The Inhumans Hit the Very Big and Small Screens
November 15, 2016 6:33 AM Subscribe
Marvel's The Inhumans will be an 8-episode live-action drama series on ABC, spinning off from Marvel's Agents of Shield. The first two episodes will be filmed in IMAX and premiere as a theatrical release on commercial IMAX screens in September 2017.
"The Inhumans, a race of superhumans with diverse and singularly unique powers, were first introduced in Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965."
"The Inhumans, a race of superhumans with diverse and singularly unique powers, were first introduced in Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965."
Lockjawwwww
posted by griphus at 6:47 AM on November 15, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by griphus at 6:47 AM on November 15, 2016 [13 favorites]
As background: Marvel's CEO Ike Perlmutter has been pushing the Inhumans hard in the comics, as an alternative to the X-Men, whose film rights are controlled by Fox. Unfortunately, except for the introduction of Ms. Marvel, the Inhumans have been kind of a flop in the comics, which is understandable since the Inhumans are just weird, and not very interesting characters.
And Kevin Feige has spent the last year or two trying to separate himself from Perlmutter, who doesn't have a great reputation. So it looks like Marvel TV and Marvel films are going off in their separate directions.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 6:50 AM on November 15, 2016
And Kevin Feige has spent the last year or two trying to separate himself from Perlmutter, who doesn't have a great reputation. So it looks like Marvel TV and Marvel films are going off in their separate directions.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 6:50 AM on November 15, 2016
Ah, good, one more Marvel group taken care of, which means my long held dream of that Kickers, Inc. series is getting all the closer.
posted by gusottertrout at 6:53 AM on November 15, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by gusottertrout at 6:53 AM on November 15, 2016 [6 favorites]
Not a spinoff, they're claiming.
Huh. That must be some pretty specific definition of "spin-off" they are using.
posted by He Is Only The Imposter at 7:02 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
Huh. That must be some pretty specific definition of "spin-off" they are using.
posted by He Is Only The Imposter at 7:02 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also, they easily could use this (and the upcoming Captain Marvel movie) as a launching pad for a Kamala Khan Ms. Marvel TV series later on.
KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNN!!!!!!!!
Kamala Khan and Squirrel Girl are my favourites !!
posted by Pendragon at 7:03 AM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNN!!!!!!!!
Kamala Khan and Squirrel Girl are my favourites !!
posted by Pendragon at 7:03 AM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'll be very interested in seeing what continuity, if any, they use to they bridge from Daisy, Yo-yo and the other Agents of SHIELD Inhumans to the classic Black Bolt, Medusa, et al., Inhumans beyond terrigenesis. Exciting news.
posted by the sobsister at 7:05 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by the sobsister at 7:05 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
I haven't been following Marvel teevee, but I do read far too many comics. So I'm talking about comics, not teevee...
The Avengers are, per the title, “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes,” the biggest and the best united to defeat the worst threats. The Defenders were “the Non-Team,” a collection of oddballs who don’t fit anywhere else who defeated the strangest threats. The X-Men are “the oppressed minority,” a group of people rejected by society for a common reason and find purpose in their unity. Other teams have other central concepts. What’s the central concept of the Inhumans?
Until the recent big push, the Inhumans were known for hiding in a super-tech city on the Moon, atop a South American mountain, anyplace far from American readers. Also, “The Inhumans” was shorthand for “the Inhuman Royal Family,” a group that seldom struck out into the world to help or be heroic. That’s pretty much it. The central concept of the Inhumans until recently has been “those secretive weirdos on the Moon or the Andes or wherever who have wacky powers and a teleporting pug dog the size of a grizzly bear.” There’s not a lot to work with. They were plot devices for Fantastic Four stories.
The explosion of “NuInhumans” (randos around the world who discover they’re Inhumans and manifest superpowers) over the last few years changes the concept, but it’s still a mess. It’s hard to think of a real-world parallel or a relevant emotion to engage a reader with this setup. “I suddenly overnight became different, and there’s a super-powerful magical kingdom filled with people like me and they came to town and get me!”
What can you do with that? The existence of the Royal Family borks up the “outsider” appeal that mutantcy creates. I mean, yeah, the X-Men have a sci-fi mansion and a jet and crap, but the Inhumans take it to another level.
Maybe it could work as a “Harry Potter” tale. (“Yer an Inhuman, Harry!”) Problem is, the NuInhumans aren’t children coming of age or discovering the broader world. They’re already adults. They’ve come of age and are aware of the broader world. The symbolism dies. There’s no spark of recognition, of common emotional ground between readers and NuInhumans. Unless you found out as an adult that you’re adopted and your birth family shows up to claim you and they’re a clan of wealthy eccentric recluses. Maybe then.
Not to say it couldn’t work, but it’s not an easy concept to make work.
posted by Harvey Jerkwater at 7:08 AM on November 15, 2016 [14 favorites]
The Avengers are, per the title, “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes,” the biggest and the best united to defeat the worst threats. The Defenders were “the Non-Team,” a collection of oddballs who don’t fit anywhere else who defeated the strangest threats. The X-Men are “the oppressed minority,” a group of people rejected by society for a common reason and find purpose in their unity. Other teams have other central concepts. What’s the central concept of the Inhumans?
Until the recent big push, the Inhumans were known for hiding in a super-tech city on the Moon, atop a South American mountain, anyplace far from American readers. Also, “The Inhumans” was shorthand for “the Inhuman Royal Family,” a group that seldom struck out into the world to help or be heroic. That’s pretty much it. The central concept of the Inhumans until recently has been “those secretive weirdos on the Moon or the Andes or wherever who have wacky powers and a teleporting pug dog the size of a grizzly bear.” There’s not a lot to work with. They were plot devices for Fantastic Four stories.
The explosion of “NuInhumans” (randos around the world who discover they’re Inhumans and manifest superpowers) over the last few years changes the concept, but it’s still a mess. It’s hard to think of a real-world parallel or a relevant emotion to engage a reader with this setup. “I suddenly overnight became different, and there’s a super-powerful magical kingdom filled with people like me and they came to town and get me!”
What can you do with that? The existence of the Royal Family borks up the “outsider” appeal that mutantcy creates. I mean, yeah, the X-Men have a sci-fi mansion and a jet and crap, but the Inhumans take it to another level.
Maybe it could work as a “Harry Potter” tale. (“Yer an Inhuman, Harry!”) Problem is, the NuInhumans aren’t children coming of age or discovering the broader world. They’re already adults. They’ve come of age and are aware of the broader world. The symbolism dies. There’s no spark of recognition, of common emotional ground between readers and NuInhumans. Unless you found out as an adult that you’re adopted and your birth family shows up to claim you and they’re a clan of wealthy eccentric recluses. Maybe then.
Not to say it couldn’t work, but it’s not an easy concept to make work.
posted by Harvey Jerkwater at 7:08 AM on November 15, 2016 [14 favorites]
Is it going to be as terribly written, acted, directed, shot, lit, paced, and edited as Agents of Shield?
Because I can't wait!
posted by blue_beetle at 7:08 AM on November 15, 2016 [6 favorites]
Because I can't wait!
posted by blue_beetle at 7:08 AM on November 15, 2016 [6 favorites]
Yeah... not interested in the "ABC TV" Marvel. Call me back if it's "Netflix" Marvel.
posted by selfnoise at 7:11 AM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by selfnoise at 7:11 AM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
Kirby clearly thought he had something to say with the Inhumans, and equally clearly had a hard time getting to it. He used the concept of an hidden group of god-like beings no less than five times for a variety of different publishers:
- Thor and the Norse pantheon (pre-dating the Inhumans in '62)
- The Inhumans (1965)
- The New Gods at DC (1971)
- The Eternals (1976)
- Captain Victory for Pacific (1981) was a thinly disguised continuation of the New Gods
Neil Gaiman rebooted the Eternals, but I'm not sure much of anything came from it.
posted by Quindar Beep at 7:12 AM on November 15, 2016 [5 favorites]
- Thor and the Norse pantheon (pre-dating the Inhumans in '62)
- The Inhumans (1965)
- The New Gods at DC (1971)
- The Eternals (1976)
- Captain Victory for Pacific (1981) was a thinly disguised continuation of the New Gods
Neil Gaiman rebooted the Eternals, but I'm not sure much of anything came from it.
posted by Quindar Beep at 7:12 AM on November 15, 2016 [5 favorites]
This is what we're getting instead of Agent Carter, huh.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:16 AM on November 15, 2016 [17 favorites]
posted by dinty_moore at 7:16 AM on November 15, 2016 [17 favorites]
Well, I guess I always thought the X-Men would work best as a TV show.
posted by Artw at 7:28 AM on November 15, 2016
posted by Artw at 7:28 AM on November 15, 2016
Usually, the only way I enjoy Inhuman stuff is by tricking my brain into believing they're mutants.
posted by Atreides at 7:29 AM on November 15, 2016
posted by Atreides at 7:29 AM on November 15, 2016
It’s hard to think of a real-world parallel or a relevant emotion to engage a reader with this setup. “I suddenly overnight became different, and there’s a super-powerful magical kingdom filled with people like me and they came to town and get me!”
Really? Isn't this the central premise of Harry Potter?
posted by briank at 7:31 AM on November 15, 2016 [3 favorites]
Really? Isn't this the central premise of Harry Potter?
posted by briank at 7:31 AM on November 15, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yeah, it's classic wish fulfillment, but mostly it's a child's wish fulfillment - finding out your family isn't who they are or that you have a secret destiny. But on the other hand, that's also the general premise of a lot of other fantasy shows - Grimm and Once Upon a Time, kind of. But there it's more that someone finds out that they are part of a secret magical society and then they are expected to do something. It's suddenly their new magical occupation, rather than a new magical relationships, that's important.
This is because adults have a lot more choice about what their family relationships look like than children do.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:47 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is because adults have a lot more choice about what their family relationships look like than children do.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:47 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
He used the concept of an hidden group of god-like beings no less than five times
Of them all, the New Gods is the only bunch that worked at all, and of that only a few characters are really meaningful, Darkseid, Scott Free and perhaps Orion. In addition, DC has far more weakly godlike entities in it than the Marvel universe does anyway, so the characters fit better there too.
Arguably the Asgardians, but they've not really been central to much in the MComicU, certainly not the way Darkseid has become the default DC Big Bad.
posted by bonehead at 7:50 AM on November 15, 2016
Of them all, the New Gods is the only bunch that worked at all, and of that only a few characters are really meaningful, Darkseid, Scott Free and perhaps Orion. In addition, DC has far more weakly godlike entities in it than the Marvel universe does anyway, so the characters fit better there too.
Arguably the Asgardians, but they've not really been central to much in the MComicU, certainly not the way Darkseid has become the default DC Big Bad.
posted by bonehead at 7:50 AM on November 15, 2016
Usually, the only way I enjoy Inhuman stuff is by tricking my brain into believing they're mutants.
Agents of SHIELD certainly went out of its way not to disabuse people of this notion. (I really liked seasons 2 & 3, when all the Inhumans stuff popped up, FWIW.)
posted by tobascodagama at 7:54 AM on November 15, 2016
Agents of SHIELD certainly went out of its way not to disabuse people of this notion. (I really liked seasons 2 & 3, when all the Inhumans stuff popped up, FWIW.)
posted by tobascodagama at 7:54 AM on November 15, 2016
The explosion of “NuInhumans” (randos around the world who discover they’re Inhumans and manifest superpowers) over the last few years changes the concept, but it’s still a mess. It’s hard to think of a real-world parallel or a relevant emotion to engage a reader with this setup. “
The parallel could be people discovering (or rediscovering) their heritage/roots as an adult and wanting to explore it. Like someone who found out in their 20s that they're of Jewish descent and wants to know more about the religion and culture of their ancestors.
posted by Sangermaine at 7:58 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
The parallel could be people discovering (or rediscovering) their heritage/roots as an adult and wanting to explore it. Like someone who found out in their 20s that they're of Jewish descent and wants to know more about the religion and culture of their ancestors.
posted by Sangermaine at 7:58 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
What can you do with that? The existence of the Royal Family borks up the “outsider” appeal that mutantcy creates.
No idea what they will do, but Game of Thrones superhero style is certainly a possibility. With superpower equating to worldly power in some not so deep metaphoric level. You gain it as an adult, use it or abuse it and potentially run afoul of others with competing interests or claims.
posted by gusottertrout at 8:05 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
No idea what they will do, but Game of Thrones superhero style is certainly a possibility. With superpower equating to worldly power in some not so deep metaphoric level. You gain it as an adult, use it or abuse it and potentially run afoul of others with competing interests or claims.
posted by gusottertrout at 8:05 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Can't wait for that big first season finale "Black Bolt Speaks!" And, if it's like the comics, that'll be the season two, three, and four finales too, not that it'll make it that long.
posted by gusottertrout at 8:09 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by gusottertrout at 8:09 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Royal Family could stay mostly out of the Earthside stuff and get mixed up with Cosmic Marvel instead. That was a winning formula for the comics in recent years, where the Inhumans were major players in the post-Annihilation galaxy during War of Kings/Realm of Kings and such.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:10 AM on November 15, 2016
posted by tobascodagama at 8:10 AM on November 15, 2016
Sadly until Fox finally comes to its senses and strikes a deal with Marvel for the FF franchise like Sony did with Spider-man we can't have Annihilation.
posted by Sangermaine at 8:11 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Sangermaine at 8:11 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Really, there's a lot to work with if they used the Paul Jenkins/Jae Lee series from the late '90s as a springboard. That series invested a great deal in worldbuilding, and shows a number of possible avenues -- the TV show could be YA science fiction (much time is spent in the comic with young people who don't know for sure what will happen to them when they expose themselves to the power-granting Terrigen mists, or where they will fit into Inhuman society afterward), Game of Thrones Lite (the Inhumans' main characters are a royal family that includes madmen, dissemblers and monsters), and, least interestingly, generic superhero fighty punch-punch.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 8:17 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by kittens for breakfast at 8:17 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Hoping for a Karnak solo spin-off.
posted by edd at 8:25 AM on November 15, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by edd at 8:25 AM on November 15, 2016 [5 favorites]
Well, I guess I always thought the X-Men would work best as a TV show.
The 90s X-Men cartoon is still the best TV Marvel's ever done right?
(OK, OK, Agent Carter is probably better than the 90's X-Men)
posted by davros42 at 8:27 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
The 90s X-Men cartoon is still the best TV Marvel's ever done right?
(OK, OK, Agent Carter is probably better than the 90's X-Men)
posted by davros42 at 8:27 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Agents of SHIELD certainly went out of its way not to disabuse people of this notion
Yeah, the use of Inhumans appears to literally be a way to have XMen-style mutants without violating the contract with 20th Century Fox too much. All they need is a special feature in Coulson's new hand that can seek out Inhumans at a distance, they can call it Handrebro or something. Not that I'm complaining, I like Agents of SHIELD.
posted by AzraelBrown at 8:32 AM on November 15, 2016 [5 favorites]
Yeah, the use of Inhumans appears to literally be a way to have XMen-style mutants without violating the contract with 20th Century Fox too much. All they need is a special feature in Coulson's new hand that can seek out Inhumans at a distance, they can call it Handrebro or something. Not that I'm complaining, I like Agents of SHIELD.
posted by AzraelBrown at 8:32 AM on November 15, 2016 [5 favorites]
Arguably the Asgardians, but they've not really been central to much in the MComicU, certainly not the way Darkseid has become the default DC Big Bad.
On the other hand, Thanos has become default Big Bad for Marvel, including the movies. He's from Jim Starlin's take on the idea, but still. There's something there, even though I don't think anyone's hit it square it yet.
posted by Quindar Beep at 8:37 AM on November 15, 2016
On the other hand, Thanos has become default Big Bad for Marvel, including the movies. He's from Jim Starlin's take on the idea, but still. There's something there, even though I don't think anyone's hit it square it yet.
posted by Quindar Beep at 8:37 AM on November 15, 2016
I'd much rather have the Bobbi and Hunter spin-off that was promised and then cancelled and then repromised and recancelled. Or another season of Agent Carter. Additionally there is no way I'm going to pay to see this in a theatre--even at regular prices that would be a big nope, but add in the IMAX premium, and that's definitely not happening.
posted by sardonyx at 8:52 AM on November 15, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by sardonyx at 8:52 AM on November 15, 2016 [3 favorites]
Is it going to be as terribly written, acted, directed, shot, lit, paced, and edited as Agents of Shield?
Because I can't wait!
This plus the cuddlification of Coulson and SHIELD worries me. As does the fact that even CBS is even afraid of even Star Trek even with Brian Fuller attached, even. This can't possibly get the budget it would need, just for starters.
But budget's only one small problem here. The Inhumans needs to be the kinda bonkers surreal "royalty from the moon with a psychic dog and a horse lady" kind of stuff that it is to distinguish itself and make a compelling series, and they won't have the courage to do that. Not on ABC. They'll want as broad an appeal as possible, especially without name recognition, so this will be the X-Men with all the sharp edges filed off.
And if they do run an underbudgeted Go-Bots X-Men full of oatmeal can-do platitudes and it fails, it'll be one more nail in the "sci-fi doesn't work on television" coffin.
posted by middleclasstool at 9:05 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Because I can't wait!
This plus the cuddlification of Coulson and SHIELD worries me. As does the fact that even CBS is even afraid of even Star Trek even with Brian Fuller attached, even. This can't possibly get the budget it would need, just for starters.
But budget's only one small problem here. The Inhumans needs to be the kinda bonkers surreal "royalty from the moon with a psychic dog and a horse lady" kind of stuff that it is to distinguish itself and make a compelling series, and they won't have the courage to do that. Not on ABC. They'll want as broad an appeal as possible, especially without name recognition, so this will be the X-Men with all the sharp edges filed off.
And if they do run an underbudgeted Go-Bots X-Men full of oatmeal can-do platitudes and it fails, it'll be one more nail in the "sci-fi doesn't work on television" coffin.
posted by middleclasstool at 9:05 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Not Go-Bots X-Men but Mutant X. And we all remember what a crushing success that was.
posted by sardonyx at 9:19 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by sardonyx at 9:19 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
Problem is, the NuInhumans aren’t children coming of age or discovering the broader world. They’re already adults.
That was the original group in the Fantastic Four that were set up as a more-or-less typical superhero group: Black Bolt, Medusa, Karnak, Gorgon, the fish guy, etc. The new Inhumans books that Marvel has been promoting lately have featured the above, but have also brought in a number of other new Inhumans, some of which are younger. Plus, of course, the aforementioned Kamala Khan.
As for this project... well, I'm not terribly optimistic. Mutant X was one of the things that I was thinking about as well. They might do well to consider bringing in Charles Soule as a consultant/writer or even directly adapting some of his storylines from the comics to the screen; he's done some really good work.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:30 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
That was the original group in the Fantastic Four that were set up as a more-or-less typical superhero group: Black Bolt, Medusa, Karnak, Gorgon, the fish guy, etc. The new Inhumans books that Marvel has been promoting lately have featured the above, but have also brought in a number of other new Inhumans, some of which are younger. Plus, of course, the aforementioned Kamala Khan.
As for this project... well, I'm not terribly optimistic. Mutant X was one of the things that I was thinking about as well. They might do well to consider bringing in Charles Soule as a consultant/writer or even directly adapting some of his storylines from the comics to the screen; he's done some really good work.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:30 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
If they are ignoring most of the Agents of Shield stuff, then yeah, a Game of Thrones With Superpowers On The Moon would work as a great show... for about 3 episodes at which point, like in GoT, everything goes to crap and suddenly your show is about the refugee experience, about people who had so much and lost it all to mad terror, who have fled to a new land for the sake of their families only to find distrust and suspicion as they try to make a new home.
So, yeah, hard pivot from Game of Thrones to Alien Nation.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:40 AM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
So, yeah, hard pivot from Game of Thrones to Alien Nation.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:40 AM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
There already was an amazing X-Men TV show: the first part of Season 1 of Heroes.
posted by Sangermaine at 9:40 AM on November 15, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Sangermaine at 9:40 AM on November 15, 2016 [3 favorites]
Ah, good, one more Marvel group taken care of, which means my long held dream of that Kickers, Inc. series is getting all the closer.
And when that fails, maybe Feige will finally look at my Shang-Chi/Werewolf By Night team up spec script.
posted by lumpenprole at 10:00 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
And when that fails, maybe Feige will finally look at my Shang-Chi/Werewolf By Night team up spec script.
posted by lumpenprole at 10:00 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sure.
And then we can further explore the D-FCU with a Super Six (Granite Man, Magneto Man, Elevator Man,Super Scuba, Captain Whammo, and Super Bwoing) movie series and the TTCU with a Mighty Heroes (Strong Man, Rope Man, Tornado Man, Cuckoo Man, and Diaper Man) movie series, and the H-BCU with an Impossibles (Multi Man, Fluid Man, and Coil Man) movie series.
Surprised there hasn't been a Super President movie yet -- mebbe DFE is holding out for more money. Could be yuge!
Better still, better still, how about this team match-up: Our Boarding House meets They'll Do It Every Time? Or or or Eek and Meek vs The Circus of P.T. Bimbo -- get Howie Schneider on the blower!
Hmm Cappy Dick vs Perky Panda's Playtime . . . anybody get the film rights yet? Try for these great prizes!
posted by Herodios at 10:13 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
And then we can further explore the D-FCU with a Super Six (Granite Man, Magneto Man, Elevator Man,Super Scuba, Captain Whammo, and Super Bwoing) movie series and the TTCU with a Mighty Heroes (Strong Man, Rope Man, Tornado Man, Cuckoo Man, and Diaper Man) movie series, and the H-BCU with an Impossibles (Multi Man, Fluid Man, and Coil Man) movie series.
Surprised there hasn't been a Super President movie yet -- mebbe DFE is holding out for more money. Could be yuge!
Better still, better still, how about this team match-up: Our Boarding House meets They'll Do It Every Time? Or or or Eek and Meek vs The Circus of P.T. Bimbo -- get Howie Schneider on the blower!
Hmm Cappy Dick vs Perky Panda's Playtime . . . anybody get the film rights yet? Try for these great prizes!
posted by Herodios at 10:13 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
Well, in that case can I vote for Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew? There's not enough corny, Muppet-like humour on the tube these days.
posted by Quindar Beep at 10:18 AM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Quindar Beep at 10:18 AM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
Meh. I'd rather see a team where Sif leads the Warriors Three. Oh the hijinks that would ensue.
posted by Ber at 10:21 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Ber at 10:21 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
As long as we're waiting on dream Marvel projects, wake me when we get Nextwave.
posted by uphc at 10:22 AM on November 15, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by uphc at 10:22 AM on November 15, 2016 [11 favorites]
As a kid the concept of the Inhumans worked for me preferring it over the X-Men soap opera, but I was always very partial to the weird (Man-Thing, Dr. Strange, Werewolf by Night, Adam Warlock) over superhero stuff (though I did like the Defenders).
An element I liked was that the Inhumans were humans descended from early humans who had been genetically altered by the Kree to be warriors. I think that concept of a race of humans who know their creators, and finding their creators wanting, and must reconcile themselves with that identity & the identity they build for themselves could be an interesting one to explore. Not unlike say Dr. Strange or Moon Knight the Inhumans have histories of been unevenly written. I haven't really read the newer stuff extensively but the NuInhuman concept leaves me cold, but I thought the Paul Jenkins/Jae Lee series from the early 2000's worked and could be a great starting point for a movie concept. As a TV series though, especially one from ABC, I'm sure if it'd really work all that well. I found their Marvel shows really unevenly produced with abrupt tonal shifts, including Agent Carter (which I liked).
posted by Ashwagandha at 10:29 AM on November 15, 2016
An element I liked was that the Inhumans were humans descended from early humans who had been genetically altered by the Kree to be warriors. I think that concept of a race of humans who know their creators, and finding their creators wanting, and must reconcile themselves with that identity & the identity they build for themselves could be an interesting one to explore. Not unlike say Dr. Strange or Moon Knight the Inhumans have histories of been unevenly written. I haven't really read the newer stuff extensively but the NuInhuman concept leaves me cold, but I thought the Paul Jenkins/Jae Lee series from the early 2000's worked and could be a great starting point for a movie concept. As a TV series though, especially one from ABC, I'm sure if it'd really work all that well. I found their Marvel shows really unevenly produced with abrupt tonal shifts, including Agent Carter (which I liked).
posted by Ashwagandha at 10:29 AM on November 15, 2016
As long as we're waiting on dream Marvel projects, wake me when we get Nextwave.
If this or The Authority happens then I will know peace.
posted by middleclasstool at 10:35 AM on November 15, 2016
If this or The Authority happens then I will know peace.
posted by middleclasstool at 10:35 AM on November 15, 2016
As always, the only answer to the question "what should Marvel really be doing?" is She-Hulk, the superhero-lawyer show that has the tone of a more light-hearted Good Wife episode.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 10:36 AM on November 15, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 10:36 AM on November 15, 2016 [10 favorites]
Would Devil Dinosaur and his broccoli men guest star?
posted by bonehead at 10:38 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by bonehead at 10:38 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
I am usually down with She-Hulk but right now my unrealistic dream upon dream project is an America Chavez TV series.
posted by dinty_moore at 10:39 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by dinty_moore at 10:39 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
The next Marvel project I'm honestly hoping for is a Misty Knight series on Netflix.
I'm still jonesing for Cage and that would be a great fix.
posted by bonehead at 10:41 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm still jonesing for Cage and that would be a great fix.
posted by bonehead at 10:41 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
Still waiting for my dream sitcom that's just Darcy and Jane running around getting into shenanigans and doing *SCIENCE!* and periodically getting into arguments with Bruce and Tony about *SCIENCE!*
posted by skycrashesdown at 11:05 AM on November 15, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by skycrashesdown at 11:05 AM on November 15, 2016 [3 favorites]
Cage felt like the back half couldn't fulfill the promise of the front. It wasn't bad, but it could have gone to a more compelling place.
I would looooooooove a She-Hulk show especially if it had someone with comedy chops in the role, like Aisha Tyler.
posted by middleclasstool at 11:41 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
I would looooooooove a She-Hulk show especially if it had someone with comedy chops in the role, like Aisha Tyler.
posted by middleclasstool at 11:41 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
As long as we're waiting on dream Marvel projects, wake me when we get Nextwave.
If this or The Authority happens then I will know peace.
My dream Warren Ellis TV series is still the aborted Global Frequency, even if smartphone tech isn't quite as novel now as it was a dozen years ago. Failing that, I wouldn't mind seeing Ellis dust off his proposal/story bible for a Planetary TV series either.
posted by Strange Interlude at 11:45 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
If this or The Authority happens then I will know peace.
My dream Warren Ellis TV series is still the aborted Global Frequency, even if smartphone tech isn't quite as novel now as it was a dozen years ago. Failing that, I wouldn't mind seeing Ellis dust off his proposal/story bible for a Planetary TV series either.
posted by Strange Interlude at 11:45 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
I want two things: Kamala Khan, and Runaways.
Okay, make it three: Great Lakes Avengers.
posted by Foosnark at 11:47 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Okay, make it three: Great Lakes Avengers.
posted by Foosnark at 11:47 AM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Runaways is happening on Hulu, so that's nice.
Also, the Warren Ellis adaptation we need right now isn't Global Frequency or Planetary or even Nextwave, it's Transmetropolitan.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:57 AM on November 15, 2016 [8 favorites]
Also, the Warren Ellis adaptation we need right now isn't Global Frequency or Planetary or even Nextwave, it's Transmetropolitan.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:57 AM on November 15, 2016 [8 favorites]
Who needs an adaptation? We are getting a real-time worldwide recreation.
posted by tavella at 12:03 PM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by tavella at 12:03 PM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
With this guy playing the part of Spider, apparently.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:17 PM on November 15, 2016
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:17 PM on November 15, 2016
Kickers, inc, Smickers Inc. D.P. 7 or nothing.
posted by MartinWisse at 12:46 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by MartinWisse at 12:46 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Well, maybe Psi-Force.
posted by MartinWisse at 12:46 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by MartinWisse at 12:46 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
As always, the only answer to the question "what should Marvel really be doing?" is She-Hulk, the superhero-lawyer show that has the tone of a more light-hearted Good Wife episode.
You wanna talk Game of Thrones? I got your Game of Thrones right here.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:15 PM on November 15, 2016
You wanna talk Game of Thrones? I got your Game of Thrones right here.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:15 PM on November 15, 2016
my unrealistic dream upon dream project is an America Chavez TV series
Well, she's getting a solo book, so you never know...
posted by mephron at 1:17 PM on November 15, 2016
Well, she's getting a solo book, so you never know...
posted by mephron at 1:17 PM on November 15, 2016
Well, she's getting a solo book, so you never know...
I know, and I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much about it, but I really think what the world needs right now is an queer Latina immigrant going by America and punching things.
posted by dinty_moore at 1:34 PM on November 15, 2016
I know, and I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much about it, but I really think what the world needs right now is an queer Latina immigrant going by America and punching things.
posted by dinty_moore at 1:34 PM on November 15, 2016
Also America Chavez can punch her way into another dimension where Trump did not happen and that is the superpower I want most right now.
posted by dinty_moore at 1:42 PM on November 15, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by dinty_moore at 1:42 PM on November 15, 2016 [3 favorites]
Wait, Hulu is doing Runaways?
Also, are we sure there wasn't a misprint and instead CBS is actually making a live action Inhumanoids? Cuz that'd be sweet.
posted by gusottertrout at 1:56 PM on November 15, 2016
Also, are we sure there wasn't a misprint and instead CBS is actually making a live action Inhumanoids? Cuz that'd be sweet.
posted by gusottertrout at 1:56 PM on November 15, 2016
Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish, I think you mean the Beast.
Idk, Transmet has always felt a bit to much like the intentional gross-out, 14-year-old showing you a bug to make you squirm kind of thing. It's a bit too neat, the goodies too good, the baddies too bad. Too Millar-esque. The first story arc through the end of the Beast might work, but the trick gets of old.
Global Frequency though could be fantastic. That's the right Ellis property to bring forward.
posted by bonehead at 1:58 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Idk, Transmet has always felt a bit to much like the intentional gross-out, 14-year-old showing you a bug to make you squirm kind of thing. It's a bit too neat, the goodies too good, the baddies too bad. Too Millar-esque. The first story arc through the end of the Beast might work, but the trick gets of old.
Global Frequency though could be fantastic. That's the right Ellis property to bring forward.
posted by bonehead at 1:58 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
With this guy playing the part of Spider, apparently.
Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish, I think you mean the Beast.
Trump is deffo the Beast, but I think HZSF was referring to Spider's final column before he quit writing (in reaction to a presidential election gone sour) and took off for the wilderness prior to Transmet #1.
posted by Strange Interlude at 2:05 PM on November 15, 2016
Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish, I think you mean the Beast.
Trump is deffo the Beast, but I think HZSF was referring to Spider's final column before he quit writing (in reaction to a presidential election gone sour) and took off for the wilderness prior to Transmet #1.
posted by Strange Interlude at 2:05 PM on November 15, 2016
Indeed. For those who haven't read it.
(The Medium post is only 2,000 words, though)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:13 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
(The Medium post is only 2,000 words, though)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:13 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
The real question is why hasn't this hit the airwaves yet?
posted by The Hamms Bear at 2:29 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by The Hamms Bear at 2:29 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Global Frequency though could be fantastic. That's the right Ellis property to bring forward.
bonehead
No, given the current climate Transmetropolitan is definitely the more relevant of the two, but I think your criticisms of the series are generally correct.
What we need right now is Ellis to pen a prequel series: the story of the Beast's election that ends up driving Jerusalem to the Mountain. It could be written directly for TV, and hopefully Ellis has grown more as a writer and can rein in some of the more juvenile elements of the original.
posted by Sangermaine at 2:45 PM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
bonehead
No, given the current climate Transmetropolitan is definitely the more relevant of the two, but I think your criticisms of the series are generally correct.
What we need right now is Ellis to pen a prequel series: the story of the Beast's election that ends up driving Jerusalem to the Mountain. It could be written directly for TV, and hopefully Ellis has grown more as a writer and can rein in some of the more juvenile elements of the original.
posted by Sangermaine at 2:45 PM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ashwagandha: "An element I liked was that the Inhumans were humans descended from early humans who had been genetically altered by the Kree to be warriors. I think that concept of a race of humans who know their creators, and finding their creators wanting, and must reconcile themselves with that identity & the identity they build for themselves could be an interesting one to explore."
It would be! I really like your take here, especially when you consider that Agents of Shield has already established that the Kree want to genocide the Inhumans. Thousands of years ago their creators decided that the Inhumans were a horrible mistake and have been trying to wipe them out ever since. How does a culture (and a species) deal with that kind of rejection? The Inhumans seem to compensate with arrogance and a total embrace of the weird. That attitude of "F you, God. You only hate me because I'm better than you!" could be the core of their modern appeal. They fly their freak flag proudly.
In that vein, some of the nuHuman characters from the comics could really work on screen. We've already seen Reader, but he'd have to come back. (With his dog this time.) Then there's characters like Flagman, Kacy, Swain and Frank McGee, who could act as viewer surrogates as they interact with the really strange old school Inhumans like the royal family, Maximus, Lockjaw, Gorgon, Tonaja, Eldrac, Triton and Karnak. (The Warren Ellis version, of course.) It would a bit like Paradise Lost at first, with the traumatized newcomers exploring the amazing kingdom of Attilan. Sometimes they'd find good things, like a new sense of pride in their Inhumanity, and sometimes they'd discover really strange and bad things, like the Alpha Primitives. That's more than enough enough concept for eight episodes, and it could get more like Game of Thrones if they came back for another season.
posted by Kevin Street at 3:50 PM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
It would be! I really like your take here, especially when you consider that Agents of Shield has already established that the Kree want to genocide the Inhumans. Thousands of years ago their creators decided that the Inhumans were a horrible mistake and have been trying to wipe them out ever since. How does a culture (and a species) deal with that kind of rejection? The Inhumans seem to compensate with arrogance and a total embrace of the weird. That attitude of "F you, God. You only hate me because I'm better than you!" could be the core of their modern appeal. They fly their freak flag proudly.
In that vein, some of the nuHuman characters from the comics could really work on screen. We've already seen Reader, but he'd have to come back. (With his dog this time.) Then there's characters like Flagman, Kacy, Swain and Frank McGee, who could act as viewer surrogates as they interact with the really strange old school Inhumans like the royal family, Maximus, Lockjaw, Gorgon, Tonaja, Eldrac, Triton and Karnak. (The Warren Ellis version, of course.) It would a bit like Paradise Lost at first, with the traumatized newcomers exploring the amazing kingdom of Attilan. Sometimes they'd find good things, like a new sense of pride in their Inhumanity, and sometimes they'd discover really strange and bad things, like the Alpha Primitives. That's more than enough enough concept for eight episodes, and it could get more like Game of Thrones if they came back for another season.
posted by Kevin Street at 3:50 PM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
it could get more like Game of Thrones if they came back for another season
I really wish people would come up with a different comparison, because every time I hear that, I immediatly think "Oh just great. Just what TV needs-more rape scenes and crappy sexism. Be still my braying heart. "
Seriously, just go on saying Game of Thrones, and my "Ew, fuck no!" reaction will only increase.
posted by happyroach at 4:58 PM on November 15, 2016 [3 favorites]
I really wish people would come up with a different comparison, because every time I hear that, I immediatly think "Oh just great. Just what TV needs-more rape scenes and crappy sexism. Be still my braying heart. "
Seriously, just go on saying Game of Thrones, and my "Ew, fuck no!" reaction will only increase.
posted by happyroach at 4:58 PM on November 15, 2016 [3 favorites]
The explosion of “NuInhumans” (randos around the world who discover they’re Inhumans and manifest superpowers) over the last few years changes the concept, but it’s still a mess. It’s hard to think of a real-world parallel or a relevant emotion to engage a reader with this setup. “I suddenly overnight became different, and there’s a super-powerful magical kingdom filled with people like me and they came to town and get me!”
well...that sounds a LOT like puberty to me. And coming into my queerness. And the revelation that actually, a lot of people do hate me for that. See also: discovering one's heritage.
So not a mess as much as relevant to a population that isn't white boys (who are so psychologically dominant in the medium that there seems to be very little appreciation of things that don't make them feel like heroes).
So for me that meshes quite well with 'flying one's freak flag' and finding out the things that made me are not perfect.
posted by geek anachronism at 6:56 PM on November 15, 2016
well...that sounds a LOT like puberty to me. And coming into my queerness. And the revelation that actually, a lot of people do hate me for that. See also: discovering one's heritage.
So not a mess as much as relevant to a population that isn't white boys (who are so psychologically dominant in the medium that there seems to be very little appreciation of things that don't make them feel like heroes).
So for me that meshes quite well with 'flying one's freak flag' and finding out the things that made me are not perfect.
posted by geek anachronism at 6:56 PM on November 15, 2016
a teleporting pug dog the size of a grizzly bear.” There’s not a lot to work with.
I know it's out of context, but my brain refused to accept the conclusion "There's not a lot to work with", immediately following the words, "a teleporting pug dog the size of a grizzly bear". Although in context with the other words in the sentence, I can't disagree.
posted by mikelieman at 10:02 PM on November 15, 2016
I know it's out of context, but my brain refused to accept the conclusion "There's not a lot to work with", immediately following the words, "a teleporting pug dog the size of a grizzly bear". Although in context with the other words in the sentence, I can't disagree.
posted by mikelieman at 10:02 PM on November 15, 2016
"Seriously, just go on saying Game of Thrones, and my "Ew, fuck no!" reaction will only increase."
Sorry about that. I've only seen the first season of the show, so what I (and I think the other people in the thread) meant by that is power plays made by feuding houses in an exotic location. No sexism implied.
"So for me that meshes quite well with 'flying one's freak flag' and finding out the things that made me are not perfect."
Exactly. The comics have played with this a bit without going all in, but Inhumans could really stand in as a metaphor for gay society (apologies if I have the nomenclature wrong), or any other society that's ostracized from the mainstream. The X-Men are always trying to fit in, but Inhumans intentionally go through the terrigen mists to bring out their differences. They're proud of what makes them unique.
posted by Kevin Street at 10:11 PM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
Sorry about that. I've only seen the first season of the show, so what I (and I think the other people in the thread) meant by that is power plays made by feuding houses in an exotic location. No sexism implied.
"So for me that meshes quite well with 'flying one's freak flag' and finding out the things that made me are not perfect."
Exactly. The comics have played with this a bit without going all in, but Inhumans could really stand in as a metaphor for gay society (apologies if I have the nomenclature wrong), or any other society that's ostracized from the mainstream. The X-Men are always trying to fit in, but Inhumans intentionally go through the terrigen mists to bring out their differences. They're proud of what makes them unique.
posted by Kevin Street at 10:11 PM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
“I suddenly overnight became different, and there’s a super-powerful magical kingdom filled with people like me and they came to town and get me!”
Thank you, Harvey, for basically saying out loud that all these stories appeal (or don't) because of similarity with the reader.
posted by effugas at 12:20 AM on November 16, 2016
Thank you, Harvey, for basically saying out loud that all these stories appeal (or don't) because of similarity with the reader.
posted by effugas at 12:20 AM on November 16, 2016
Thank you, Harvey, for basically saying out loud that all these stories appeal (or don't) because of similarity with the reader.
To clarify, there has to be some kind of recognition of shared experience or emotion for a character to resonate. Spider-Man deals a lot with human pettiness and trying to persevere in its face. Batman deals a lot with fear. These are basic elements of life, so everyone can, at least in theory, relate to the characters. With the Inhumans, I think their story is too specific and sci-fi to resonate for most people, and largely because of the Royal Family.
Remove Black Bolt and company and the Inhumans could serve as a variation on the "mutant metaphor" already used in X-Men books. The problem, per my nerdly eyes, is that the retro-fit of the never-all-that-popular Inhuman Royal Family atop the new Inhuman population confuses the story too much to make it work cleanly. The point of emotional recognition gets confused by Those Crazy Moon People, their Ancient Super-Secret Super-Science Culture, and Their Teleporting Pug. The farther away you keep the old Inhumans stuff, the better the idea works. "Mutants with the serial numbers filed off" is much more workable than the current malarkey where the old stuff keeps muddling the metaphor.
Now watch some clever creator demonstrate how far off I am...
posted by Harvey Jerkwater at 1:10 PM on November 16, 2016
To clarify, there has to be some kind of recognition of shared experience or emotion for a character to resonate. Spider-Man deals a lot with human pettiness and trying to persevere in its face. Batman deals a lot with fear. These are basic elements of life, so everyone can, at least in theory, relate to the characters. With the Inhumans, I think their story is too specific and sci-fi to resonate for most people, and largely because of the Royal Family.
Remove Black Bolt and company and the Inhumans could serve as a variation on the "mutant metaphor" already used in X-Men books. The problem, per my nerdly eyes, is that the retro-fit of the never-all-that-popular Inhuman Royal Family atop the new Inhuman population confuses the story too much to make it work cleanly. The point of emotional recognition gets confused by Those Crazy Moon People, their Ancient Super-Secret Super-Science Culture, and Their Teleporting Pug. The farther away you keep the old Inhumans stuff, the better the idea works. "Mutants with the serial numbers filed off" is much more workable than the current malarkey where the old stuff keeps muddling the metaphor.
Now watch some clever creator demonstrate how far off I am...
posted by Harvey Jerkwater at 1:10 PM on November 16, 2016
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Also, they easily could use this (and the upcoming Captain Marvel movie) as a launching pad for a Kamala Khan Ms. Marvel TV series later on.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:42 AM on November 15, 2016 [7 favorites]