Books, Comics & Magazines

Nikki McCowan asked:


Anyone who has even a passing interest in movies and television surely has noticed the incredible rise in popularity of superhero films. Why are superheroes popular? Part of the reason is they symbolize the eternal struggle of good versus evil. Also, superheroes embody a number of traits that many find admirable. Then, there are those who have fond memories of heroes from their childhood. This perpetually stimulates their interest in these heroes. For some, it’s just the fact that superheroes are downright cool that makes them appealing. So, it is no surprise that superhero movies are popular and should be even less surprising that superhero Halloween masks are perennial favorites. And, yes, there are a huge number of superhero masks and costumes to choose from.

The main producers of comic characters are Marvel and DC. Needless to say, they have spawned some excellent Halloween masks and costumes…

Without a doubt, Marvel Comics significantly change the face of comic books and superheroes with a radical approach to changing superhero clichés. Marvel created some of the most memorable original characters in history including Spiderman, the Incredible Hulk, and the Fantastic Four. How great were these characters? Well, not only do their books still sell tremendously to this day they have also been featured in some the most successful film franchises in history. So, if you show up to a party dressed up as a top Marvel character such as Captain America, you can’t help but look great. These classic Marvel characters are greatly loved and that’s why they make fantastic Halloween masks and costumes.

DC Comics have been around since the 1930’s and have spawned three of the most popular heroes in all of pop culture: Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. While many of DC’s characters are no longer at the current popularity level of Marvel’s characters, certain DC heroes still remain iconic. So, you really can’t go wrong wearing a Batman costume or Halloween masks of one of his enemies such as The Joker. Then again, you can even wear the costume of one of DC’s cool “B Grade” heroes such as Green Arrow or Green Lantern. They look quite stunning as well.

While comic books are definitely the source of a number of unique and original super heroes, many amazing heroes experience their origin in another medium. In the days before television, radio was the primary entertainment medium. During the golden age of radio, a number of amazing heroes were born. Two of the most popular were the Green Hornet and the Lone Ranger. (Lone Ranger Halloween masks never go out of style) To this day, both of these heroes remain incredibly popular as Halloween costume choices. Then, there are other classic heroes whose popularity is owed to the film industry. Flash Gordon may have started as a weekly newspaper strip, but it was his appearance in old movie serials which cemented his popularity forever.

Really, there are no limits to the number of popular superhero costumes. As such, they always make a safe and fun choice for Halloween masks.



Harold

Andrew Hawnt asked:


It is a rather strange and exciting time for the comic book movies genre. With last year’s superhero films The Dark Knight, Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, audiences were treated to feature films that took the core elements of the superheroes that have filled comics for decades and turned them into successful movie properties. The genre as a whole has reached something of an impasse now, mostly down to The Dark Knight, but also down to this year’s WATCHMEN adaptation. Audiences aren’t just there for effects, and the studios have been taking note. The comic book films we are now seeing released are amongst the most serious, most respectful and most powerful the genre has ever produced.

With The Dark Knight, long-held perceptions of the superhero genre have shifted somewhat. Now, movie audiences are starting to see the same grit and level of drama that comics audiences have known of for years. Iron Man is an ideal example of the genre being captured perfectly on film. Robert Downey Jr’s portrayal of the billionaire Tony Stark was pitch perfect, giving us a hero with much more than just two dimensions.

Some may argue that the superhero film came of age back with the first X-men film, and they would be right to a certain extent, but it does seem that the genre is starting to be taken more seriously by critics as a viable source of intelligent entertainment as well as simple blockbuster fodder. What critics need to remember is that these characters have had decades to become the fully realized people that appear on screen. These characters come supplied with a ready-made background and motivations, making it much easier for filmmakers to bring a vibrant portrayal to the screen.

WATCHMEN is seen as the Citizen Kane of comic books, and to many fans of the printed page, it is the Holy Grail. Film versions have been talked about for many years now, but it finally fell upon the shoulders of Zack ‘300′ Snyder to bring Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s massively influential 12-issue series to a new audience. Fans old and new are curious as to the film will match the depth and scope of the book itself.

That’s the thing though- films have been a huge boon to the comics industry, helping it survive as tastes in entertainment have continued to change. With superheroes, there will always be an audience, but that audience has changed. The comic book movie is no longer just the domain of elitist geeks (not that it ever really was), but now something that everyone can take an interest in. With new Spider-man, Batman and X-Men movies on the way, as well as many more properties announced and in development, the future of the genre really can’t go anywhere but up, up and away.



Donald