Last week And Archie Comics was just the latest comic book
company to pass DC Comics by in the TV and Cinematic adaptation lane with their
Amazing Riverdale series. At the rate DC Comics is going my SJS DIRECT
publishing imprint will be passing them by in a couple of years.
DC Comics is supposed to be the Number two Comic book
publisher in the world. But in the world of film and television and film
adaptations they are in last place. With poor quality films like Man of Steel,
Batman V. Superman and inconsistent TV shows like Arrow, Supergirl, and The
Flash it’s looking more and more like Warner Brothers is out of its league when
it comes to adapting DC Comics properties.
Seriously, what’s so hard about adapting DC’s Superheroes
for the 21st Century? These are the world’s greatest super-heroes.
Icons like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Many amateurs can produce films
like Batman: Dead End that stay true to the spirit of the characters. And many
more free-lance screenwriters like myself would love to adapt DC’s heroes so
that kids of the 21st Century can see what’s great about them. So
why can’t Warner Brothers with its billons of dollars, and some of the most
talented and creative people on it’s billion dollar payroll get their heads out
of their collective asses and create superhero movies and TV shows that can
compete with Marvel Studios?
It’s clear there are people who can do this currently
working at Warner Brothers. Bruce Timm can make cartoons that stay true to the
spirit of DC’s characters. And Greg Berlanti on a good day can make episodes of
his shows like Arrow, Flash and Supergirl that are just like comic books come
to life. So why can’t they get their shit together and make quality product on
a regular basis?
It’s a real shame when you consider that Warner Brothers
reinvented the superhero genre with Superman: The Movie in 1978. And reinvented
it again with Batman in 1989. But in the 21st Century they haven’t
been able to get things into gear after The Dark Knight Trilogy. With all the
talent and resources Warner Brothers has this should be a HORSE RACE between
the Big two for the moviegoers’ dollars and TV Viewers’ attention. But thanks
to years of incompetent leadership Fifth place Archie Comics is now starting to
pull ahead of the Number Two comic book publisher in the world when it comes to
a quality adaptation of their characters.
Embarrassing. Just Embarrassing.
I have to wonder what’s wrong at DC? Why can’t they get it
into gear? They have the best catalog of superhero characters. They have the
budget and the resources. They can clearly pay the best actors, producers and
directors. But when it comes down to the final product it’s just SHIT ON A
PLATE.
Damn. Just Damn.
With the way things are going regarding DC Comics superhero
properties on film and television they’re going to be in last place and remain
there because their management is out of touch, and completely disconnected
from its customer base and what it wants.
I know I could make a better adaptation of my own characters
than DC and Warner Brothers are doing right now. And maybe seeing SJS DIRECT pass
DC by will be the wake-up call Warner Brothers needs to get its shit together
in DC Comics Television, film and publishing divisions. Because the way they’re
performing right now is EMBARASSING.
There needs to
be a Housecleaning at Warner Brothers and DC’s publishing, film and TV
divisions. And it needs to happen NOW.
You seem to be a bigger DC fan than I am in some regards. I dunno but Popmatters doesn't seem to like Riverdale.
ReplyDelete...did you forget to take your medication today?
ReplyDeleteI don't suppose anybody out there would mind trying to explain to me why the Dark Knight Trilogy is considered a set of good films? Because I've watched them and I still can't see what makes them so great to everybody else...
ReplyDeleteI can say they were better than Batman Forever and Batman and Robin. Batman Begins was a relief from those, not neccessarily the best, but man saw it as a relief. And Ledger bit the dust after The Dark Knight.
DeleteMany writers and higher ups at DC have admitted that Batman is what they understand what to do with him. Dan Didio has admitted he doesn't know most of the characters at DC himself. Otherwise, they need to repeat the old gimmicks again and again.
ReplyDelete-John