Welcome True Believers, to another episode of The Video Store Podcast. Today, we are looking back at the wealth of Marvel films that preceded the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Whether you’re a Marvel Maniac or new to Marvel, we’ve got a great list of films sure to help you get your Marvel fix.

First up, we look at the first of several backdoor TV pilots, Dr. Strange (1978). This film gives us an origin story for Dr. Steven Strange, the new Sorcerer Supreme, pitting him against the evil Morgan LeFay. It’s a psychedelic trip into the 70s and an interesting look at an early Marvel film.

Next is Howard the Duck (1986) and 🎶 he shot an arrow straight to my heart! 🎵 This weird and wonderful film produced by George Lucas takes the wise-quacking, cigar-smoking duck from the pages of Marvel Comics to the big screen. Starring Lea Thompson and Tim Robbins, it’s a film with a feather’s tickle of humor that will keep you coming back for more. Ain’t no way to conceal it.

Turning the page on our third recommendation, we look at the backdoor pilot for Generation X (1996). It’s X-Citing, X-traordinary, and if you’re an X-Men diehard, in-X-cuseable to miss. We look at the film’s promotion and talk about some of its missteps. Don’t miss this X-tremely rare piece of X-Men history.

Because you demanded it! Our final film in our look back at Marvel before the MCU is Nick Fury: Agent of S. H. I. E. L. D. (1998). This over-the-top bit of spy-fi features a of host of characters who are, unlike some of our previous recommendations, active members of the MCU roster. It’s fun to imagine what might’ve been with this one. Grab your movie snacks, your eye patch, and a cigar (bubblegum version only), and enjoy this late 90s edition of Fury, 10 years before he was portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson.

Whether these films make you want to dig into other films of Marvel yesteryear or dive headfirst into your long box, we hope these films inspire you to find the superhero within yourself. As the great Stan Lee once said, “That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero.” ‘Nuff said from us here at The Video Store Podcast.

Excelsior!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.videostorepodcast.com