Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. has created DC Entertainment Inc. to “fully realize the power and value of the DC Comics brand and characters across all media and platforms” which I’m interpreting as do a better job of getting DC Comics properties into more markets such as films, tv, web etc. Comics Reporter Tom Spurgeon doesn’t believe this is in direct response to the announced Disney purchase of Marvel but an attempt to catch up on the super hero movie trend.
I would assume this is response to the longstanding perception that DC Comics has been lax in their development of hit movie properties in comparison to Marvel. Whereas for some the gigantic success of The Dark Knight seemed to “answer” Marvel’s somewhat of a surprise hit with Iron Man, it also threw a spotlight on the lack of a partner property of that stature or a serious development plan for the line in general.
hope this boosts ’em up a little,(DC)
That it took a name change (and a company/departmental re-org of some kind) to make this shift in focus is testament to the difficulty of large companies to turn their ship around.
What troubles me is that they haven’t named a publisher. All this talk of “content,” and no mention of comic books. Paul Levitz leaves behind huge shoes to fill. Let’s cross our fingers that this goes well for fans and creators.
It’s true, though, that as far as movies go, DC is way behind Marvel. What does DC have? Batman and Superman. That’s it. And don’t say Catwoman, because that doesn’t count. I’m sure movies with The Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Hawkman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and a myriad of other characters, not to mention the Justice League and Teen Titans, would be big hits. DC animated television series have done very well, using many of those characters, and of course we can’t forget Smallville. Why not bring it to the movies?
All of this, of course, to increase readership. Getting more characters into more different types of media will generate more interest in more people to read more comics. More.
If anything the DC characters are overexposed. You can’t turn on the TV without running into some kind of DC character. The Batman movies are always on cable. Cartoon Network is practically the DC channel. Walk into any video store and in the children’s section you’ll see loads of DC related DVDs. Didn’t Warner just release the Fleischer Superman’s on DVD? This stuff is everywhere.
Looks like Warner now sees roughly four billion reasons to torque up its DC line.
I hope this means more cool movies like Dark Knight.
Smallville writers have done an excellent job in reinventing Green Arrow. DC needs to take that same approach with all of their heros.