Are we at peak comic book tv?

Are we at peak comic book TV? 

By Luke Tesluk 

 In 2015, Steven Speilberg made a bold prediction about superhero movies by stating that they would face a decline in mirroring that of the Western genre. He remarked, “We were around when the Western died and there will be a time when the superhero movie goes the way of the Western.” The director, however, went on to advise that such an occurrence “doesn't mean there won't be another occasion where the Western comes back and the superhero movie someday returns."

 While Spielberg may have been correct about the genre, he is mistaken about the medium. Superhero movies are thriving despite being popped out at assembly-line speed – a dime a dozen. Aquaman went from being a punchline on Entourage to earning $1 billion last December. Spiderman: Far from Home earned the same amount this summer despite being the eighth movie featuring the web-slinger. As a consequence, these films show no signs of dropping either revenue or attendance despite the occasional misfire (I’m looking at you Justice League!).

Superhero and comic book adaptations for television have had a polar opposite outlook. While shows on networks like the CW have been successful, others have not been as fortunate. As a result, comic book-based programming has been axed on Netflix, the Sci-Fi Channel, and other outlets. Warner Brother’s Swamp Thing, which was supposed to kick start DC Universe (DC Comic’s streaming platform), was canceled after airing it's first episode (leaving them the same shade of green as the titular character). The following shows were cancelled *blipped* out of existence by network execs: Legion (FX), Krypton (Sci-Fi), Jessica Jones(Netflix), The Punisher(Netflix), Daredevil(Netflix), Iron Fist(Netflix), Luke Cage(Netflix), Swamp Thing(DC Universe), Deadly Class(Scy Fy), The Tick(Amazon), The Gifted(Fox), Outcast(Cinemax) , Happy! (SyFy), and Marvel’s New Warriors(Freeform). Networks also skipped several high profile projects, which included a Lobo spinoff (from Krypton), The Secret Six, and Ghost Rider. Therefore, such concrete evidence displays an unwillingness to commit to superhero/comic book content. This skepticism, however, would have been considered unthinkable five years ago.

Even reliable hits like the Walking Dead have seen a significant decline in ratings and viewership, becoming as lifeless as the walkers themselves. Several comic book series is ending, including Arrow, Agents of Shield, and Preacher after running for several seasons. Who is killing off all these superheroes? Not Ozymandias or Thanos. I believe there are multiple culprits behind these cancellations.

The first is the fact that there are more tv shows adapted from comic books in syndication than ever before. While this would have been a novelty a decade ago, such a trend has now become commonplace. Therefore, the market for such shows has become highly saturated.

The Golden Age of Television is another party responsible for these cancellations. As we’re living in an era where shows are on par with the quality of the films, there is a lot more competition for viewers than ever before. Combined with the rise of social media and streaming (which has likely reduced the attention span of the average viewer), such circumstances have made shows with moderate ratings less successful.

These cancellations will impact decisions by networks in the foreseeable future. Networks may be less likely to commit to greenlighting comic book superhero shows in the future. Some providers may attribute these show’s low viewership and ratings due to a lack of awareness of the source material among their audiences. They equate lesser-known programming with a lower chance of green lighting. The danger here is that this mindset could also prevent future big comic shows from seeing the light of day. While most individuals were initially unaware of Supergirl, Green Arrow, and the Flash prior to their adaptations, they have become mainstream superheroes.

The good news is that there is still hope for comic book shows. The Boys and The Umbrella Academy are two of the most popular shows on television to date. The show’s successes are due in part because they provided a fresh and unique take on the genre. At the moment, there are several new comic book shows in the works such as Ms. Marvel, Falcon, and The Winter Soldier, She-Hulk, Invincible, WandaVision, and America Flagg. The HBO adaptation of Watchmen, however, may have trouble finding an attentive audience amid the recent trends mentioned above, which bodes the question: will anyone watch Watchmen?