The problem with many superhero franchises is that they have created too many heroes. Its next to impossible for all of them to have their share of the limelight when they are together. Old heroes like spider man, Iron Man and Hulk continue to be fan favorites.
It’s important to add new characters and plot lines to keep things fresh, especially in long running series like those by marvel and dc. But having everyone save the world is not going to feel that impactful. Ant man is trying to do the same thing as the Thor. Wolverine is not all that different from Captain America.
In large part the appeal of superheroes lies not in their motivation ( to save the world etc) but in their personality. The energy of Flash is in stark contrast with the reserve of Batman.
Each superhero has a unique world that shapes their persona. The upbeat college life of Peter Parker is different from the quiet life of reporter Clark Kent. And separately each hero has their fans.
Getting them all together in a story is quite difficult, however. Not only because the world in which they operate,the familiar environment is no longer present but also their personalities are muted in a group.
For this reason I believe that there should be a few superheroes that are backed by a big and colorful supporting cast. Everyone should have their roles. A place where they can fit.
Moreover a superhero story should begin as a group and then branch off into sub series and individual plotlines. So that the audience first gets a quick look at all the people that make the team and then get to know more about them at their own pace.
This is one of the areas I felt that the Avengers lacked. Even after creating a plot that spanned the entire universe, some characters felt totally out of place. Guardians of the Galaxy team was overshadowed.It wouldn’t have made any difference they were not in the movie.
The challenge that story tellers face is how to keep things fresh with the same set of characters. It’s not impossible. Tom and jerry never get old. Neither does Street Fighter. Or bugs bunny. Or mickey mouse.
It’s true that Final Fantasy can go on forever because it changes the cast in every game. But so can Mario. It’s the same jumping plumber delivering hit after hit for 30 years.
With changing characters you need to create an impact fast. Save the world, diffuse the bomb ,sacrifice your life etc etc. The stakes have to be higher because there is so little time to make the audience care.
With the same characters the story evolves slowly. People become familiar with them. And even boring things like the protagonists enjoying a cone of ice cream can appear charming.
workrockin@gmail.com
workrock 