Marvel is creating what have been described as "radical new looks" for Thor, Captain America and Iron Man. I would describe it as "a liberal move at exactly the wrong time". I'm not against female or black superheros folks. I even watched Wonder Woman as a kid (yes it was cheesy but Lynda Carter was hot). But "radical" is on its way out and "conservative" is on the way in. Fans will thus hate these new characters and they will be a huge flop, perhaps the worst misstep for Marvel that I can remember.
Indeed, they couldn't just stop at the new "look" (is changing a he-man Thor into a shemale Thor really just a "look"??). They actually changed Iron Man's official name to "Superior Iron Man". Gawd, shades of Obama "American Exceptionalism" stupidity. The new conservative movement does not like elitism, especially of the self aggrandizing variety. Holy cluster frak, Batman.
This liberal strategy might have worked over the past 5 years but it is DOA at this point for all the reasons I have already stated. The new conservative herd-think is going to throw up all over the new, diworsified, politically correct "avengers now".
Marvel has delivered some stupefying and horribly received story lines over the years - Spiderman Clone saga anyone??...but this decision could be the worst. Not only is the timing completely wrong from a social standpoint (as you pointed out); the timing from a business perspective is terrible as well.
ReplyDeleteMarvel just had 2 huge worldwide box office hits in the last year with Thor 2 ($644M) & Captain America 2 ($712). Oh and Avengers 2 is due in theaters May 2015, the sequel to the 2012 $1.5B worldwide grossing blockbuster. Makes perfect sense to replace/radically change your mega-franchises 3 core characters....
Just another reason (in addition to the wave counts) to sell or short DIS shares.
~J.T. Marlin