Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Robert Kirkman is no less than a visionary in the comic book world. From creating the dystopian apocalyptic world ofThe Walking Deadto creating the spectacular one-of-a-kind superhero tale withThe Invinciblecomics, Kirkman has many astounding credits to his name. Yet that is not all that he should be praised for, it is thanks to the subsequent transmedia adaptation ofThe Walking Deadthat gave impetus to the creation of many more transmedia adaptations.
After being such an instrumental force in the creation of comic book adaptations and more, there is still one thing that Kirkman absolutely hates that even Marvel has been guilty of. In an interview, the comic book writer revealed his absolute resentment for how the film industry tends to ‘dumb things’ down for the audience while making on-screen adaptations.
Robert Kirkman Dislikes The Film Industry’s Knack For ‘Dumbing it Down’
Transmedia adaptation, although not new, have long been criticized for not being faithful to the original source material. See Disney’s live-action reboots, Netflix’sAvatar: The Last Airbenderadaptation, or pretty much any other comic-to-screen adaptation, fans often point out how things are changed for each subsequent audience in the name of quality.
Thunderbolts: Invincible Creator Robert Kirkman Accidentally Confirms Major Marvel Casting
Yet, instead of changing the ‘quality’ for the sake of making it better, these quality changes end up making the content less and less worthwhile. When it comes to comic book adaptations, these quality changes are more often in the form ofdumbing things downfor the audience of visual media.
And this precisely is what the creator ofThe Walking Dead,Robert Kirkmanhas grown to hate. While talking toGames Beat, the screenwriter-producer stated how the industry hasa lot less respect for the original work.
“[There is] definitely less respect for the original work, and this mentality of, ‘We know how to make good things. We’ll take this thing and improve it…”
While Kirkman did state things have somewhat turned for the better, giving examples of the recentSonic The HedgehogandThe Last of Usadaptation, he maintains there is still a long way to go. And he isn’t wrong for even now studios like Marvel are always at the end of fire dumbing things down for their visual consumer base instead of treating their audience like adults.
“It is a minefield”: Robert Kirkman’s Invincible Season 3 Update is Just What the World Needs Amid Fledgling Marvel Projects
The Marvel Cinematic Universe And Its Knack For Making Thinks Dumb
Remember the Hammer-wielding, blue-eyed formidable God of Thunder from Marvel Comics? Well, you won’t if you have been a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite the presence of a God of Thunder, Thor has turned into more of a sluggish goofiest, clown-like character with no real resemblance to the actual comic book character (no fault of Chris Hemsworth) other than the physicality, perhaps.
And this is just one of the many reasons why Marvel’s MCU has been criticized ever since its very inception. Faithful fans of comic books have often pointed out how for the sake of pleasing fans (of visual media) Marvel often encourages the creation of a more ‘appealing and pleasing’ narrative no matter if the said narrative is a spew of absurdities with no relation whatsoever to the source (seeReddit).
“They shave the edges off”: Invincible Creator Has a Brutal Criticism for MCU Failure Despite Having Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans
From altering the narrative to changing actual characters, there are many instances throughout the course of Marvel’s MCU that loyal comic book fans have found problematic. Not only are complex yet intriguing narratives broken down to spoon-feed the audience, but characters are left undeveloped for the sake of catering to mass appeal and Thor is just one example of many.
Even though transmedia adaptation is certainly not without challenges, the transformation of beloved characters into parodies of their former selves illustrates a broader trend within Marvel’s MCU. By prioritizing mass appeal over narrative integrity, the MCU has left many faithful comic book fans feeling disconnected from the source material they once cherished. And this is what Robert Kirkman and many others have pointed out over the years.
WhileThe Walking Deadcan be streamed on Netflix, the MCU can be streamed on Disney+.
Maria Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2703
Maria Sultan is a dedicated News Content Writer at FandomWire. With over five years of professional experience and hundreds of published articles, she brings a wealth of expertise to her coverage of Marvel, K-dramas, and the latest on streaming platforms.Her work is not just about reporting news; it’s about providing insightful perspectives on the entertainment trends that matter most.
