A few actors are superhero standouts

Today's tsunami of comic-book movies isn't the first time most of these characters have made the transition to other media. A debate over who wore the Spandex best could go on forever -- so naturally, I want to enter it. Excluding voice actors (of which there are too many), parodies and "Saturday Night Live" skits, let's take a look at the 10 most popular comics-to-film heroes and pick a favorite:

Superman: Not including all the Superboys, our main Men of Steel are Kirk Alyn (movie serials), George Reeves ("Adventures of Superman" TV show), Bob Holiday ("It's a Bird . . ." on Broadway), Christopher Reeve (four movies) and Dean Cain ("Lois & Clark" TV show).

This one's a toughie. George Reeves was the Metropolis Marvel I grew up with (in reruns), and his savvy Clark Kent and amiable Superman cemented my love for the character. Alyn and Cain were both clearly having a good time. But Christopher Reeve has to get my vote, because not only did he make me believe a man could fly and a reporter could be mild-mannered, he just looked the part -- both of them.

Batman: Lewis Wilson and Robert Lowery both played the Dark Knight in '40s movie serials; Adam West on the '60s TV show; and Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney in the movies.

Out of a particularly weak field, I'd have to go with Keaton, who was at least convincing as a befuddled Bruce Wayne. (Although why Bruce Wayne should be befuddled is another debate.) Maybe Christian Bale (in "Batman Begins," due in 2005) will give me a better option.

Catwoman: Our feline felons are Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt and Lee Meriwether ('60s "Batman" TV show and movie); Michelle Pfeiffer ("Batman Returns"); and Halle Berry ("Catwoman").

An embarrassment of riches! Kitt purred the best. Meriwether was slinky. Berry was sexy. Pfeiffer was mesmerizingly psycho.

But I have to go with former dancer Newmar, who not only filled out the appropriately named Lurex outfit memorably but was totally convincing as the seductress who could talk the Caped Crusader out of his war on crime. It certainly would have worked on me.

Superboy: Nobody's seen the unaired 1961 pilot starring Johnny Rockwell, so let's stick with Jeff East (the first "Superman" movie); Gerard Christopher and John Haymes Newton ("Adventures of Superboy"); and Tom Welling ("Smallville").

No choice here. If I don't vote for Welling, thousands of teenage girls will track me down and kill me.

Spider-Man: The '70s TV movies featured Nicholas Hammond, while the recent movies had Tobey Maguire climbing the walls.

Like there's a choice? Maguire IS Peter Parker.

Captain Marvel: Tom Tyler was the World's Mightiest Mortal in the 1941 serial, and both Jackson Bostwyck and John Davey appeared in the '70s TV show "Shazam!"

Believe it or not, nobody's bettered Tyler's performance in "The Adventures of Captain Marvel" from 63 years ago. That serial is still touted by film aficionados as one of the best ever made.

Captain America: Dick Purcell was the Star-Spangled Avenger in the 1944 serial, Reb Brown starred in two 1979 TV movies, and Matt Salinger wore the shield in a 1991 TV movie.

Ha ha! Just kidding. None of these guys get my vote. Maybe some day someone will make a decent Sentinel of Liberty movie, but it hasn't been done yet.

Incredible Hulk: Well, since the Greenskinned Goliath was CGI in the recent movie, Lou Ferrigno's portrayal in the '70s TV show wins by default. And of the two Dr. Banners, TV's Bill Bixby is my sentimental favorite over the movie's Eric Bana.

Daredevil: Everybody knows Ben Affleck played the Man Without Fear in the recent movie, but few will remember that Rex Smith played the blind adventurer when he guest-starred in 1989's "The Trial of the Incredible Hulk."

There's a reason for that. The only thing incredible about "Trial" was how awful it was (as was 1988's "Return of the Incredible Hulk," which featured Marvel's Thor in his only live appearance). Affleck wins in a walk, with or without a white cane.

The Punisher: Marvel's one-man army was played by Dolph Lundgren in a 1988 TV movie and again by Thomas Jane in this year's film.

OK, I didn't actually see the recent "Punisher." But I'll have to give it to Jane anyway, since I presume he speaks English better than Lundgren.

Agree? Disagree? You know where to write, comics-to-film fans!

Contact Andrew Smith of the Memphis Commercial Appeal at [email protected] or visit www.captaincomics.us.

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