Audiences expect comic book movies to reflect sophisticated stories and themes that mirror changes in society. Source material is constantly being adapted, with authors now more involved in the movie-making process. Comic book movies are major blockbusters that studios rely on financially, but they face competition from other films, books, games and TV. Recent movies have tackled serious, personal and darker themes like identity, responsibility, and prejudice. Characters and stories are also updated to suit modern audiences. Top talent from actors to directors are attracted to work on comic book movies.

2. Audiences have become more demanding
• Audiences expect more sophisticated stories and
themes.
• As the world and society changes, audiences expect
to see the same changes reflected in movies.
• Audiences today are much more vocal.

3. New source material is constantly being created
• New editions of established comics allow for new
storylines, characters and/or re-interpretations of both
to be incorporated into the film adaptations.
• Frank Miller’s ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ and
‘Batman- Year One’
• Alan Moore’s ‘The Killing Joke’
• Also ‘Batman- The Long Halloween’

4. Authors and publishers of the source material are
more involved in the production of these movies
• Marvel now have their own production studio and can
independently finance their own films without outside
interference.
• Frank Miller was able to co-direct the movie version
of his comic ‘Sin City’. Allowing a comic author to do
this is a big deal in the comic world.

5. They are the new summer ‘tent pole’ blockbusters
• One or a few successful comic book movies released
during the summer can make enough money to
finance a studio’s entire production slate for the year.
They are called ‘tent poles’ because they are the
support. This means there is more pressure to get the
comic book films just right to attract huge audiences.

6. Increased competition from similar movies
• Book adaptations

9. Increased competition from similar movies
• The latest installments of high-profile action movie
franchises.

12. Increased competition from other forms of media
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Video games
Books
Music
Subscription television (Foxtel)

13. The inclusion of more serious,
personal and darker themes.
• Identity is a common theme in comic book movies
due to the ‘secret identity’ used by many comic
characters e.g. Batman/Bruce Wayne, SpiderMan/Peter Parker.

14. The most recent two Batman movies are the
best examples, as they address a wide range of
themes, including:
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Fear
Sacrifice
Father figures
Police corruption and organised crime

15. •
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Urban terrorism
Vigilantism vs. Vengeance
Dualism of identity
Justice

16. Other themes that appear in modern comic book
movies include:
• Responsibility (Spider-Man)

17. • Nuclear armament and the dangers associated with
such (Hulk).

18. • the Supernatural (Blade, Hellboy)

19. • The civil rights of minority groups and the violent
outcomes of human prejudice, including the
Holocaust (X-Men).

20. • Over controlling (Fascist) governments (V For Vendetta)

21. • Government conspiracies (Watchmen)

22. • The deconstruction (break down) of the myth of the
'superhero' itself (Watchmen).

23. The revision of certain elements (including
characterisation) from past comics to better
suit modern society.
• The original Iron Man comic was a vehicle for (Marvel
writer) Stan Lee to explore Cold War themes,
particularly the role of American technology and
business in the fight against Communism.
• The 2008 Iron Man movie has these now outdated
references to Communism replaced with terrorism
and other post-9/11 themes. Iron Man’s alter ego
Tony Stark is now captured by villains in Afghanistan,
instead of the previous foes in the Iron Man
mythology related to the Vietnam and Gulf wars.

24. • The director of Iron Man has said that elements of
Chinese supervillain Mandarin (a character who was
representative of the American fear of Communism)
will have to be updated for the Iron Man sequel, due
to changes in modern socio-political attitudes.

25. The participation of a higher quality of film talent.
• Comic book movies are the new Shakespeare!
• Due to the critical acclaim, high box office takings,
wide exposure and high salary that recent
adaptations have provided (not to mention
opportunities for sequels and spin-offs), Academy
Award winning and nominated actors are stepping
over each other to appear in comic book movies.

26. • These movies are also attracting top directing and
writing talent. This lifts the quality standards of these
movies even higher than they were previously.
• In an inspired piece of casting, Kenneth Branagh, a
director better known for Shakespeare adaptations,
will be directing the upcoming movie based on the
Marvel comic character Thor.