2. John Carter Overcomes His Curse
Many Marvel characters are burdened with a gift and a curse, and I think most of everyone ever born loves how Marvel Comics periodically erases everything from its characters to keep them fighting. Its like when mothers say, I wish they could stay like this foreverwell, with Marvel Comics, you can do that! The status quo is dogma. It didnt always used to entirely be that way. We could somewhat grow with the characters we liked, but this relatively recent innovation is really much better. It has whittled our characters down to the basic traits we enjoy. Dont like Spider-Man continuing to learn new things? BAM! Have Mephisto erase everything. This philosophy is also being played out in Marvels films. Dont like Tobey Maguires Spider-Man learning about relationships past getting into one? BAM! Reboot the movie! Yes, thats not Marvel Studios, but dont worry. Their characters are pretty much going to stay the same as wellfriends, relationships, likes, and dislikes. Much like Professor Xavier and Magneto, Thor and Loki will be fighting until the end of time. Dont like Agent Coulson being dead? Not to worry! No action in this universe is prompted by true consequence! I mean, Iron Man evolving a little bit in his worldviews and in his relationship with Pepper is pushing it, but because its Robert Downey Jr., Ill forgive him. Marvel has solid control over its product branding, keeping its characters in limbo instead of letting writers and artists build on what others have done. A living thing cant live in a package, and why buy a live puppy when I can get a toy one? Even DC has caught on to this with the New 52. John Carter, on the other hand, doesnt even stay the same through the first act, and somehow Andrew Stanton still had a movie on his hands. Every few minutes, Carter gets another insight on things. The movie even throws it in my face by adding something to his costume at every checkpoint! The Thark baby clothes. The medals. The Helium robes. The Jeddak furry shoulder pad. John Carters status quo is constantly questioned. He has to learn something new in almost every scene, with the Tharks or the Red Martians or the Therns, until he even begins to realize things about his own world. And a significant character arc seems to be resolved in this movie alone, laying the groundwork for greater internal and external obstacles to come. John Carter is a character based around more than a gimmick; there is much for his character to develop from. No thank you, Edgar Rice Burroughs, even if that arc were told in comic book years. Give me the status quo any day. Marvel characters have more to offer too, but from the movies all the way back to the comic book origins, you dont hear me complaining. So thats a big part of John Carters problems and a good fit for the Number Two spot. But theres something else fundamentally at the core of John Carter that keeps the Marvel fans away. Its not believable progress, and it's not a lacking of Jack Kirby. Its