Why People Love Comic Book Movies

With the recent success of Iron Man and the impending successes of both The Incredible Hulk and The Dark Knight it got me thinking. Why do people, let alone supposedly responsible adults spend their $7.50 on entertainment that is supposed to be designed for children? Maybe the answer comes from the fact that these films are entertainment. Moreover, these films remind most of the general public that films of all genre can educate and have a voice that is moderately intellectual. Do I expect the beforementioned films to win an Academy Award for acting? No, maybe special effects, but they are enjoyable nonetheless.
Let’s begin with Iron Man. When I saw the über nerdgasm at the end of the film (if you have stayed past the credits, you will understand what I mean) I realized that 1. Marvel is taking control of its own comic universe 2. There is something at the core of the film and 3. The next 4-5 years are going to be VERY interesting in regards to the development /re-emrgence of some infamous characters. What makes Tony Stark so special? He’s a raging alcoholic., a womanizer, a war profiteer, egotistical, and kind of a sexist. But he is also a genius, a patriot, and a man with the capacity to change. He gets a second chance at life and I think that resonnates with many people. The majority of society still wants to believe that they could alter their destiny and change their path in life despite the circumstances.
Another reason why Iron Man is successful is because Tony Stark, like Bruce Wayne, is NOT a superhero. He is a man who uses his intellect to create a method for him to perform spectacular feats and help save the day. Ingenuity is more admirable than sheer “talent”. I love Superman as a character but he doesn’t have many flaws. And his “disguise” is a pair of damn glasses. C’mon now! Tony Stark takes responsibility for his career as a weapons producer and his alter identity works as a pennance for his past.
The Incredible Hulk will work for a completely different reason. Bruce Banner doesn’t WANT to be a hero. He is forced into it. His alter identity as the Hulk creates a sense of pathos where he must try to maintain a sense of humanity while constantly battling the urge to turn into something bestial. The Hulk is a creature whose primal force is destruction and rage, but he is also a hero. This is because the Hulk IS connected to Bruce Banner. I hope the film captures this struggle as poetically as Bill Bixby did in the television series.
Comic books allow the reader to escape the bittersweet reality of daily existence. The characters show the best, and sometimes the worst, traits in our own nature. If you don’t believe that comics can change the way people can think look at the X-Men. Stan Lee, in his utmost genius, decided to give his own personal commentary to the civil rights movement by creating the legendary series. People want to see heroics. Heroism performed by those who would otherwise seem unworth lets the audience have a sense of autonomy. Even though most of us don’t admit it, we want to believe that we want to be able to save someone and perhaps make this chaotic world a little more sensible. Comic book movies allow this suspension to happen……………..for at least two hours.