Friend Or Foe

Are movies killing or saving comic books?

- Adi De Larrazabal

Unless you’ve been deliberately avoiding pop culture trends this past decade, it’s hard to ignore the steady rise in popularity of Comic Culture.

Whether it’s the proliferation and skyrocketing attendance of the various Comic-Cons, the increasing number of television shows based on or inspired by comics, or the growing number of fans, you can’t deny that Comic Culture is here to stay.

One of the most visible manifestations of this is the widespread prevalence of comic book-based movies. While films featuring superheroes are nothing new, the past ten years has seen those movies dominate the box office. Although these films have generally been well-liked by audiences, the release of Iron Man in 2008 heralded a sharp increase in the popularity of the superhero film. It turned a popular trend into a global pop culture (and box office) phenomenon.

The success is easy to see. But what effect does this runaway success have on the primogenitor of these amazing stories: the humble comic book? Are comic book movies killing or saving the comic industry?

HOT OFF THE SHELVES

The first thing one looks at to ascertain an industry’s health is its profits. Has the comic book industry enjoyed increased profits this last decade? The simple answer is: absolutely.