BLADE
Blade, the brooding vampire hunter, was played in three successful films by Wesley Snipes. His half-vampire ancestry gave Blade super-human strength and agility.
Image courtesy of New Line Cinema
In three X-Men films, Halle Berry brought the classic character Storm to life. Her ability to utilize the forces of weather frequently rescues her fellow mutants. Image courtesy of 20th Century Fox
BLANKMAN
Damon Wayans’ goofy comedy about a crafty nerd who attempts to be a crimefighter flopped during its initial release but has since become a cult classic with moments like the “Slap me around and call me Susan” routine.
Image courtesy of Sony Pictures
METEOR MAN
An all-star cast including Bill Cosby, James Earl Jones, Big Daddy Kane and many more couldn’t salvage this cheesy, but well-intentioned Robert Townsend film. In the film Townsend plays a wimpy school teacher who becomes a crime-fighter after, you guessed it, he’s struck by a meteorite.
Image courtesy of MGM
STEEL
Of all Shaquille O’Neal’s embarrassing film roles (including a genie in Kazaam), this may be the most improbable. Shaq plays a weapons designer whose work is stolen by vicious gangs. So Shaq takes to the streets as ‘Steel’, a one man army out for justice.
Image courtesy of Warner Brothers
HANCOCK
In this offbeat blockbuster, Will Smith plays a drunk, caustic loner who just happens to be imbued with super powers. For the umpteenth time in films, Smith winds up saving the world.
Image courtesy of Columbia Pictures
SPAWN
Michael Jai White plays cult comic book hero Spawn, a military assassin who’s betrayed—actually dies—but uses the powers of hell to return to Earth and take on his enemies.
Image courtesy of New Line Cinema
WAR MACHINE
In the most highly anticipated film of the year, Iron Man 2, Academy Award nominated character actor Don Cheadle steps into the role of Lt. Col. James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes. In the Iron Man sequel, Rhodes follows his comic book destiny by becoming a superhero in his own right—War Machine.
Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures
FROZONE
Samuel L. Jackson memorably voiced this animated hero from the beloved film The Incredibles. Frozone, who is Mr. Incredible’s loyal best friend, has the ability to create ice and freeze objects at will.
Image courtesy of Pixar
NICK FURY
Pulling double duty on our list is the one and only Samuel L. Jackson who plays the mysterious Nick Fury in both Iron Man films. Eventually he will headline a band of heroes in the upcoming Avengers
Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures
This weekend, the most highly anticipated film of the year Iron Man 2 finally arrives in theaters. Besides the debuts of Mickey Rourke (as villain Whiplash) and Scarlett Johansson in the series, the film will also feature Don Cheadle character Lt. Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes becoming a superhero in his own right. Inspired by Cheadle’s performance as ‘War Machine’, theGrio has put together a gallery of black superheroes who have made an impact in the movies.
