Origin Stories: Do all CBM's Need One?

Ever since the first Spider-man movie we have been seeing tons of comic book movies where the first movie is usually an origin story. But, do they all need one?

Editorial Opinion
By StuckInPanels - Jan 20, 2010 09:01 PM EST
Filed Under: Other

For instance, the Tim Burton Batman(the best one ever, in my opinion) doesn't delve deep into his past, we see it near the end and thats it. The movie takes place where he's already been fighting crime and it just goes on from there. The only other movie I know that doesn't do the movie as an origin is the Phantom.

Now the X-men movies aren't origin-based until they made Wolverine's origin and we all know how that went well.

Also the one odd thing about the 2 Hulk films is that they aren't coherent with continuity, the Norton one seemed closer to the show instead of the Bana one. With a rumor the new spider-man series not being an origin story seems to make the most scents. We all know how he gets his powers and costumes, why waste more time and money on scenes we don't need?

Back to the case at hand. While origin stories are always the best place to start with any potential blockbuster series, not all comics need it, especially when the character has a strong fanbase and is part of the pop culture scene. Like should the next Superman movie even need an origin basis, or if we get a Wonder Woman movie, do we need her origin told in a 2 hour movie?

This is not against origin movies, just sorta begs the question. If you know any other comic book movie thats not an origin story for the series and character. good luck with that.

BlackAirs out

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DogsOfWar
DogsOfWar - 1/20/2010, 10:24 PM
Blade
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 1/20/2010, 10:53 PM
The two Hulk movies were set in different continuities. I feel that movies should tell important stories in a character's life. The origin story is one of the most important stories for any character, so a well done origin movie is highly desirable. People may know the story already, but that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be put on film. Very well done origin movies help to give general audiences a better understanding of characters. While I can respect your opinion on Burton's Batman being the best, I feel that Batman Begins was better executed and since it really went deeper into who Batman is, it layed a strong foundation for movies that came afterward.
That said, origin stories don't always work out very well Hulk, Wolverine, and Fantastic Four were all let-downs. i guess not all heroes need the origin told, but the important thing is to make the plot of the movie strong whatever story you go with.
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 1/21/2010, 10:29 AM
No. They don't.
georgia49th
georgia49th - 1/21/2010, 10:56 AM
Well I know of one comic book character that didn't get a origin or background story until 5 years after his debut.
Jonah Hex didn't get his back story told until the late 70's, made his first appearance in 1972 and his background story wasn't told until 1977 in Jonah Hex #7 and #8
Issue #7 dealt with his unhappy childhood and being sold to the Apaches as a slave by his father.
Issue #8 deals with how he recieved his scar "The Mark of The Demon."
Boekelaar
Boekelaar - 1/21/2010, 10:14 PM
Not completely necessary especially in the case of a reboot of a recent line of films (like spiderman) because we already know the basic origin all we really need is an incredible hulk style retelling and everything will be sweet.
BubbaDude
BubbaDude - 1/27/2010, 2:27 PM
Daredevil is another one where the origin was shown, but not as an integral part of the plot.


I don't think it's absolutely necessary, but as Anil wrote, it helps set up a story. Gives some needed expostiton, and tells how the main character developed.


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