Seven Superhero Comedies to Include on Your Watchlist

      Casey Chong shares a list of superhero comedies to consider for your viewing pleasure...

      What do Guardians of the Galaxy, Shazam! and Kick-Ass share? They are some of the more prominent superhero comedies that have left their mark on cinema, yet there are many others that merit attention. Some may have gone unnoticed due to insufficient marketing, while others—despite being notable mainstream titles—didn't achieve expected box office success upon their release. Keeping that in mind, here are seven superhero comedies that you should check out (or revisit)...

      Super (2010)

      Before James Gunn helmed Guardians of the Galaxy, he showcased his talent in the superhero genre with Super. Quite different from his later mainstream films, Gunn’s Super introduces an unconventional superhero: not the classic type, but a reckless and inexperienced vigilante in a DIY costume who battles (primarily minor) crime after being inspired by a comic book store employee (Elliot Page’s Libby) and believing he has been chosen by God. The protagonist, Frank Darbo (Rainn Wilson), a short-order cook, has his life turned upside down when his recovering drug-addict wife (Liv Tyler) goes missing. Taking on the moniker The Crimson Bolt, he wields only a wrench as his weapon.

      Gunn revels in the B-movie aesthetic of Super, blending dark humor with surprisingly graphic violence. Despite Frank Darbo's morally ambiguous choice to become a vigilante, it's hard not to empathize with him. He teams up with Elliot Page's character, who becomes obsessed with joining him as his sidekick, dubbed Boltie. Super also features Kevin Bacon as the typically sleazy drug dealer Jacques, culminating in a subversive and shocking ending.

      Hero at Large (1980)

      In the 1980s, superhero films were not yet seen as a lucrative genre. The largely overlooked Hero at Large is among the early superhero films attempting to ride the wave of the Superman phenomenon, featuring the then-popular TV actor John Ritter of Three’s Company fame. Ritter's character is not your standard superhero; while he carries the name Captain Avenger, he is actually a struggling actor portraying a fictional character. Behind his silly, colorful costume, he is an unknown trying to make it in the acting world, even facing overdue rent payments. Ritter, with his relatable everyman charm, fits the role perfectly.

      It’s easy to empathize with his situation, and even when he inadvertently stops a convenience store robbery, Hero at Large defies expectations by not allowing Ritter's Steve Nichols to fully embrace his superhero persona. Although he does occasionally fight crime, director Martin Davidson opts not to present a conventional superhero origin story. Instead, the film is a feel-good, down-to-earth comedy-drama focused on an actor torn between fulfilling public desires to see him save the day in a superhero costume and seeking that elusive big break to advance his career.

      Orgazmo (1997)

      The year 1997 saw Matt Stone and Trey Parker introduce their iconic animated series South Park, as well as their superhero sex comedy Orgazmo. While South Park achieved significant cultural impact, Orgazmo was largely forgotten, grossing just over $602,000 at the box office, likely due to its NC-17 rating, often considered detrimental for box office performance.

      Parker stars as Joe Young, a naive Mormon missionary in Los Angeles who crosses paths with an adult film director, Maxxx Orbison (played by a perfectly sleazy Michael Dean Jacobs). Joe inadvertently becomes the eponymous superhero after Maxxx is impressed by his martial arts skills and promises him a lucrative payday.

      Parker's deadpan performance leads to many humorous moments as he dons the Orgazmo suit, wielding a ray-gun that can make anyone climax when shot. As both director and star, Parker delivers plenty of laughs while fully embracing the film’s crude humor. The film also features a delightful buddy dynamic with Dian Bachar, who plays Joe’s sidekick, nicknamed Choda Boy. Additionally, Parker humorously references various aspects of pop culture, from Shaw Brothers-style animal-inspired martial arts to campy elements from the 1960s Batman series.

      Mystery Men (1999)

      Mystery Men marks the only feature film directed by Kinka Usher, who primarily worked on commercials for well-known brands like Nissan and Mountain Dew. This ambitious film parodies the superhero genre, centering on a group of low-tier superheroes who fight crime in Champion City while often overshadowed by the more renowned Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear). The members of this superhero team are eccentric: Ben Stiller plays Mr. Furious, who channels his rage as power; The Shoveler (William H. Macy) uses a shovel as his weapon; Blue Raja (Hank Azaria) has skills in fork-throwing; and The Spleen (Paul Reubens) relies on his flatulence to defeat foes.