Nic Cage talks comic 'obsession'

Nicolas Cage's interest in comic books has been "blown out of proportion" by the public.

The actor explained that while he has a soft spot for the cartoons he used to read in his youth, he doesn't display any excessive habits when it comes to his hobby.

Despite auditioning for the role of Superman and playing Marvel hero Ghost Rider in the successful movie franchise, the 50-year-old Hollywood star insists he simply admires the cultural importance of the medium.

"I will always have a fond spot in my heart for them, because of their influence on me as a child. There's been a little bit of perception about it that is blown out of proportion. I'm not reading them at four in the morning, with a tray of lemon cookies!" he told Total Film. "They're something that I admire because of what they've done for me as a child and also what they mean today. They're a truly American original invention of mythology that has touched the world. And it's no different in my mind to Nordic myths or Greek myths or Grimm's fairytales."

Despite insisting he is not obsessed with cartoons, Cage talked about the comic book he produced with his son Weston, from his relationship with actress Christina Fulton.

He admitted that he tried to get their work commissioned into a movie, but said he has had no luck so far.

"Weston and I did something called Voodoo Child. I would love to make that into a movie, but I tried and no one seems to want to do it. But it would've been fun," he said. "I would like to work with my son - we're talking about things. We're very involved in music. He was in a band, now he's starting another one, but he's mostly composing."