Ladies and gentlemen, we live in a time of comic book pride. An era where being a fan of Batman isn't met with teasing, but with agreement. An era where Norse Gods of Thunder and leather-clad archers inspire us to be better people. An era where even a walking advertisement for the U.S. army can be inspirational and powerful all at once. But with success comes parody and plenty of people have made fun of these heroes. But when entertainment teases itself, that is when the impact of superheroes becomes all the more welcoming. Lego is making comic book movies better.
In 1891, a carpenter in Denmark named Ole Kirk Christiansen crafted small wooden building-blocks and named them Legos after the Danish phrase "Leg godt" which means "Play well". But hey, I don't need to tell you about Legos, everyone knows about Legos! Play-sets, theme parks, video games, movies, pretty sure they use Legos in engineering classes, they're everywhere! They are also very small and colorful so keep them away from your children's mouths. Just saying. PSA from your Friendly Neighborhood Panel Biter. Legos are such an impacting brand they've found they're way into film, television, and of course, comic books! It all started with "Lego Batman" in 2008, which took a comedic twist on The Dark Knight Detective. While Lego had made toys based off Batman and video games based off fictional characters before, this was the first Lego game to be based off a pre-established character AND to have an original story. Since then, we've gotten five more Lego games based off comic books (seven if you count the "Lego Movie" game and "Lego Dimensions" which both feature comic book characters), and we'll even be getting a Lego Batman movie in 2017!
Isn't it incredible that Batman has become such a cultural icon and that Legos are so universally loved that the film industry has fully embraced a Lego Batman solo movie? Not a new Batman franchise, not an instant sequel to the Lego Movie, but a film based off a character who was based off a toy which was based off a comic book character!? Which, in turn, was a character inspired by three other fictional characters! That's how deep the rabbit hole goes. But how much deeper can it go? Could this Lego Batman movie spawn a series of Lego Batman movies? A Lego cinematic universe based off DC Comics? Be better than what we're actually getting if you ask me. Who's to say Marvel/Disney don't steal the show and say "Lego Avengers" coming to a theater near you!? Imagine a world where the superhero movies people oh-so-easily get tired of are followed by satire imitations made with Legos! This sounds crazy, but right now Lego is the only thing keeping DC Comics and Marvel Comics from collaborating. Just one call, one deal between Warner Bros and Disney and Lego could have a DC/Marvel Lego game out by tomorrow. The first interaction between these titans of publication in decades and it's done with children's toys and playful imitations of iconic characters.
That's really the best part. I can't stand when people try to be funny with the "I'm Batman" throat-cancer voice or how people say "Hawkeye's the worst Avenger! What if he runs out of arrows". But if Lego does it? If Lego makes fun of comic book characters? It's funny. It's smart. It makes me like the characters more because A. I'm reminded of how silly they can be and B. It's done in good fun and not to make fun of the characters or the people who enjoy them. Lego properties provide a sense of humor anybody can share. Not everyone will laugh at a Hulk genital joke, but Batman tossing Batarangs at a button over and over just to look cool? That is funny! Iron Man being a stupid drunk isn't funny because you know he's only like that for a short period, but Iron Man waving to people when he isn't flying around is funny because you know Tony Stark likes being watched by people! There is actual thought and care put into every Lego game and movie.
Whether it be Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones or whoever else gets the Lego treatment, Lego is a business that knows what it's doing and is doing it for wholesome reasons. That's more than you can say for Warner Bros or DC Entertainment who push Batman and how "dark, brooding and edgy" he is because it makes money. Lego makes money by saying "Yeah, Batman can be serious, but don't you want to see him be funny". I can only hope Lego's films and video games get even better, use even more comic book jokes and lore and introduce people to a plethora of comic book characters. I want to see Lego take the comic book film genre and make a fun parallel to it, that way you can enjoy a playful rendition of your favorite comic book character while waiting for more cinematic comic book films to come out. It's like knowing Christmas is far away, but having a Birthday coming up. So I say "Good Job" Lego entertainment, and keep steering the path for successful comic book parody!
Thanks for reading!
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