Going Weird Early

Marvel Studios eased audiences into their franchise gradually when it came to the levels of weirdness, starting with the relatively grounded Iron Man and the science-based Incredible Hulk movie.

It wasn’t until the fourth movie in the franchise – 2011’s Thor – that they truly delved into the realms of fantasy, with the introduction of gods and monsters like Odin, Loki, the titular hero and Frost Giants.

DC and Warner Brothers opened with an alien superhero in Superman and are cramming their next two movies (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad) with strange and unearthly characters like Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Aquaman, Killer Croc and Enchantress.

It seems very strange that characters so varied and weird would emerge in the world so rapidly and simultaneously and it would perhaps have been more sensible to remain more grounded for a little longer.