A new big 3?

[Docker2.0]

With the success of Black Panther and underachieving of other superheroes, could there be a new big three when it comes to popular superheroes? It use to be all Batman, Spiderman and Superman but has it changed? Is it now Ironman, Batman and Black Panther? BP is now on pace to become the highest grossing superhero origin film of all time. It's not just a coincidence. The genre has changed and I do think Marvel has done a great job of raising their characters to crazy heights. What do you guys think?

 

[Mandon Knight]

Depends how old one is.

 

[ironwez20]

Nope. Spiderman will never be replaced. Also while iron man is popular now. Lets see how popular he will be once RDJ is gone. Sorry but I don't see Batman, supermanor spiderman ever being replaced. Spiderman is the highest selling hero ever in merch.
Also Black panther was always well known. he just never had the push like he does now.

 

[Docker2.0]

Nope. Spiderman will never be replaced. Also while iron man is popular now. Lets see how popular he will be once RDJ is gone. Sorry but I don't see Batman, supermanor spiderman ever being replaced. Spiderman is the highest selling hero ever in merch.
Also Black panther was always well known. he just never had the push like he does now.

Ok so now that he has that Disney push, does he break through? I'm sorry but I see Superman slipping a notch. Batman or Spiderman, no but definitely Superman. Actually, I'm not even sure Spiderman is the same honestly.

 

[ironwez20]

I don't think Black pantheris at that level yet but he could get there and Spiderman is still popular but due to Sony and ruining the brand and causing fatigue he slipped up a bit. And superman is a timeless iconic character. He is THE superhero. Movies can't really dampen his rep becuase he represents things outside of movies. Superman was never really interesting but he was always a major player in the mainstream. We'll see how long Captain america is remembered or iron man after the actors and movies are done.

 

[Kuwolski]

Spider-Man's IP is worth more then Batman and Superman's combined. That's how much revenue he generates per year. His sixth film was the highest grossing CBM of the year despite franchise fatigue. The sequel has a shot at a billion and he'll get his first AAA game treatment in the next year in a PS4 exclusive. So no.

If we're talking mainly the film franchise, then yeah, he's been surpassed by BP.

Batman is right there with Spidey in multi-platform popularity and isn't going anywhere. In terms of film, he's also been surpassed by BP (or will be).

Superman's popularity has been waning for 30 years imho.. Everyone knows who he is, but that doesn't mean everyone loves him to the degree they love the other DC character in Batman.

If we're looking at a new generation of characters that could rise to these lofty heights moving forward, then characters like Black Panther and Deadpool are definitely in the conversation for having a legitimate shot. I think they'll need a couple more films and high profile appearances in other mediums (animation, video games) to solidify their position. Deadpool already has a popular video game and an FXX series on the way to go along with his upcoming sequel. BP will need to follow suit.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Nope. Spiderman will never be replaced. Also while iron man is popular now. Lets see how popular he will be once RDJ is gone. Sorry but I don't see Batman, supermanor spiderman ever being replaced.

This. Whilst there's no doubting that the profiles of other heroes have been hugely raised in more recent years I don't see Batman, Superman, or Spider-Man ever being eclipsed as the superheroes.

 

[Kuwolski]

This. Whilst there's no doubting that the profiles of other heroes have been hugely raised in more recent years I don't see Batman, Superman, or Spider-Man ever being eclipsed as the superheroes.

Maybe not replaced, but I can definitely see others joining the conversation. One massive film can accomplish what 30 + years of the comic book grind could. Add in animation and video games, it's doable.

 

[ironwez20]

The thing is Marvel isn't really good with it's animation but DC is. DC has been pumping out tv series for awhile now to keep its characters relevant. They just suck at the movie front. I just don't see characters like ant man, GOTG, thor, iron man and Black widow rising up to Superman, spiderman, Batman popularity after these movies are done.

Black panther I can see gaining more sucess since people have been wanting a movie from him for awhile. RDJ is a huge reason why Iron man is where he is now. I don't see him being as big once he's gone.

 

[2kt09]

The thing is Marvel isn't really good with it's animation but DC is. DC has been pumping out tv series for awhile now to keep its characters relevant. They just suck at the movie front. I just don't see characters like ant man, GOTG, thor, iron man and Black widow rising up to Superman, spiderman, Batman popularity after these movies are done.

Black panther I can see gaining more sucess since people have been wanting a movie from him for awhile. RDJ is a huge reason why Iron man is where he is now. I don't see him being as big once he's gone.

Iron Man is driving this universe directly and indirectly
and there's enough of his traits/fingerprints throughout the series to realize he matters even when he's not on screen.

There's no way he isn't among the Big 3 by now.

 

[Kuwolski]

They suck at animation but that's only because they have no interest in making anything great. Their only interest is attracting extremely young viewers to XD. Things will change eventually, it's only a matter of when. Hopefully in the next decade...

The Avengers are the brand.

The X-Men are the brand as well, which could be as big as anything (like it once was) again. We tend to focus on characters individually, but Avengers related merchandise is only second to Spidey overall. More billion dollar movies and video games on the way, comic fans need to get out of their bubble sometimes when it comes to measuring popularity. The most skeptical fans on the internet that I found regarding Deadpool's success was comic book fans, many thinking the audience wouldn't "get it" or appreciate the point of it all. Funny.

 

[eon001]

Time will tell. The original big 3 has decades of fandom. It's the kind of thing you can only really answer 10+ years from now because there's generation of kids that are going to be exposed to Black Panther before Spiderman. That emotional connection needs to grow and become cemented.

 

[ironwez20]

Iron Man is driving this universe directly and indirectly
and there's enough of his traits/fingerprints throughout the series to realize he matters even when he's not on screen.

There's no way he isn't among the Big 3 by now.

Yea well we’ll see once rdj leaves the franchise. He’s the one that brought some flair to the character

 

[Silvermoth]

To be honest, I never liked the idea of the last big three. I didn't vote for 'em

 

[BaronZemo]

It's not so much about the Big 3 as for the notion that the DC brand is getting stale and constantly losing ground. If i go out there and ask 100 people from the street to name me 10 superheroes most of them will name 6-7 Marvel ones and 3-4 DC ones.

Characters like Deadpool, Panther, Cap, Thor, Iron Man, Avengers, Guardians are becoming integral to pop culture and DV has the same old trinity on the forefront. How many DC characters have broken out in the past 20 years?

 

[Silver Surfer]

Spidey is #1 in merchandise and sales by a large margin, has been for years.

 

[metaphysician]

I don't think the "Big Three" are going to be replaced. I think what has happened is the "Big Three" have been thrown open. Instead of only three Iconic heroes, there are now significantly more at that level, or so close that its imprudent to say they won't reach it.

 

[Docker2.0]

I don't know. I think Superman has been passed up years ago. He's more famous but not more popular. Most people think he's corny and over powered. That's what I heard from most people at my job when the JLA was about to come out.

 

[Flash525]

I think Spider-Man and Batman are (and will remain) the two most popular. As for the third, I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest maybe the Flash?

 

[Docker2.0]

I think Spider-Man and Batman are (and will remain) the two most popular. As for the third, I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest maybe the Flash?

Mmm-hmmm. What makes you say that?

 

[Flash525]

Mmm-hmmm. What makes you say that?

The success of the CW show - as terrible as the writing can be at times, it's still quite popular with fans, and more importantly, kids.

I must admit, as much a fan of comic book films as I am, I've never read a single comic, and before the MCU films started appearing in the cinema, I honestly didn't have any idea who the likes of Ironman and Captain America were. I knew of Thor through mythology, and I knew of Hulk - even if I probably didn't fully understand what it was that I knew.

It was, specifically, Batman and Superman who were the two larger than life characters that I grew up with because of their earlier films. When I was growing up, there probably wasn't a third character - especially as I didn't read the comics, I had nothing to connect too in that regard.

Knowing the characters that are around now though (from both organisations) I'd still say that Batman is quite high among popularity, more with adults, and Spider-Man with children. I guess more women/girls would (now) relate to Wonder Woman and/or Supergirl, and more African (or African-American?) people would relate to the likes of Black Panther and - to a lesser degree, Cyborg? I'd still think though that as far as American/Eastern-European culture goes, Batman, Spider-Man and the Flash will be the more popular characters with most male audiences.

 

[Zarex]

With the explosion of superhero product on TV or film the idea of a "Big Three" that dominates media for decades is looking to be a tad outdated. Film and TV audiences aren't comic book fans who want the same characters in the same stories told over and over again and over until the heat death of the universe. With print playing a smaller and smaller role other characters have the opportunity to shine.

I have the following as the Top 10 currently at Marvel & DC. But that can change with a hit show or film (welcome T'Challa!). There is a lot more movement now than there was back in the day.

Marvel - Spider-man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Black Panther, Deadpool, Wolverine, Daredevil, Punisher

DC - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Supergirl, Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Nightwing

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

With the explosion of superhero product on TV or film the idea of a "Big Three" that dominates media for decades is looking to be a tad outdated. Film and TV audiences aren't comic book fans who want the same characters in the same stories told over and over again and over until the heat death of the universe. With print playing a smaller and smaller role other characters have the opportunity to shine.

I think that's a fair point.

 

[Docker2.0]

It's an excellent point! I just think Superman is so outdated. He's probably the most well known but he is not popular as he use to be. People like flawed heroes. It's why Wolverine was so big and Iron Man is big now. I just don't think he's as popular as people making him out to be.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

I don't find the character outdated. My favourite Superman stories centre around moral implications of his actions/inaction, when he should/shouldn't become involved - and there are certainly stories where he gets it wrong. He knows he's not perfect - something he'll say to anyone who'll listen - but he strives for an ideal, both for himself and for the world as an inspiration. That shouldn't be an outdated concept IMO.