This is my fifth revision on this paper. I stopped by the teacher's office on Wednesday to turn the paper in, and I ended up talking to him about what I had written. This actually works out for me. As I might have mentioned before, I kind of like the chance to discuss my writing one-on-one with someone who knows what they're talking about when it comes to writing. Even though I had to take a long lunch to do it.
Anyway, after his suggestions I came up with this final paper, which is all about how comic books craft adult-themed movies. Hopefully my changes don't hopelessly wreck my grade, which I keep fearing for, but it always seems to work out.
Write about a TV show or Movie that references a current trend.
Whoosh! The sounds of comic books resonate for many who grew up with the great stories of unquestionable heroic feats presented on their pages. Those young readers have matured into a gray world less broken down into good and evil than their good old comics, and now demand a more sophisticated fantasy world that includes ambiguities of morality and questions of ethics. Comic books have adapted to these changes, and Hollywood has recognized them as an authentic source of original entertainment. Films have finally even escaped the grip of the comic book superhero with the production of off-beat fare such as "Ghost World." These new stories appeal to more than just the connoisseurs of the original pulp classics by providing intriguing questions of morality, obvious adult-oriented or mature content, and interesting creative angles on topics that only comic books have been able to tackle until now. Comic book stories are no longer just for kids.
Fighting crime using super powers and then finishing with a sappy moral might mark the end of a traditional superhero story, but the story that translates to the screen from The X-Men comic books tells much more. As humans evolve in the world of X-Men, the species begins to exhibit extra-human powers. These manifest randomly and differ from person to person. This situation offers up many reactions from normal people who are left to deal with such a revolution. In the reactions of normal people to the powers of the mutants "The X-Men" reminds viewers of discrimination and persecution due to being different.
In an early scene of the film, the manifestation of mutant powers interrupts teen Marie D'Ancanto’s romantic moment with her boyfriend. Her powers drain his life force through the touch of a simple kiss. She leaves home to avoid the scorn of her family and society, changing her name to that of the familiar comic book hero, Rogue. Through interaction with other mutants, she finds her way to Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, a place where those with these differences can find unity. The movie pronounces this clear discrimination against mutants in this very personal story.
A government that wishes to reduce the rights of these different people also finds its way to the screen from a prominent place in the comics. Extreme factions of mutants form to address the government’s method of dealing with the evolution of humans, which provides much conflict in the movie. These complex scenarios mirror the mature, real issues of discrimination and racial prejudice.
Comic book style drips from "Blade," the story of a half-vampire who fights on the side of humans against the blood sucking of his kind. While deftly connecting the fantasy of traditional vampires like Dracula to modern times, this movie resonates with an adult attitude uncharacteristic of comics of yore. The first scene of the movie version of this dark comic begins with a girl leading a lustful companion into a secret dance club in an abandoned slaughterhouse. He is surprised to find himself the main course of a vampire feeding frenzy in which blood rains down from the fire sprinkler system. Beyond the gore, audiences find a film rife with complicated psychological machinations similar to this sexual lead-on.
In another scene, villain Deacon Frost confronts Blade with his mother, now an evil vampire. Frost forces Blade to destroy his mother to protect humanity. When Frost finally captures Blade, he drains most of his blood to perform a ritual. In order to restore his strength, Blade must fight his vampiric hunger and choose to accept the blood of his friend. These gory and sometimes horrific scenes intermingled with Blade’s self-hatred of his vampire nature could only have come from such a mature and adult comic as Blade.
Even comics that do not present a clearly dark or realistic worldview have more to offer mature moviegoers than the happy heroics and spiffy superpowers of the dated Superman films. Last year’s "Spider-Man" showed a new flavor for the costumed web crawler. The film added to the impression of a simple superhero that uses his powers to help people by showing the human side of Peter Parker. When the spider bite transformed him, his regular life also changed in many ways. Dealing with these changes was a major aspect of the film that mirrors the comic story. Everything from losing his dependence on glasses to handling bullies at school shows the many mundane details that years of comic book experience provides to the film.
"Spider-Man" offers interpersonal dynamics that extend beyond what one might expect to find in a comic book. Peter’s best friend ends up dating the object of Peter’s affections. In a scene with Mary Jane, Peter learns of her parent’s abusive nature toward her. The father of Peter’s best friend and roommate turns out to be the villain in the film, and during a scene in which all of the principal characters sit for Thanksgiving dinner, all of these dynamics have an opportunity to spin out of control. Even outside Spider-Man’s special skills, many fully developed plot concepts evolve.
Not every movie based on a comic series depends on characters with super powers to sustain its story. The art-house movie "Ghost World" offers an intelligent dark comedy about two girls and their aspirations for life after high school. Enid, as played by Thora Birch, responds fallaciously to the personal ad of Steve Buscemi’s record collector, Seymour, and begins to involve herself in his pathetic life. The movie chronicles the downfall of Enid and Rebecca’s friendship as is illustrated on the pages of the comic book of the same name.
"From Hell" adapts Eddie Campbell’s graphic novel about Inspector Abberline, an opium addicted investigator of Jack the Ripper, into a stylish period film. Dark scenes, prostitution, and drug-induced visions characterize this retelling of the classic horror of the killer. Written by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, "From Hell" boasts an impressive comic book pedigree. Alan Moore penned the original graphic novel, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, set to be produced as a movie and released to theaters this year. The recent change of Batman comics from superhero in spandex to brooding vigilante began with Eddie Campbell’s authoring. These films are fine examples of comic book writing that offers compelling, mature viewing without a hint of the stigma associated with comic super powers.
The future holds much hope for films based in comic books. Beyond the many issues of comic book superheroes lie volumes of comics that also await their transition to film. Current box office trends show that movies based on comics satisfy both the popcorn munching masses and movie studios conscious of their bottom line. As long as comics continue to produce mature themes and compelling storylines, patrons will line up to buy tickets to films originating in these innovative works of modern literature.
