Over the years of comic book adaptations, many characters gave been brought to life more than once. Overall, those with multiple adaptations seem to be more faithful to the tone or design of the original creation as they go. This is largely due to public interest in superheroics being steadily more and more popular with each passing year for the last decade or so (to say nothing of technology required to create so many of these characters in real life). With that, this new article series with be quick looks at specific costumes and how they have evolved in live action through a couple of adaptations. So here we go!
QUICK CHANGE: Captain America
Posted: May 23, 2019 in Quick ChangeTags: Avengers, Captain America, Marvel
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THE UNADAPTED: The Books of Magic
Posted: May 11, 2019 in The UnadaptedTags: Books of Magic, Constantine, DC, Swamp Thing, Vertigo
We’ve all seen this story before, right? A young British kid finds out he’s destined to be a great sorcerer and gets tutored in the magical arts in order for him to reach his potential and navigate the dangerous new world he’s been plunged into. The Harry Potter mega-franchise is the most obvious example of this story but its certainly not the first and far from the best. While Neil Gaiman’s Books of Magic is also by no means the first to tackle this age-old trope, it did come out a few years before The Boy Who Lived set foot in Hogwarts. The jury’s still out on if it’s the best pass at a boy-wizard facing his destiny, but it’s at least in the running. Read the rest of this entry »
2018 CBM Year in Review
Posted: January 14, 2019 in Year in ReviewTags: Aquaman, Avengers, Baer, Black Lightning, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Cloak and Dagger, Dark Horse, DC, Deadpool, Infinity War, iZombie, Legends of Tomorrow, Marvel, Riverdale, Spider-Man, Stan Lee, Supergirl, Venom
Hello internet! It’s been a wee bit since you’ve been blessed with the presence of Comic Book Media. 2018 was a taxing year for many people. Personally, I no longer maintain a presence on twitter (minus one brief occasion to show off my bitchin’ Halloween costume) which has drastically reduced readers to this site and, as a result, my interest in output. But thanks to the stellar showing of comic book movies and television in 2018, I felt that this yearly tradition couldn’t be left by the wayside. Joining me again is the incomparable Brian C. Baer as we dissect the best and worst of comic book media this year. Also, stay tuned for this year’s Golden Evans winner. Now, let’s dig in…
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Shamelessly She-Hulk
Posted: August 17, 2018 in Baer, Fan FilmTags: Batman, Deadpool, Hulk, Marvel, She-Hulk, Spider-Man, Superman
Brian Baer took a dive into the deep waters of Fan Films for this article. With the advent of digital editing, there are now thousands of fan-made movies for seemingly any franchise or character all of varying quality. Brian looks at one of his favorites here. Hopefully you’ll give it a watch as well. Enjoy!
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Christopher Chance, The Human Target
Posted: June 19, 2018 in TVTags: Arrow, Christopher Chance, DC, Green Arrow, Human Target, Vertigo
There probably isn’t another comic character who has had three fairly high profile appearances in television with such a low profile in the public consciousness. And honestly? That’s likely how Christopher Chance would want it. Created by comic legends Len Wein and Carmine Infantino for DC Comics, Chance is the man that you turn to when someone is out to get you. He assumes your identity and hides in plain sight in order to draw out your attackers. He becomes a human target.
Writer Brian C. Baer recently got reacquainted with the original Flash TV series from the early 90’s. Enjoy his look at the second of that show’s direct-to-video offerings!
With news of more headaches surrounding the long-anticipated DCEU Flash solo movie, and as the Scarlet Speedster’s CW “Arrowverse” show has been renewed for a fifth season, we here at ComicBookMedia believe it’s time to look at one of the character’s previous translations into film. By which we mean television. By which we mean both. Kind of. Read the rest of this entry »
Absolute Justice (2010 TV Special)
Posted: March 29, 2018 in TVTags: Arrow, DC, Doctor Fate, Flash, Green Arrow, Hawkman, Justice League, Justice Society, Sandman, Smallville, Star-Spangled Kid, Starman, Superman
Back in 2001, the thought of comic book characters on TV screens was a largely foreign concept. There was little to suggest that comic heroes could find any success on network television. When Smallville premiered in the fall of that year, it played safe and stuck to conventions of teen dramas at the time. While focusing on a young Clark Kent, pre-Superman, its first few seasons did little to escape a “threat of the week” formula that allowed for little in the way of plot-growth. However, the series eventually did mature over its 10 year run. While many view the show from the position of the doldrums of its first few seasons, that is to intentionally ignore the strides that the series took in quality and characterization in its later years. That’s no better encapsulated than in the 2-part special during the 9th season, “Absolute Justice”.
A decade ago, only relatively die-hard comic book fans would be able to tell you anything about Green Arrow. Most people would probably get him confused with another, similarly colored hero. “Wasn’t he the one on that show with Bruce Lee? Or was he the one with the ring?” Regardless, Oliver Queen has been an interesting and layered character in the medium of comics for years. When Mike Grell re-invented him in the 80’s, it began a new era of engaging stories, larger-than-life villains and human pathos all centered around the emerald archer with the signature Van Dyke. Sadly, expanded media had somewhat left him alone, which meant larger audiences had as well.
I doubt that many people remember the film Whiteout. Of those, significantly less probably realize that it was based on a comic book. Luckily, Brian C. Baer is here to remind us of these things. Enjoy!
Dominic Sena’s adaptation of the Oni Press series Whiteout premiered and then was pulled from theaters with barely a whimper. This wasn’t much of a surprise, though. It was clear the studio suits didn’t have much faith in the project, between the reshoots by Stuart Baird (Star Trek: Nemesis) and Len Wiseman (Underworld), the two-year delay between wrap and release, and the changes made to Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber’s source material.
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PILOT LITE: Black Lightning (2018)
Posted: January 29, 2018 in Pilot Lite, TVTags: Arrow, Black Lightning, DC, Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl
Back in the 1970’s the comic book landscape was almost entirely dominated by white heroes and their supporting casts. DC Comics, seeing a niche to be filled, decided to create their first black hero. And so Black Bomber was born!
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