The Ultimate Blame!

The Ultimate Blame!

Who's really to blame for the character designs in movie adaptations? Hollywood or the Ultimates?

Editorial Opinion
By Stumblin - Dec 18, 2009 09:12 AM EST
Filed Under: Marvel Comics
Source: Google Images, IMDB, & Marvel

I recently read an article on CBM wondering if the Ultimate line gives Hollywood a reason not to give us the character designs and stories we want. I have to disagree.

I do enjoy some of the Ultimate stories, some are hit and miss just like the regular universe which I also still read when I can afford it. To blame "Ultimate X-Men" (debut February 2001) for the the X-Men movies giving us the black leather uniforms instead of the colorful threads we grew to love is asinine. X-Men came out in July of 2000, before any Ultimate title came into print in the USA, yet here they were displayed in all of their leather fashion glory. Following a year later in 2001 the "New X-Men #114" the team were redesigned with the leather threads that most despise. The earliest Ultimate title was "Ultimate Spider-Man" which came out October 2000, the film adaptation "Spider-Man" came out in 2002. The "Ultimate Spider-Man" costume did not originally have the raised spider webbing until after the movie was released.



However, the "Matrix" came out in 1999 which I believe really kick started the whole trench coat, black leather fad we see today. Allowing the costume designers an easy way out to convey a character’s mysterious and/or dark presence by slapping on black leather and a trench coat.



My point is that I’m tired of reading over and over how the Ultimate series have screwed up our comic book movie adaptations. If anyone is to blame it's Hollywood, with or without the Ultimate line I guarantee you the characters would have been designed the same way they are now. The films had to make these changes, the constantly worn excuse is that the costumes will not translate well onto film, but I believe them. Take a look at "Smallville," they give you what you want yet they look like Cosplay homemade costumes from fans.

So stop pointing the finger at the wrong source and give credit to credit due, Holly(flippin')wood, they started it all themselves.



Now may the flaming commence!
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contrast
contrast - 12/18/2009, 10:45 AM
Good Article. I won't spend a great deal of time debating you on here, because if you're really interested in what I have to say, I replied to your comment under my article. In short, I see nothing wrong with stating that Ultimate X-Men was IN NO WAY the cause of the movie costumes, and I'll throw out a big "No Comment" on the whole Spider-Man thing. The thing is (and I'll give you this, you did say you have "read over and over that the Ultimates have screwed up our comic book movie adaptations." so maybe you aren't refering specifically to what I said) I never even mentioned the X-Men's costumes, nor did I mention the movie. I only said that Ultimate Wolverine looked like a douchebag early on. I'm well aware that the Ultimate imprint came out roughly a year after X-Men hit theaters, and that's without accounting for the pre-production time, but the fact is, your arguing against things I never said, and don't believe, when it comes down to specifics.
Stumblin
Stumblin - 12/18/2009, 11:01 AM
Haha! No I wasn't specifically talking about you, just in general I've been seeing it more and more from readers that "They're Ultimatizing it! Noooo!" I agree the first Ultimate designed Wolverine did look like a douche bag, which is one of the reasons I stopped reading that series, that and they made Collossus gay, just for the sake of change I guess.

So yeah I didn't mean it was an argument against what you said per say. Sorry for the miss understanding.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 12/18/2009, 11:10 AM
@ stumblin

couldn't agree more. its totally up to the people making the movies. they are the people that decide WHAT goes into a movie. sure the ultimate universe is there, but that doesn't mean it HAS to be used in the movie...that is the makers of the movie's decision.

i get annoyed with people saying "no they're ultimizing it" also. i think people forget that when the ultimate universe came out, it was critically acclaimed and arguably the best thing going at marvel. and to this day, the ultimate universe has done things that make more sense than the 616.

i like both, and there is no reason what so ever that they shouldn't take the best of both worlds and mix them up. 616 and ultimate universes both have strengths and weaknesses that the other might not share. so the difficult thing is trying to find the best of both worlds.
contrast
contrast - 12/18/2009, 11:14 AM
Ah, no worries. Maybe I should have stated it a little more clearly, but what I meant wasn't "Ultimates are taking over!!! NOOO!!!", but that Hollywood has another weapon in their arsenal of excuses. Just like a car wreck in which someone who was speeding hit another slow-moving vehicle. The driver of the fast car says that his problem was that the vehicle was moving too slow, and wouldn't move. It's not the slow vehicle's fault, but the fast driver is using it as an excuse for his actions. (I don't know if any of that made sense, I've suddenly been struck by nausia, and it's hitting me fast...)
contrast
contrast - 12/18/2009, 11:16 AM
and @CorndogBurglar--the only thing I say in responce to your statement that the Ultimate Universe does things that make more sense (which, for the most part, let's face it...they do), who the hell's idea was it to make Doctor Doom a metal skinned satyr?
Stumblin
Stumblin - 12/18/2009, 11:30 AM
Ah yes Contrast, what you said makes sense, took a moment but I got it :D

Glad you're with me on this Corndog and Contrast, it seems many including younger readers forget when certain events happened.

I wish they would give up on the damn trench coat schpeal, it's over and done with, give characters something more iconic!
Wadey09
Wadey09 - 12/18/2009, 11:33 AM
but i do blame Marvel for giving in to the fad instead of making Frank Quitley go back and redesign the costumes.
Stumblin
Stumblin - 12/18/2009, 11:45 AM
I agree, Marvel and the creators don't get a free ride, they changed the look some for the better, some for the worse.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 12/18/2009, 1:35 PM
@ contrast

i didn't mean it to sound like the ultimate universe does everything in a more sensical way. i was just trying to make the point that both universes do some things better and worse than the other.

as for dr doom, i don't know man, lol. that would be one of the "worse" things that the ultimate universe has done, lol. but i get it man, they wanted to make it new and different, and that was definately different!
ecksmanfan
ecksmanfan - 12/18/2009, 2:24 PM
Check out this article I posted a while back about costumes, specifically the X-Men:
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/geekboymovienews/news/?a=10542
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 12/19/2009, 12:11 PM
[frick] the ULTIMATE-VERSE!!!

: P
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