Failed Comic Book Movie Franchises

[The Morningstar]

haha yea, the spinning around to change outfits is definitely iconic. I'd say WW has definitely fallen off the radar though. Same could even be said of Superman, to a much lesser extent though. For younger generations at least.

 

[Thebumwhowalks]

Superman has had a constant stream of movies and tv shows since the 1950s. Most people know him.

 

[Thundercrack85]

haha yea, the spinning around to change outfits is definitely iconic. I'd say WW has definitely fallen off the radar though. Same could even be said of Superman, to a much lesser extent though. For younger generations at least.

Careful, you might start another fight DC/WB thread style.

 

[The Morningstar]

Superman has had a constant stream of movies and tv shows since the 1950s. Most people know him.

Everyone knows him. Well, everyone who doesn't live in a cave or under a rock anyway. But knowing and caring are two different things.

Careful, you might start another fight DC/WB thread style.

**** em. I don't take sides. Actually if i was to take a side at this precise moment in time, it would be DCs, seeing as Marvels comics are utter ****e these days. Too much Bendis and Fraction for my liking.

At least with DC there is plenty of books that don't have Geoff Johns writing them

 

[Thebumwhowalks]

Everyone knows him. Well, everyone who doesn't live in a cave or under a rock anyway. But knowing and caring are two different things.

Well, in the context of this convo, we are talking about people who don't follow superheroes, so obviously they are not that bothered about what the character is up to in the comics/movies/tv show. We are just talking about name and image recognition here.
You said he was falling off the radar like WW, so it's a little strange that you are now 'correcting' me by saying 'everyone' knows him.

 

[The Morningstar]

Well, in the context of this convo, we are talking about people who don't follow superheroes, so obviously they are not that bothered about what the character is up to in the comics/movies/tv show. We are just talking about name and image recognition here.
You said he was falling off the radar like WW, so it's a little strange that you are now 'correcting' me by saying 'everyone' knows him.

Falling off the radar in terms of relevancy, is what i mean.

With DCs new relaunch he seems to be doing ok, but before that it seemed even comic book readers didn't give a **** about him. Which is startling, if you think about it.

 

[Thebumwhowalks]

Falling off the radar in terms of relevancy, is what i mean.

With DCs new relaunch he seems to be doing ok, but before that it seemed even comic book readers didn't give a **** about him. Which is startling, if you think about it.

Well, I guess that depends on what readers you talk to, a little difficult to get a gauge on the majority.
He had the popular long running tv show in terms of the general public, so some people gave a ****, and it even got him some new fans who would never have walked into a comic-book store, if not for the show.

 

[The Morningstar]

Well, the sales were telling the story. For a character like Superman to have such low sales like his series did before the relaunch, well, it's troubling really. Wasn't even in the top 10 IIRC.

I think some of the blame had to fall on DC themselves though. With their incessant pushing of Green Lantern, trying to make him THE hero with the "flagship book" of the DCU, seems like the true iconic hero of DC got left behind.

 

[Thebumwhowalks]

It seems like Superman is just one of those characters who always bounces back.

 

[chiefchirpa]

Well, for me it would be:

1. Superman - Iconic look. Numerous TV shows and movies spanning decades.
2. Batman - Same as Superman.
3. Spider-Man - Not as well known as the above two, mainly because they have a much longer history of success in live action whereas Spider-Man is more well known from cartoons up until the Sam Raimi films. He's still pretty recognizable by everybody though.
4. Hulk - Mentioned in my previous post. A cultural icon in the 70s and 80s.
5. Robin - Not quite as well known as Batman himself, but close.
6. Iron Man - Well known because he's a hot thing at the moment. Completely unknown until the Robert Downey Jr films, where the character became Downey's Jack Sparrow. I don't know whether he will still be well known 20 years down the road, but for right now he has penetrated the main stream media and public consciousness.
7. Wolverine - Thanks to being Hugh Jackman's most famous role.
8. Captain America - They don't know much about him, but they know the look and name.
9. Wonder Woman - Ditto.
10. Fantastic Four - Likewise. The group is more well known than them as individuals. Of the four, Thing is probably the most famous.

I think Thor may have outdone even Robin and FF for the mainstream young. If it hasn't it will be in 2 years time.

 

[Dark Raven]

I think that the concept of Supergirl is known to a lot of non comic fans, but not necessarily the character. A lot of non comic fans sometimes refer to her as "Super Woman". It's more a vague recognition, but they kind of know who she is and her costume.

I'd say Catwoman could be in there too - not sure if everyone knows whether she's a villain or not. Certainly not as clear cut as the Joker.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I think Thor may have outdone even Robin and FF for the mainstream young. If it hasn't it will be in 2 years time.

Thor has an unfair advantage, since, the god he is based on is a fairly well known figure. Tomorrow is even named after him. I doubt the Marvel character is more recognized than Robin though beyond the mainstream young.

Catwoman does deserve a mention, as does Lex Luthor. Most people know of them.

 

[Dark Raven]

Thor has an unfair advantage, since, the god he is based on is a fairly well known figure. Tomorrow is even named after him. I doubt the Marvel character is more recognized than Robin though beyond the mainstream young.

Catwoman does deserve a mention, as does Lex Luthor. Most people know of them.

But Lex Luthor is a flat out villain. You don't make a franchise based on him. Although it sucked, there was a Catwoman movie, and people sometimes aren't sure if she's a villain, heroine or anti-heroine. She's also a popular character to dress up as at Halloween.

 

[Thundercrack85]

But Lex Luthor is a flat out villain. You don't make a franchise based on him. Although it sucked, there was a Catwoman movie, and people sometimes aren't sure if she's a villain, heroine or anti-heroine. She's also a popular character to dress up as at Halloween.

Oh I was just counting characters with considerable recognition. But they could. He's certainly got the potential. It just depends on the direction.

Catwoman being a mainstream figure isn't surprising. She's a sex icon. Even in a time with a ton of taboos she got away with a fairly risque theme.

 

[cherokeesam]

Wolverine has the benefit of being known right now. Prior to the X-Men movies he was a non-entity, but Hugh Jackman is one of the most well known movie stars in the world and Wolverine was the role that made him and that he's most famous for. Much like Iron Man in 20 years, who knows, but for now I do think he's more recognizable than Wonder Woman.

what the.....

Sir, I must take exception to the notion that Wolverine was a "non-entity" before Hugh Jackman. Wolverine has been hugely popular ever since the mid-80s, easily one of Marvel's top merchandising franchises (alongside Spidey and Hulk). His solo series that spun off from X-Men ranks right alongside his contemporary, Punisher, for completely changing the target audience for comic books from kids to older audiences (teens and adults).

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

Wonder Woman is pretty damn iconic IMO. I think mostly because if you said "name a female superhero" people's gut reaction would be "Wonder Woman". She is the token female hero.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

what the.....

Sir, I must take exception to the notion that Wolverine was a "non-entity" before Hugh Jackman. Wolverine has been hugely popular ever since the mid-80s, easily one of Marvel's top merchandising franchises (alongside Spidey and Hulk). His solo series that spun off from X-Men ranks right alongside his contemporary, Punisher, for completely changing the target audience for comic books from kids to older audiences (teens and adults).

Among comic fans. The general public had no clue who he was until the movie.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Thor has an unfair advantage, since, the god he is based on is a fairly well known figure. Tomorrow is even named after him. I doubt the Marvel character is more recognized than Robin though beyond the mainstream young.

Catwoman does deserve a mention, as does Lex Luthor. Most people know of them.

I didn't count Thor because while the Norse god is well known, the comic really isn't (or at least wasn't before the movie). Even among the Norse gods, it is debatable whether Thor or Odin (who today is named after) is the more well known.

As for supervillains, easily the most well known by the general public are Lex Luthor and the big four Adam West Batman villains (Joker, Penguin, Catwoman & Riddler). Nobody else is even close to those five.

 

[The Morningstar]

I'd put Magneto up there thanks to the movies and cartoon. Dr Doom too, if only for name recognition. I mean, someone might not know what he looks like, what his MO is etc. But the actual name "Dr Doom" I imagine most people have heard of.

 

[Micromind]

Wonder Woman is pretty damn iconic IMO. I think mostly because if you said "name a female superhero" people's gut reaction would be "Wonder Woman". She is the token female hero.

haha yea, the spinning around to change outfits is definitely iconic. I'd say WW has definitely fallen off the radar though. Same could even be said of Superman, to a much lesser extent though. For younger generations at least.

If WW has "fallen off" the radar, her animated DVD sales would not be in such good state, compare it to other "popular heros" dvd's -

DVD Sales Performance

Wonder Woman 2009 -
Released on DVD: March 3, 2009
DVD Units Sold: 485,951
Consumer Spending: $7,405,743

source

The Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow -
Released on DVD: September 2, 2008
DVD Units Sold: 296,136
Consumer Spending: $3,712,142

Doctor Strange -
Released on DVD: August 14, 2007
DVD Units Sold: 258,055
Consumer Spending: $3,927,829

The Invincible Iron Man -
Released on DVD: January 23, 2007
DVD Units Sold: 419,762
Consumer Spending: $5,254,360

Hulk VS. -
Released on DVD: January 27, 2009
DVD Units Sold: 502,020
Consumer Spending: $7,471,388


Green Lantern: First Flight -
Released on DVD: July 28, 2009
DVD Units Sold: 385,260
Consumer Spending: $6,210,282

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights -
Released on DVD: June 7, 2011
DVD Units Sold: 187,236
Consumer Spending: $2,619,693

Batman Year One -
Released on DVD: October 18, 2011
DVD Units Sold: 144,308
Consumer Spending: $2,218,384

All Star Superman -
Released on DVD: February 22, 2011
DVD Units Sold: 276,559
Consumer Spending: $4,446,142

Thor: Tales of Asgard -
Released on DVD: May 17, 2011
DVD Units Sold: 145,661
Consumer Spending: $2,163,237

 

[Thebumwhowalks]

If WW has "fallen off" the radar, her animated DVD sales would not be in such good state, compare it to other "popular heros" dvd's -

I think most of those sales would be from comic-book and casual fans, see, she has not had a movie out yet, but is still better known than Dr.Strange(the only other character on your list not to be featured in a big budget live action feature yet), so she will obviously sell more animated dvds than him, but comic-book and casual fans will already have the live action Hulk, Iron-Man, Green Lantern and Thor films on dvd, so might not bother so much with an animated feature dvd. But, since that is all WW has out, more of her fans will buy it.
As for the Avengers, there are multiple Avengers cartoons and dvds for sale, not to mention, the characters being featured in their own solo films, plenty to choose from.
So, I don't think that is a fair gauge on how much she registers on the general public's radar these days.

 

[The Morningstar]

Sales of animated superhero movies are not a way to gauge mass appeal like live action movies that are in the cinema.

Wonder Woman is still obviously known. But my point was... no one cares about her anymore. Outside of comic fans anyway. I mean, even in the comics DC doesn't know what to do with her. But i'm enjoying her new series.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Older heroes do have an advantage. Ask your grandparents and parents. They've likely at least heard of some golden age or silver age heroes.

 

[Supermanreturns]

Most popular:

1. Superman: iconic. Thanks to comics but also cartoons, gadgets, tv series and movies.
2. Batman: iconic too. Thanks to comics, gadgets, cartoons, the tv series and the movies (first Burton then Schumacher and Nolan).
3. Spider-Man: iconic too. The movie is dated 2002 but he's famous because of cartoons, tv series, gadgets and obviously comics.
4. Wonder Woman: iconic too. Thanks first to tv series and then gadgets and comics.
5. Hulk: iconic. Thanks to tv series, his look, cartoons, gadgets, obviously comic and then movies.
6. Robin: iconic thanks to Batman (first comics, tv series and cartoons, then Schumacher's movies).
7. Captain America: iconic because he's an American hero, the Flag! He's well know from comics and his look, then cartoons (and now movie).
8. Fantastic 4: thanks to comics and cartoons, then movies.

Now thanks to movies, cartoons and gadgets people know also other characters like:
Green Lantern (thanks to cartoon, comics, gadgets, his look and now movie);
Iron Man (thanks to RDJ first, his movies);
Daredevil (thanks to unfamous Ben Affleck's movie);
Thor (thanks to his movie);
X-Men (known in 90's for cartoons, now more famous thanks to movies);
Wolverine (thanks to 90's cartoons and for his movie and Hugh Jackman);
Punisher (thanks to his look firstly then for movies);
Ghost Rider (thanks to his look and then movies);
Blade (thanks to movies).

 

[chamber-music]

Sales of animated superhero movies are not a way to gauge mass appeal like live action movies that are in the cinema.

Wonder Woman is still obviously known. But my point was... no one cares about her anymore. Outside of comic fans anyway. I mean, even in the comics DC doesn't know what to do with her. But i'm enjoying her new series.

This

I know alot of people who don't read comics, watch animated DC movies and where not old enough to remember the TV show and they no next to nothing about Wonder Woman besides the name.


They don't know her powers, where she is from, her supporting cast, her enemies or anything like that. The character isn't part of the cultural zeitgeist anymore like Batman, The Hulk, Superman or Spider-Man is.

That doesn't mean she can't be popular again or become a household name again but right the characters fell off from where she used to be.