8) Rawhide Kid
The success of Brokeback Mountain was hugely progressive, flipping the traditionally heterosexual role of the cowboy on its head. Marvel attempted something similar with The Rawhide Kid, revamping a tough gunslinger from the 1950’s for a new generation, but ultimately failed miserably.
The idea itself is one to be lauded. Take a typically macho character that readers aren’t too familiar and turn him gay, all while still retaining his fighting prowess and respectable gun skills.
Unfortunately, Marvel also decided to make The Rawhide Kid a raging stereotype, embracing every effeminate cliche possible, throwing out fashion advice and being bitchy purely for the sake of it.
A cinematic adaptation of The Rawhide Kid could be a very important film if handled right. Sure, another revamp would be required to mend some of the damage done by Marvel’s recent misguided attempts to revitalise the character, but there’s still huge potential here for an excellent movie, one which could provide the studio with more longevity outside of traditional superheroes. Basically, they need to watch DC’s Jonah Hex and then literally do the opposite.
There, sorted.