Killing In Comic Book Films

Killing In Comic Book Films

The implications of killing in comic book films.

Editorial Opinion
By Batarangmandan - Jun 29, 2013 02:06 PM EST
Filed Under: Comics

"Man of Steel" Spoilers in this article.

I'm going to talk about the implications of super heroes killing and not killing. Super heroes being above killing was only really released as a gimmick in comics to keep all of the best villains alive, but has since gone on to be a big part of the actual characters.



In the Marvel films that proceeded "Man of Steel" the heroes were quite willing to kill.

Captain America: It makes sense that he is willing to kill in the Marvel cinematic universe despite his aversion to killing in the comics. Cap is a WW2 vet, that only recently got thawed out. It would seem rather strange that he wouldn't kill.

Iron Man: Tony has killed terrorists and villains that have gone after his life. Again, the situations of Tony offing bad guys made sense.

Thor: An arrogant prince that who is pretty much considered one of the greatest warriors of Asgard, again the act of him killing makes sense.

Soooooo....Superman kills Zod in "Man of Steel". Superman being the moral high ground is pretty much one of his defining characteristics, and I was actually fine with him killing Zod, it made sense in context to the scene. I don't think Superman should carry on killing. I think in the "Man of Steel" sequel the killing of Zod should be addressed and help shape Superman to be more in line with his comic book counterpart. Someone who will always find another way.

The act of killing Zod could really shape Superman as a force that tries to find non-lethal ways of dealing with villains, since he will know exactly how bad it is to end some one's life and live with the regret of ending the last of his kind. This could really build well as a theme through the "Man of Steel" series which could culminate in an adaptation of "What's so funny about truth justice and the American way" at some point down the line.

I think a similar approach could be used for the Batman reboot. I don't think Batman should kill, but I do think it should be implied that he did kill a few villains at the start of his career, Bob Kane style Batman.

Anyways, sorry about the general abruptness of the article.Post your thoughts in the comments.

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TheManFromMars
TheManFromMars - 6/29/2013, 2:58 PM
"Super heroes being above killing was only really released as a gimmick in comics to keep all of the best villains alive"

I thought it was just so they wouldn't be censored by the Comics Code.
TheManFromMars
TheManFromMars - 6/29/2013, 3:02 PM
About the Marvel Studios' heroes killing...

I have said this in another thread a few months ago, but I think that if they ever decide to reboot the Punisher it will be tricky, because one of the defining traits of the Punisher is that he kills.

But if every hero kills, then how relevant is the Punisher? They would need to amp up the violence for him to offer something different which brings another set of problems altogether...
TheManFromMars
TheManFromMars - 6/29/2013, 3:04 PM
I just realized I went on a tangent and didn't address the main point of your article...

I agree on your ideas about killing in the MoS sequel and Batman reboot.
RobGrizzly
RobGrizzly - 6/29/2013, 5:11 PM
Killing doesn't seem like it matters as much in Marvel movies.

Looking at Man of Steel, The Dark Knight (Harvey Dent's death) and even Watchmen (The Comedian, Rorschach) there seems to be much more conflict of character and weight when it comes to killing.



Odin
Odin - 6/29/2013, 5:50 PM
Killing is different with each hero. Some heroes have made it clear that they are not willingly crossing that line, Batman and Spiderman for example, and for other heroes it is the final tool, like Wolverine and Punisher. Personally I didn't like that much that Superman killed in MOS, but I can live with it as long as he doesn't make a habit of it.
pesmerga44
pesmerga44 - 6/29/2013, 7:06 PM
@Robgrizzly

Ya lets compare terrorists, frost giants, and Hydra soldiers in war to Gotham's hero that if they found out what he had done would release every criminal he ever convicted and a hero's unwavering black and white morality wouldn't allow him to let the lie go on and was killed for it. No they are completely the same and you are suppose to feel sympathy and compassion over the terrosists, frost giants, and Hydra soldiers.

You have to see the complete and utter difference in these characters you brought up and if you can't then there is no hope and explaining it to you.
MrCBM56
MrCBM56 - 6/29/2013, 8:23 PM
JokerFanHahaHa

You ever thought of becoming a critic? Everything you say makes perfect sense and is hard
To argue with but even though I loved the film, you bring up valid points.
pesmerga44
pesmerga44 - 6/29/2013, 8:40 PM
@Jokerfan

Ya that was one thing that bugged me about the movie was the comically sized hammer that was the Jesus metaphor they kept bashing us over the head yet. The entire time yelling at us "Do you get it Superman is SPACE JESUS!" Everything from imagery to how both Jor-El and John talked to him it was basically "You are God and must lead these people and anything else and you have failed." To me as a child if my dad talked to me like that I would probably have a mental breakdown from all the stress that would bring on me.

Also Joker I agree with you on Clark Kent being so important to Superman because unlike say Batman Superman is 100% Clark Kent while still 100% Superman. Batman some could argue and I have a hard time not agreeing with that Bruce Wayne is a mask while Batman is who he really is. He only becomes Bruce Wayne to hold up appearances or when required and that if he could be Batman 100% of the time with no consequence it would be for the better. Superman is Clark Kent he wants to be a normal human being that lives his life on Earth and still can save so many lives. With all his power he could easily find some legal way to get more then enough money to cover anything he would ever need to live very wealthy but he doesn't want that. He wants that normal life that your average American, don't want to say human because on average I believe it would be well below poverty just trying to get enough to eat, lives every day.
MrCBM56
MrCBM56 - 6/29/2013, 10:33 PM
JokerFanHahaHa

You're right. I think Snyder tried so hard at bringing SUPERMAN to the screen, he couldn't find a way to get Clark into the mix. The closest we got to Clark in the movie was at the end and even that was too UNDERwhelmimg.

People on this site love to talk shit about TASM, but at least Marc Webb took us through the chronological order of Peter to Spiderman. Another thing TASM did was showcase a little of how Peter struggled balancing his normal life with personal life. We had none of that inMOS. and that's one thing that makes Superman special. He always find a way to be superman when needed and Clark when needed. And the fact that Lois knows he is superman kind of ruins that.

Damn. You just made me change the way I see MOS. [frick] you, man. Hehe just kidding, but I do look at it differently now.
superotherside
superotherside - 6/29/2013, 10:59 PM
I find it funny that several people think that you can fight a person but "not kill them" is that easy. Has anyone ever fought someone? Like they were wanting to kill you fight? Were you thinking about holding them down and not more of taking them out to stop them?

When you actually fight someone it's not something you can walk away from an just have everyone be ok. Sure school kids get into fights, but they aren't trained and they don't usually want to kill their opponent. If you have a trained person trying to kill you there would be no other way but to kill them to stop them.

To me in MOS when Superman cried after he killed Zod it wasn't just about that he had to kill him. It's about how many lives that he couldn't save. Including Zod. In MOS Clark is addicted in a way to saving people. He feels he has to. It nigh killed him to let his father die to protect his id. When Zod came to Earth and Clark couldn't save anyone again, I think it hurt him even more. I think Clark wanted to save Zod. But the biggest thing that it showed in MOS is that you can't save everyone.

"What's so funny about Truth Justice and The American Way" is story that is good but a bit naive. The moral of the story is that you shouldn't kill no matter what because if you do you become evil. The very thing you are fighting.

But that isn't true. If you let evil continue corrupting, killing, then you become the very thing that is letting that happen. Bad things happen when good people do nothing to stop it.

MOS showed the right way of looking at it. You never want to kill. You always want to be the best you can be. But when someone chooses to continually do wrong you can not save them. You must stop them. Else wise you become the very thing that lets them continue.
MrCBM56
MrCBM56 - 6/29/2013, 10:59 PM
JokerFanHahaHa

Trust me man, you're the one user I don't try to argue with on this site because you will make me feel stupid in a second. Haha. But seriously, consider it. And Goyer has never done a great job working by himself. He has excellent ideas in his head, he just doesn't know how to translate them to paper very well. Have Goyer come up with the ideas/story, have some one else write it. I can't stress enough on why that needs to happen. And with Lois...she was just trying to make herself too involve. That's not Amy Adams fault because I feel she did well for what she worked with, but she was too much of a pest for me.

I hope Snyder returns for a sequel because he brung superman to life, all we need is a screen writer who can now bring Clark to life.
Batarangmandan
Batarangmandan - 6/30/2013, 2:05 AM
@ThemanfromMars the comics code was only established in the mid 50's.

@superotherside Couldn't they play the story out like that, all though Superman wins he stills come of as a bit naive and selfish?
superotherside
superotherside - 6/30/2013, 6:47 AM
Batarangmandan Maybe, but I always believe no matter what Clark would ultimately make the right choice.
RobGrizzly
RobGrizzly - 6/30/2013, 11:01 AM
@Pesmerga44:

You might not understand the concept of a comparison, but the whole point is to look at the similarities OR DIFFERENCES between two things. So thanks for helping make my point-
Marvel movies and their heroes stomp goons and monsters. DC's current movies and heroes have more serious matters to be concerned with. It's a simple observation.
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