Jonny_Rogers

Was I the only person that initially thought the 'Unite the Seven' referred to the continents? If the rumours that the Justice League are going to be UN sponsored or organised are true, then could this be a general symbol for world peace and unity?

Regardless of everything I dislike about Marvel (the cinematic universe's sense of humour, specifically), this is pretty awesome.

Do you think this speaks to the value and social position of Superman as an international icon?

I do not mean to discredit GOTG's achievements (even though I consider it to be the worst film I've seen this year...), it only seems to be America that has responded so well to the film - here, in Britain, people have largely been a little indifferent (but I don't know if that's just the sort of people I've been talking to), and that seems to be shown in box office results.

By far, one of the things I least liked about the film was that it depended too much on humour and references - something that only really appeals to the general American comedic sensibilities; something that, without which, the film would expose it's underlying lack of plot and coherency.

This was something I was thinking about a while ago... One thing that I think is brilliant about LOSH is that it exists as one of the few long-running series (in any medium) that retains an optimistic outlook on the future of humanity.

Also - I'm loving those Animal Man and Justice League Dark suggestions.

Has anyone heard anything about Hourman? Of all the reported upcoming series, I was most interested in that idea.

The only major problem I had with the episode was that it felt like it couldn't decide whether it should be a film or a TV programme - there are many allusions to ideas that probably will be explored later, as well as subtle anecdotes like the meta-contextual 'Ship of Theseus' paradox reference, but the conclusion felt somewhat like it was trying too hard to be cinematic, and inevitably felt weighted by their ignorance of the medium's own limitations.

In all fairness, I don't think I would have liked the episode as much if not my liking of director Ben Wheatley.

@tony_shark:

With great respect, I somewhat beg to differ. Marvel films capture part of what Marvel comics do, but DC has and will always be very different. If you consider films like the Dark Knight trilogy, then I see what you mean (but I don't really like them as comic-book films any more), but pretty much every other DC film has captured the element of at least part of the respective source material; even Green Lantern was a brilliant translation of the silver age stories, and Watchmen couldn't really be more like the graphic novel (until the end, I guess).

Man of Steel, I personally think, deals with its influence and source material better than any other comic-book film in the past few years (with the possible exception of Dredd, which I retain is the best comic-book adaption we've seen so far) - the subtle influence from stories like All-Star Superman in MOS is nuanced and unpronounced, but exists only to aid a coherent and extensive emotional realism in an otherwise original narrative... which has yet to be seen in the larger-than-life displays of money and vanity that Disney churn out at an excessive rate.

What I take issue in is how Marvel films are becoming a genre, which the general public are misappropriating with comic-book films. I mean, they exist as a definite and strong subset of comic-book films, but they should never be considered a good substitute for the other 90% of the medium's potential. If people are so desperate to see comic-books 'come to life', why don't more people actually read comics? We need more original stories to balance out this, like adaptations of more Vertigo Comics and golden age properties.

I don't want it to appear as if I'm taking issue in what you're saying, but I just don't want to see the medium be limited by the public's accepting of stereo-types and colossal misappropriations, with I think Marvel studios aren't helping with.... and I certainly don't want comic-book films for the sake of it.

Does anyone else prefer what WB is doing in terms of releasing DC films (assuming that the rumoured leak is false)?

I mean, I actually feel like I've earned watching each DC film (and no, I haven't ever been disappointed), having waited so long. It feels like everything Disney produces is trying to satiate the hunger of the currently bloated film and TV mediums. I mean, everyone here should know how diverse and expansive the comic-book medium is, but it seems that pretty much all originality and anticipation is now being sacrificed in favour of stealing our money at every turn.

Whilst I really can't stand pretty much anything about The Avengers, I must admit that I was very impressed by The Winter Soldier - and, honestly, is really the only film put out by the studio that I would say I've enjoyed.

I haven't had the time (or interest, honestly) to watch any Arrow since the end of season one, but the one thing that did always impress me about the show was that they managed to include minor and obscurer characters in a coherent and unforced manner. That isn't to say that Ray Palmer is that obscure (or that he should be), but it seems like the show will be responsible for redefining another character that comics have kind of forgotten in recent years.