What Is A Graphic Novel Without A Movie?

It is next to impossible to imagine today's American film industry without graphic novel adaptations, but it was not always like that.

When he recently attended a graphic novel convention in New York, Kevin Smith announced two new projects and, surprisingly, he did not say anything that would link his plans to direct with the passion he obviously has for graphic novels. Smith is a film director whose short, but successful opus makes his obsession with graphic novel easy to spot. His characters include graphic novel artists ("Chasing Amy"), enthusiasts ("Mallrats"), and even the graphic novel itself ("Jay and Silent Bob"). Still, no matter how much he loves graphic novels, he has not yet decided to adapt any of them for the big screen. There are other people for that, some other producers. Those who juggle the big cheques.

At the moment when "300" is a hit at the American Box Office and news abound about new sequels to comic book adaptations, we must ask ourselves what causes this, especially since a whole gamut of new heroes are about to be launched on the big screen. Our theatres are currently showing "Ghost Rider" and we will see one of the most popular comic book heroes, Silver Surfer, in the sequel to "Fantastic Four." But it does not end there! Over the next few years, we will see the adventures of Iron Man, the Watchmen, and most likely Wonder Woman (rights to the screenplay were bought) and Yorick Brown (Y: The Last Man). We will also witness the gathering of superheroes in Justice League. Warner is seriously flirting with the idea to put Superman, Batman, Flash, Aquaman, and who knows what other DC Comics heroes in the same script.

The secret of success

It does not take genius to conclude that a nice profit with the target audience is what keeps these graphic novels on the big screen. However, this profit is much easier to come by these days by means of efficient special effects, which have been advanced to such a degree that one can hardly tell the difference between what is filmed and what is computer generated. There are even more ingredients to be considered. For instance, the way the graphic novel relates to film. If we consider the graphic novel as a full blooded mass medium half way between a novel and a movie, i.e. if we consider its blend of the attractive visuals and the narration pervaded with populist and profane elements, which the film simply adores, we get the answer to the question of why these adaptations work so well.   

The aforementioned titles belong in the category that Harvey Pekar calls "kids' stuff." And who is he? He wrote the screenplay "American Splendor" and plays the lead in the eponymous movie. "American Splendor" is one of the rare movies in which comic book and movie intertwine. But this is not an ordinary adaptation for several reasons. Primarily because it is a movie about Harvey Pekar and not about a hero from his graphic novel. Yet, there is a "but." The hero of Pekar's graphic novel is Pekar himself. Still, it is not as if a good movie could not be found among ordinary movies and among ordinary heroes.

Both form and content

Good examples certainly include "Sin City," for its closeness to the classic film noir, but also for its exceptional visuals. When he directed "The Hulk," Ang Lee also did a good job. His green monster truly is more than just a beast gone wild. Characterization does not stop at archetypes, at the painfully simple black and white. One can conclude the same about the last "Batman Begins" directed by Christopher Nolan. James McTeigue's "V for Vendetta" is another good example that, along with polished visuals, provides a meaningful reason why they were created.

In what category does "300" belong? The first information on the Internet suggests that we got a new flashy movie, but that is to be discussed when it arrives to our theatres. It is expected to arrive on April 5. In the meantime, you can reward your mouse with another click and see the PHOTO GALLERY with some of the graphic novel heroes on the big screen – those we are already familiar with as well as those we have yet to meet.