Comic Related Roles

Rocky Balboa

Sylvester Stallone's breakout role as Rocky Balboa came with the first Rocky movie in 1976 which was also written by him. The movie was a hit and quickly received four sequels: Rocky II in 1979, Rocky III in 1982, Rocky IV in 1985, and Rocky V in 1990. The character then had a hiatus until 2006 with Rocky Balboa movie. The Rocky movies received a spinoff called Creed in 2015, about Apollo Creed's son Adonis Johnson, where Rocky takes the role of a trainer. The movie received a sequel in 2018, Creed II. Creed III in 2023 moved on without Sylvester Stallone, and his Rocky character. Rocky character became so famous that he is referenced and parodied in several comics.

Rambo

Sylvester Stallone portrayed the main character of John Rambo in 1982 movie First Blood. The success of the movie spawned several sequels: Rambo: First Blood Part 2; Rambo III; Rambo; Rambo: Last Blood. The character of Rambo has also been used by several publishers in comic adaptations and parodies. Stallone even voiced Rambo as a quest character in Mortal Kombat 11 video game.

John Spartan

The 1993 movie Demolition Man where Stallone played John Spartan, was turned into a 4 issue mini-series comic by the DC Comics, where Stallone's and Wesley Snipes' likeness was used.

Judge Dredd

Sylvester Stallone's first comic to movie role was in 1995 with the movie Judge Dredd. Where he played the titular character Judge Dredd himself. Although his portrayal differed from the comic and he spent most of the film without his helmet.

Toymaker

The villainous character of Toymaker portrayed by Sylvester Stallone in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over has also seen some comic book pages.

Barney Ross

Sylvester Stallone portrays Barney Ross in the movie The Expendables he wrote and directed. The movie was a success and received three sequels: The Expendables 2, The Expendables 3, and Expend4bles. The movies also received a four issue comic book prequel The Expendables by Dynamite Entertainment. Years later Stallone also co-wrote with Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan to create The Expendables Go to Hell comic.

James Bonomo

Stallone played James Bonomo in Bullet to the Head movie. The movie was adapted from the French comic Du plomb dans la tête by Casterman, which was translated to English as Bullet to the Head by Dynamite Entertainment. The movie is lighter in tone than the comic, as the movie received rewrites due to Stallone not wanting to play such a dark character.

Starhawk

His next role was a smaller part in Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, where he played Starhawk. Starhawk used to be a Ravager, and during the events of the movie he gets his old team back together. Stallone reprised this role in Guardians of The Galaxy vol. 3.

King Shark

Stallone voiced King Shark in Suicide Squad 2021 movie. He was a bit of a comic relief of the movie with his appetite.

Samaritan

Sylvester Stallone has the titular role of Samaritan in the 2022 movie "Samaritan". Going by the name Joe Smith, he is confused for the hero Samaritan, while in fact he is his twin brother and villain, Nemesis. But he has left behind his evil ways after Samaritan died fighting him, and wants to be left alone. When a criminal tries to claim the Nemesis name, and recruit a young boy who sees Joe as a hero, must he again step out of shadows, and use his power for good this time.