The way of the Western

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about the superhero genre in film and television and noticed how it's much like the Western films and television boom of the early 20th century

I think it would be interesting to take a look and analyze how these two genres are very similar. 

Steven Spielberg said in an interview in 2015 that the superhero genre is much like the Western genre and I have mentioned this interview before in a previous blog post. In the interview with The Associated Press, he said that “We were around when the Western died and there will be a time when the superhero movie goes the way of the Western. It doesn’t mean there won’t be another occasion where the Western comes back and the superhero movie someday returns.” 

I agree with Spielberg. Back in the 1940s through the 1960s, Westerns dominated the box office. Everyone wanted to be the Lone Ranger or John Wayne. Television shows like Gunsmoke and Bonanza, along with shows like The Rifleman and Wagon Train were must-watch television. It wasn't until 1964 when the Spaghetti Western began to appear that the genre began to change, especially after A Fistful of Dollars starring Clint Eastwood. No longer was it just cowboys and outlaws, there were now shades of grey. The 1960s was also the height of the Space Race, so people's focus shifted away from the untamed land of the west to the untamed sky. People wanted to see stories about alien races, astronauts, and other sci-fi conceptions.

I think the final blow for the Western genre came in 1979 when John Wayne died. He was the flag bearer for the genre. When anyone thinks of a cowboy, they think of John Wayne. By, the 1970s films had all but shifted away from Westerns.

The current boom for superhero films started in 2008 with the release of The Dark Knight and Iron Man, with the latter helping to kickstart the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the past few years, there have been talks of fatigue from directors, actors, and fans. Emily Blunt spoke on Howard Stern recently and talked about her possibly being cast as Sue Storm in the new Fantastic Four movie, and she went on to say, that, "I don’t know if superhero movies are for me. They’re not up my alley. I don’t like them. I really don’t." She explained further, "It’s been exhausted. We are inundated—it’s not only all the movies, but it’s also the endless TV shows as well. It’s not to say that I’d never want to play one, it would just have to be something so cool and like a really cool character, and then I’d be interested."

In the last couple of years, studios and streaming services have been trying their hand at the superhero game. Heck, the comic book game in general. Marvel created this beast and now executives are seeing comics as this new cash cow. Studios and streaming services are bidding on properties constantly releasing new content from the genre.

I think what we are seeing from this though and what many, like Emily Blunt is talking about, is the mediocre or plain bad content that is coming from this. Things like Thunder Force, an original movie from Netflix, starring Melissa McCarthy that cashed in on the superhero genre, but received terrible reviews from critics and audiences, or Jupiter's Legacy, an adaption of a comic from Image that was just so-so. 

Even DC could be looked at as producing things that are confusing or content that doesn't meet expectations. An average viewer may not understand why we went from Ben Affleck as Batman one day to Robert Pattison the next, or why Warner Bros. decided to release a four-hour cut of Justice League.

Westerns attempted to make a comeback in the 1990s with films such Young Guns and its sequel, Unforgiven, Tombstone, and The Quick and The Dead. As much as those films were successful and did well, the genre just couldn't rekindle the fire it had.

Just like Westerns, I think there will be a shift in the genre that will cause people to turn away from superhero films. Don't get me wrong, I love comic books and superheroes and I hope this doesn't happen anytime soon. But I think there will be. Whether that's fatigue from a constant barrage or a lack of quality content.

❤️ Top 10 Couples in Comics ❤️

Since today is Valentines Day, I thought I would look at the Top 10 Couples in Comics. These are my picks, and I would love to hear from you on your favorite couples!

10. Black Canary and Green Arrow (Dinah Laurel Lance and Oliver Queen)
This couple has been around for decades and is a staple in the DC Universe. One cannot mention Green Arrow without thinking of Black Canary and vice versa.

9. Scarlet Witch and Vision (Wanda Maximoff and Vision)
A unique and odd paring that works, still has lasting affects on the Marvel Universe to this day even after they split up.

8. Batman and Catwoman (Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle)
The reason this couple is so high on the list is the complex nature of their relationship. The off again-on again nature. The tease of will they get together or will they remain apart and continue to chase one another.

7.Alicia Masters and Thing (Alicia Masters and Ben Grimm)
Alicia and Thing's relationship shows its what's on the inside and your character is what counts. Ben meets Alicia after he becomes The Thing and since Alicia is blind, she couldn't see what he looked like, but it didn't or doesn't matter, they love one another.

6. Rogue and Gambit (Anne Marie and Remy LeBeau)
Rogue and Gambit always seemed like the perfect couple for the X-Men. Both southern born and raised, and hard headed. Not to mention them being fan favorites.

5. Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy (Harleen Quinzel and Pamela Isley)
After Harley left Joker and Ivy became the friend Harley needed, the two doctors realized the potential for a healthy romance lay in each other. The fan theories pairing the two women up became canon when they finally shared their first kiss together, and one great comic book couple.

4. Nightwing and Batgirl (Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon)
Dick Grayson has long-held feelings for Barbara, going all the way back to when he was still Robin and when she was Batgirl for the first time. Initially, it could have been dismissed as a crush from a young kid. But as they grew older and Dick became Nightwing and Barbara became Oracle, their love only deepened.

3. Mr.Fantastic and Invisible Woman (Reed Richards and Sue Storm)
A classic couple that goes back to the beginning of Marvel and spanning its entire history. The monumental marriage issue in Fantastic Four Annual #3 is still something that is talked about. Half of the First Family of Marvel and a great comic book couple.


2. Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson (Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson)
When it comes to Spider-Man and his relationships, two women will come to mind. Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane. As Gwen will always be Peter's first love, Mary Jane was there during some of Peter's roughest times, including the death of Gwen, and helping him come out the other side, together, cementing them as one of the greatest comic book couples of all time.

1. Superman and Lois Lane (Clark Kent and Lois Lane)
I think there is no question on what had to be number one. Lois and Clark. The template for the superhero and the ever present partner by his side. I think without them, many on this list wouldn't exist.

The allure of comics

What draws you to a new comic book to pick up and read? I'm talking about those books you pick up every Wednesday. Is it the cover? The team on the book? The story of the book? I think for me it's all three. When it comes to adding a book to my pull box or picking it directly off the shelf it can come down to one of those three things.

The first thing you see before you buy a comic is the cover. Before you read the story or know what's inside, the cover sells you on the book. I think a great cover is key to having you pick up that book. Think of all the great covers out there. Incredible Hulk #181, Amazing Spider-Man #100, Batman #423, and Superman #233. All of these are classic covers that you can imagine in your head and they did there job of being eye catching to have people pick them off the shelf.

What if its the team that is writing and drawing the book? Think off all the fantastic writers and artists that have created and been apart of comics. Is it the team of Scott Synder/Greg Capullo on Batman, Stan Lee/Jack Kirby on their countless projects, Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor-Smith on Conan, or Dennis O'Neil/Neal Adams on Green Lantern/Green Arrow. Do you follow a certain writer or artist and pick up anything that they do, no matter what it is. I know people that will read anything Donny Cates or buy anything drawn by Skottie Young.

Finally, is it the story that entices you. The thought of what is going to happen to your favorite characters. Maybe you found a new story or comic to read with interesting ideas and characters unlike anything else you have ever read before.

That's the thing I love about comics. There are so many things that can get you interested in them. A character, a writer, or the art. That is why, I think, you have multiple generations who love and enjoy comics. SO what draws you to a new comic book?
 

The Curse of The Crow

The story of The Crow is an interesting one to say the least. Eric Draven and his fiancee, Shelly, are on their way back from a romantic get-away, when their vehicle breaks down on a deserted road. A car full of gang members stops, not to help, but to take advantage of the couple's misfortune. They shoot Eric in the head paralyzing him, while they rape and kill his fiancee in the car, Eric dying hours later in the hospital. A year later, resurrected by The Crow, Eric exacts vengeance on the men responsible for their deaths. The independent comic book was made popular by the 1994 movie of the same name, with a few changes to the original story, but the movie was an instant hit.

Even with all the accolades and success, The Crow was struck with tragedy in the death of Brandon Lee. After an accident with a prop gun on set, Lee was shot and later died from his wound. After the critical success, many direct to video sequels were made focusing on other "crows" as well as a TV show in 1998 called The Crow:Stairway to Heaven, in which Mark Dacascos plays Eric Draven and we focus once again on the original crow. Tragedy would strike the series as when a special effects explosion went wrong during filming on August 15, 1998 and stuntman Marc Akerstream was struck on the head and killed by flying debris. 

Timeline of The Crow Remake:

2005-2008
The Crow franchise would lay dormant after 2005 with the last direct to video sequel The Crow:Wicked Prayer until 2008 when Stephen Norrington planed on remaking the movie. Norrington later stepped out of the project and it was later announced that director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo had been chosen to direct the film. Meanwhile, Bradley Cooper was in talks to play the lead. 

2010-2012
In mid-August 2011, it was announced that Cooper had dropped out due to scheduling difficulties and Mark Wahlberg, who was originally in talks for the lead in 2010, was again up for the part, with additional rumors of Channing Tatum or Ryan Gosling possibly taking the role, as well as James McAvoy. In October 2011, it was reported that Fresnadillo had departed the project as well. It was confirmed in January 2012 that Francisco Javier Gutiérrez had signed on to direct the remake. 

2013-2015
On April 19, 2013, it was announced that Tom Hiddleston was in talks to play Eric. That same month, there were reports that Hiddleston would not be doing the film, but that Alexander Skarsgård was being eyed for the part. A week later, however, Skarsgård stated that he was not attached to the film. On May 4, 2013, Deadline reported that Luke Evans had been cast as Eric Draven. On July 3, 2013, The Crow's creator James O'Barr was named as the creative consultant of the film. In an October 2015 interview, O'Barr would discuss what had changed his mind about the reboot, and efforts to make the reboot a more faithful adaptation of the comic book, while remaining respectful to the original film. On November 21, 2013, Schmoes Know had reports that Norman Reedus was up for the role of a character named "James", and that Kristen Stewart had at one time been considered for the part of Shelly. In December 2014, the studio hired Corin Hardy to direct the film. Evans told Den of Geek in an interview that he might not do the film, and it was later revealed that Evans has dropped out of the film due to other projects. On February 9, 2015, O'Barr told Blastr in an interview that he was interested in Sam Witwer for the role. As of October 24, 2014, the film was set to start production in the spring of 2015. On February 25, 2015, it was reported that Jack Huston would be starring in the film. On March 14, 2015, O'Barr confirmed to Dread Central at the Lexington Comic and Toy Convention that Huston had been cast as Draven in the reboot, and at a Q&A during the convention he further confirmed that Jessica Brown Findlay had been cast as Shelly Webster. On May 20, 2015, Deadline reports that Andrea Riseborough is in talks to co-star as the female version of Top Dollar. On June 15, 2015, according to Variety: Forest Whitaker was in negotiations for a role and Huston has dropped out due to scheduling conflicts, but Relativity Studios are looking at Nicholas Hoult and Jack O'Connell for the role of Draven. On July 31, 2015, The Hollywood Reporter reported that production on the reboot stalled.

2016-2018
O'Barr told comicbook.com in an interview that the film will still happen. TheWrap reported that filming on the reboot was going to start in March 2016 with Corin Hardy on board as director. On June 15, 2016, Deadline reports that Hardy may return to the reboot. On August 10, 2016, Jason Momoa posted a photo of himself with Hardy on his Instagram account. On September 6, 2016, TheWrap reports that Momoa was casted and filming will begin in January 2017. On November 17, 2016, The Hollywood Reporter had the film was now titled The Crow Reborn but may lose both Momoa and Hardy. In September 2017, it was announced that Sony will distribute the film. On May 31, 2018, it was announced that both director Hardy and star Momoa had exited the project.

For about 12 years, a remake of The Crow has been attempted and actor after actor, director after director just keeps dropping out. The thing is with the injuries and the multiple attempts on redoing The Crow it not just a random new character like the direct to video sequel. It's Eric Draven and his story. No such thing happened on those obscure movies, but on the 1994 movie and TV show based on Draven, two people were killed and for 12 years a remake of said story can't be done. Many people believe that The Crow is cursed, and maybe so. I think The Crow is one of those movie that should never be remade. Maybe it's trivial, but then again....  

Criticism of Superhero Cinema

When it comes to people and movies, two great quotes come to mind. Queen Latifah said, "The good thing about movies is that they're subjective. You can connect to different themes depending on your own perspective, "as for Ice Cube who said "A good movie is a movie that you could see over and over again, not a movie that wins a Oscar, or a movie that makes a lot of money. It's a movie that you personally can watch over and over again. That, to me, is a measure of a good movie." 

So when it comes to superhero movies why do people attack them or call them non-cinema. People like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and others. Francis Ford Coppola, said in an interview, “When Scorsese says that the Marvel pictures are not cinema, he’s right because we expect to learn something from cinema, we expect to gain something, some enlightenment, some knowledge, some inspiration. I don’t know that anyone gets anything out of seeing the same movie over and over again. Martin was kind when he said it’s not cinema. He didn’t say it’s despicable, which I just say it is.” Coppola is referring to Scorsese's op-ed in the New York Times, in which he stated, “I don’t think they’re cinema. I’ve tried to watch a few of them and that they’re not for me, that they seem to me to be closer to theme parks than they are to movies as I’ve known and loved them throughout my life.”

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but claiming these movies are all the same or they are more like theme parks are wrong. I enjoy Coppola and Scorsese's work. They are fantastic directors, but even they have to look at their work and see people might say the same thing. Some would say that Scorsese only directs gangster flicks because that's where he feels the safest or that Hugo was just a spectacle, like something you find at a theme park. Like they might say, maybe, Coppola has lost his touch and hasn't had a hit in years. At one point Scorsese was attached to produce and maybe even direct Joker, but dropped from the film. His reason was that the story arc of Arthur Fleck turning to become the Joker was a difficult one for him and he called it a different art form.

So maybe Martin Scorsese just doesn't understand the technique when it comes to superhero films. I think that's perfectly OK. In the same quote he said, "There’s a lot of very talented people doing good work and a lot of young people really, really enjoy them.” Every filmmaker has their strengths and weaknesses in the directors chair and maybe that's Scorsese's.

The reason I've waited so long to write this piece and do something on this was I wanted to get my thoughts together on it. Then Terry Gilliam made some comments this week about Black Panther that caught my attention. Gilliam is a member of Monty Python and a director. In an interview with IndieWire, he said, “I hated ‘Black Panther.’ It makes me crazy. It gives young black kids the idea that this is something to believe in. Bullshit. It’s utter bullshit,” he said. “I think the people who made it have never been to Africa. They went and got some stylist for some African pattern fabrics and things. But I just I hated that movie, partly because the media were going on about the importance of bullshit.” 

First off, his sentiment of the movie giving young African-American's hope and that being bullshit is plain disgusting. That is plain racist and appalling. Second, that the director and his team not doing the work of researching Africa and its culture is plain stupid and idiotic. Ryan Coogler traveled with several key members of his team to Africa to do research and aerial shots for the film. Production designer Hannah Beachler and costume designer Ruth Carter recounted how Afro-futurist architecture from the continent and the attire of tribes like the Masai were core influences when building the world of Wakanda. Both women won Oscars for their efforts. Statements like this not only show the ignorance of individuals, but the downplaying the importance  of what superhero films are. Black Panther was the first African-American led superhero movie in the MCU.

Like I said earlier, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Certain people like superhero films and certain people don't. I think what these individuals are thinking is that these films are a fad. They will fade away. Steven Spielberg once compared them to the westerns. I understand where Spielberg is coming from. In the early part of 20th century, the western was everywhere and everyone wanted to be like John Wayne. The western soon died out and rarely gets made anymore. But I also think there are people who still think comic books and superheroes are a kid thing. Much like Bill Maher stated after Stan Lee passed away. Whatever the case, superheroes and superhero films are here to stay and aren't going anywhere, anytime soon.    
  

   

The Hobby of Collecting

I believe everyone has a passion and when it comes to a hobby and what you do in your free time, I think its important for everyone to have one. Whether its playing a guitar, making model trains or collecting comic books. I love collecting and building my collection. I love going into comic shops and looking at all the long boxes and looking through them and seeing what I can find and add to my collection or going out to conventions and watching fellow collectors seeking out the best deals. I also love seeing books that are way out of my price range, but are immensely sought after, and just gawking at them in amazement. I remember when I first got into collecting and went to my first convention in my hometown, and saw an Avengers #4, the first appearance of Captain America in the Silver Age. It was incredible seeing that book and looking at a piece of comic book history.

I also believe everybody has knowledge. What I mean by that, is everyone is smart when it comes to something. I know facts and trivial things about Spider-Man, while on the flip side of that some one may be knowledgeable about hockey, and I have no clue. No one is stupid and can be a wealth of knowledge. 

I'm often times asked why I love collecting or why I collect? Its hard to settle on one answer. I love the characters and being able to get a first appearance is exhilarating! Falling in love with a character and it becoming apart of your life is, I think the goal of every writer and artist who create. I love the stories and reading what happens. It like no other medium. You read an issue and are left on cliffhangers for the next month or just have single issues that are just wonderful.

It's said that hobbies helps to relieve stress by keeping you engaged in something you enjoy, they also give you a way to take your mind off the stresses of everyday life, and help you become more patient. From personal experience, I can attest to that. Hobbies are great and I'm glad I found comic book collecting. I've met great people and made new friends because of it and have gotten some fantastic books. So go pick up a hobby, no matter what it is, you won't be disappointed!    

Joker: Phoenix and Ledger

The new Joker movie just came out and the debate has been swirling on if Joaquin Phoenix's take on the Clown Prince of Crime was going to be able to top previous versions of the Joker we have seen on the big and small screen, so here is my take on it.

**SPOILERS AHEAD FOR JOKER**

The movie and Phoenix's take on Joker is interesting and unlike anything we've seen before and I think the reason for that is the movie isn't based on any existing source material of the Joker. Todd Phillips, director of Joker said he took elements from The Killing Joke and it really shows in the movie, but the rest of the movie is completely original. Arthur Fleck is a outcast with mental illnesses and his constant abuse and negligent causes his decent into becoming the Joker. The movie has points were you feel uncomfortable and a little uneasy, but its one of the most vile characters in comics, so its to be expected. The ending of Arthur becoming the Joker and turning on the city and being embraced by the anarchists rioting in the streets is fantastic. The movie is good and I recommend it for any Batman or comic book fan.

The question now, is Joaquin Phoenix the best Joker we've seen? My answer is no. I still believe Heath Ledger is the best we've seen and he hasn't been topped. Phoenix and Phillips brought something new to the Joker and to Batman that I won't spoil here that made my happy as a Batman fan. It add new layers to his mythos and still left you wondering "who is the Joker?" A question that has been around for nearly 80 years. 

The reason I say Heath Ledger is the best is because of his commitment to the role, he put everything into it. You could feel him in the role. His mannerisms and movements, his laugh and actions all had meaning and purpose. And some of the things that he improvised were left in because they just felt natural. He became Joker.

Phoenix definitely is high on the list of the best Jokers, but I think its going to be awhile or maybe never before we ever see someone match the caliber of Ledger's Clown Prince.