I’m sick to death of ‘Origin’ stories. Whether it is the rehashing of Peter Parker being bitten by a radioactive Spider for the million and thirtieth time or reiterating the beginnings of the X-Men, Avengers or other flagship titles/characters so that new audiences have a ‘jump on point’. Continuity is overrated, right? Especially when the powers that be can just hit a reset button for each and every generation.
Skipping the all too frequent lampooning trope of ‘Well, you know…there’s nothing new under the Sun’ maybe THEY assume that WE (the all consuming media public) need to be reminded of the catalyst that started it all. The one moment that changed said everyman/woman, hero/villain into something amazing. Retelling their motivations, what makes them tick, why they choose to fight for justice and peace or pursue pure evil and hate. Maybe these companies just need a return on their investment, story arcs be damned!
Origins are not a starting point. Often with comic books, television and other media, I find myself thick into the plot, past the point of origin. It can be the same with people who float in and out of our lives. How important is it to know every little tidbit of information or flash back to before we were introduced? Instead of pursuing these stories, which have been told ad nauseum,why not create NEW ADVENTURES?
The Iconic Studio Houses promise mind-blowing revamps during their yearly summer blockbuster events. Most of the time this is nothing more than window redressing of the status quo. We are robbed of experiencing something brave and different. YO! Take risks! Stop the drawn out ‘nothing ever comes of these’ plot points that don’t go anywhere. Do not raise ideas for your audience, only to ignore them in later developments and STOP with crossover events that do not have any consequences.
Don’t get me wrong, I am partially to blame because I continue to support this rehashing of the past–the occasions when I just want to spend time with cool characters doing cool stuff, those tried and true formulaic mainstays at their repetitive best– but it is time for these legends to grow up, realize their full potential and win back their kingdoms.
Am I slightly naive to want something that is not broken in the eyes of many to be fixed? Is this type of thinking stifling or simplistic?
On the other hand, in any medium, is it healthy for the majority of creators/writers/producers to only be interested in continuing stories and mythos that were created half a century ago? When did people start wanting everything looking and reading the same?
OR..could even a drop in the for-hire or creator-owned work bucket generate FRESH new ripples that would inspire others in their chosen industries to thrive and ,in turn,evolve into something greater than anyone could have predicted?
Either way, something HAS to change.
Be ambitious.
Be curious.
Leave your comfort zone and believe in something new. The way forward IS originality. Earn the title of creator and actually create.
‘What’s past is prologue’- The Tempest
Peace, Dagobot!