Superheroes Now VS. Their First Live-Action Iterations

The highest-grossing film in the world is a superhero film, the first R-rated film to break a billion dollars at the box office was based on a comic book character, and so on.

So, it’s nice to reflect on how many of these characters debuted in live-action, so we’re going to compare and contrast the first and latest versions of various characters. It’s amazing to see how much (or, in some cases, how little) has changed since the superhero genre surged.

Superman

First: Kirk Alyn, the film serial Superman (1948)

Latest: Henry Cavill, Justice League (2017)

Batman

First: Lewis Wilson, film serial Batman (1943)

Latest: Ben Affleck, Justice League (2017)

Wonder Woman

First: Cathy Lee Crosby, TV movie Wonder Woman (1974)

Latest: Gal Gadot, Justice League (2017)

The Flash

First: John Wesley Shipp, TV series The Flash (1990)

Latest: Ezra Miller, Justice League (2017)

Green Lantern

First: Howard Murphy, TV special Legend of the Superheroes (1979)

Latest: Ryan Reynolds, Green Lantern (2011)

Catwoman

First: Julie Newmar, TV series Batman (1966)

Latest: Camren Bicondova, TV series Gotham (2014)

Supergirl

First: Helen Slater, Supergirl (1984)

Latest: Melissa Benoist, TV series Supergirl (2015)

Joker

First: Cesar Romero, TV series Batman (1966)

Latest: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker (2019)

Harley Quinn

First: Mia Sara, TV series Birds of Prey (2002)

Latest: Margot Robbie, Suicide Squad (2016)

Storm

First: Halle Berry, X-Men (2000)

Latest: Alexandra Shipp, Dark Phoenix (2019)

Wolverine

First: Hugh Jackman, X-Men (2000)

Latest: Hugh Jackman, Logan (2017)

Iron Man

First: Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man (2008)

Latest: Robert Downey Jr., Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Captain America

First: Reb Brown, TV movie Captain America (1979)

Latest: Chris Evans, Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Hulk

First: Lou Ferrigno, TV series The Incredible Hulk (1978)

Latest: Mark Ruffalo, Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Spider-Man

First: Nicholas Hammond, TV movie Spider-Man (1977)

Latest: Tom Holland, Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Thor

First: Eric Kramer, TV film The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988)

Latest: Chris Hemsworth, Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Daredevil

First: Rex Smith, TV film The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989)

Latest: Charlie Cox, TV series Daredevil (2015)

Nick Fury

First: David Hasselhoff, TV movie Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1998)

Latest: Samuel L. Jackson, Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)