DC's TV Universe Soars Higher Than Movies

San Diego Comic-Con 2013:  DC Comics and Warner Bros announced the production of a Batman vs Superman film.  Two years later: we still have to wait another year.  This film will continue DC's Cinematic Universe that started with Man of Steel back in 2013.  However, by the time WB gets their second DC movie out starring Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman the world will have already spent four years becoming attached to Green Arrow, The Flash, the Atom, and a lot of other DC characters that aren't considered the "World's Finest."

Yesterday, a trailer dropped for the new CW series, DC's Legends of Tomorrow.  This will be the second spin-off series that takes place in the shared universe that Arrow started in 2012.  In it's third season, Arrow was joined by it's first spin-off, The Flash.  With only one season under it's belt The Flash has become enough of a hit too green-light another Arrow spin-off.  And why not?  This season, between the two shows, we were introduced to DC alumni like Atom, Black Canary, Firestorm, and Captain Cold.  This universe is expanding like the big bang, and it's only going to get bigger.

Man of Steel wasn't DC and WB's first attempt to make a shared universe.  In 2011, Green Lantern was supposed to ignite the DC Cinematic Universe, but the film was a social disaster.  As Warner Bros regrouped to try again, Marvel Studios released The Avengers, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and has enough of head start to take a multi-year nap while DC tries to catch up.  Green Lantern writer, Greg Berlanti, along with several others, turned their focus to television. In season two, Arrow introduced a young Barry Allen, which hit new ratings highs for the series.  Soon a Flash spin-off was in production.  With the success of The Flash, Berlanti has become a TV genie, and created a grand shared universe the DC films have yet to accomplish.

Last Fall, several other TV series were released with other DC characters.  NBC's Constantine has been cancelled, and while Fox's Gotham has been renewed for a second season I stopped watching after episode two.  Constantine sadly wasn't superhero-ish enough for today's audience, and who wants to watch a Batman show without Batman? Greg Berlanti has another show coming out this Fall; CBS's Supergirl.  The first extended preview did not impress me, but the second, shorter, trailer made it seem a little better.   But so far, it is said that Supergirl will not connect to The CW's Arrow-verse.

In my opinion, Marvel is succeeding in their shared universe because they are making movies everyone can enjoy.  Some people like the Captain America films, while others prefer the Iron Man trilogy.  And each Marvel film expands the mythology of the universe.  The CW's DC shows are also doing this.  Arrow has a darker, more serious, tone with a few jokes thrown in.  While The Flash has a lighter tone.  Both of these are reflective of their main characters; Oliver Queen and Barry Allen.  DC's Legends of Tomorrow will expand the Arrow-verse even more.  And 22 episodes gives us a lot more time to learn and love characters than a two hour movie.

  While I will admit these shows aren't quit the same quality of Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, or Breaking Bad, the characters and story lines are good enough to suck anyone into this universe. So the big screen can have their Dark Knight, Man of Steel, and Amazon Princess.  I'm more excited to see what Berlanti has in store for the Emerald Archer, Scarlet Speedster, and the rest of DC's B-team .  I would have loved to have see this new series be called something along the lines of "Justice Society" because I know a "Justice League" movie is already planned, but I'm itching to see a 3-episode crossover with all 3-shows that run like a big 3-hour film.  This is what shared universes are all about, and The CW is hitting their mark better than even Marvel TV.

Comic News Round-Up: July 20(Otherwise known as 2 Weeks till Guardians of the Galaxy)

Before I let another week ago by  with missing my blog entry I decided to do a quick one about some recent comic book and comic related news.  I know I've been slacking a little on my blogging lately, but I've come to the point where I feel like I'm just blowing hot air on this site, and I would love to possibly start a podcast if anyone is interested in joining me.  Or if you like the idea of me just doing a weekly round-up on comic related news via this blog let me know that too.  I'm just trying to get as many readers as I can, even if it's just my Facebook friends.  Here are some comic related news you might not have heard of, and what I think.

SUPERMAN IS NOW THE ATOM:  Brandon Routh, the actor who played Superman in the 2006 film Superman Returns has just been cast to play Ray Palmer in the upcoming third season of Arrow.  In the DC Universe Palmer is the superhero known as The Atom, a scientist who can change his body size to shrink down to the size of an atom.  Routh hasn't had any big roles since appearing as the Man of Steel, and Superman Returns was not well received (even though I liked it).  I've seen him in the Kevin Smith film, Zach and Miri Make A Porno, and he also played a villain on the TV series Chuck.
I'm excited for this news!  I liked Routh as Superman and his '"Return" to the DCU makes it seem like he's being given a second chance to please fan boys.  Palmer is supposed to take over Queen Industries in the next Arrow season.  It's not said whether we'll see him become The Atom but the expansion of the DC TV Universe has got me excited.

THE ARROW'S COUSIN IS FIRESTORM:  Speaking of expanding the DCTV characters, it was announced that Robbie Amell has been cast to play Firestorm in the upcoming Arrow spin-off series, The Flash.  If Robbie's last name sounds familiar it's because he is the cousin of Stephen Amell, the actor who plays Oliver Queen on Arrow.  Talk about keeping it in the family.
I'm not too familiar with Amell's previous work since I never watched The Tomorrow People or Revenge.  I'm sure Firestorm, a.k.a. Ronnie Raymond, will be a bit different than the standard comic book look; since his head is on fire in the comics.  Either way the casting of Amell and Routh adds two more Justice League members to the DCTV club. Arrow has already introduced Green Arrow, Black Canary, The Flash, and Speedy/Red Arrow.
But don't count on Clark Kent or Bruce Wayner popping in.  Warner Bros has already said they won't, which is fine of me.  I'd much rather see Hal Jordan or another lesser-known hero show up to have a similar 'Justice League' episode like Smallville did in it's sixth season.  I love how the DCTV Universe is shaping up.  I think it's looking way better than the Cinematic Universe.

THOR IS A GIRL:  Marvel seems to be getting a jump on the Comic-Con spoilers a week early as they came out with several big pieces of news this week.  One I will mention down below.  Another is Entertainment Weekly's Avengers: Age of Ultron exclusive.  Finally, Marvel as announced that after their Original Sin storyline Thor will become a woman.  Apparently something happens that makes Thor unworthy to bear the mighty hammer.  A woman then takes the reigns as the God(dess) of Thunder.
I've read comics my whole life and I know a publicity stunt when I see one.  I know they're trying to bring in more female readers and sell more comics, but eventually everything goes back to the status quo.  The initial issue will sell a few more hundred comics, but readers will die off and then they will bring the original Thor back just about the same time the new Avengers film comes out, which stars a male Thor.  I've never been a Thor reader, and if the idea is good I'm all for it, just as long as it doesn't change what they're doing in the movies.

CAPTAIN AMERICA IS A BLACK MAN:  The other piece of Marvel news last week is that Cap is hanging up his shield...again, and letting someone else don the Captain America name....again.  Last time, when everyone thought Steve Rogers was dead, his former sidekick Bucky Barnes took over as Captain America.  I'm glad Bucky isn't taking a step back to play the part again because as much as I loved 'Bucky Cap' I'm loving where they are taking Winter Soldier in the Marvel U.
This time Cap's longtime partner, Sam Wilson, a.k.a. Falcon, will be throwing the legendary shield.  Apparently Steve becomes an old man and looses his super-human powers, causing Sam to take over the American symbol.  This of course is another publicity stunt that will be over by next summer.  Marvel wants to sell comics.  So they come up with this idea of shaking things up, but then everything will return to the status quo when Steve Rogers appears in a movie as Captain America.  Because you can't sell more comic books to the little boy who wants to buy a Captain America comic book, if it's not the Captain America he saw at the theater.  Trust me. Just ask Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, and.....Captain America.  Did anybody ever even notice the Human Torch died?