The Comic: Barbarella

Barb first slinked into comic strip life in 1962 as the creation of Jean-Claude Forest and was collected as a series in 1964 by Eric Losfeld. It caused controversy in its native France for its sexually suggestive material, becoming known as the first "adult" comic book despite relatively mild erotic content.

Our heroine is a young woman who travels between planets and has adventures that largely turn sexual. And she was most likely modeled on Brigitte Bardot.

The film loosely adapts the book's plot, but focuses on Barbarella's mission to save Earth by tracking down doctor Durand Durand.

It's full of sex scenes, most of which are more funny than explicit. Oh, and the Excessive Machine, which tortures by giving sexual pleasure. She's more than a match for it.

The movie didn't get great reviews and failed to win an audience on its first release. But it's since become hugely influential in pop culture.

Franchise Potential? No sequels were made, but a reboot is currently trundling the halls of development hell.

Robert Rodriguez had been attached, but the current captain is 21 helmer Robert Luketic.