This weekend’s debut of Captain America: The First Avenger marks the bittersweet end of the comic-turned-movie phase we’ve been subjected to. Of course, with Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, and The Amazing Spider-Man set to hit theaters next year—and many other comic-inspired films undoubtedly in the works—moviegoers’ thirst for this genre likely won’t go unquenched for too long.
But after seemingly back-to-back releases of giants like X-Men: First Class, Thor, Green Lantern, and now Captain America, audiences will have to resort to seeing movies based on things other than comics for the next couple of months. Things like books! You know, those things that are like comics but are cluttered with all those words and don’t have all the colorful pictures in them? Sigh.
Moment of silence for the book publishing industry.
What other comics could the studios be tossing around behind the scenes to determine if they’re silver screen-worthy? Perhaps it’s a non-scientific or polling-oriented process, something akin to one picking up fruit, hand-weighing it and thumping it for ripeness? Of course, it could also be a procedure that’s entirely more random.
Because despite what the last couple of months may look like, it’s not always the car-chase-crammed, big, fiery explosion-packed selections that are granted the transition from comic frame to film.
Maybe someone felt there was a real demand for a Josie and the Pussycats movie around the turn of the century? And surely there were more than just one or two batty animal lovers behind the decisions to make Marmaduke, the first Garfield movie and its 2006 sequel Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties? (Bill Murray, after Lost in Translation, how could you?! We trusted you!)
With news late last year that 20th Century Fox had purchased the rights to develop a live-action feature based on the "Family Circus” single-panel comic, apparently nothing is sacred, anything is possible.
Hopefully the powers-that-be won’t be skip over comics that could provide an adaptable storyline like “Dennis the Menace” did when it was turned into a movie in 1993, and they’ll pick from comics like “9 Chickweed Lane,” “Zits” and “FoxTrot,” and won’t give the go-ahead to “Doonesbury,” “Dilbert” and “B.C.”
“The Boondocks” seems ready to make the leap, and after years of practice as a successful television show, a live-action version could prove quite popular and fun to cast. Jaden Smith could likely fill the shows of the young protagonist Huey Freeman… Lord knows that poor Smith family could really use the paycheck.
After Happy Feet, Surf’s Up, and this year’s Mr. Popper’s Penguins, we probably don’t need another flick starring penguins, and Opus, the tie-wearing bird likely wouldn’t translate that well on screen.
There’s not really much to pull from “Sally Forth,” despite the misleading promise of adventure in the name of the comic and its star. Sally goes to work? Sally eats the ears off a chocolate bunny? And this has been going on since 1982? Still the role of Sally’s daughter Hilary could be the perfect role for Dakota Fanning before she leaves her teens behind.
What else could be next? A “Cathy” movie, filled with dietary struggles, overbearing mothers, and a script punctuated by a number of “Ack!” exclamations? Make Rachel Dratch pack on some pounds and it might actually turn into something epically hilarious.
Could Archie, Betty, and Veronica leave Riverdale and take their love triangle on a road trip across America or fight the war on terror somewhere with Beetle Bailey, combining two classics in one?!
Returning our focus to the latest comic-turned-movie, we asked Eric Cody, the bar manager of Beaver’s in Houston, to make a drink appropriate for Captain America: The First Avenger. Though Beaver’s is known for being a hybrid of a gastropub and a Texas Icehouse, they also have a great list of playful but carefully crafted drinks—“Dam Good Cocktails”—as well.
Cody created a cocktail named after our hero’s alter ego; a foamy, colorful creation that’s perfect for those celebrating the release of Captain America this weekend, or for those protesting—perhaps you’re outraged Chris Evans doesn’t show more skin in the flick?—a fitting drink for next year’s Fourth of July festivities?
But as beautiful as this red, white, and blue layered cocktail might look, Cody recommends you stir it up with a straw before taking a sip.
“Because Captain America doesn’t drink alcohol, I wanted to model the drink after the Super-Soldier serum which he is injected with that made him powerful,” explains Cody. “I also wanted the cocktail to be fun; and by using the blue cream soda, to look back to the time when we were kids and read comic books.”
Steve RogersCreated by Eric Cody of Beaver’s Houston
1 ½ oz. Aviation Gin½ oz. heavy cream¼ oz. fresh lime juice¾ oz. thick grenadine (2 parts sugar : 1 part pomegranate juice)1 Frostie Blue Cream Soda1 egg whiteDry shake gin, heavy cream, lime juice, and egg white for 10-15 seconds. Add ice and shake for a long time. In a Collins glass, layer the grenadine on the bottom. Then, very slowly pour the mix on top of the grenadine but be careful not to mix the two. After you pour the mix on top of the grenadine give it a few seconds for the two to separate. Then, slowly pour 2-3 ounces of Frostie Blue Cream Soda on top. This will give you a blue color in the middle. Then top with a splash of soda, which will give you a white foam on top. Garnish with a cherry.