History AdaptationDisplacement / SuperheroFilms

Marketing means that most of the audience is fully aware that the characters originated from {{Comic Book}}s and some people do seek out the original stories, but modern audiences are more likely to be exposed to the characters through movies (and TV series) than through their original comics.

** The month the massive hit ''Film/IronMan3'' opened in theaters, not a single ''Comicbook/IronMan'' trade managed to make it into the list of Top 10 best-selling graphic novels at bookstores, which was dominated by fare like ''Manga/SailorMoon'' and ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''.

** Some films make such an impact that the comics shift to match them; even previous fans feel that anything that doesn't match the film is now wrong. This usually happens to fringe properties (being less popular makes them less defined, giving the movies more room), but there are exceptions.

* ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'': It's not uncommon to meet people who are surprised than more recent and TruerToTheText incarnations of Franchise/SpiderMan use devices to shoot web instead of doing it organically, due to Creator/SamRaimi's creative choices. Or people who are surprised that Spidey is in love with one Gwen Stacy instead of just Mary Jane Watson.

*** Black Widow romance with Bruce Banner was never explored in the comics, on that same note her flirting relationship with Clint was also never picked up, despite both having paired together in the past. Most of Black Widow's romantic teasing continued to be with Bucky across the past decade.

*** Guardians of the Galaxy was an exception to the rule for a time as the comics did actually paired Peter Quill and Gamora for a time. However, this was undone in the follow volume.

*** An interesting exception: Marvel has ''steadfastly avoided'' Tony Stark and Pepper Potts hooking up, despite both being single and having a long history of flirtation.

* The success of ''Film/{{Superman}}'' usually has Superman resembling Creator/ChristopherReeve.

Pretty much all of the movie adaptations of the main superhero comics from Marvel and DC fall into this nowadays. Due to a variety of factors superhero comics don't usually see a huge surge in sales no matter how [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse massively]] [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy successful]] their movie adaptations are. It's still arguably not a complete example of displacement, since people are fully aware that these characters originated from comic books and some rare people do take an interest in comics, but the current American comic book market is a shadow of its former self (it's been displaced by {{Manga}} in recent years), and modern audiences are more likely to be exposed to them through movies (and TV series) than through their original medium of comics.

Pretty much all of the movie adaptations of the main superhero comics from Marvel and DC fall into this nowadays. Due to a variety of factors[[note]][[AnimationAgeGhetto being perceived as only consisting of child-friendly material]], [[CommitmentAnxiety being hard to get into]] [[ArchivePanic because of decades worth of printed material]], [[ContinuityLockout being hard to keep track of because of continual rewrites and retcons]][[/note]] superhero comics don't usually see a huge surge in sales no matter how [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse massively]] [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy successful]] their movie adaptations are. It's still arguably not a complete example of displacement, since people are fully aware that these characters originated from comic books and some rare people do take an interest in comics, but the current American comic book market is a shadow of its former self (it's been displaced by {{Manga}} in recent years), and modern audiences are more likely to be exposed to them through movies (and TV series) than through their original medium of comics.

*** In the mainstream comics, ComicBook/NickFury is a white man, and while he and SHIELD often work closely with the Avengers, SHIELD is a very separate entity. In the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel continuity, however, Nick Fury is a black man modeled on Creator/SamuelLJackson (who plays him in the MCU), and ComicBook/TheUltimates (an alternate version of the Avengers) were organized by SHIELD and operate under their command. The films followed the design of the Ultimates, and the mainstream comics soon followed them, with the Avengers working for SHIELD after ''ComicBook/CivilWar''. This wasn't the first time the Avengers worked for SHIELD in the main Marvel Universe, but it's the first time it ''lasted''. As for Fury, they have created a mixed-race (but appearing black) long-lost son for Fury, who began calling himself Nick Fury, Jr. and essentially taking on the role his father played in the movies.

** The success of ''Film/{{Aquaman|2018}}'' ushered reactions like "Aquaman is not a [[ThisLooksLikeAJobForAquaman joke of a character]] anymore" as if there had been nothing between ''WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}}'' and the 2010s. The comics made him badass way before 2018.

* ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'': It's not uncommon to meet people who are surprised than more recent and TruerToTheText incarnations of Franchise/SpiderMan use devices to shoot web instead of doing it organically, due to Creator/SamRaimi's creative choices.

** Some films make such an impact that the comics have to shift to match them; even previous fans feel that anything that doesn't match the film is now wrong. This usually happens to fringe properties (being less popular makes them less defined, giving the movies more room), but there are exceptions.

*** An interesting exception: Marvel has ''steadfastly avoided'' Tony Stark and Pepper Potts hooking up, despite both being single and a long history of flirtation.

Pretty much all of the movie adaptations of the main superhero comics from Marvel and DC fall into this nowadays. Due to a variety of factors[[note]][[AnimationAgeGhetto being perceived as only consisting of child-friendly material]], [[CommitmentAnxiety being hard to get into]] [[ArchivePanic because of decades worth of printed material]], [[ContinuityLockout being hard to keep track of because of continual rewrites and retcons]][[/note]] superhero comics don't usually see a huge surge in sales no matter how [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse massively]] [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy successful]] their movie adaptations are. It's still arguably not a complete example of displacement, since people are fully aware that these characters originated from comic books and some rare people do take an interest in comics, but the current American comic book market is a shadow of its former self (it's been displaced by {{Manga}} in recent years), and modern audiences are more likely to be exposed to them through movies than through their original medium of comics.

* Before ''Film/{{Blade}}'', Blade was a human being who was immune to vampirism, but otherwise normal. The comics quickly replaced their version with the [[{{Dhampyr}} half-vampire]] Daywalker.

* The success of ''Film/FantasticFour2005'' helped cause a Thing spin-off comic series by 2006.

** An exception would be when ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' was about to be released, and issue #1 of Rocket Raccoon's solo series topped the charts, selling about three times more than the second-place title.

*** Yondu's depiction from ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' became the [=616=] equivalent of Yondu, which helps that he was a scene stealer in the films.

* ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'':
** It's not uncommon to meet people who are surprised than more recent and TruerToTheText incarnations of Franchise/SpiderMan use devices to shoot web instead of doing it organically, due to Creator/SamRaimi's creative choices.
** The financial success of ''Film/SpiderMan3'' helped people getting interested in Venom, which resulted in the release of ''Film/{{Venom|2018}}''.

* The success of ''Film/FantasticFour2005'' helped cause a Thing spin-off comic series by 2006.

* The month the massive hit ''Film/IronMan3'' opened in theaters, not a single ''Comicbook/IronMan'' trade managed to make it into the list of Top 10 best-selling graphic novels at bookstores, which was dominated by fare like ''Manga/SailorMoon'' and ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''.
* An exception would be when ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' was about to be released, and issue #1 of Rocket Raccoon's solo series topped the charts, selling about three times more than the second-place title.
* Some films make such an impact that the comics have to shift to match them; even previous fans feel that anything that doesn't match the film is now wrong. This usually happens to fringe properties (being less popular makes them less defined, giving the movies more room), but there are exceptions.
** Henry Pym, the original Ant-Man, [[DomesticAbuse attacked his wife]] Janet Van Dyne in one comic that he could [[OnceDoneNeverForgotten never live down]], and has become known as a wife beater ever since. The films skipped that baggage by making Ant-Man films that don't star Pym but his LegacyCharacter Scott Lang, demoting Pym to MissionControl. This was extended to the comics, where Scott Lang is now Ant-Man every time the character is needed. Even lampshaded in the 2018 ''Ant Man & The Wasp'' comic. The first scenes feature Pym and Van Dyne, and say "They were a legendary team. Together, they shared a love so bright it shamed the stars. [[GilliganCut This is not their story]]".
** The Hulk was indeed a founding member of the Avengers. He also quit the team ''two issues'' later, and didn't rejoin until after [[Film/TheAvengers2012 the first movie]] came out. He became a member for a few years afterwards, up until ''ComicBook/SecretWars2015'', after which he disappeared off the radar, [[ComicBook/CivilWarII then got killed]]; when [[ComicBook/ImmortalHulk he finally came back]], he wasn't on the team, his cousin ComicBook/SheHulk instead serving as the Avengers' Hulk.
** In the mainstream comics, ComicBook/NickFury is a white man, and while he and SHIELD often work closely with the Avengers, SHIELD is a very separate entity. In the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel continuity, however, Nick Fury is a black man modeled on Creator/SamuelLJackson (who plays him in the MCU), and ComicBook/TheUltimates (an alternate version of the Avengers) were organized by SHIELD and operate under their command. The films followed the design of the Ultimates, and the mainstream comics soon followed them, with the Avengers working for SHIELD after ''ComicBook/CivilWar''. This wasn't the first time the Avengers worked for SHIELD in the main Marvel Universe, but it's the first time it ''lasted''. As for Fury, they have created a mixed-race (but appearing black) long-lost son for Fury, who began calling himself Nick Fury, Jr. and essentially taking on the role his father played in the movies.
** Agent Phil Coulson, an original character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, grew popular enough to become a CanonImmigrant. Later he starred in the TV series ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'', full of other original characters, and now most of them are Canon Immigrants as well.
** Yondu's depiction from ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' became the [=616=] equivalent of Yondu, which helps that he was a scene stealer in the films.
** The ''ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' were originally a niche team that operated in the 31st century. It got relaunched in 2008, set in the present and with the familiar cast of Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot... and Adam Warlock, Quasar, and Mantis. There were oddities (Groot could speak normally at first), and Star-Lord and Drax were quickly killed off. They relaunched again after the movie was announced, this time starring just the "core" five.
** The [[EstrogenBrigade fan response]] to the cinematic [[{{Film/Thor}} Loki]] got his comics character redrawn to resemble Creator/TomHiddleston. Compare [[http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121226152257/marveldatabase/images/5/51/Loki_Laufeyson_(Earth-81225).jpg before]] and [[http://media.tumblr.com/0ed5b9ca9df753f8420b259990abd168/tumblr_inline_mxel5kDsaL1rn7obi.png after]].
** Before ''Film/{{Blade}}'', Blade was a human being who was immune to vampirism, but otherwise normal. The comics quickly replaced their version with the half-vampire Daywalker.
** An interesting exception: Marvel has steadfastly avoided Tony Stark and Pepper Potts hooking up, despite both being single and a long history of flirtation.

* The financial success of ''Film/SpiderMan3'' helped people interested in Venom, which resulted in the release of ''Film/Venom2018''.
[[/folder]]

** The release of ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' has helped people discover characters such as ComicBook/HarleyQuinn (who's not thought of as solely dressed in a harlequin outfit anymore, although this already predated the film thanks to the ''ComicBook/New52'') and ComicBook/{{Deadshot}}.

* The release of ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' has helped people discover characters such as ComicBook/HarleyQuinn (who's not thought of as solely dressed in a harlequin outfit anymore, although this already predated the film thanks to the ''ComicBook/New52'') and ComicBook/{{Deadshot}}.

* The release of ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' has helped people discover characters such as ComicBook/HarleyQuinn (who's not thought of as solely dressed in an arlequin outfit anymore, although this already predated the film thanks to the ''ComicBook/New52'') and ComicBook/{{Deadshot}}.

* The success of ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'' helped more people interested in Batman.

Pretty much all of the movie adaptations of the main superhero comics from Marvel and DC fall into this nowadays. Due to a variety of factors[[note]][[AnimationAgeGhetto being perceived as only consisting of child-friendly material]], [[CommitmentAnxiety being hard to get into]] [[ArchivePanic because of decades worth of printed material]], [[ContinuityLockout being hard to keep track of because of continual rewrites and retcons]][[/note]] superhero comics don't usually see a huge surge in sales no matter how [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse massively]] [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy successful]] their movie adaptations are. It's still arguably not a complete example of displacement, since people are fully aware that these characters originated from comic books, but the American comic book market is a shadow of its former self, and modern audiences are more likely to be exposed to them through movies than through their original medium of comics.

Pretty much all of the movie adaptations of the main superhero comics from Marvel and DC fall into this nowadays. Due to a variety of factors[[note]][[AnimationAgeGhetto being perceived as only consisting of child-friendly material]], [[CommitmentAnxiety being hard to get into]] [[ArchivePanic because of decades worth of printed material]], [[ContinuityLockout being hard to keep track of because of continual rewrites and retcons]][[/note]] superhero comics don't usually see a huge surge in sales no matter how [[Film/TheAvengers2012 massively]] [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy successful]] their movie adaptations are. It's still arguably not a complete example of displacement, since people are fully aware that these characters originated from comic books, but the American comic book market is a shadow of its former self, and modern audiences are more likely to be exposed to them through movies than through their original medium of comics.

Pretty much all of the movie adaptations of the main superhero comics from Marvel and DC fall into this nowadays. Due to a variety of factors[[note]][[AnimationAgeGhetto being perceived as only consisting of child-friendly material]], [[CommitmentAnxiety being hard to get into because of decades worth of printed material]], [[ContinuityLockout being hard to keep track of because of continual rewrites and retcons]][[/note]] superhero comics don't usually see a huge surge in sales no matter how [[Film/TheAvengers2012 massively]] [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy successful]] their movie adaptations are. It's still arguably not a complete example of displacement, since people are fully aware that these characters originated from comic books, but the American comic book market is a shadow of its former self, and modern audiences are more likely to be exposed to them through movies than through their original medium of comics.

* The release of ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' has helped people discover characters such as ComicBook/HarleyQuinn (who's not seen as solely dressed in an arlequin outfit, although this already predated the film thanks to the ''ComicBook/New52'') and ComicBook/{{Deadshot}}.

* The release of ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' has helped people discover characters such as ComicBook/HarleyQuinn and ComicBook/{{Deadshot}}.

Superhero movies tend to be more well-known than the comic books nowadays and there are a lot of examples.

* The home video release of ''Film/Joker2019'' tied in with the release of the Joker GuestFighter for ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11'' with a few references to the Joaquin Phoenix depiction present.

** Creator/HeathLedger's timeless and acclaimed depiction of the Joker influenced future incarnations in post-2008 media including ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' and ''Franchise/{{Injustice}}''.