It’s Superhero Sunday here at Geekville Radio, where we bring you a feature on superhero lore. It could be a movie, comic title, hero, villain, memorabilia, etc… As usual, our goal is to educate and hopefully entertain.
Warner Bros’ 1978 Superman sparked a rush of superhero movies and TV shows over the ensuing few years. Disney’s entry into the genre was 1981’s Condorman. unlike most superhero titles, Condorman was not based on any existing comic book character. It presented its own character and was also a take-off of the Cold War Era and James Bond-style spy films.
Condorman tells the story of Woody Wilson, an aspiring comic artist and writer. His best creation is… you guessed it, Condorman. Condorman uses gadgets and tools to combat crime, and Wilson’s attention to realism inspires him to create a working flying suit. The results go less than planned, but Wilson is undeterred.
Through a comedy of errors, Woody is mistaken for a super agent helping in the defection of KGB Agent Natalia Rambova (Barbara Carrera, who herself played a Bond girl in Never Say Never Again) to America. The Soviet villains, who all drive the completely inconspicuous-looking black Porsche 911 Turbos, fight to capture Natalia. Wilson, now in a position to live his creation, uses his suits, cars, and gadgets to aid in his tasks.
The movie bombed at the box office but did gain a cult status in home video. The soundtrack by the legendary Henry Mancini of Pink Panther fame was never commercially released until recently.
Given the film’s less-than-stellar reception, new Condorman adventures seem very unlikely. However, Disney now owns Marvel. Is it asking too much for a Condorman cameo in Avengers: Doomsday?