You would think a successful writer/producer like David S. Goyer who has made his fortune as the golden boy of comic book adaptations for Warner Bros. would have more reverence for the medium he exploits and some would say mangles. During a podcast he was asked how he would tackle the stories of particular heroes and it devolved quickly. He described his theory of She-Hulk as a "giant green porn star that only the Hulk could fuck" and went on to challenge the virginity of fans of the Martian Manhunter. The man who could be tasked to write a potential Wonder Woman movie is also a sexist douchebag.
There is no denying Goyer's success with screenplay and story credits for Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, Man of Steel, its sequel and the planned Justice League movie. So his comments are extremely disappointing to a fanbase that have had to defend his projects over the years in the wake of a string of Marvel box office hits. Especially with brain droppings like this:
So the Hulk was this classic male power fantasy. It’s like, most of the people reading comic books were these people like me who were just these little kids getting the shit kicked out of them every day… And so then they created She-Huk, right? Who was still smart… I think She-Hulk is the chick that you could fuck if you were Hulk, you know what I’m saying?
As if devaluing and demeaning one of the best female characters in comics into a sex buddy for her cousin Hulk wasn't bad enough Goyer moved on to another green hero but not before digging in his bag of tropes for this question to the audience:
“How many people in the audience have heard of Martian Manhunter?” After hearing some light applause and cheers, he added, “How many people that raised their hands have ever been laid?”
Classy. This one was more bizarre because he should know better than to dredge up the outdated stereotypical virginity slam since he is knee deep in geek culture. Also, Martian Manhunter has been a staple of the Justice League for years especially for fans of the animated series. Kids have grown up on J'onn J'onzz so why wouldn't they know him? Yet, his problems with MM have to do with his chosen profession?
He can’t be fucking called the Martian Manhunter because that’s goofy. He can be called Manhunter… The whole deal with Martian Manhunter is he’s an alien living amongst us… So he comes down to Earth and decides, unlike Superman who already exists in the world now, that he’s just going to be a homicide detective… So instead of using super-powers and mind-reading and like, oh, I could figure out if the President’s lying or whatever, he just decides to disguise himself as a human homicide detective.
It's an interesting criticism because MM isn't really addressed as Martian Manhunter and while yes he chose to play a detective by day Goyer forgot to mention he was saving the world alongside the Justice League by night. He also wanted to change his origin story involving Area 51 or some nonsense.
These type of remarks are usually found on message boards by snarky sexist fanboys not professional superhero movie screenwriters. It's all the more enlightening that when Ben Affleck was cast as Batman in the Man of Steel sequel, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, he brought in the Oscar-winning screenwriter of his film Argo to rewrite Goyer's script. Rewrites are common in the movie business but with a tent pole movie with so much riding on it Goyer will just have to settle for a story credit.
It may be time for Warner Bros. to set Goyer out to pasture. It's been an incredible run with billions to show for it but the future of DC Comics on film should not rely on one person. He's penciled in to write the Justice League movie but if his distaste of MM is any indication he may not do it justice. After his remarks about She-Hulk the thought of him writing a Wonder Woman movie sent a collective shiver across the internet. Comic book movie fans deserve better.
Source: The Mary Sue
UPDATE: Co-creator and writer Stan Lee of She-Hulk (along with artist John Buscema) told The Washington Post in response to Goyer's "theory" that Hulk's cousin was created with more than sexiness in mind. “I know I was looking for a new female superhero, and the idea of an intelligent Hulk-type grabbed me,” Lee said adding,"Never for an instant did I want her as a love interest for Hulk.” It makes one wonder what kind of person comes up the sex buddy angle on She-Hulk's purpose for existing. “Only a nut would even think of that,” Lee offering a theory of his own.
Comments
Post a Comment