Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm

A recent Entertainment Weekly article titled "Call Him the Savior of Superheroes—Martin" sparked buzz among industry insiders and fans alike. Written by Pauline Kael, a legendary American film critic born in June 1919, the piece was a surprise. Kael, long retired from reviewing, was known for her sharp, uncompromising critiques and was beyond the reach of PR influence at her age. Yet, she picked up her pen to praise America's genius, Martin.

Her article read:

"Why do I call Martin the savior of superheroes? Let's look at the history of superhero films.

"The world's first superhero movie wasn't Marvel or DC—it came from Fawcett Comics. In 1941, Adventures of Captain Marvel premiered, birthing the first superhero film. This Captain Marvel wasn't Marvel's female hero but Fawcett's creation, later renamed Shazam after Marvel trademarked the name. Back then, the film industry was primitive; super-realistic scenes were impossible, and Adventures targeted teens, resembling Teletubbies in its simplicity.

"After Adventures, attempts to adapt Superman, Batman, and Captain America for the screen were often shoddy, self-indulgent works unfit for theatrical release. In 1966, the first Batman film, featuring Batman and Robin, hit theaters. Limited by outdated technology, its costumes, props, and script were mediocre, but it contributed to exploring the superhero genre.

"Film tech evolved, and green-screen techniques emerged, enabling more natural flying scenes. In 1978, Richard Donner's Superman, starring Christopher Reeve and Marlon Brando, arrived with a $55 million budget—a massive production. It grossed $300 million, thrusting superhero films into the spotlight.

"From 1978 to 1987, five Superman-related films were released, causing audience fatigue. During this time, Marvel's first superhero film, Howard the Duck, flopped due to its overly surreal visuals, scaring Marvel away from films for over a decade.

"In 1989, DC's other titan emerged: Batman. From 1989 to 1997, the Batman series produced four films, taking a darker, Gothic path unlike Superman's brightness. Tim Burton, a visionary, not only made the series a hit but shaped superhero films for nearly two decades with his dark aesthetic. Yet, the genre's weakness was shallow characters—heroes remained upright, their 'darkness' confined to visuals and props, not inner depth. These films chased spectacle over substance.

"Joel Schumacher's two Batman films epitomized this, and audiences stopped buying in, ending the series with dismal box office.

"Then came Martin Meyers, a young genius. His Dark Knight trilogy reinvented Batman, breathing new life into the series. Credit also goes to Christopher Nolan, but Martin was the driving force.

"For Marvel, Iron Man was pivotal, rescuing the near-bankrupt company and boosting its confidence. Yet, subsequent Marvel films faltered. The Incredible Hulk, with a $150 million budget, grossed $260 million—the lowest in the MCU and a financial loss. Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger barely cleared $400 million each against nine-figure budgets, performing adequately at best. Iron Man 2 did well, riding Iron Man 1's reputation and Martin's foundation, but its larger budget and weaker reviews made it a modest success.

Marvel's trajectory, post-Iron Man 1, was declining. Then, boom—Martin delivered The Avengers.

"Its market response exceeded all expectations. A multi-character ensemble was uncharted territory for Martin, and many predicted he'd stumble. But genius is genius. The Avengers didn't just succeed—it shattered records, with North American box office likely to surpass $600 million and global earnings potentially hitting $1.6 billion. For Marvel Studios, it was a lifeline. Wisely, they turned to Martin when their superhero films faltered, and the results were stellar.

Martin Meyers saved DC's superheroes once and Marvel's twice. He is, without question, the savior of superheroes!"