Marvel Poll about New Animated Series!

[Midnyte_Sun]

Marvel has an online email poll every week and the last question posted was in regards to a new Animated TV series, here are the results:


With news on Wolverine and the X-Men and the new Thor animated series this week, which other Marvel hero would you like to see get their own animated series?

Daredevil...24.9%
Ghost Rider...20.6%
Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D....13.1%
Punisher...12.6%
Dr. Strange....14.2%
M.O.D.O.K....1.9%
Namor....6.6%
Elektra....6.1%

--

What do you guys think of a Daredevil Animated Show? How can they keep the show rooted in the comics and make it appeal to kids?

The same question goes for Ghost Rider...how in the heck can they make a show about a biker selling his soul to the Devil and becoming a Spirit of Vengeance who goes against satanic cults, enemies that skin, dismember and eat, their enemies?

 

[Dread]

For one thing, Marvel.com usually sets up polls so that the "winner" is someone they expect, so therefore it gives the illusion of fan choice.

That said, a GHOST RIDER cartoon would never happen. He is a property past his prime. The 90's was the best era of him getting a show, back when he was guest appearing in FANTASTIC FOUR and INCREDIBLE HULK cartoons, but he never got passed the censors.

How to make a DAREDEVIL cartoon work? My approach would be one that would never be tried; forget appealing to children. Children have been bred to buy only video games and not toys anymore. Gearing something to them is asking for failure, especially as Daredevil played light is simply Spider-Man Lite, and will fade fast.

Instead, make a PG-13 cartoon for prime time. Sure, animation is expensive, but so is every episode of LOST or HEROES or even SMALLVILLE. Make a show that appeals to older kids and adults, and the younger ones who can handle it will come aboard because children never WANT to be children; they want to be adults and like whatever the "big kids" like, from rap to TV. Approach DAREDEVIL as a cross between superhero drama and courtroom type drama. By day Murdock is a lawyer who sometimes defends the innocent as well as the guilty; by night he dons an outfit and protects his city from some of the same crooks and menaces the legal system can't contain. While he has elements of Batman, he isn't nearly as rich and has to make due with his powers, an outfit, a billy-club and his skills. And while he does have super-powers, his radar senses are hardly the type of ability that makes him able to automatically overwhelm any threat like other heroes can; it is visually interesting and weaves into Murdock's everyday life. It has elements of pulp and that is how writers like Bendis and Brubaker have worked with it. Make him the adult's animated superhero and it would do wonders for Daredevil as well as Western animation as a whole, moving beyond the now-dying Saturday Morning TV market and into the multitude of older fans, from teenagers to adults who are CRAZING animation projects that aren't about talking animals or aren't just comedies. Look to innovate rather than follow a trend.

But, innovation is always too risky until one works, then everyone imitates it. It has to start somewhere, but no one wants to be that one, especially in modern TV elements that simply seek to follow market trends rather than create one.

Instead, Daredevil will be treated as slightly darker Spider-Man, the mainstream kiddie audience will ignore him for the latest copy of GODS OF WAR 4, it will tank after one season and everyone will wonder why.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

Good points Dread. Would you say Batman: The Animated Series is a good comparison to go by for Daredevil?

As for Ghost Rider, I'd like to see it get its own DVD release in Animation form, either done by an American studio, or a Japanese one. As for its own animated series, I just can't live with the thought of it becoming an animated cartoon for kids...The only animated series that I thought did the character justice was Batman: TAS, and Spawn.

 

[GhostPoet]

Daredevl show? Really? Ew.

I would go with S.H.I.E.L.D. because it allows for them to show any superhero they want on any given episode...kinda like Justice League Unlimited.

 

[Ceb-Man]

Daredevil would be awesome in a Batman: The Animated series type of show. I have always thought that.

 

[Phatman]

all those character properties wouldn't work in a Saturday Morning type cartoon. They're too dark and have way too many adult themes.

Daredevil- the most viable character out of the bunch. Murdock's blindness serves as a positive role model for children with disabilites, plus Daredevil is cool. His supporting cast is interesting, and his rogues gallery can be exciting if done right. Classic DD Villans like Gladiator, Death-Stalker Angar the Screamer, Owl would work well on TV next to Bullseye, Typhoid Mary and Kingpin.

Ghost Rider- THe character is too passe. Plus the demonic stuff ain't gonna get past today's censors.

Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D- too complex for kids to follow. Plus too many characters to keep up with. Works best as a supporting character in Iron Man or Captain America.

Punisher- ummm. NO. Punisher is R-Rated at LEAST.

Dr. Strange- Tooo complex to follow. Again his involvement with the occult keeps him from being sold as a property. That and the numerous Dr.Strange figures pegwarming at retail.

M.O.D.O.K-HECK NO! Change this to Doom and Maybe it'll be viable.

Namor- again a hard character to follow. Plus he has the weakest rogues gallery. Outside of Krang, Attuma and TigerShark he gets kind of stale.

Elektra- Best used as a supporting character in a DD animated series or a couple of guest spots. She's not strong enough to carry a Television series on her own. Plus series starring female heroines don't do well in the ratings.


Daredevil in an Adult-Swim type show or more adult themed show on one of the cable networks would work beautifully. it could be a Law& Order meets Smallville type concept with the complex writing of Batman: The animated Series.
They'd definitely have to do an episode based on "Brother Take My Hand" issue of the comic.

 

[Arthur Curry]

How the hell do you leave out Captain EFFEN America of your list???? He's EASILY the most overdue for an animated treatment followed by Daredevil. Cap regularly wins popularity polls against Spider-man, X-Men, Iron man, Hulk, and FF etc. He is the absolute heart and soul of the Marvel Universe and really the only TRUE super hero in Marvel in terms of a guy that VOLUNTEERED to be a hero, it was no accident like every other Marvel icon.

Captain America, no brainer!

 

[Arthur Curry]

A Captain America and Daredevil hour would be awesome. And then cross them over in Cap's own "Streets of Poison" storyline where both were featured.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

Isnt Captain America going to be in the Avengers Animated Series?

Still would love to see a Ghost Rider animated DVD that's not for kids.

 

[TheVileOne]

Arthur Curry, Captain America is already going to be a featured character on Avengers. So chillax.

 

[SpideyForPrez]

I agree with what most of you are saying, Daredevil should be first in line for Marvel's next animated series. IMO, a DD cartoon has far more potential than a Thor cartoon but we'll see how that works out.

And yeah, Saturday Morning Cartoons are near death (which is very sad when you think about it) so a DD toon should be focused on an older audience. Air it on Cartoon Network's action lineup, or maybe even Adult Swim if it's that grown up. Adult Swim hasn't had any original action shows yet have they? So, why not? Mature comic cartoons might even work on Spike TV, so it's about time they at least tried it.

2nd in line would be good old Captain America. I know he'll be in the new Avengers cartoon (new cartoon not a "New Avengers" cartoon) but if Thor's solo series does well enough, then Cap could certainly hold his own. Add Shield as supporting cast and you've got all kinds of possibilities.

BTW, is that new Wolveriene and The X-Men cartoon any good? And where can I see it? It's not on youtube.