2008 Woodie Awards
These ain't your daddy's superheroes, Fanboy!
Why 2004 is being called Summer of the Superhero
Darcie McGrath
Issue date: 4/29/04 Section: A&E
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Marvel Comics is already riding high with its latest release, "The Punisher." Their much-awaited "Spider-man 2" hits screens June 30.
Dark Horse Comics' creation "Hellboy" spawned over $22 million on its opening weekend, triumphing over Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ."
DC Comics will roll out their own celluloid match with the release of "Catwoman" slated for a July 23 release. Meanwhile excitement is growing over announcements of the star-filled re-launch of the Batman movies starting with "Batman Begins" currently filming and scheduled for release in June of 2005.
Some of Hollywood's biggest names are making time to be a part of the latest barrage of superhero cinema. Some comic-book inspired movies have even made their actors big stars - such as Hugh Jackman ("X-Men") and Tobey Maguire ("Spider-man"). People are paying big dollars to see these films. Of course, the question on many a movie fan's lips is "Why?"
"There's a lot of material there to work with," answers Erin Tapken, owner of the comic store Alter Ego in Marion. "A lot of these characters, like Spider-man - they have a lot of history. They have a lot of stories that can be told. Good fodder for Hollywood. It's already laid out there for them."
Another reason is comic books are not just for kids anymore. Many titles are playing toward an older audience that is not as reluctant to part with their hard-earned cash.
"My [customer] average group is definitely in the late 20s, 30s, working into 40s," said Tapken. "I see some younger kids in here but not a significant amount."
There are some titles for younger readers. DC Comics has a line of comic books based on their affiliation with the cable favorite, Cartoon Network, as well as their "Batman Adventures" series still written for the younger crowd. However, it is obvious to publishers which demographic group has the deepest pockets. Titles, such as DC/Vertigo's "Hellblazer," tend to cater toward a much older audience, with more complex plots and subject material. The spandex-clad, wisecracking superhero has been replaced with a not-so-clean cut clientele.
"For many years, there has been a conception that [classifies] comic books as a literature substandard; that it was for kids and that it could not deal with complex issues or emotions, or shades beyond good and evil/black and white. But over the last 20 years they have pretty much been proven false. There are main characters that are villains; stories that don't have easy answers," said Dennis Lynch, local pop-culture expert and movie reviewer for KCCK FM.
Many of Hollywood's writing talent have crossed over into comics. Screenwriter/novelist Max Allen Collins wrote a smash hit with the graphic novel, "Road to Perdition." Joss Whedon of "Buffy the Vampire" fame is working on a series for Dark Horse Comics.
"From the late '80s on, comic book creators were doing a good job on well-formed, well-crafted dramatic stories," said Kirkwood professor and pop-culture researcher Dr. Catherine Schaff-Stump. "Somebody said 'I think these will transfer well to the big screen.'"
In addition Schaff-Stump cites society's recent fixation on real-life heroes. "There is sort of a hunger in society for heroes - real heroes. For people who are honest, what with the recent war in Iraq and the controversy surrounding 9/11, and that maybe we're getting more jaded. We like our good guys. We want them to beat our bad guys. We like clear-cut good guys and bad guys," she said.
Schaff-Stump also commented on the idea of the personal escape angle for a comic-book reader which captures the imagination. "Look at characters like the Incredible Hulk and characters like Mr. Hyde, from "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" - that's a different kind of wish fulfillment; the 'I don't have to be controlled all the time' psychological angle."
And of course escape is why many attend the movies in the first place.
"The still need to get away from thinking about the economy and thinking about their jobs and the news - the things that are not very good," said Tapken. "And they come to us for that release. Maybe they're not buying a brand new car. Maybe they're not buying a brand new house but they'll spend the $2.25 for a little bit of reading enjoyment. A little bit of an escape."