No, not me. Well, not only me. This guy:
From Comic Book Resources news of a big film about a superhero with multiple sclerosis:
Award-winning comic-book writer Mark Millar is empowering people with MS with his envelope pushing latest character Superior, the first superhero ever to be diagnosed with MS. And he is sharing him with the National MS Society (www.nationalMSsociety.org) to help raise awareness for MS and the work of the Society.
The hugely popular comic Superior, which is part of the Millarworld line, follows the tale of a young boy living with multiple sclerosis who's granted a magic wish. He asks to be transformed into his favourite big screen action hero and uses his new super-powers to right the real world's wrongs. Whereas most superheroes fight criminals and stop bank robberies, this little boy uses his abilities to end the war in the Middle-East, feed the starving, rescue people from natural disasters and anything else the public wants. But have these incredible powers and worldwide adulation come at a price? This dark, magical tale has been described by critics as Big meets Superman, a unique take on the superhero mythos with a magical element that appeals to Harry Potter fans as much as the traditional superhero audience. The movie rights to this book were snapped up by Kick-Ass and X-Men director Matthew Vaughn with a view to turning this into a Hollywood blockbuster. (via @kelleyeskridge)
I wonder if Superior's first mission will be visit his wrath upon those who fudge drug trial data? Or those who disseminate said data? Or those who pay neurologists kick-backs for prescribing the drugs so trialled? Or the the national organisations who have, upon occasion, made some poor judgement calls regarding their advertisers and their editorial direction. I would pay to see that story.
But I'll probably pay to see this story, too. I'm intensely curious about how they're going to portray a boy with MS. I wish Mark Millar and Matthew Vaughn the best of luck--and hope they'll consult MS dissidents like me, not just the big organisations with a lot of money in the game.
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Honestly, given that this is written by Mark Millar, it could either be very good, or very bad. The actual series has seen 5 of 7 issues released, with the big "twist" only just now coming to light in issue 5, and while it's a fairly simple twist, I'm worried that any movie adaptation might take things even further into left field.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm still withholding judgment until after I see how the story turns out on paper.
Unknown, it's not something I read. But the very, very good vs. horrid balance is what I expect from comix, or graphic novels, or whatever it's billed as. I think it's hard to be mediocre visually. But perhaps I'm simply naive regarding this form. (I'm definitely unsophisticated...)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds awesome to me. Most people with disabilities are heroes in their own right for changing the world in positive ways despite the crap they have to put up with every day - all the misinformation and disinterest at best, all the pity and dismissal at worst. All of the best disability advocates I know are people who have disabilities. To me, they're just as much heroes as Superman and Wonder Woman.
ReplyDeleteWow. At least it's got the unexpected factor going for it. I love that he fights other badness in the world instead of the typical criminal arch enemy. They better consult with people like you or it will be a massive disappointment and boring failure. But we'll just have to wait and see given that he says how thrilled he is to be working with the MS Society.
ReplyDeleteIs that a picture of the actual character? Looks more like a man than a boy....
Even if they do a poor job, it has to be a good thing that they will raise awareness, don't you think?
Jo, I think one trap they could fall into with the film is to make it all about the dis/ability dyad, and fighting Bad Guys, instead of having a blast. It might sink under its earnestness. I'd much rather see something like Iron Man, with a cripple.
ReplyDeletejennifer, it will be good thing if they make the boy a real human instead of a cut-out figure with MS. That is, if they can avoid cliche. As for the boy/man thing, I think turning into a Manly Hero is part of the transformation, hence the description as of 'Big meets Superman'.
So, should they give him the "get better" pill?
ReplyDeletePia, I guess that depends on what his life was like before he became a superhero--and on how bad his MS is. Me, I'd take it in a hot second. But I don't need to be a superhero to lead an, ah, interesting life...
ReplyDeleteAnd what if he got superpowers because he got MS?
ReplyDeletePia, oh, I'm sure, storywise, the two will have to be connected.
ReplyDeleteYup, agreed.
ReplyDeleteExactly on the "Iron Man w/a cripple". Current job difficulty is that medicaid only wants to pay aide time for clients to "overcome" some aspect of their disability. Sometimes what the person really needs an aide to do is facilitate them just having fun -- but to the abled, it often becomes all about the disability. I have fantasies of a world where the medicaid workers can only devote social time to overcoming a personality flaw . . .
ReplyDeleteJo, that's so true. To many, cripples are only cripples, the way queers used to be only queers.
ReplyDelete