Comic book movies 101: Are there only three story patterns?

Comic book movies 101: Are there only three story patterns?

Firstly Hero has his origin, secondly hero gets an identity-crisis and thirdly hero turns evil only to revert back to good again...?

Editorial Opinion
By LuckyKyd - Dec 02, 2009 05:12 PM EST
Filed Under: Other
Source: Empireonline.com

Okay, so you will have to read the article in the bottom, but it is pretty simple. The clever lady of the article "Are there only three superhero stories?", make a good point. She writes in the article that ít seems like there only is three different ways of doing af movie about a superhero. A)Origin - B)Identity-crisis - C)Turning evil(though I don't see how strolling down the street looking like an emo is evil, but thats just me). But it is true that trilogies like Spiderman and Superman followed this pattern.

We can quickly agree that a CBM can't be done without A), or at least a little bit of A) (like Punisher: War Zone and The Incredible Hulk), you will have to show the characters origin, just like you would ordinarily introduce any other character in any other movie, be it a horror or a romance, thats just pure basics. But B) is not really necessary I reckon, and certainly not C), so why is it that this pattern in one way or another can be applied to so many CBM.

Well lets see it is some of the most used themes in comic books, the very source of these movies. It is exciting to see our heroes battle with uncertainties towards their duty, their power and their normal lifes at the sideline, not to mention ethics. And sometimes these uncertainties lead to the hero breaking with some of his moral standards and turns evil(seen from a black-and-white perspective).

But thats just my opinion and I would like to know what you guys think, is there only three ways of doing a CBM, only these paths to follow, or are there others? And is it really that bad if there is only three? - I mean her idea of how Iron Man 2,3 could unfold, I gotta say I'm hooked, I would not mind at all if it is the same pattern being reused, as long as Favre is doing it I'm on! :D


Lyky90: So, this was my first article, sort of I guess. Hope you guys liked it and constructive criticism is always useful, so let the tiger out of the cage. Peace...

THE 4:30 MOVIE Interview: Filmmaker Kevin Smith On How His Passion For The Theater Shaped New Film (Exclusive)
Related:

THE 4:30 MOVIE Interview: Filmmaker Kevin Smith On How His Passion For The Theater Shaped New Film (Exclusive)

THE FRANCHISE: Trailer For Max Series Starring Daniel Brühl Reveals Chaos Inside World Of Superhero Filmmaking
Recommended For You:

THE FRANCHISE: Trailer For Max Series Starring Daniel Brühl Reveals Chaos Inside World Of Superhero Filmmaking

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

supermarioworldE
supermarioworldE - 12/2/2009, 10:56 PM
Good article. Good points. I hate this three way formula. The origin story usually works but there are rare exceptions in which the origin story takes so long for the heroes to become heroes, that there's nothing for them to do in the movies, ex: Fantastic four. The identity crisis thing nearly ruined spiderman 2, Superman 2, and The Dark Knight. These dudes just became superheroes, and want to give up by the second movie? The going to the dark side thing always sucks ex: Dark phoenix (underused in a stupid x-men movie), Symbiote spiderman (emo), and Dark superman (since when did drinking alcohol in a bar with stubble on your chin make you evil?).
13ulletpr00f17
13ulletpr00f17 - 12/3/2009, 10:21 AM
well the origin thing has to be done any way you look at it really since a CBM's purpose is to help re-introduce and update the hero back into the mainstream system so there are more fans which leads to more money...which kinda sounds bad but thats kinda the way it works...and it the key is to use the proper lore of the character to make it equally accessible to both fans new to the character or people that have been fans for years.

i kinda disagree with supermario about the identity-crisis nearly ruining spiderman 2 and TDK cuz spiderman 2 was indeed the best one outta the 3 and TDK was just brilliant. The main point to the identity crisis of the hero is to test his/her resolve to their cause, whether or not they have what it takes to be a hero which we as the audience already know they do.

Anyways good topic to bring up, didnt really think about the story outlines until it was brought up!

StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 12/3/2009, 10:28 AM
It's interesting enough, but it's hardly a complete picture of the issue.

thatiscrazy
thatiscrazy - 12/3/2009, 10:29 AM
For some reason people feel that just because its a comic book movie it has to be centered around the origins story for the first go round. This isnt always the case, look at Pitch Black or Hancock or even the XMEN (which I Hate). Are all good examples of the main character(s) already being who they are with only hints of their origins, it adds antacipation.

I think CBMs are the way they are because Hollywood is run by none creative types
IrvineGray
IrvineGray - 12/3/2009, 10:33 AM
Ha ha, this article made me laugh because it's so damn true! But formulas are what keep Hollywood running. They have their successes (Batman Begins, TDK, Spidey, Iron Man, etc.) and they have their failures (Punisher, Ghost Rider, Hulk, etc.). It's all about what story is being told, what details in the story make it unique and different as compared to others in its genre, and how well was the story told.

It's how movies work. People take a "chance" with a CBM because of the great idea presented by it, but it still has a chance to fail if the great idea isn't executed properly. So what does that mean studio execs? Sure, take a chance on CBM's and formulas, but make sure you hire someone like Favs or Brannagh, people with a vision for the character, and not people who are lookin to jump on the bandwagon. (Lookin' at you Ratfink and Hoodwinked!)
Gauntlet
Gauntlet - 12/3/2009, 10:34 AM
Another variation is the second movie features the Hero(s) teaming up with the villian from the first film to battle a more powerful foe.

X-Men 2 (X-Men team with Magneto and Mystique to fight Stryker)

FF 2 (the FF team with Doom to capture Silver Surfer)

Blade 2 (Blade and Whistler team with vampires to fight...um...other vampires)


Of course it always backfires by the end of the film.
BassMan
BassMan - 12/3/2009, 10:48 AM
well, i agree that they are a very common plot source, but i wouldn't say the only(excluding a, thats in every movie)kind. look at watchmen for example. that movie had it all then some: origins of heroes, heroes quitting their duty, and one turning "evil". Yet there was so much more depth than just that, so much more story. another point is that these stories were the biggest of the big in the comics, of course they want to turn them celluloid. it took spidey decades(real world) before he wanted to quit, movies just move along faster. hit and miss
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 12/3/2009, 11:07 AM
of course there is not only that pattern. some CBM's have broken that mold. but it IS a common pattern. i personally hate the ones that make the hero question himself and stop being a hero. spiderman 2 was the only one to do it and still be great.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 12/3/2009, 11:42 AM
INCREDIBLE HULK did'nt need an origin and thank [frick] they didn't, WARZONE was sh1t coz of the script was total sh1t!

LYKY @ Good points though man, it seems HOLLYWOOD needs to think outside the box lol!
LuckyKyd
LuckyKyd - 12/3/2009, 3:51 PM
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God - My first article and it reaches main :D

Thatiscrazy@ I agree, you don't have to always do the origin. I'm really afraid they are gonna [frick] one of my favourit characters Deadpool up in the upcoming movie, because they probably wanna put something I that makes him more morally right, so we can feel sorry for him because of his cancer or something. I would actually want them just to show a create story about him, not necessarily with any origin at all.
I mean, come on, they(FOX is always to blame, when something blows totally out of proportions) already [frick]ed it up one time, thet could just as easily [frick] it up this time.
Phinehas
Phinehas - 12/3/2009, 5:33 PM
Congratulations on making main, lyky90!

Ive said it before, and I say it infinitely more:

Serials are the way for CBMs to go! They have a near infinite amount of source material from the comic books or graphic novels themselves that are screaming to be converted to screenplays! Man! You don't even need storyboards!!! Just blow up the panels in the comics onto a poster board!!!

Geez! Am I the only one?
arielito92
arielito92 - 12/3/2009, 6:01 PM
Punisher warzone was an action masterpiece. Incredible Hulk was waay better than the one in 2003. Long debate short, soe CBM's just need a different mix to the story in order to make it interesting. Hopefully spider man 4 will change things.

Great article dude!
Ramb2814
Ramb2814 - 12/4/2009, 2:20 AM
nice!!!!great article....didn't notice it until i read this.
didn't "Hancock" has all 3 of those in the first movie?
wonder what 2nd movie would be like...
View Recorder