What does Netflix's cancellation of its Marvel adaptations suggest?
Netflix has announced that it will cancel all future seasons of Jessica Jones and The Punisher. The former is just about to release its third season on Netflix while the latter just had its second season debut in January.What could be the reason? They say further down the article:
The scripts for the shows will join Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Daredevil in the great garbage bin in the sky and signify the end of an era for the streaming service.
The cancellation isn't too surprising given the recent cancellations of Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Daredevil, but it's still unfortunate nonetheless.But if the 4 shows aren't revived, that could suggest they're not doing so well in ratings. IMO, it's hard to feel sorry a show based on a Brian Bendis creation got canned, and I'm honestly disappointed they based the look for Luke Cage on the image Bendis had developed as far back as 2002, with a bald head and beard. If they don't like the metallic tiara, that's one thing, but why they think a guy who had hair on his head in better days has to be changed to something so ludicrous as a bald head and beard is plain stupefying (curiously enough, the character design today makes him look much taller than Iron Fist, whereas in the Bronze Age, while he may have been taller than Danny Rand, he wasn't as gigantic looking as he looks in some illustrations I've seen of Luke Cage post-2002).
While neither Netflix nor Marvel has come out with a clean answer as to why these shows are getting canned despite decent viewership and stalwart fanbases, some suspect that it has to do with a disagreement between the two media powerhouses and the imminent arrival of Disney’s own streaming service Disney+.
All that aside, it's just too hard for me to care about live action adaptations of comics that are being desecrated by uncaring hooligans who insult the fans every chance they get. Without respect for the source material, there's no point in upholding live action adaptations.
Labels: marvel comics, msm propaganda
"something so ludicrous as a bald head and beard is plain stupefying."
Can you explain this? You've harped, repeatedly, about Luke Cage's baldness, in comics and on television, seemingly ignoring that countless men -- black and white -- have shaved heads and facial hair. What is your "stupefying" issue with that?
Posted by Anonymous | 12:44 PM
To me, Netflix canceling shows based on comix means that the MCU is reaching it's "sell by" date. Comics are cyclical depending on the age demographic of it's readers and the present downturn may, in fact, be one of the normal downturn periods. If so, then the attempt at social justice relevance an attempt to follow the present demographic bump as it got older and is actually hastening the trend. Frankly, in it's present incarnation the sooner the present comics reset the better. I feel sorry for the mom and pop comic stores, but hopefully there will be some kind of manga/independent comics boom in the near future, like there was in the late 90s.
Posted by Mr. Bee | 11:02 AM
The past is not an accurate indication of the future.
Sometimes, things go in circles. Sometimes, they don't.
There is no Ottoman Empire coming back. Wages are not keeping up with inflation anymore no matter what is done.
Mr Bee writes" Comics are cyclical"
Comics sales have never recovered from their circulation numbers prior to the rise of the direct market. Westerns will never be popular again. Rock will never be popular again. Disco is NOT coming back.
"If so, then the attempt at social justice relevance an attempt to follow the present demographic bump" No, it's not. It built on the belief that prevails in marketing which states that a small devoted and affluent audience is more profitable than trying to appeal to everyone. Sprite is known as the "black" soft drink, Subaru is known as a (professiona class)lesbian car brand.
"Frankly, in it's present incarnation the sooner the present comics reset the better. I feel sorry for the mom and pop comic stores, but hopefully there will be some kind of manga/independent comics boom in the near future, like there was in the late 90s. "
There's this belief that's going on on economic doomer blogs that once a market or economy collapses it can magically be reset.
Resets--attempts to rebuild something don't happen unless the underlying problems that led to the collapse are addressed.
If the problems include decling readership, to than producing comics isn't simply going to cut it. Producing a "boom" in comics that is disproportionate to demand is just a bubble. What is needed growing number of paying customers who enjoy reading comics, something that is very difficult to accomplish. Most publishers settle for appealing to a niche--aging fanboys or academia, religious people and say. "well, that's just who our readership is."
Tom King made it very clear that "comics aren't for everyone." that reflects a desire on the part of those in the industry to keep the audience for comics small and insular but just to change who the customers are.
Posted by Saber Tooth Tiger Mike cro phone check one two one two | 4:41 PM
...what happened to you Mike?
Posted by Anonymous | 6:27 PM
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Posted by SUNITA | 3:01 AM