10 Best Comic Book Movies Inspired by Pulp Classics

The most influential movies today are based on superhero comics. However, before the era of caped and costumed heroes, there was the age of pulp magazines. Popular until the 1950s, these magazines featured a wide range of heroes, from adventurers to noir detectives to horror protagonists. Pulp heroes were, in many ways, the precursors to modern superheroes.

After the success of Tim Burton’s Batman, an influx of pulp-inspired movies emerged in the 1990s. This era appealed to an older generation nostalgic for simpler heroes, while also embracing the stylish aesthetics of the 1930s and 1940s. Pulp-inspired movies were simpler, less flashy, and often cheesier than today’s superhero blockbusters, yet they retained a unique charm.

10 The Phantom was Arguably the First Superhero

Many have argued that The Phantom Comics were the first superhero comics. While that distinction is still primarily attributed to Superman, it’s worth noting that The Phantom’s tropes are more familiar to superhero fans than most other pulp-inspired stories. The Phantom follows a lineage of heroes dedicated to eradicating greed and injustice.

Although The Phantom is one of the premier pulp comics, its film adaptation likely leaned too heavily into the “comics are simple stories” philosophy. The Phantom’s full purple jumpsuit already feels awkward on the big screen, but the film’s issues extend beyond costume design. The characters lack depth, the villains are uninspired and evil without clear motivation, and The Phantom himself has little edge or nuance. The movie’s charm lies in its campiness and as a window into how the 1990s reflected 1940s nostalgia.

9 The Mask was a Modern Comic that was Remixed with Pulp Elements

Less than ten years after its comic book debut in the 1980s, The Mask’s source material is not typically considered part of the pulp genre. However, likely influenced by the filmmaking trends of the 1990s, the movie adaptation borrowed heavily from pulp aesthetics. Like Batman, The Mask is set in the 1990s, yet its location and fashion evoke the 1930s.

Despite the top hats and tommy guns, The Mask isn’t particularly pulpy. It is primarily a comedy that leans on Jim Carrey’s physical humor. The most pulp-inspired elements are the slapstick comedy paired with impressive special effects. The Mask, as a character, is wild, unpredictable, and more of a jester than a traditional hero, a trait the film captures effectively.

8 Dick Tracy Nailed the Bright-Colored Hardboiled Style of a 1930s Comic

The best-looking pulp film of the 90s is undoubtedly Dick Tracy. It is a technical marvel, using colors, costumes, and special effects to replicate the vibrant look of a comic book. If judged purely on aesthetics, Dick Tracy delivers exactly what a kid might dream of in a hard-boiled, comic-inspired movie.

However, Dick Tracy falls short in emotional depth. While pulp heroes are generally not known for their complexity, a grounded, noir character like Dick Tracy should feel grittier and more authentic, akin to Batman or Sin City. Instead, the film leans too heavily on campiness and loses sight of its core as a crime detective story.

7 Tarzan was a Touching Family Friendly Take on an Iconic Character

Disney was on a roll in the 90s and took a shot at adapting one of the most iconic heroes in American culture, Tarzan. Originally a series of successful novels, Tarzan was also adapted into one of the most popular pulp comics of its time. True to Disney’s style, their interpretation of Tarzan was more family-friendly and diverged from the source material. In this version, Tarzan is significantly less violent and animalistic.

The animation and character design were the most detailed of any Disney film up to that point. Tarzan’s ape-like movements and posture were captured with remarkable precision. Phil Collins delivered a memorable and energetic soundtrack. While Disney’s Tarzan abandons many of the core elements that made the character feel “cool,” it compensates with breathtaking action sequences and a feel-good ending.

6 Conan the Barbarian was Unapologetically Brutal

The film that cemented Arnold Schwarzenegger as a Hollywood mainstay, Conan the Barbarian, was the best fantasy epic of the 80s. Originally starting as a series of novels, Conan the Barbarian gained lasting recognition through its comics, celebrated for their striking art and unrestrained violence. The film is a faithful adaptation, delivering the carnage fans expect from a barbarian navigating a hostile, unforgiving world.

The choice of minimal dialogue was brilliant—not only did it conceal Schwarzenegger’s limitations as an actor by letting his imposing physique take center stage, but it also gave the film a surreal, primal atmosphere. This is a world where reasoning holds little sway and violence reigns supreme. Conan the Barbarian doesn’t shy away from this, showcasing gruesome and exaggerated scenes of mutilation and destruction that define its tone.

5 Flash Gordon is so Campy that it’s Hard not to Enjoy Yourself

Flash Gordon was the most significant pulp comic of its time and played a major role in establishing sci-fi as a credible genre in media. Like many pulp heroes, Flash Gordon is a relatively ordinary man (albeit athletic and attractive) who is thrust into an extraordinary world—in this case, outer space.

“Flash! Ahh!” is likely a familiar scream if you’re a fan of Queen or cheesy 80s films. Queen provided the iconic score for Flash Gordon, but surprisingly, the soundtrack is only the second-best aspect of the movie. The film’s stunning set design and costumes take the top spot, bringing its fantastical universe vividly to life. Over time, Flash Gordon has earned a reputation as a “so bad it’s good” cult classic. Its hilariously bad dialogue and frantic pacing make it a fun, campy experience to share with family and friends.

Famed comic book writer Frank Miller created a graphic novel that served as a homage to pulp-inspired film noir. Collaborating closely with Robert Rodriguez, Miller helped translate his graphic novel Sin City into a film that captured its unique style and tone. While many superhero films aim for a cartoony aesthetic, Sin City was the first to make every scene feel like a page from a mature graphic novel.

One of the film’s standout features is its use of color. Primarily in black and white, Sin City strategically incorporates bold colors like yellow and red, adding to its highly stylized, dramatic look. The film is an anthology of interconnected, pulp-oriented stories, offering a more intricate narrative than most pulp-inspired movies. However, Sin City’s bleak themes and graphic violence may alienate some viewers, as it is an unapologetically pessimistic film.

3 The Mask of Zorro Revisted a Swashbuckling Classic

One of the most high-profile pulp movies of the 90s, The Mask of Zorro, shines thanks to its star-studded cast. With Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Antonio Banderas in lead roles at the peak of their careers, the film is propelled by serious star power.

The premise is engaging: the iconic Zorro of old trains a successor, offering a clever “passing of the torch” narrative that doubles as a reboot. The filmmaking pays homage to early 20th-century swashbucklers, featuring grand set pieces and intricately choreographed sword fights filled with acrobatic flair. While the accents of Hopkins and Banderas may feel slightly out of place at times, The Mask of Zorro remains one of the best-produced pulp-inspired films of the 90s.

2 Batman Started a Wave of Pulp-Inspired Comic Book Movies

Typically seen as a superhero, Batman is old enough that when he first appeared, most people likely saw him as similar to characters like Flash Gordon and Doc Savage. When Tim Burton brought Batman back to the big screen, he reintroduced the pulp elements that made Detective Comics so unique. By ditching the campy, bright colors in favor of gothic and noir themes, Burton’s Batman sparked a wave of films based on pulp comics.

One brilliant stylistic choice in Batman was portraying the architecture and fashion of Gotham as reminiscent of the 1930s-40s. This created a timeless, yet distant, atmosphere that has influenced many future portrayals of Gotham. Burton’s Batman was a successful revival of pulp fiction, relying on surrealism rather than the more realistic approach seen in later films by Christopher Nolan and Matt Reeves.

1 The Rocketeer was the most Underrated Superhero Film of the 90s

One can get a glimpse of how different America was by looking at The Rocketeer. This 90s film is set during World War II, and the depiction of a more rural and simpler time significantly enhances the pulp vibe the film aims for.

The Rocketeer features a superhero with no powers, skills, or gadgets other than a rocket pack, and watching him take down a group of evil Nazis using only that is immensely satisfying. The effects, especially the portrayal of The Rocketeer’s flight, are impressive given the budget and technology of the time. The film also boasts one of the best-written plots, with its acts unfolding in dynamic and unpredictable ways, ultimately leading to a showdown with one of the most pulp-inspired vehicles imaginable: a zeppelin.