Buddy Saunders of the Lone Star Comics chain in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex saw the comments from Teresa Moran of Acadiana Book & Comic Shop (see 'Teresa Moran of Acadiana Book & Comic Shop on Comic Book Movies') and Gail Burt of Metropolis Comics (see 'Gail Burt of Metropolis Comics on Comic Movies') on comic movies and feels that there's a lot to be learned from the comic movies that have been successful:

Busy as I am, I couldn't resist applauding Teresa Moran's and Gail Burt's comments regarding comic-based movies.  As someone who has been involved in comics since 1960, both as a collector and a retailer, this for me has long been a subject of interest and, usually, despair.  Over the years I've seen any number of comic-based movies, most ranging from atrocious to disappointing, usually for the very reasons cited by Ms. Moran and Ms. Burt.

When a comic book is faithfully translated to the silver screen, wonderful things happen.  Existing fans are happy, new fans are created, and merchants make money, including the movie maker.  What usually gets in the way, though, is artistic arrogance.  Most movie makers think they are a lot smarter than they are.  And almost to a man, they admire their own artistic genius.  This compels them to 'improve' an already tried and highly successful formula.  The reality is that comic creators have always KNOWN what works when it comes to comics.  When movie people set about 'improving' or 'fixing' all the things comic creators 'did wrong,' they end up with a mish-mash no one loves.  Then, when their vision of what the comic should be falls flat, and this is what galls, they say with a sense of superiority, 'Ah ha, see, we knew all along that no one wanted to see those silly comic book characters in movies.'

Well, when comics are done right, people DO want to see comic character-based movies.  The X-Men and especially Spider-Man, which is incredibly true to the comic, proved that.

It's sad that so many other super heroes with so much potential ended up with movies that fell short.  Why, for example, were the Superman movie villains slapstick instead of serious?  Why?  Because some numbskull thought that was what comic books were all about.

Lets hope Hollywood learns something from Spider-Man's silver screen success.  If they do, we fans can look forward to some amazing movies, and we in the comic book industry can anticipate good times indeed.