Not all comic book heroes wear red undies, don a cape, and smile for the camera while staring down a slightly upturned, perfectly chiseled jaw. Some of the best heroes on this planet and across the galaxy are actually less “Boy Scout” and more, “Grab the can of insect repellent!” When it comes to saving the day, masked crusaders themed after common household pests are every bit as capable as that goody two-shoes, Superman, earning millions of fans and more than a few movie deals to prove just how awesome they really are.
Superhero movies are all the rage these days, and many of those biggest heroes get their powers, names, and costumes from creatures typically known for being utterly annoying. But whether they are a human who can climb up walls and shoot webbing, or perhaps an actual gosh-darned raccoon, these creepy-crawly do-gooders will make you think twice about setting an appointment for your next pest inspection or extermination.
Set to release in May of 2014, "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" continues the (retold) story of Peter Parker, a young man who gets bit by a radioactive spider and, next thing you know, finds himself hanging upside-down from the rafters and swinging from the rooftops. In next summer's Spidey flick, the web crawler with attitude will be squaring off against the Rhino and Electro, both of whom have their own reasons for wanting to squish Parker under a giant newspaper. If you're a bad guy, Spider-Man's wisecracking one-liners are likely just as annoying as discovering an eight-legged critter running across the dinner table, but chances are good you'll want this guy on your side if you ever come face to face with a would-be mugger.
Also set to hit theaters next year (though in fall), "Guardians of the Galaxy" is about a ragtag group of aliens who must unite and utilize their special abilities to keep the farthest reaches of space safe from all manner of intergalactic baddies. One of the team's standout stars is Rocket Raccoon and, while most superheroes simply take on the name of a creature whose characteristics are emulated by their powers, this guy's name couldn't be any more literal. But while a real raccoon would only be able to stand on its hind legs and hiss at Drax the Destroyer, the cigar-chomping Rocket Raccoon would much rather pull out a couple of pistols and open fire.
While this one won't be out in theaters until sometime in 2015, all of the Internet was abuzz a few weeks back when it was announced Ben Affleck will be starring as the Caped Crusader himself, Batman. The news Batfleck would be donning the cape and cowl received a response not wholly unlike what most people act like when an actual bat dives into a room. But whether you feel like the guy is as annoying as a winged rodent or not, the fact he'll be taking pretty-boy Superman to task, and likely dishing out more than a few Kryptonite-laden knuckle sandwiches, should be enough to earn him just a little bit of respect, no?
Superhero movies are all the rage these days, and many of those biggest heroes get their powers, names, and costumes from creatures typically known for being utterly annoying. But whether they are a human who can climb up walls and shoot webbing, or perhaps an actual gosh-darned raccoon, these creepy-crawly do-gooders will make you think twice about setting an appointment for your next pest inspection or extermination.