After the controversy that Iron Man 3's twist has caused between the mainstream success and the apparent comic fan's condemnation, I want to look at several other examples of how comic book fandom is counter-productive and should not be related to a films success. Before I begin, and probably upset a bunch of people, I just want to state that I am a massive comic book enthusiast. I read the new releases every week and more trades than is probably healthy for me. However, that being said, sometimes it's difficult to tell people I am a comic book fan. Not because I am afraid of what they will think. But because the phrase carries with it connotations of ignorance and cynicism. Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons is a pretty accurate surrogate for reality. So moving on, I saw Iron Man 3 the day it was released here in Australia. I was beyond excited. And having had time to think about it, and the twist, I can say that it was a brilliant, and daring, move on Marvel's part. It answered the question posed by Steve Rogers in the Avengers: what is Tony Stark without the suit? Without venturing into spoilers, I was impressed by the quality of the film, and the fact that it wasn't being forced to unnecessarily branch out into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As a comic fan, I was a bit shocked by the twist, but after thinking on it, I can say that it really did the characters justice, in that it remained faithful to the rules laid out by the previous installments. And here is where I take issue with the reaction of some vocal comic book fans. I understand that everybody is entitled to their own view, but I also believe that if you are going to publicly criticize something, then you should be able to provide a valid reason for that. I can understand that many found the twist distasteful and too much of a departure from the comics, but those don't seem like reasons that justify the vitriol that I've seen in some places. There is some really negative stuff, and considering its reaching a sizeable audience, it seems unreasonable to broadcast your own personal reaction, based off your own tastes. Of course, we are talking about comic book fans. When Nolan casted Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, they screamed bloody murder. We all know how that turned out. They picked apart The Dark Knight Rises until it bore more resemblance to Swiss cheese than a coherent film. What I failed to comprehend was how they couldn't suspend their disbelief in a film where A GUY DRESSES UP LIKE A BAT. But again, I enjoyed both of those films immensely. I can't help but feel that there will always be a vocal minority who will never be satisfied with anything less than a carbon copy of the source material. And as great as they may sound, there is a reason why the changes are made, and its pretty simple. A film has an exponentially larger audience than a comic book. A film has to establish a set of rules that govern its reality, and obey them. A comic book doesn't know the meaning of the words deus ex machina. Which is fine, as they both have different strengths, as a result of being different forms. Sound good? Well, the fact that comic book fans believe that they should receive royal treatment in the process of a films production is beyond me. As I mentioned before, a superhero film has a huge potential audience, and comic book fans represent a small percentage of that market. Why, then, do they shake the Earth with their negativity as soon as a film fails to meet their lofty expectations? And I know that this vocal minority do not represent the large number of comic book readers who happily see a film, and judge it for its own merits, not as a comparison to an ageless, 70 year old character. Despite this, the heavens will shake every few months or so when a film inevitably fails to meet some divine standards being held for it. But I believe that it shouldn't matter. As I said, everybody is entitled to form and share their own opinion, but if it being published, then it should hold some merit. Not to say that I haven't heard some valid criticisms against Nolan's Dark Knights series, or Iron Man 3 or the rest of them. But it is far outweighed by venomous bile, which aims to do nothing but try to convince people they are wrong. It is there that I believe the line is drawn. In future, I believe less heed and attention be given to these trolls. Because they are nothing more. They have no merit or constructive input, and would use their freedom of speech to tell others its wrong to use theirs. As I've already stated, they are a small, vocal minority, and comic book films do not need these fans. Not for their gross, not for their evaluation, not for their production. Rather than judge something in comparison to something completely different, why not look at its merits based on its form. If you don't like it, that's fine; if the reason is because it didn't bare resemblance to a comic book, then just remind yourself they are two different things, and you'll always have the comic. Thanks for reading guys. If you have any points of discussion, and I think a few of you will, then make sure you comment! Stay classy.
