How Marvel and DC Can Survive the “Death” of Comic Book Movies

It is no secret that many people have claimed to experience “Superhero fatigue” due to the countless Marvel and DC movies/shows released yearly. While some believe this fatigue stems from studios pushing quantity over quality, others are convinced that the genre can no longer provide well-written and captivating stories. Today, I would like to provide some crucial feedback on how studios could reduce the feeling of fatigue.

RECOMMENDATION 1: MORE VISUAL VARIETY

Most comic book fans would likely agree that movies in the genre have become visually homogenous (bar a few outliers, such as The Batman and James Gunn’s work in both Marvel and DC). For a medium often championed for vibrant and colorful visuals, Comic Book Movie studios tend to design their films to be as bland and grey as possible. This is an issue some have even expressed with the newest trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Although I am very excited for the film and the character dynamics it will provide, I will admit that some shots do not look as colorful as they could (and likely should) be.

While this criticism may stem from unfinished VFX/color grading, it is clear that the fans would appreciate comic book films that appear less boring. I myself am a fan of visual variety in movies (especially after seeing the gorgeous visuals of Project Hail Mary on the big screen earlier today!). Thus, I understand the importance of cinematography in the field. For instance, even a show as “grounded” as Wonder Man stands out due to its well-directed cinematography and appealing visuals.

RECOMMENDATION 2: MORE CHARACTER BUILDING

Ever since the success of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, CBM studios (especially Marvel) have certainly ramped up their efforts to create the next big franchise. There are occasions where superhero team-up films can work (I found Thunderbolts to be surprisingly enjoyable and love the Guardians Of The Galaxy films).

However, after Endgame, it feels like Marvel has been desperately trying to create “the next best thing” to no avail (especially after flops such as Eternals, Multiverse of Madness, The Marvels, and Ant-Man Quantumania). Films such as these failed due to a lack of investment in the characters. It seems all too common for Marvel to hastily throw together lackluster plot elements to prepare newer characters for the next “event film”.

For a critically/financially successful event like the Infinity War saga, its success came from giving the characters time to develop (in this case, over a decade!). This character development allowed fans to become emotionally invested in the characters, their dynamics with one another, and their fates by the end of the saga.

Phases 4 and 5 of the MCU struggled mainly because the characters simply did not have the same time for development in comparison to characters from the original phases. I hope Marvel takes this feedback into consideration, especially with Avengers: Doomsday arriving at the end of the year.

In conclusion, I would argue that comic book movies are not “dying”, even if there is room for improvement. The recent success of projects such as James Gunn’s Superman and Thunderbolts proves that fans are more than willing to watch these projects (especially when they focus on character growth/development and maintain a consistent visual style). Do you think comic book movies are dying, or do they simply need more time to be developed? Let me know in the comments!