Make Mine Marvel
A lot has changed in the popularity of comic books since I was a kid, but my appreciation for them is the same.
What I Thought:
Growing up there weren't many people that I could talk with about comic books. There was my cousin Adam and maybe 3 other kids at school. This created a sort of lonely experience as comic books were pretty much an all consuming hobby in my world. Now, on that front, not much has changed. My love for comic books is as strong now as it was back then. What has changed is that many more people know about all the characters that I’ve been reading for over 30 years.
This expansion of the comic book fanbase started with Spider-Man in 2002, grew larger with Batman Begins in 2005, and then really took off with Iron Man and The Dark Knight in 2008. By the time The Avengers came around in 2012 theaters were packed around the clock with people wanting to see a comic book movie.
Back when I was a kid I was lucky if I could find one other person on Monday morning that watched X-Men: The Animated Series over the weekend. Now, people come up to me to ask detailed questions about the latest Marvel movie. I have about 10 people that I go see every new Marvel movie with on opening night.
Of course, when a thing goes mainstream there are always more detractors. There is no shortage of people on Twitter complaining about the popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They complain that the Marvel movies are making it harder for other movies to be seen. These complaints are odd to me because this is pretty simple, audiences like Marvel movies so they make it a point to watch them in theaters. I’m as disappointed as anybody that people don’t go see other films, like The Last Duel, but I fail to see how chastising movie-goers will help.
Also, I’m used to people dismissing comic book stories as being “lesser” than other works of art. I was a pretty active reader growing up, beyond comic books. Still, very few things grabbed my attention more than comics. Were the stories, lessons, and feelings I had reading comic books lesser than a Hardy Boys book? Did the work of comic book writers and artists have lesser value than those that were writing novels?
I didn’t think so then and I don’t think so now.
It might be a difference experience watching Spider-Man: No Way Home in a crowded theater with a cheering audience than Licorice Pizza at The Music Box, but at the end of the day they are both movies that the filmmakers worked hard to produce.
So many the people that dismiss comic book stories as lesser has grown, but that’s only because the number of people that love these stories and characters has also grown. More nerds talking about The Avengers is a good thing in my book. Welcome to the nerd table, my friends.
What I Watched:
You know I went to see Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness last night. You can also probably guess what I thought about it. (I loved it) Michigander Sam Raimi brings his trademark style to the film.
What I Read:
Rolling with the theme of this week, here is a great interview with Sam Raimi.
From ‘Spider-Man’ to ‘Doctor Strange’: How Sam Raimi Conquered the Superhero Multiverse (Again)