Vampisaurus
patreon
Continuing my weekend special: Barb Wire
🕑 Added 2025-03-29 23:16:58 +0000 UTCAs promised, here come some slow-mo hair flips! Enjoy this GIF that almost sent me straight to the chiropractor for a neck massage! At least I tried... with music it's more epic, I swear Lol
Back to my Barb Wire special; If you know me (my cosplay content), you know I love digging into the weird, wonderful world of intentionally forgotten sci-fi movies and comics. And Barb Wire is a goldmine of 90s madness! From the comic book origins to Pamela Anderson’s iconic image/performance, there’s so much to unpack. So, let’s get into it, here are 12 fun facts about Barb Wire (the movie AND the comics)!
💥 1. Casablanca, but make it 90s and edgy.
Yes, the Barb Wire movie is literally a gender-swapped, dystopian retelling of Casablanca. Think about it: a nightclub owner (Barb) reluctantly helps an ex-lover escape an authoritarian regime. There’s even a “We’ll always have Paris” moment, except it’s about Seattle.
💥 2. Pamela Anderson did (some of) her own stunts!
Despite the movie being packed with action, Pamela actually did a good number of her own stunts, including fight scenes and riding that beautiful motorcycle.
💥 3. Those corsets were BRUTAL.
Pamela had to be SEWN into her ultra-tight leather corsets for certain scenes because they were that tight. If you think my cosplay maybe a bit uncomfortable, just imagine that!
💥 4. The comic was WAY grittier.
The Barb Wire comic by Dark Horse (first published in 1994) had a much grungier, punk feel. Barb was a bounty hunter and bail bonds collector in a dystopian future, not just a nightclub owner. Less Casablanca, more Mad Max with sass.
💥 5. There was a failed Barb Wire TV pilot.
Dark Horse tried to launch a Barb Wire TV show in the 90s. A pilot was made, but it never aired. Maybe it was too ahead of its time… or maybe it was just bad. We may never know.
💥 6. The opening scene was censored… a lot.
Pamela Anderson’s steamy stripper in the rain opening was originally even more revealing, but the studio had to edit it down to avoid an NC-17 rating. If you think the final cut is wild for a movie intro, imagine what got left out (it comes as a bonus clip in the Bluray).
💥 7. The movie bombed HARD.
With a budget of $9 million, Barb Wire only made $3.7 million at the box office. Oof. That’s legendary-level flopping. But hey, it lives on as a cult favorite!
💥 8. Barb Wire ran for president of the U.S.
In the Barb Wire: Ace of Spades comic, Barb actually ran for President of the United States.
💥 9. Pamela Anderson won a Razzie for Barb Wire.
She took home the Worst New Star award at the 1997 Golden Raspberry Awards. Honestly? I think she deserved a Best Slow-Mo Walking in Leather award instead.
💥 10. That Don’t call me babe line? It’s iconic.
The movie’s tagline and Barb’s signature line, “Don’t call me babe”, became a pop culture joke. Even Deadpool made fun of it years later. But you know what? It still slaps.
💥 11. Pamela Anderson beat out a LOT of big names for the role.
Before Pamela was cast, other actresses considered for Barb included Drew Barrymore, Sandra Bullock, and Denise Richards. Can you imagine 90s Drew Barrymore as Barb Wire? No? Me neither.
💥 12. The original comic was part of a whole grunge superhero universe.
Dark Horse Comics created Barb Wire as part of their “Comics’ Greatest World” series in the 90s, which was full of edgy, indie-style heroes. She was basically their answer to Marvel’s Punisher, but with more attitude and way better leather fashion sense.
Ok, should we just accept Barb Wire and other 90s films like Tank Girl as a misunderstood masterpieces?😆
Comments
Vampisaurus
Great article! For me, the ’90s had a lot of movies like that, maybe not great movies in a traditional sense, but definitely way less boring than today’s big action films and blockbusters. And sure, we already had badass female characters like Sarah Connor, Vasquez, or Ripley, but they were always portrayed seriously. I feel like the world just wasn’t ready yet for women leading big action films (outside B-movies circuits) with a more pulp, edgy, and underground comic-book energy.
Keith R.A. DeCandido
In my ongoing overview of every live-action movie based on a superhero comic for Reactor Magazine, I covered BARB WIRE and TANK GIRL together: https://reactormag.com/im-not-bedtime-story-lady-so-pay-attention-barb-wire-and-tank-girl/ ---Keith
