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Comic book adaptions, it's all the rage. I guess
they've run out of novel adaptions? One would hope
that Hollywood writers could develop an idea all their
own, but, alas, it seems that if there is an adaption
or a sequel to be had, why bother brainstorming? (This
in my opinion, is the reason Pixar is so damned
successful, they still have "imagineers")
Stan Lee, Marvel's own Iron Man, built an empire from
his comic book series, so naturally, when Hollywood
had run their round with DC, they approached Lee for
adaptations of his comics. Hulk on TV was very popular
in the 80's, and even though it was floppish, I liked
Dolf Lundgren as the Punisher. I STILL have fond
memories of Spiderman on the ELectric Company, and I
STILL know the song from the cartoon. Apart from the
one flop in this decade ::cough:: Hulk! ::cough:: the
Marvel name has paid off for both Lee and the studios
who adapt the comics. X Men turned Hugh Jackman from a
singing Aussie to a bonified Hollywood Superstar.
The amazing flood of underground comics in the last
two decades has not gone unnoticed by Hollywood.
Underground and cult comics have seen more than their
share of the silver screen as well, from the 80's
Darkman to 2004's Hellboy . . . you don't have to be an
"Iron Man" to sell your superhero to Hollywood.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles created a veritable
empire on the screen, and let's not forget
merchandise. Heavy Metal still remains a cult classic.
The appeal of comic books to producers and studios is
obvious . . . they have less work. No need to figure out
what Spiderman would look like, it's all there in
hundreds of comic books. Pick whichever costume you'd
like. He's gone through a few. And villans? Heck,
since they never die, you can pick whichever ones
among them look as if they might appeal to the public
(perhaps Hulks downfall was he was his own villan on
screen). Even storyboarding can run easier with comic
books and conceptual artists? Who needs them? We have
the actual comic book writer on set to consult.
Comic books have had quite an effect on Hollywood.
Comic book companies and executives have sprung up to
continue dead series like Babylon 5, Xena and
Hercules. The bonus is that the writers (JMS continues
his story line in his Babylon 5 series) can finish
their vision, the minus? If their vision was all that
great, the shows would still be on, right?
The same nepotism that permeates Hollywood is
threatening to spill over and contaminate graphic
media like comic books, making some comics a purely
capitol venture instead of a visionary one. I remember
going to a Scifi convention where Julie Bell and Boris
Valejo were pushing the comic of Julies 16 year old
son. Apart from the professional printing, it was no
better than my 18 year old brothers art and ideas.
Sometimes these sort of back door comics pan out, but
comic book readers are into comic books for the
vision. Producers would do well to remember the
optomism and lust for heroics is what drives readers
to this genre.
More is expected of comic artists. A burgeoning comic
book artist has to be a jack of all trades, expected
to have original ideas for characters, interesting
plots and storylines as well as striking graphics,
making them not only an artist, but a writer. And if
you thought writers were treated poorly in Hollywood,
imagine having to bear the title "comic book artist."
Still, there are many more sucessful independant comic
books than independant studios and film-makers (don't
let them tell you Spike Lee is independant, he gets
his money from Miramax). The quality of original
stories and characters keeps Hollywood running back to
the shelves at the comic book store.
When you see the demographics on comic books, it's
really an amazing feat that comic books made their way
into mainstream on the silver screen . . . when most media
is targeting women in their mid teens to early 20's.
Perhaps, like Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings
adaption did for sales of JRR Tolkien books, these
movie adaptions will bring more people to the
wonderful world of comic books.
Bit of news you can use as you'd like:
Ron Perlman, formerly best known as the Beast in the
long running series with Linda Hamilton "Beauty and
the Beast" is all set up to play Hellboy in the silver
screen adaption of the comic cult classic. Perlman,
now age 53, broke a rib doing one of his own stunts
for the movie. "I broke a rib jumping onto a train
that was coming towards me," Perlman said in an
interview with Scifi Channel. "It was going about 45
[mph]." He admitted he was surprised that the stunt
coordinator even allowed him to try the gag.
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