In the glorious aftermath of Iron Man, Marvel announced the dates for who was to follow in his titanium alloyed footsteps, and not surprisingly there's nary a superheroine among them.
I'm a little late to this conversation – even Defamer was calling for a superchick movie last week, but we all know you're stylish if you arrive late to the party. And frankly, as a geek girl, I'm given a pass and can talk about this stuff whenever the mood strikes me. Plus, if I had done it last week, we wouldn't have gotten to talk about all those cool comic books.
It's a surprising fact, but the comic book world is a lot more accepting of tough women than mainstream Hollywood. There are no doubt loads of men and women who disagree with me, pointing to Frank Miller or the unrealistic body expectations. No doubt there are a lot of damning storylines and panels ("Quiet, or Papa spank!"), but I find much of it easy to shrug off. I'm as staunch a feminist as you can find, but I've never been able to completely shake my fist at the industry because, dammit, there was Wonder Woman and Jean Grey. From the start, comic book heroines were strong individuals, capable of action. A glance through Marvel or DC titles show plenty of women who kick ass as heroes, villains, and all the ambiguity in between.
And they've been doing it for years! Wonder Woman was battling villains when women were still being run out of the workplace – and sporting a mini-skirt while women were still unusual in pants. Of course, they show leg, of course they are extremely pretty and curvaceous, but so what? The men are all cleft-jawed and ripped like gods, so we're hardly seeing a fair shake for either gender there.
This was a tough week to write a beat. It's the periphery of summer coolness, which leaves me little to really dig into. But as this week brings us the big screen debut of Iron Man, it seems inevitable that we talk comic books today.
Frankly, I bet most of you out there thought there would never be an Iron Man movie -- just from the technological standpoint. Imagine if this had been done in, say, 1985. It looks pretty grim, doesn't it? For some reason, this image led me to wondering about all the comic books we've read up till now, thinking: "This could never be done! It's insane!" So, that's what this week is about -- those over-the-top comic books that could never be made in a million years.
I've done a few little pieces now on how geeks are cool, comics are mainstream, Sweeney Todd razors are big business, etc. Somewhere in the midst of writing that costuming one (I think – the weeks blur together), I came across this article on Fan Glam, and it's been eating at me ever since. I had to write a response.
To sum up Fan Glam, the cool kids over at Io9 believe that there is little authentic geekery to be found in today's world. They point to Kristen Bell and JJ Abrams as the epitome of "fan glam," and the insane expansion of San Diego ComicCon as signs that fandom is so trendy, it is very nearly obsolete. "Their obscure desires are being converted into ironic commodities, their tastes transformed into sellable goo, and their dark, secret haunts opened up to the light of media frenzy. Here are the seven signs that fans have become glam, and that the world of fandom will never be the same safe place to hide with your action figures again."
Maybe I am way off (and I was a literature student, I tend to take an interpretation and run with it before I know what I've done -- it's like a form of dementia) but the impression I get is that Io9 believes geekdom has sold out. And I laugh aloud because only hardcore fanboys and girls could accuse our entire sub-culture of selling out. First Frank Miller, now the Star Wars lovers. And you know, it's just not true. We're a bit more mainstream now than we were – people don't immediately snigger when you say "a wretched hive of scum and villainy" aloud, and they don't immediately assume you live with your parents when they catch you watching the Iron Man trailer at work.
Spring has sprung, and while the rest of America books trips to Disneyland or goes mountain biking, or whatever it is normal people do, a very special segment of geekdom is setting to work. They are digging through fabric stores trying to find authentic velvets, combing leather outlets for hobnails and buckles, and studying the color variations of Hogwarts scarves. In other words, they are costuming. Conventions, Renaissance Faires and pirate festivals are just around the corner for a costumer – there are people pulling all night sessions on corsets and Iron Man costumes as we speak.
By now you're thinking "cosplayer weirdos!" and let me stop you there. First, there are two categories of people who do this – there are costumers, and there are cosplayers. Both categories have their share of the insane, but also many who are pretty cool. Like anything else, there is definitely a line with this hobby, and way too many people who have crossed it. Chances are, if you've visited a convention, Renaissance Faire, Hollywood Blvd., or watched Trekkies, you've encountered a few of them. Hopefully though, you've also encountered a few of the cooler ones and know that we are not all fruit loops.
Geeks are a passionate lot. It's what defines us, really. Actually, I don't think we're any more obsessive about things than anyone else. Lots of people are obsessed with football or NASCAR, and they're not snubbed nearly as much as those of us who follow film, Batman comics or sci-fi shows. But you know, geek passion has a darker side. I guess all obsession does (I've yelled plenty at a hockey game) but there's just something about the way we nerds can get. I'm reminded of this any time Zack Snyder releases something about Watchmen.
Now, I dug Watchmen. The sucker punch of an ending, the horror of the Black Freighter, the loneliness of Doc Manhattan – there's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said by the likes of TIME Magazine. Of course, I view a movie adaptation with a bit of trepidation, but after Lord of the Rings, I don't think anything is truly unfilmable.
But the fandom is wearing me out. I have many friends who love the graphic novel, and I practically dread any news release because it causes such a flurry of panic and disgust among them. The character stills, which I found promising and exciting, were met with not only skepticism, but weeks of pondering. Why were the stills photoshopped? Why were the actors so young? Why were they posed in action shots? On and on it went, my own casual theories – maybe they were just having fun, maybe these are from the heyday of the heroes – dismissed. No, couldn't be! It was simply that Snyder had messed up, end of story, and the movie was doomed.
There are so many familiar faces returning to the big screen -- Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood, Mulder and Scully, Batman, the crew of the USS Enterprise, John Connor, the Hulk. They're following hard on the heels of Rambo, Rocky and John McClane. Naturally, Indy and two FBI Agents seem to be causing the greatest stir of late. The continuous refrain on the Internet is "Oh wow, this summer is the greatest ever – a fourth Indy and a second X-Files movie, it is everything I could have wanted!"
It is with great shame that I confess that I don't feel the same way. I feel like a character in Invasion of the Body Snatchers because everyone but me is so excited – though undoubtedly most of you think I'm the pod person – and I wish I could join in. I can't really understand why I'm not more excited. Indiana Jones made me the girl I am (a subject for another Geek Beat) and my bookshelf held my X-Files guides until only recently.
With a reboot of The Incredible Hulk on the horizon, I am really having to scramble for an opinion on the character. Somehow in my geek girl education, I really missed out on most things Hulk. I can't really explain it. The television show was in reruns when I was a wee geek, and I didn't watch it very often because it scared me. Obviously it scared other kids too, since Mr. Rogers did an episode devoted to showing how the Hulk wasn't a monster, just a nice man in make-up. (However, I was also scared of the Jolly Green Giant – did I think he and the Hulk were one and the same, or do I have deeper issues to work out? Hmm.)
Thanks to our own Scott Weinberg (a Hulk aficionado) and hulu.com, I've been catching up some of the old episodes to refresh my memory. Actually, none of it rings a bell, so traumatized was I by Lou Ferrigno, and it has been a revelation how different the television series was from the comics. And you know what? It was better for it! As opposed to the often convoluted and outlandish Hulk comics, David Banner's origin story rendered him immediately sympathetic. He was so distraught over his failure to save his wife that he became obsessed with the way to unleash his inner strength. Tragically, his obsession turns him into the Hulk, and forces him to live his life on the run. It was like The Fugitive meets The Fountain by way of Marvel. But most importantly, his life on the run made the Hulk a hero.
Hey, 2007, nice to meet you. I hear you're really into movies -- what a surprise, so am I. Maybe we can be friends. I'll admit to you that I'm just a bit wary of really getting to know you, because your buddy 2006 wasn't so awesome in his geek movie credentials. I mean, dude talked a good game, but he didn't really come through.
At first, I was very excited to meet him. He was all like "Holy crap, theX-Men rule. I just totally dig those mutants. I'm a huge fan." Two past years had delivered strong on the X-Men front, so I was pleased and excited. And he did bring some fun, but mostly his junk just felt like a mishmash of things he thought would look cool. It was like he'd trolled through some old comic books and cartoons, picked out everything he thought was popular, and smushed it all together. Dude didn't really know the X-Men, he was just a poser with some scattered knowledge.
Before we get started today, I want to mention the passing of Dave Cockrum this past weekend. Dave was a talented, familiar comic book artist who spent some time working with Superboy and The Legion of Superheroes at DC, and did amazing work on Uncanny and Giant Sized for Marvel. The family asks you not to call, but provides the following email address for those of you who wish to offer condolences: magnetorampant@yahoo.com.
It has been, well, years really, since I last picked up and read any of the Star Wars Extended Universe novels. Admittedly, I'm more than a touch behind, as I stopped reading somewhere in NJO and haven't caught up to anything new since my sophomore year of college. However, when standing in the middle of my study surveying my bookcases for something to occupy my lunch break a week or so back, I found myself picking up the first of Michael J. Stackpole's X-Wing series. As always, I enjoyed it tremendously; perhaps more so because it had been a number of years since I'd last visited. Currently, I'm in the middle of Aaron Allston's Wraith Squadron, and am planning to hit a selection of other New Republic era novels to get my space legs going before diving back into the NJO from Vector Prime. Honestly, the past several years of new Star Wars movies had soured me to the point I'd almost forgotten how much I love this universe. (Please note, there is also a lot of abject crap in the Extended Universe, and probably as many books which should be ignored as there are which should be read. I should know, I own most of them.) so all this rekindled geek literature love, combined with my insane desire for a Jedi game on the Wii, has driven my thoughts towards a galaxy far, far away. As George Lucas and company gear up for their TV series set between eps three and four, I find myself wishing I could control the direction of the franchise. What do I want?
Ready for your lessons from geek movies? Following up on last week's Ten Things I Learned From the Fantastic Four, we're going to pick out a few general pointers for life from theX-Men film trilogy. Without further ado, I give you: The Geek Beat -- Eight Things I Learned From the X-Men (again, movies only, not the comics):
1. Wear hats frequently, particularly ones crafted from special materials. If you are an evil villain, all you need to do to escape the dangers of Charles Xavier, leader of the X-Men and most powerful telepathy on earth, is wear a nice hat. Not only will it keep Professor X out of your brain, it will also keep your head warm during the winter months and dry during unexpected rainfall. If you design it well, it can even be a fantastic addition to your villain ensemble. Nothing says super powers like a matching cape, costume and helmet.
2. Avoid city living, as it is far too complicated and laden with troublesome people. Again, a good note for evil villains -- if you want to conquer the world, try starting someplace other than New York. The crazy city is home to half of the known superheroes in America. I know there are a lot of cool buildings around to serve as labs/headquarters/hanger bays, but country living has a lot to offer you as well. For starters, you won't find the X-Men chilling out in Montana. Granted, your enormous headquarters will probably stand out a bit, but that's why we invented underground bunkers, right?
Regular readers of Geek Beat are very familiar with my opinion of Joss Whedon. Essentially, it boils down to the following two points.
I don't really dig Whedon's work. This is in no way a shot at Whedon's creative ability, or a shot at those of you who really like his stuff. It's just a statement of personal taste. You know, like "I don't like broccoli." It may mean my personal taste in the realm of modern sci-fi is very poor, but so be it.
I have a deep and profound respect/admiration for the man, which probably borders on hero worship.
I want George Lucas to be awesome again. I don't know if he can be, and I certainly don't expect a project like Indiana Jones 4 to be the film to do it, but I want the old man to find his magic again. For the last several years it's been geek-vogue to slam George Lucas, and yours truly has been no exception. And yet occasionally I pause to remember how much I love the man, and how much the geek community at large owes to his creative genius. I encourage you to remember the way you used to feel about Star Wars before the new trilogy. It's easy to hate the man for taking away our love, but we should remember he is the one who gave it to us in the first place.
Maybe George Lucas has grown fat and lazy on his own excess. Maybe the rich old man is too far removed from the edgy creative youth which brought us the struggles of the heroic rebellion fighting the Galactic Empire. If I had to place bets, I'd wager on it being so. But perhaps the edgy, creative George Lucas still exists somewhere beneath the layers of CGI and dollar bills. If he does still exist, the best way for him to re-emerge would probably not be to continue on producing huge blockbuster movies with zillion dollar budgets. Who knows, maybe the best way to bring him back is with the smaller, shorter, more experimental flicks he's talked about lately.
Some stray thoughts I've been pondering while not caught up in the NFL and NCAA football seasons or Marvel's Civil War:
Are you following the events of Marvel's Civil War summer crossover spectacular? Was I the only one to get an instant mental picture of Robert Downey Jr. and Tobey Maguire slugging it out upon hearing the Iron Man casting information shortly after reading the latest Amazing Spider-Man? And who else is getting tired of the Iron Spider suit? I suppose that's all good and well, since he's getting a costume change soon enough anyway.
Speaking of, what do you make of the Robert Downey Jr. casting? Is it wrong that one of the first thoughts which crossed my mind was "let's see, Tony Stark has been an alcoholic struggling with inner demons in the past, while Robert Downey Jr. has been ..." See where I'm going?
Before I start, let me say thanks to my very alert readers, who picked up a mistake of mine in a story which ran on Sunday. I wrote about new pictures from the set of Fantastic Four 2, but mistakenly put the link to older pictures. The new pictures can be found here. Again, thanks to readers Ryan, CharlieBrown, Andy and Tim for catching my mistake. Well played, gents!
News of the week which caught my attention: Yet another rumor of Japanese anime being turned into American movies. This one comes to us via Comic Book Movies (the financing company) and Ishimori, Inc. You can read the whole story here.
I continue to have mixed feelings regarding major motion pictures based on anime titles. I am an anime/manga fan, and while I'm certainly not as knowledgeable as some of you true buffs out there, I've certainly seen and read my fair share. With the overwhelming popularity of comic book/graphic novel movies in Hollywood these days and the ever increasing presence of Japanese media in America, anime movies would seem to be a forgone conclusion. And since American audiences seem to have a tough time accepting non-children's animation in major theater releases, live action is undoubtedly the way to go.
I've written morethanonce about sustaining optimism for the upcoming Fantastic Foursequel. I know many of you True Believers find this a difficult proposition, and I don't blame you. While I didn't dislike the first film as strongly as many of you did, I will fully admit it came nowhere close to fulfilling my (perhaps far too lofty) expectations. As a long-time reader of The World's Greatest Comic Magazine, I wanted so much more than director Tim Story gave me. Nonetheless, I refuse to give up hope for the Four. I saw promise in the first film, and I enjoyed watching it despite the shortcomings.
I want part two to be better. Maybe this strong desire has lead me to over-optimism. In fact, I'm sure it has. However, I'm willing to buy into it for a time, and let myself believe the denizens of the Baxter building will be as fantastic as their name intones. Are there reasons to worry? Sure there are -- you can think of any number of them yourself. Yet, there ARE a few good reasons to be hopeful. In that spirit, The Geek Beat brings to you five good reasons to look forward to the Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer:
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Full 'G.I. Joe' Cast Photos!
