Comic Geek? You Should Know These Tunes!

As of today, numerous of the iconic and more popular comics have turned into TV shows or movies, whether as live-action or animated cartoons. These shows always come with a particular theme song, which usually has a significant impact on its success and memorability. If you are a comics enthusiast, there are specific tunes that you have to know. Go through the list below to see if you can call yourself a comic geek.

Best Comic Book Live-action TV Show Theme Songs

In the past, the live-action adaptations of the famous comic books were very prominent. The viewers were very interested in this type and enjoyed the action and stunts. There were notable theme tunes that people continue to know at present.

Batman

Back in the 60s, ABC Network aired this DC comic-based live-action TV series. It was all about Batman and Robin protecting and defending their beloved city, Gotham City. The show starred Adam West, Birt Ward, and Alan Napier. It was able to produce 120 episodes in 2 years. Its theme song was known to be very upbeat, which up until now, people still identify despite being very old.

Wonder Woman

This show is yet another classic, which Warner Bros. produced back in 1975. Lynda Carter played Wonder Woman, alongside Lyle Waggoner and Tom Kratochvil in the TV show. Both Charles Fox and Norman Gimble composed the iconic theme music. Today, people continue to recognize this song.

Smallville

Smallville is a more modern adaptation of the very famous DC superhero, Superman. The show premiered in 2001 and went on to produce ten seasons, ending in 2011. The story centered on Clark Kent’s life before he became Superman. Many Superman fans were intrigued by this TV show as it gave a different perspective of the character. Tom Welling played Superman throughout the whole series. The theme song was Save Me by Remy Zero, and at present, people still associate this song with Superman.

Best Comic Book Animated Series Theme Music

X-Men: The Animated Series

Aired in 1992, X-Men was one of the most well-known TV shows that creators based on the Marvel Comics group of superheroes. It features the characters with a similar look to their comic book counterpart. Though its theme song does not have any lyrics in it, the beat is still very memorable.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are very iconic characters that people of today continue to love. There have been many different adaptations of this comic book, but this 1987 animated TV show has the most iconic theme tune. The song includes lyrics that introduce the various characters in the show in a unique way. It is a great way to help you remember the names of the four turtles.

Spider-Man

Another very famous theme song that even kids today can recognize and sing. The 1967 Spider-Man animated series was the first one to introduce this incredibly memorable tune. The lyrics in the song are very catchy, which make it easier to sing. This show was the very first adaptation of the Spider-Man comic series. Stan Lee and Steve Ditko were the writer and artist for the comics, respectively.

Famous Movie Adaptations

There is no question regarding the massive impact comic books have had on today’s movie industry. People can’t imagine that there was a time that superhero movies were not well-received by the general public. Now, there have been numerous comic-based films that have appeared on the big screen. There are no signs of the popularity of this genre to die down any time soon.

These movies may not have intro songs or theme songs, per se, but there are dozens of tunes that they use throughout the film. Some make use of already existing soundtracks and incorporate them into the movie in a unique way. By doing such, filmmakers lead people to associate specific songs to the film and the characters. Some examples of such songs:

Come and Get Your Love by Redbone (From Guardians of the Galaxy)
Shoot to Thrill by AC/DC (The Avengers)
The Chain by Fleetwood Mac (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2)
Iron Man by Black Sabbath (Iron Man)
Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin (Thor: Ragnarok)
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack (X-Men: Days of Future Past)
Can’t Smile Without You by Barry Manilow (Hellboy II: The Golden Army)
Confusion by New Order Remixed by Pump Panel (Blade)
Under My Thumb by The Rolling Stones (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World)
Promised Land by Elvis Presley (Men in Black)
The PiÃ±a Colada Song by Rupert Holmes (Wanted)

Sometimes, artists and bands create songs specifically for the movie. Here are some of those songs:

Soundgarden – Live to Rise (The 2012 Avengers)
Bob Dylan – The Times they are a Changing (Watchman)
Seal – Kiss from a Rose (Batman Forever)
Johnny Cash – Hurt (Logan)
Hero – Nickleback (Spider-Man)

Importance of Music and Sound Effects

For superhero movies and TV shows, it is essential to have the right kind of tunes to highlight specific scenes. Because everything that is happening is make-believe and fiction, filmmakers need a way to make it more appealing to viewers. In action scenes, they will need sound effects that make it look real despite using only mostly green screens.

The sound that they add to the film is just as important as the graphic effects. For certain parts, you can heighten the specific mood that the actors set. Like if it’s a sad or touching scene, a corresponding dramatic song could be played over it to make the viewers feel it more. Another crucial factor that composers need to consider is consistency. The different songs that they use should work cohesively together. Also, directors need to think about the appropriateness of the songs continually. There might be times that the song will not coincide with the mood for a part, which then ruins the whole scene.

If you are confident that you are genuinely a comic geek, then it’s about time that you collect some vinyl records of these iconic songs. Sure, you are expected to have an array of comic books but try stepping it up a notch and start collecting records. To play that vinyl, you will need a turntable. Here are some top-rated record players under 2000 that you can check out.

REFERENCES:

https://www.ranker.com/list/comic-book-tv-show-theme-songs/ranker-comics

https://www.cbr.com/needle-drop-the-best-pop-songs-in-comic-book-movies/

https://www.cnet.com/news/marvel-cinematic-universe-mcu-songs-ranked-everything-from-led-zeppelin-to-marvin-gaye/

https://bamsmackpow.com/2018/07/06/top-5-superhero-film-songs/