Two EW writers have the ultimate superhero smackdown
Its the greatest smackdown since The Hulk vs. Iron Man!
creatively burning out like the Human Torch in a hot tub?
Or are we, like Gotham City, getting the heroes we need and deserve?
Or a few years.
Lets be honest, no one wants to sit around and watch a straight drama anymore.
Do you thinkGilmore GirlsorFelicitywouldve been successful in this era of TV?
No, because viewers need a hook!
NATALIE: Zombies, spies, and the mob.
Those all have hooks!
JAMES: And you have me all wrong I actually love fantasy storytelling.
So there can be no true heros journey, and narratives are creatively strangled.
followed by a heartwarming resurrection.
Thats because none of these heroes are actually characters in a story.
Love what you want I have a deep affection for VH1sDating Nakedthat I cant defend at all.
But deep down you know most of these superhero titles are childrens cartoons with lavish effects budgets.
NATALIE: There are stakes!
Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) died a hero in the last act.
There are literally layers of storytelling to be had!
Case in point:Thor: Ragnarokis spoiler alert!
JAMES: Congrats on winning the coveted Nerdiest Paragraph of 2015 Award.
He was a guest star at best!
Take the upcomingCaptain America: Civil Waryou mentioned.
The trailer looks cool, yeah, but what are we really seeing here?
Its like watching pro-wrestling with CGI, complete with the outsized personas, insults and wild costumes.
I half expect Black Widow to throw a chair at Captain America.
NATALIE: Are you not entertained?
Over the past several decades of movies and TV shows, things have only gotten bigger and better.
Because America is bored.
JAMES: Eh, theyre like the Super Big Gulps of action scenes.
And again, the superhero fights very rarely have real stakes.
an incident never to be mentioned again, like it never happened.
NATALIE: Oh, sweet James.
Loki never actually cut off Thors hand!
It was, quite literally, a sleight of hand.
JAMES: Who can keep track of all the ways that Loki is magic?
NATALIE: Thats a wild generalization.
They may not always make the right decision, but thats what makes them so relatable.
JAMES: Role models?
You know who needs role models in entertainment?Children!
Boom, your points been Hulk Smashed.
Scarlet Witch, really?
NATALIE: I say the more the merrier.
The same goes for Marvel withAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.leading toAgent Carter, whileDaredevildovetailed intoJessica Jones.
This will, in turn, help boost the box office when films likeWonder WomanandCaptain Marvelfinally hit theaters.
In short, all hail lady heroes!
JAMES: Okay, Ill grant youJessica Jonesis terrific.
(Bruce Wayne waking up next to a model is the closest we usually get.)
Maybe Natalie, thats where the great venn diagram of our opposing comic show feelings overlap.
Its all about taking risks.
Will every project resonate the way this one has?
Youll never know until you try.
