Stupid Marvel. Why would they do this?

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

I see Blade as the first glimmer that comic book superheroes beyond Bats and Supes could become successful movies. Most of the pre-blade titles mentioned (Dick Tracy, The Crow, Timecop, The Mask, and Men in Black) aren't what I would think of as the traditional long-underwear crowd.

I don't think the general public sees Blade as any more of a superhero than the Crow or Timecop, or are any more aware that the character originates in comic books. Dick Tracy and The Mask wore their comic book origins on their sleeves to a much greater extent, even though Dick Tracy of course isn't a superhero, while the Mask has super powers but uses them for selfish ends. X-Men was really the first non-Superman/Batman comic book superhero film - that was recognizably superhero and famous as a comic book - to score at the box office.

 

[I Grok Spock]

I see Blade as the first glimmer that comic book superheroes beyond Bats and Supes could become successful movies. Most of the pre-blade titles mentioned (Dick Tracy, The Crow, Timecop, The Mask, and Men in Black) aren't what I would think of as the traditional long-underwear crowd.

I don't think the general public sees Blade as any more of a superhero than the Crow or Timecop, or are any more aware that the character originates in comic books. Dick Tracy and The Mask wore their comic book origins on their sleeves to a much greater extent, even though Dick Tracy of course isn't a superhero, while the Mask has super powers but uses them for selfish ends. X-Men was really the first non-Superman/Batman comic book superhero film - that was recognizably superhero and famous as a comic book - to score at the box office.

Agreed - that's why I said "glimmer" - the real breakthrough was X-Men. In fact, I'm still vaguely surprised it was so successful.

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

Agreed - that's why I said "glimmer" - the real breakthrough was X-Men. In fact, I'm still vaguely surprised it was so successful.

A "glimmer" is fair enough, but I don't think it was any more of a glimmer than, say, The Crow or The Mask. I don't think Blade was really any closer to a traditional superhero movie than some of the other successful movies derived from obscure comic books that preceded it and, as I said, there were some other films that wore their comic book origins much more firmly on their sleeves, even though they didn't fall under the rubric of traditional costumed superheros.

 

[Greg Cox]

Blade is an interesting case in that he's a character that been been much more successful on film than he's ever been in the comics. Even after the movies hit it big, Marvel has never been able to publish a BLADE comic book that's lasted more than four issues or so. Which makes you wonder why he works on screen but not in his original medium?

And, yeah, the vast majority of movie-goers probably had no idea that BLADE was based on a comic book. And I suspect that they perceived it as a kick-ass vampire movie, not a superhero film.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I see Blade as the first glimmer that comic book superheroes beyond Bats and Supes could become successful movies. Most of the pre-blade titles mentioned (Dick Tracy, The Crow, Timecop, The Mask, and Men in Black) aren't what I would think of as the traditional long-underwear crowd.

I don't think the general public sees Blade as any more of a superhero than the Crow or Timecop, or are any more aware that the character originates in comic books. Dick Tracy and The Mask wore their comic book origins on their sleeves to a much greater extent, even though Dick Tracy of course isn't a superhero, while the Mask has super powers but uses them for selfish ends. X-Men was really the first non-Superman/Batman comic book superhero film - that was recognizably superhero and famous as a comic book - to score at the box office.

Agreed - that's why I said "glimmer" - the real breakthrough was X-Men. In fact, I'm still vaguely surprised it was so successful.

I assume X-Men made as much money as it did because it had been anticipated for so long, had a built-in fanbase, and was pretty competently executed. It didn't have to be a great movie in order to be a hit, it just had to be good enough to attract non-fans and not completely alienate the original fanbase.

The sequel was much better, in my opinion--that's where the franchise really got to shine.

 

[Captain Craig]

Blade is an interesting case in that he's a character that been been much more successful on film than he's ever been in the comics. Even after the movies hit it big, Marvel has never been able to publish a BLADE comic book that's lasted more than four issues or so.

Hey, 12 issues a full year. I bought them all.

 

[Greg Cox]

Blade is an interesting case in that he's a character that been been much more successful on film than he's ever been in the comics. Even after the movies hit it big, Marvel has never been able to publish a BLADE comic book that's lasted more than four issues or so.

Hey, 12 issues a full year. I bought them all.

I stand corrected!

Still, that's not a long run for a character that's been in three moves and a tv show.

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

Men in Black is an even more lopsided case of disparity between success in comics and success in film and television. Malibu published six issues of Men in Black (divided into two three-issue limited series printed in black and white). Marvel, which acquired Malibu and all of its properties, printed two one-shot Men in Black comics when the movie came out (an adaptation of the movie and a further original story). And that's the sum total of Men in Black comics published to date, despite the first movie grossing over $250 million domestic and leading to a sequel (soon to be two sequels) and an animated series.

 

[Vestboy]

I don't think the general public sees Blade as any more of a superhero than the Crow or Timecop, or are any more aware that the character originates in comic books. Dick Tracy and The Mask wore their comic book origins on their sleeves to a much greater extent, even though Dick Tracy of course isn't a superhero, while the Mask has super powers but uses them for selfish ends. X-Men was really the first non-Superman/Batman comic book superhero film - that was recognizably superhero and famous as a comic book - to score at the box office.

Agreed - that's why I said "glimmer" - the real breakthrough was X-Men. In fact, I'm still vaguely surprised it was so successful.

I assume X-Men made as much money as it did because it had been anticipated for so long, had a built-in fanbase, and was pretty competently executed. It didn't have to be a great movie in order to be a hit, it just had to be good enough to attract non-fans and not completely alienate the original fanbase.

The sequel was much better, in my opinion--that's where the franchise really got to shine.

X-Men also had some prestige pedigree to help it out. I sold my wife on going-- she wouldn't have gone to a "superhero" movie otherwise-- on the idea we were seeing a movie made by Oscar-nominated Bryan Singer, starring Oscar-nominated Ian McKellan and Oscar-winning Anna Paquin.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Agreed - that's why I said "glimmer" - the real breakthrough was X-Men. In fact, I'm still vaguely surprised it was so successful.

I assume X-Men made as much money as it did because it had been anticipated for so long, had a built-in fanbase, and was pretty competently executed. It didn't have to be a great movie in order to be a hit, it just had to be good enough to attract non-fans and not completely alienate the original fanbase.

The sequel was much better, in my opinion--that's where the franchise really got to shine.

X-Men also had some prestige pedigree to help it out. I sold my wife on going-- she wouldn't have gone to a "superhero" movie otherwise-- on the idea we were seeing a movie made by Oscar-nominated Bryan Singer, starring Oscar-nominated Ian McKellan and Oscar-winning Anna Paquin.

That's true. It had quite a bit of star power. If they had stocked it with a bunch of unknowns I doubt it would have done nearly as well.

 

[Greg Cox]

.

X-Men also had some prestige pedigree to help it out. I sold my wife on going-- she wouldn't have gone to a "superhero" movie otherwise-- on the idea we were seeing a movie made by Oscar-nominated Bryan Singer, starring Oscar-nominated Ian McKellan and Oscar-winning Anna Paquin.[/QUOTE]

Not to mention future Oscar winner Halle Berry.

 

[Set Harth]

I sold my wife on going-- she wouldn't have gone to a "superhero" movie otherwise-- on the idea we were seeing a movie made by Oscar-nominated Bryan Singer, starring Oscar-nominated Ian McKellan and Oscar-winning Anna Paquin.

And the guy who played Darth Maul!!!

 

[Greg Cox]

I sold my wife on going-- she wouldn't have gone to a "superhero" movie otherwise-- on the idea we were seeing a movie made by Oscar-nominated Bryan Singer, starring Oscar-nominated Ian McKellan and Oscar-winning Anna Paquin.

And the guy who played Darth Maul!!!

And Captain Picard!

 

[Vestboy]

I sold my wife on going-- she wouldn't have gone to a "superhero" movie otherwise-- on the idea we were seeing a movie made by Oscar-nominated Bryan Singer, starring Oscar-nominated Ian McKellan and Oscar-winning Anna Paquin.

And the guy who played Darth Maul!!!

And Captain Picard!

While true, these were not selling points to my geek-null wife.

 

[coolghoul]

I sold my wife on going-- she wouldn't have gone to a "superhero" movie otherwise-- on the idea we were seeing a movie made by Oscar-nominated Bryan Singer, starring Oscar-nominated Ian McKellan and Oscar-winning Anna Paquin.

And the guy who played Darth Maul!!!

You might not have meant it - but I really was interested in seeing Ray Parks again - I thought he was terrific as the taciturn but ferocious Darth Maul and I still think that fight is the best fight I've seen so far in SW (I *like* Ep3's fight cos I like the original trilogy more but that's a different item - For some reason I didn't like ROTS' climactic fight as much - tho' give me the Order 66 sequence any day).

However, Ray Parks was sadly underutilized as Toad.