Comic Book Movies Are Becoming Are Dominant Force in Hollywood - Edited

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The Impact of Comic-book Movies on Film and Society
Comic book movies are becoming a dominant force in Hollywood. In the last decade,
comic book adaptations have been gracing both small and large screens, altering the film
industry and launching the careers of some of the most famous film stars of the generation.
However, as the number of comic books adapted into movies continues to increase, debate
among fans has grown increasingly toxic. At the same time, their influence on both film and
society continues to be a topic of too much debate. While some individuals argue that comic
book movies are negatively affecting the art of cinema, others claim that they are improving it.
Similarly, some individuals believe that comic movies are negatively impacting society, while
others claim that movies have a positive impact. Nevertheless, although there are valid criticisms
to be made of comic book films, it is important to acknowledge that they ultimately have a
positive impact on both film and society.
Some critics claim that comic-book movies are running the art of cinemas. According to
these individuals, most great films have a concise plot, content, and a well-written script that
beautifully connects with the audience. Comic books are expected to be silly. However, as stand-
alone films, they are unable to invoke any sort of emotion within their audiences, thus making
them flat (Greco n.p). At the same time, critics note that comic-book film adaptations often lack
originality and are rigid in their story-telling techniques, relying on the same tropes and cliches.
Moreover, they claim that the dependence on special effects has led to a lack of substance since
these films often tend to prioritize spectacle over character development and storytelling (Greco
n.p). Greco, for instance, gives the example of "Thor: Love and Thunder" which uses excess sub-
par special effects to the extent that the viewers feel a severe lack of engagement. Critics of
comic movies also claim that the films are ruining society by promoting unrealistic expectations
of masculinity, heroism, and violence. In most films, the superheroes are portrayed as strong,
athletic, risk-taking, and preserving masculinity. As Harriger et al. note, the focus in most of
these films is on the appearance of the body, rather than the body's functionality may pose risk
for the audience. According to them, exposure to the muscular ideal or society's expectations of
male attractiveness is associated with increased disordered eating (Harriger et al.359). At the
same time, superhero films have high instances of violence which have more far-reaching
negative consequences for viewers. Additionally, others argue that the films perpetuate harmful
gender and racial stereotypes. For instance, by solely focusing on male heroes, these films miss
out on the opportunity to explore the concept of gender equality. The lack of female
representation in the movies also leads to a lack of role models for young girls who feel excluded
from the genre.
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Nonetheless, while these criticisms might be true in some cases, they do not hold for all
comic-book films. Despite claims that superhero movie scripts lack originality and are rigid in
their story-telling techniques, it is important to note that such claims do not mean that the movies
are incapable of being thought-provoking. Instead of ruining cinema, these films are enhancing it
in different ways. For instance, Matadeen notes that superhero films are just as much about
substance as they are about style. The Dark Knight, for instance, is an example of a comic film
that painted a very cerebral statement on humanity through the people of Gotham (Matadeen
n.p). Similarly, Wonder Woman is deemed one of the most feminist films ever to hit mainstream
audiences, as the movie offers messages relevant to present-day society and women's rights.
Furthermore, while some comic movies glorify violence and perpetuate harmful gender
stereotypes, most of the films are thoughtful explorations of critical issues such as power,
responsibility, and identity. At the same time, the representation of diverse characters in these
movies has improved in the past years, with more female, LGBTQ+, and non-white characters
assuming leading roles. The evolution of minority groups, including African Americans and
Latinos in comic movies has helped tackle the issue of racial stereotypes. One of the earliest
representations of African Americans was developed based on the series known as Classic
Illustrated which published famous books, plays, and events in history in the form of comics
(Marshall55). After the success of the series, African Americans realized the potential in being
able to teach their children through comics and created the series: Golden Legacy (Marshall 55).
For the longest time, Latino characters were reduced to being background characters. However,
in February 2006, a new Latino superhero, known as Jaime Reyes was created. The new
representation of race for Latino characters focused on Latino characters as solid characters
rather than the “other” or “outsiders” ((Marshall 85). The new representation is highlighted in his
costume and the inclusion of different aspects of Mexican culture within the series.
In summation, although there are valid criticisms to be made regarding comic-book
movies, it is important to recognize the positive influence they have in both film and society. In
the past decades, comic book adaptations have been gracing both small and large screens,
altering the film industry. However, these movies have faced mixed reactions, causing a great
debate on their impact on film and society as illustrated above.
Works Cited
Greco, Dylan. “Superhero Movies Are Ruining the Art of Film.” The Spectrum, 15 Feb. 2023,
www.ubspectrum.com/article/2023/02/superhero-movies-are-ruining-the-art-of-film.
Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
Harriger, Jennifer A., et al. “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: A Content Analysis
of Masculinity Themes in Superhero Movies.” Psychology of Men & Masculinities, 23
June 2022, https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000398.

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Marshall, Laticia. Representations of Women and Minorities Groups in Comics Representations
of Women and Minorities Groups in Comics. 2019.
Matadeen, Renaldo. “Superhero Movies Are Enhancing Cinema, Not Ruining It.” CBR, 7 Jan.
2018, www.cbr.com/superhero-movies-enhancing-cinema/. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.

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Surname 1

Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.

of Masculinity Themes in Superhero Movies.” Psychology of Men & Masculinities, 23

June 2022, https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000398.

Marshall, Laticia. Representations of Women and Minorities Groups in Comics Representations

of Women and Minorities Groups in Comics. 2019.

2018, www.cbr.com/superhero-movies-enhancing-cinema/. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.

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