to bring inexplicable — and unnecessary — redemption. Lock. But achieving nothing but surprise at its capacity for absurdity – the final scene is a complete disregard for logic – and its narrative chaos.