Comic Books vs. Superheroes!

Before June 1940 when Marvel Mystery Comics No. 8 first decided to cross-over their Human Torch character with their other big seller, Namor the Sub-Mariner, each hero existed as isolated from other as the Fortress of Solitude is from the Sanctum Sanctorum.

Events that transpired in the gun-toting Batman stories in Detective Comics never had any effect on the world of Superman tales in Action Comics.

Captain America’s actions had no repercussions in the Sub-Mariner.

Every comic book story existed without consequences to any other comic book published by the same company. Comic books lacked the cohesive focus of a shared world, or multiverse you find today. These days comic book characters, stars, costars, and background individuals freely move between titles owned by the same company. Most tales these days have an outcome that affects the entire comic book universe. Over-arcing stories leave lasting impressions on characters from almost every title.

In fact, it’s hard to think of these tales any other way. Readers today would even feel ripped-off if their favorite comic book company stopped cross-selling their characters between titles.

This idea of a shred universe has helped comic book sales skyrocket over the years with each cross-over.

Why?

The answer is very simple.

It just makes sense.

Yes, we can easily see how this brilliant idea of a shared universe seems natural.

It makes sense to anybody that if Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Iron Man, Ant-Man, and the Wasp are all published by the same company, their stories all take place in the same time period, and they share many of the same fan-base that they should cross over and have an effect on each other. This is why its referred to as “The Marvel Universe”.

The popularity of this simple truth can be seen not only in the sales of Marvel Comics but also in how their Cinematic Universe has so easily been accepted by audiences around the world.

Yes, Marvel/Disney has tapped into a writing/directing formula that works. Whether you personally enjoy the Marvel movies or not does not change this undeniable reality.

But is it just the writing and directing that has made the concept of a shared cinematic universe the biggest money-making idea Hollywood may ever have executed?

No.

Fans have come to accept and expect Marvel movies to take place in a shared-world environment. In fact it’s not just the movies but also the live-action television shows on ABC and Netflix that are part of the cross-over universe.

Marvel/Disney is in the business of creating a comic book universe of shared tales.

The tales have a bigger effect than what transpires in the individual stories. We see the same actors (with a few exceptions) reprising their heroic roles between the movies and live-action TV shows.

Then we have what DC/WB is doing.

They are simply making unconnected stand-alone super hero movies and TV shows.

As we can see the DC entertainment engine is chugging along a much less exciting path.

Although, as a whole, the Nolan Batman Trilogy was a good yarn it took place in a vacuum.

Superman Returns had nothing to do with any other DC movie.

Smallville had nothing to do with any other DC show or movies.

At least Arrow and the Flash are two shows that are connected. Unfortunately DC/WB has no plans on using these actors, or their character’s TV backstories, in the upcoming Batman v Superman movie or Justice League film.

Their other TV show, Gotham, likewise has nothing to do with anything else DC has produced.

What’s worse is that the Gotham show doesn’t even have any connection to ANY of the previously released or upcoming Batman movies or cinematic appearances.

Much like the simple and mostly child-like tales from the 1930’s and 40’s DC doesn’t see why they have to interconnect their stories.

DC/WB has made a conscious decision to keep their TV and cinematic endeavors a jumble of isolated, independent stories with no connection or cannon to any other yarns in what should be a shared universe.

I can understand that DC/WB doesn’t want to be seen as simply following a trend initiated by their biggest competitor. Unfortunately if they want to really compete against the Marvel/Disney juggernaut they will have to stop making independent superhero yarns and start making a cohesive comic book universe of movies.

Although DC/WB have been adamant that they have no desire to use the shared-world concept of both their competitor and EVERY other comic book company they have suddenly reneged on that decision.

To a small degree, anyway.

They have announced plans to use the same petite actress to portray the amazon Wonder Woman between the Batman vs Superman movie, the Justice League film, and her own stand-alone film. This seems to be too little too late.

So far DC has fallen woefully short in promoting comic book movies.

In this respect they will never be on the same level as Marvel.

- The Great Grognard