Paramount's reported decision to buy ad spots during Super Bowl XLIV for "The Last Airbender" and "Shutter Island" instead of reserving a slot for a new "Iron Man 2" trailer might go down as the biggest Big Game disappointment for comic book fans since "Blade II" got a better trailer than "Spider-Man" during Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. However, such letdowns shouldn't detract from the growing legacy of comic book-related ads that have enriched the proud history of Super Bowl commercials.
Here are five of the most memorable Super Bowl commercials starring comics-born characters, presented with the hope that they'll set the bar for either a killer "Thor" trailer in 2011 — or at the very least, a Deadpool ad for Visa.
"V FOR VENDETTA" TRAILER
Super Bowl XL (2006)
For anyone who watched the Steelers and the Seahawks go at it with sports-loving friends who weren't necessarily comic book readers, this was sort of a breakthrough year for comics exposure. Of all the movie trailers that had aired during the NFL's championship, this one had to have elicited the most conversations beginning with "So you know that was a comic book" immediately after it ended.
"IRON MAN" TRAILER
Super Bowl XLII (2008)
The only hero who came close to matching the impression left by Eli Manning at the end of Super Bowl XLII was Tony Stark. Sporting the iconic scene of Iron Man firing a rocket into a pesky tank and then walking away as it burns in the background, this trailer appearance may be the single greatest case for dismay over the "Iron Man 2" no-show this year.
VISA's MARVEL SUPERHEROES COMMERICIAL
Super Bowl XXXIX (2005)
Thor's first Super Bowl commercial appearance that I'm aware of happened during this Visa spot in 2005. Spider-Man spoke for Captain America, Thor, Storm and Wolverine when a woman in distress shrieked into the night about losing her check card. Unfortunately, the card came with security features that rendered their services useless, so they left to stand in the middle of the street and hang out with Underdog.
"WANTED" TRAILER
Super Bowl XLII (2008)
This was another big moment for comics-based Super Bowl movie trailers because it came from a non-Marvel/DC property. Though I'll be the first to admit that the first time I saw a "Wanted" trailer, I sat through thinking how cool this new action film looked before realizing upon seeing the title at the end that "OOOOoohh! This is the movie based on that Mark Millar comic book about super villains that I loved." The movie left out the supervillain syndicate, but became its own success story anyway.
AMERICAN EXPRESS'S JERRY SEINFELD & SUPERMAN COMMERCIAL
Super Bowl XXXII (1998)
Jerry Seinfeld already had a long run of American Express Super Bowl ads behind him in 1998, but he also had a public affinity for Superman. Visa's competitor leveraged that into a "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"-style melding of animation and live action for first commercial that comes to mind when talking about comic books and the Super Bowl.
How do these comic book Super Bowl moments rank for you? Sound off and share your own favorites in the comment section or on Twitter!