Capes and cameras

The evolution of the superhero genre

By: Paresh Jha

Posted: 9/29/08

The "superhero film" has become increasingly frequent this past decade. There used to be a time when a Batman or Superman film could not even be labeled as being in the superhero genre. It was either an action adventure or sci-fi fantasy film. Times have clearly changed. But is it for the better?

Arguably, the superhero genre truly started with the release of "Spider-Man" in 2002. The friendly neighborhood wall-crawler proved to moviegoers that even the fantastical and unbelievable could be compelling as well as fun. Thanks to "Spider-Man," studios realized that character-driven superhero flicks could sell. Movies like "Hulk," "Daredevil" and "Fantastic 4" attempted to follow suit but did not meet the same success as the old web-head.

Things got even better with the arrival of "Spider-Man 2" and "Batman Begins." This began a sort of superhero renaissance. Audiences, studios and actors alike began to take the genre seriously.

Fast forward to this past summer and it would seem like comic book overload. Viewers and producers enjoyed the successes of five different superhero films ("The Dark Knight," "Iron Man," "The Incredible Hulk," "Hancock" and "Hellboy II: The Golden Army"). One would expect more money and viewership to prolong the life expectancy of the superhero genre.

However, it could be argued that once at the top, the only direction is down. This could very well be true, but that would seem like the case for specific franchises. Just because "The Dark Knight" reached a certain peak this past summer is no indication that the superhero genre has reached a peak. In fact, the genre as a whole seems to be moving forward and picking up even more steam.

Hollywood even created an original hero for the movies this past summer in the form of "Hancock," which proved successful thanks to the star power of Will Smith. Marvel Comics formed their own film studio, giving them rights over how most of their characters get translated onto the silver screen. Marvel Studios' first effort was the huge success "Iron Man" and they have already confirmed future movies "Iron Man 2," "Captain America: The First Avenger" and "Avengers."

DC Comics and Warner Bros. have had meetings on how to make their other characters successful film franchises. So, it would seem that superhero films have been guaranteed for at least the next five years. As long as audiences shell out the money to see them, the studios will continue to make the films. But what does this say about the future quality of comic book movies?

There was a time when comic books were supposed to only be funny. Clearly, things have changed and now "comical" is no longer the dominant connotation of comic books. They have evolved to garner the respect of readers worldwide. Graphic novels like "Watchmen," "V for Vendetta" and "The Dark Knight Returns" are argued to have as much literary value as a Stephen King novel. It is exceedingly apparent that this is the direction in which superhero films are heading. There will come a time when superhero movies will no longer just be a typical action film.

As recent movies like "The Dark Knight," "Iron Man" and "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" have proven, a film does not need A-list actors in realistic settings to be compelling. They could have men and women in capes saving the world, provoking antagonists and even our thoughts. It all remains in the hands of the studios and their decisions. If they haphazardly put out movies like "Spider-Man 3" just to make a quick buck then things could take a turn for the worse. As long as they keep the franchises in the hands of respectful and talented filmmakers, then it looks as though the superhero could have a permanent spot in Hollywood.