[quote]AngryVader wrote:
It’s funny you mention Joss Whedon. Some of you may have seen this, but I thought he had an interesting take on why it’s harder to get DC characters on the big screen (this would also apply to Thor).
He also talked about his involvement in Wonder Woman before it got shelved.
http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/thegeekfiles/2009/02/joss-whedon-why-its-so-hard-ge.html [/quote]
I don’t want to take anything away from Joss Whedon as I think he’s a very talented writer and has written some of my favorite shows and comics. However, in this case he is wrong, and may not be the right person for the job.
[quote]Because, with that one big exception (Batman), DC’s heroes are from a different era. They’re from the era when they were creating gods.
And the thing that made [rival publisher] Marvel Comics extraordinary was that they created people. Their characters didn’t living in mythical cities, they lived in New York. They absolutely were a part of the world. Peter Parker’s character (Spider-Man) was a tortured adolescent.
DC’s characters, like Wonder Woman and Superman and Green Lantern, were all very much removed from humanity. Batman was the only character they had who was so rooted in pain, that had that same gift that the Marvel characters had, which was that gift of humanity that we can relate to.
–Joss Whedon
[/quote]
This just goes to show Whedon’s huge misunderstanding of the two different comic universes. I wish I could take credit for this next part.
[quote]One of the examples of the Difference Between DC and Marvel is in their panthea.
The Greek Gods, the gods of tragedy, are the gods of the DCU.
The Norse Gods, the gods of opera, are the gods of the Marvel.
We see lots of gods and godlings in the DCU: fun, forgotten ones in Vertigo, ham-handed manques like the New Gods, decorative dieties like Rao tossed about the universe like theurgic throw-pillows to spice up alien cultures. But for the most part, the “gods” in the DCU means Zeus & Co. Yes, the Greek Gods, the gods of founders of Western Civilization, the people who brought you self-government, logic, and couple other useful concepts, like: tragedy. Now, not every DC story is a tragedy, of course. But if you set aside the “gosh, that’s sad and icky” part of tragedy, its underlying tenet is that what happens to you, your fate, is the usually the result of your own character, not just random happenstance.
Batman’s “fate” isn’t thrust upon him by a cruel world that fails to understand him. Bruce Wayne could, at any point say, “Well, this is fruitless! Alfred, pack my bags, buy a Caribbean island (if I don’t already own one), and tell Silver St. Cloud I’ll meet her there for brunch!” But he doesn’t, because his character is otherwise. Superman isn’t enfeebled by the mistrust of a xenophobic society, forcing him to hide as a mild-mannered drudge. “Gosh,” Superman could say, “I think I’ll rule the world today, then write about it in my gigantic steel diary using my fingernails.” Because of his character, Superman chooses (like Cinncinnatus) to rise up above other people only when it is necessary to protect society; otherwise, he chooses to live among them as equals. Whatever “tragic fate” these and other characters suffer stems from their own virtues and flaws
But Marvel’s gods are the Norse ones, who, in our culture, we know mostly through opera. It’s fitting; Marvel is about personal drama, people thrust into extraordinarily roles and situations (usually against their will) by life’s vicissitudes (you know, errant chromosomes, cosmic rays, radioactive spiders, and such). It’s opera, not tragedy, because you are watching people suffer unjustly, to see how they stand up to it all (like on Fear Factor).
DC’s message? You are responsible for protecting and improving yourself and society, so toughen up for that responsiblity.
Marvel’s message? You better be tough, because you’re going to have to suffer many things in this world that you’re not responsible for and can’t improve.
Both messages are completely true, of course, which is why each company does speak effectively to so many people. But, in my eyes, DC’s message is designed to inspire and Marvel’s message is designed to console.
– The Absorbascon
absorbascon.blogspot.com
[/quote]
The DC Universe is ultimately Hope and Optimism. Most of the DC characters are those who rise above their station in life to become something great. That speaks volumes to me, and part of the reason I’m in the gym nearly everyday.
