These days, comic books are synonymous with blockbusters, with box office records constantly being broken and high-profile names in the film industry vying for a chance to be a part of major cinematic universes and perhaps cementing a legacy akin to Tony Stark, aka Robert Downey Jr.
That’s right. Oppenheimer star RDJ’s performance as a billionaire playboy with a heart, Tony Stark, has merged with the actor and, for the public eye, become a single persona of the larger-than-life hero he plays. He’s not the only one- comic book fans worldwide now see these actors embodied by the characters they portray simply because they were able to bring to life the stories that they grew up with. Image via RealScreen.
Comic Books to Movies: It’s (Still) a Good Time To Be a Comics Fan
Stories have molded many a reader from the shy, unpopular kid who can relate to Peter Parker and Spider-Man to the person who feels out of place in society because of their appearance or sexual orientation who empathizes with the trials of discrimination in the pages of X-Men.
Many comic books represent the most important topics affecting contemporary society. It wasn’t always this way, though. Comics started as a way for struggling writers and artists like Stan Lee and Jack Kirby to make a living by coming up with characters with funny names and weird backstories and placing them in the most ridiculous outfits they can think of. A perfect example would be the original costume for Batman, who first started out wearing red tights with black underwear and bat-like wings. It wasn’t until his revolutionary creators, Bob Kane and Bill Finger, decided to take these stories and make them mean something more.
Today, you can look to Captain America for moral high ground, Batman for discipline and dedication, or the many female characters leading the charge for all young women seeking equality, recognition, and empowerment–including Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Supergirl, and She-Hulk, to name a few.
The renaissance of big-budget comic book adaptations and the performances of perfectly cast actors, paired with years of character development in the pages of comic books, are now truly amazing cinema audiences. Take Joker, directed by Todd Phillips. Joaquin Phoenix’s character, Arthur Fleck, is a failed comedian spiraling into insanity who eventually becomes the titular homicidal clown. The film generated so much buzz before its release that it was an Oscar contender and broke October box-office records in its first weekend of wide release.
Thanks to some of these films, comic books are no longer regarded as silly pulp magazines for kids to entertain themselves with. They now represent the individual reading or watching them, they connect emotionally, and inspire generations of people who strive to tell the stories that can impact people and change their lives. Together, comic books and the film industry have become a juggernaut–with no slowing down in sight.
It truly is a good time to be a fan of comics.
Explore NYFA’s Screenwriting School
Love comics and want to learn how to bring your own stories to life? Attending NYFA’s screenwriting school can provide valuable skills and techniques transferable to writing comics. Understanding narrative structure, character development, and dialogue can greatly enhance the storytelling ability of comic writers. Learning about visual storytelling and pacing can help comic writers translate their ideas into a sequential art format, creating engaging and immersive experiences for readers. Learn more about our comic book workshop and screenwriting programs today!