While I’m sure there may be others, outside of Kevin Smith’s View Askewniverse I can’t think of any group of non-franchise films that have attempted to integrate themselves into a single continuum to the same degree. As a long time reader of comics, particularly Marvel Comics, I find this approach to be a natural extension of the source media. I’ve yet to find the fanboy that wasn’t thrilled with the minor yet necessary efforts at the end of both Incredible Hulk and Iron Man (ok lee777 due to SLJ as Fury but his posts are entertaining so I forgive him), but in our future is hope and anxiety for the remaining movies that will lead to Avengers. While I have no doubt Iron Man 2 will be fantastic and successful, Thor presents the first real hurdle that needs to be jumped. It will be Marvel’s second attempt to integrate a true fantasy element into its CBMs with the less than desirable Ghost Rider being the first.
The Spirit of Vengeance aside, up to this point Marvel’s movies have approached us from the realm of the material world. Whether it was the genetics of the X-Men, the tech of Iron Man, or the science related accidents of Daredevil, Hulk, the Fantastic Four and Spider Man, Marvel has thrust at the general movie going audience the tip of a scientific spear. Even the Blade Trilogy was presented as vampirism with a medical twist rather than supernatural. However with Kenneth Branagh at the helm, which alone adds credibility to the departure from the pseudo-reality established so far, and the all star cast lining up for Thor I don’t think we have a lot to worry about. Strangely enough my concern is for the next piece in the puzzle and the return to the world of science. Yes Captain America.
Even though Marvel’s “First Family” may be the FF, Captain America is arguably Marvel’s Founding Father. While Namor, the first Human Torch and a few others may have come first, I find it a challenge to put them ahead of Steve Rogers. He is the George Washington of Marvel Comics. Captain America may not be among the most powerful Marvel characters and though he wasn’t included in Bendis’s Illuminati, Cap is Marvel’s moral compass, the unchallengeable leader of all that is right and good in the Marvel Universe. Was there any reader that seriously took Stark’s side in Civil War? So with my unmistakable praise of Captain America why am I so worried about his adaptation to film?
As Aristotle said “man is a political animal”. I find this site refreshing beyond imagination because even considering the casting of a non-American as Cap, this site is apolitical. We don’t find the issue of whether or not the actor is American as important as long as they can represent Steve the way he should be (as DogsOfWar’s article indicated). Politics tend to be depressing regardless of one’s views. I read not just comics but fiction in general as an escape from reality and find it discomforting when make believe draws me back in unnecessarily. Unfortunately politics are unavoidable when it comes to Captain America. Let’s face it. Regardless of one’s political views the events of the last decade have cast a negative light on America.
Who can argue that America is often viewed as a villain outside our own country and sadly even within by far too many people? While I cannot for the life of me imagine (outside that of a parent) an occupation worthy of praise more than a soldier that has volunteered one’s service to their country, there are far too many folks that are more than happy to condemn them. This is my fear for Captain America. Will the world accept a purely American hero anymore? Will Hollywood find Rogers cool when so many there and abroad perceive our country as the bad guy? Even Super Man was relegated to “Truth, justice and all that stuff” because of the PC world we live in.
While I have an affinity for Captain Britian, which some may not even appreciate, I find it difficult to believe that outside of the English speaking countries (USA and UK primarily) people will identify with much less tolerate Captain America as a hero. My fear is that CA will be considered imperialist or in other ways receive bias from the rest of the world simply because he is an American. If the Cap movie doesn’t make it worldwide we better hope it makes money here in the States otherwise we will have to live with one Avengers movie at best.
As a final note the failure of Marvel to unite it’s film universe successfully, whether through a poor boxoffice performance of Captain America or Avengers, will likely result in DC’s reluctance. While I am a Marvel fan I love DC as well and Green Lantern will be their test. If DC doesn’t take the opportunity to unite their comic world with GL, at least in the minor form Marvel managed with IH and IM don’t expect it to ever happen at least not for many years to come. The Avenger’s success is not only the future of Marvel movies but of DC’s as well. At least as CBM continuum’s are concerned. While the release dates for Cap and Avengers may guarantee us at least one united film, the failure of Captain America or the Avengers will doom us to just the one.
I sincerely hope that I am wrong and that we not only get to enjoy a Marvel Cinema Universe but a DC Cinema Universe as well.