How influential is Fandom?

Fandom is the word given to the group of people that are fans (Fanatics) for a show, comic, video game or actor. Pretty much if it exists it has a fandom, but how important and influential are they?

Well to a show they are clearly important to keep it running as they need the money from viewership and merchandise to fun the show, but as important as fans are for the shows continued existence they are also important for what happens in the show.

With the commercial internet allowing us to respond and critique shows t at the moment we watch them.  This in turn helps the writers, directors and producers to make the show even better for the fans by taking in their feedback, fan theories, and as such to build the universe story around the characters and give in to a wonderful double edged sword called fan service.

Fan service can be great because it can put characters together, tear them apart which in turn creates further emotion and gives us a richer and broader experience. But there is a negative side to fan service and that’s when characters are made to do things that are well, out of character just to let a group of fans know they’ve been heard or to sate morbid curiosity.

However this is just a small part of what a fandom can do for a show, with the ever growing popularity of cosplay and conventions with what some people label as “Real Geeks” (I mean no offense, to those who are offended by me quoting this I apologise) We’re talking about the people who do understand cosplay and aren’t just doing it to get into something that’s currently popular. Fandom is playing an even bigger role in how we consume geek media, like animation and comic book TV shows which are now a prime time thing. About ten years ago this was just Saturday morning stuff but now it’s every day thanks to the internet and the geeks coming out of the woodwork to share their opinions, theories and interests.

But I want to know what you think fandoms can do for shows, comics, video games, and just media in general?

Relationships in comic books

Shippers get excited because today we’re talking about relationships. Specifically in DC and Marvel.

So, since comics have been around there’s always been a damsel in distress or just some innocent people in danger, as well as the hero’s main girl, we all know about Superman and Lois Lane, Ironman and Pepper Potts. But there are so many more relationships throughout comics, did you know for a time Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon were a thing? Robin and Starfire? Green Arrow and Black Canary? Ant Man and Wasp?

Well, it’s true. All of these characters have been in relationships, some worked out rather well, Arrow and Canary have a kid now. Bats and Talia also have a son. So what can we say about this? Quite a bit actually. People who write currently for DC and Marvel grew up with the comics and had their ideas of who should be together and who shouldn’t, so what we’re seeing is the shippers have jobs and making their OTPs (One True Pairings) real and canon (Part of the main universe/ story) which is wonderful.

But why? Why should we look at these relationships in depth? Why study them, like Harley and Ivy a confirmed bisexual couple in the DC universe. The reason we should look in depth is because it give us a way to look back through the earlier comics and see if this has always been happening. Not to mention it’s really fun to see where the relationship may go, as well as seeing what kind of person the writer is from the way the characters interact. Even if the relationship is confirmed it may differ from one comic to another.  But this is the best thing ever, I believe it was Marvel that had the first ever gay marriage in comics, and what was the response? Some were outraged, others were joyous but most of us kind of went “Eh, gay marriage is a thing, and it finally happened in a comic. Cool.” My response when I found out was I flipped and got really happy because it brought a new element to comics that hadn’t been thought of before, yes there has been weddings, but LGBT+ weddings? No.

What can I say, I just really love the idea of characters getting married and spawning new characters. Little Batmen and Ironmen running around, it’s a great thing to think about, the kids of superheroes becoming heroes themselves or maybe even villains, the possibilities are endless.

What’s your view on comic book relationships and which are your favourites?

M.

Why reboots are important.

(Apologies for this post being late due to technical difficulties).

It may seem an odd thing to say but reboots and remakes, in a relative view are important. They’re not necessarily needed, as there are much better and original ideas out there than rebooting a franchise that died for the reasons any franchise dies it stopped being interesting. But movies aren’t the only things that have had reboots, TV shows and comics go through constant reboots, DC and Marvel have made a career out of rebooting their comics and what about Dr Who? The reboot for another generation.

But I’m talking about movie reboots and why they are important. The reason being is that they introduce a new generation to what we enjoyed and it shows. Even if you felt that you were the only person who thought they were still good, someone in Hollywood felt whether due to success or a good story that it was worth bringing back into the limelight. While some reboots don’t fair too well and even seem like pointless cash grabs.  Others are a wonderful thing that helps to bring focus back to a series that really deserves to be seen again. Such as Thundercats and Star Trek, two reboots that have helped to show a younger generation that their parents and grandparents grew up with some pretty cool things.

A few of my favourite reboots and reimagining’s have to be Batman Begins, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Star Trek and Tron Legacy. The thing with all of these is that while the last one was a box office flop, they were hugely important because at the end of Tron people did wonder where the future would go once the programming was changed. With Batman Begins it helped wash out the fowl taste that was left with Batman and Robin. Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes got us hyped with its CGI letting us know all was not lost in the grounds of motion capture.

In comic books with reboots it’s the most important thing.  There are more and more people who are starting comics for the first time and have no idea where to start but DC has them covered with the reboot of the New 52 and Marvel with the Ultimate series and Marvel now.  Even before then there were comic reboots with the 1960s Batman series getting a comic then Batman The Animated Series causing its own reboot of the mythos.

We need reboots to help keep things going or help people get into things, which is why in reboots there’s a lot of exposition and stuff like that. But I do agree, it is getting a little much, however they bring in a lot of money for producers, hopefully allowing them to help fund more original products.

So don’t get angry when a reboot forks in a load at the box office. The thing is they already have an audience from the people who saw the original taking their kids or grandkids to see the new version. It’s simple really, reboots are like a new flavour of coke, same recipe with a twist. Some will like it, some will hate it, but it helps keep the product fresh in people’s minds.

M.

Constantine to appear in Arrow.

You may or may not have heard the recent news that Constantine is to appear in an episode of Arrow during the fourth season.  I was very excited to hear this as I felt very let down by NBC declaring they would not be renewing for a second season, despite its popularity and it yet to be picked up by another network.

The first season of Constantine was great, with so many references to the Hellraiser comics, some episodes coming straight from the pages and just a few details that made me whince; such as Zee. This character was changed almost beyond recognition but what was done about it worked well to show Constantine’s attitude towards others when he needs them.  Matt Ryan’s portrayal of Constantine is perfect, he has the attitude, the cockiness and the charm of a man who has so many talents and skills, Constantine has cheated Death, God and the Devil.

Arrow however is very different from the original Comics, at least of the few that I’ve read, instead it is take from a very recent version from 2007, Year One written by Andy Diggle. Although much of the plot has changed it maintains the details closely related to the Green Arrow, such as the island and certain characters. CW network has managed to give Arrow a firm setting in reality, with a convincing Starling City, instead of Star city as mentioned in the comic and gives us all the typical cliches of a hero fighting villains.

Having already introduced us to Flash and then running a series of it, its not surprising that fans are hoping CW will pick up Constantine and run season two, sadly though we’ve been told that isn’t going to happen. It is still good however to see Matt Ryan happy to be dusting off the coat and getting back into character, at least they are keeping the same actor and not introducing someone new. Though this only gives us hope that they might see how well received the episode is and consider taking it up in full. – we can but hope.

C.

Tone in comic book adaptations (Specifically DC)

With the recent release of fantastic Four causing a lot of people to feel they didn’t hit the mark of how the comic is written and portrayed, one user on Tumblr going as far to say that it seems “Sorry to exist.” Has made me feel now is a good time to talk about how a comic book movie should be done, specifically with tone.

When it comes to comics and book adaptations we all have our own theories on how they should be done, so please make note that this all opinion based.

With Marvel it’s clear in their comics, at least in the modern age, that they should be light and comical with action and drama thrown into the mix as they are for a broader audience. However DC is a little more confusing, it’s definitely easy to see Superman is bright and happy with a boy scout attitude in his comics whereas Batman is dark, brooding and mysterious with a slight satire and comical edge given by his sidekicks and villains. Flash is a happy go-lucky character with a lot on his shoulders and plate. Wonder Woman is bright but dark at the same time which can get confusing, and Green Arrow is well Robin Hood in the city.

So how do I feel the movies and shows of these characters should be done? I will be sticking to DC as I’m more of a fan of them and have read the comics.

Well with Superman I feel a good place to start is Christopher Reeves in Superman with the tag line “You will believe a man can fly.” Something that definitely got this tone was Smallville. While it was Clark in his teenage years and they switched the timeline around a bit, you have to consider DC has multiple Earths so this could just be the events on a different Earth to our Superman. At least the one we know and love. It got the tone to a T, it was light and comical while also being dark when it needed to be. It really followed what the life of a teenage boy with superpowers would be like and definitely what it’s like to be Clark Kent. So Hollywood look back at Christopher Reeves and you’ll have the right kind of thing for Superman.

And now onto Batman, where do we go with the Dark Knight? We go back to Tim Burton, during the time when it was a visionary genius rather than a two toned rerun. Burton knew that Gotham was a place that was filled with wonderful and weird things. Batman was dark and twisted with a great soundtrack and Batman Returns was even better though at the time people weren’t ready for it. Batman isn’t glamorous; it’s gory, it’s disturbing and most of all it’s crazy. I feel the Christopher Nolan trilogy got this quite well. Even in Dark Knight rises, though Bane wasn’t as he is in the comics and was more like Anarchy, it was still really good. We need another Tim Burton’s Batman with someone great to play the Caped Crusader.

While I don’t know too much about Wonder Woman, I’m not my Mum, I can say that a good way to think about Wonder Woman would be something like 300 or Hercules, maybe even Xena as she is an Amazon. Diana comes from an island of warrior women so we need to believe that. We need to see someone like that trying to fit into our society. She has the wisdom of a Goddess so please don’t make her a dumb bimbo who can’t even pump gas; I’m looking at you Jodi Picoult. Diana Prince is an amazing character for feminists. She feels all are equal in intelligence and strength, she’s a great person in heart and mind. Though her comics are bright they are dark in tone and atmosphere as she faces threats from Greek mythology.

What can we say about The Flash? Well the same I can say about Green Arrow. CW are doing it perfectly, the casting and the writing all of it. They’re both comical, but also dark and brooding when they need to be. Arrow is trying to be more like Batman where as The Flash is trying to be more like Arrow, it’s a great looping triangle that can lead to great possibilities in tone and how we perceive the characters.

All we can hope for with movies and TV shows when it comes to comics is that we get writers, directors, and producers who are passionate about comics and geekdom.  With a lot of geeks hopefully getting jobs in media I’m sure we’ll soon see the perfect adaptations we’re looking for.

M.

Batman vs Superman, but what about Wonder Woman?

With all the hype about the upcoming Batman v Superman film there is one character that has been pushed into the sidelines.  One character who I grew up watching, was and still is a favourite of mine  – Wonder Woman.  The Amazonian Princess is finally back in live action on our screens after over a 30 years hiatus since Linda Carter last played her in 1979 (aired in syndication during the 1980s) and I for one am excited.

Wonder Woman and her secret identity of Diana Prince has a long history with Superman and Batman, so it is of no surprise that she is there when they are at each other’s throats. She has been here before herself (Wonder Woman Vol 2 #219) in the event that lead to Infinite Crisis, where she found herself in a battle between Superman, Batman and Maxwell Lord.  There are also many other connections with the two super heros, including romantically. (Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series with Batman and in Justice League Vol 2 #12 where she shared a kiss with Superman)

So what has this new imagining of the role got to offer?  Firstly the casting of Gal Gadot is perfect, she is no stranger to action roles or doing her own stunts having previously stared in the Fast and Furious franchise.  She is undoubtedly beautiful having won Miss Israel in 2004 and representing them in the Miss Universe.  But why would that be important to the role some might ask. – Wonder Woman is blessed by the Olympian deities, one of which is Aphrodite who bestows her with stunning beauty as well as a kind heart.  Although not quite the Amazonian’s height of 6 foot at 5’10 Gal Gadot will be a close head and shoulders with Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill in their roles as Batman and Superman.

In the official Batman v Superman trailer released at Comicon 2015 our first glimpse of Wonder Woman is at 2:36 where she is seen creating a blast wave by slamming her braclets, the Aegis of Athena, together. This is a bigger expansion on the concussion zone that this action would normally be able to create. Our next glimpse is at 2:52 where we see her with sword, forged by Hephaestus, and shield.  This is also where we get a better look at her costume. Gone are the iconic bright blue and red colours with silver stars as she too has been toned down into the dull shades of recent Comic Book films.  What is disappointing to note is her tiara, that is meant to be metal and can be used as a boomerang, and her golden eagle chest piece have become leather. The 1970s style go go boots have also been replaced with more modern looking knee highs but at least she retains her lasso of truth which can just be seen hanging at her waist.

What we can hope to expect of Wonder Woman from this film is yet to be seen but the fact a strong female role model in the comic book genre is back in action won’t be lost on many.  I look forward to the development of the Justice League and to see how, yet to seen in a trailer, Aquaman and Flash will establish their roles.

C.

Suicide Squad ComiCon Trailer Review

   So, as we all know, Warner Bros. has released the trailer that was shown and leaked at San Diego ComiCon. Much to the despair and annoyance of the big guys at the Warner Bros. studios who wanted the trailer to be a unique experience for the people there.

   Here is a statement about the incident released by Warner Bros.

   “Warner Bros. Pictures and our anti-piracy team have worked tirelessly over the last 48 hours to contain the Suicide Squad footage that was pirated from Hall H on Saturday,” said Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures. “We have been unable to achieve that goal. Today we will release the same footage that has been illegally circulating on the web, in the form it was created and high quality with which it was intended to be enjoyed. We regret this decision as it was our intention to keep the footage as a unique experience for the Comic Con crowd, but we cannot continue to allow the film to be represented by the poor quality of the pirated footage stolen from our presentation.”

    But at least we have the trailer now giving us a look of those, mostly, well designed costumes in motion making them look a lot better than they did in the teaser picture of the squad that we got earlier this year.

   Now, what does this trailer tell or show us? Well for the most part it gives us our first look at Amanda Waller, the creator of Task Force X. Sadly she’s not the same Waller we got in Green Lantern, which would have been a lovely tie-in for the rest of the universe, however they did give the character to a great choice of an actress the lovely Viola Davis who has starred in a couple of my favourite movies, Ender’s Game and Prisoners. So why do I feel she’s a great casting, because I want to punch her the moment she speaks. That’s right, that’s how this Amanda Waller makes me feel and it’s exactly how I felt when I watched Assault On Arkham and read the Suicide Squad comics. We also get to see how Deadshot, portrayed by Will Smith, who I feel is a perfect shot for the character. He’s often cool, relaxed and precise with a sassy wit. Then we have Harley Quinn, oh, what can I say about my favourite female character of all time? They messed up, they really messed up, not her costume, trust me she’s worn worse in the comics, but her voice. Margot Robbie, I love you but Harley Quinn is from Gotham and is meant to sound like a young New Yorker not an Aussie from Neighbours

   Following on is a look at the most controversial character of the whole movie, The Joker and he is perfect, Jared Leto while at first for me seeming a bit of an off character choice for this actor, especially his design, but, he makes it work. His voice and his movements bringing a little bit of Heath Ledger and Jack Nicholson into his performance which is wonderful, because well the last time we saw the Joker he was like a monkey with a cattle prod up its arse.

   We also get to see Batman in action, which is the best part of the trailer, as well as the song choice. In the shot  it seems he’s chasing The Joker and Harley as they escape in a hot pink Cadallac.

   So, how can I summarise this trailer? Well it clears quite a fair bit up while leaving a lot to speculation; such as how do Diablo and Enchantress get their powers, will they be born with them or maybe go with the Meta-Human choice from The Flash TV series. How does Amanda get these people? Is Harley in Belle Reve or Arkham? Does The Joker seduce Harley or break her through torture?

   Now I just know that the extremist feminists are going to come out of the woodwork on The Joker and Harley’s relationship. Yes, he is going to hit her, he is going to treat her like dirt, because he’s a sociopath, he only loves himself and Batman, he cares for no-one but himself and his interests. Harley is madly in love with The Joker, so much so no matter how much abuse he gives her she’ll stay with him, want to learn why read or watch Mad Love.

   But my final verdict from the trailer is, this movie is going to be one of the best DC movies in the recent decade, I feel that it will trump Batman V Superman and maybe even the next few DC movies to come.

M.