Thursday, May 13, 2010

Water-based superheroes will never be popular

So both Marvel and DC are trying to launch an ongoing series about their own personal prince of Atlantis. For those of you not in the know, Marvel owns the golden age anti-hero Namor and DC owns the golden age fish talker, Aquaman.

I can't think of anything to say other than "Give up." These characters will never be popular. Do you know why? First, it is hard to identify with someone who spends ninety percent of their time underwater from an ancient and largely undefined mystical civilization. Second, most of your audience consists of insecure heterosexual males. They do not want to read a comic about a guy in a speedo. It would be better to replace them with Namora and Aquagirl. A comic about women in swim suits doesn't even have to be good to sell. Third, just come on! A superhero who fights in water? How many different stories can you come up with around that?

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