A few months ago two of our team members, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan, explored the question, “Have superhero TV and film projects consciously decided to sacrifice solid storytelling for flavor of the season styling.”
Here’s Part 1 of their pursuit for that answer.
TTDS Returns: Story vs Style, Part 1
(*Recorded May 2017)
Alex Simmons is an award-winning freelance writer, comic book creator, playwright, teaching artist, and educational consultant. He’s written for Disney Books, Penguin Press, Simon and Schuster, Marvel, DC, and Archie Comics. Simmons is the creator of the acclaimed adventure comic book series, Blackjack. As a teaching artist, Simmons has created and taught creative arts workshops for students and educators in the US, Europe, West Indies, and Africa.
Simmons has served on panels and delivered lectures on children’s entertainment mediums, as well as empowering young people through the arts. Simmons founded the annual family event, Kids Comic Con, as well as three comic arts exhibits, which have traveled abroad. He is currently developing a comics and creative arts program for children all over the world.
During the past 35 years, Simmons has participated as a member of arts and education boards for several New York State nonprofit organizations, as well as one in Nigeria.
As a teaching artist Simmons has worked with youth through the Bronx Community College, the Christopher Barron Live Life Foundation, Apollo Theater In-School Arts Program, Henkel McCoy, Upward Bound, New York Council on the Arts, Children’s Art Carnival, Wings Academy, and NYU Creative Arts Team, to name a few.
He has been a panelist at many literacy and arts events, and he has been a guest speaker at numerous colleges and educational institutions here and abroad.
I believe so. I recently finished watching the Luke Cage and Defenders story. While the story telling was great I have issue with the story of the black characters. Particularly Misty Knight. Misty of TV series is NOT Misty of the comics. I was truly disappointed by the way she was portrayed. Misty of the comics can do:Abilities
Master Martial Artist: Misty Knight is well-versed in martial arts and hand-to-hand combat, with police combat training. She has been trained additionally by some of the best martial artists in the world such as Iron Fist and Shang-Chi.[38]
Detective Skill: Misty Knight is a skilled detective, capable of observation, forensic investigation, and inductive and deductive reasoning of the highest caliber. Given any mystery, she can arrive at the correct conclusions with a fraction of the data.[38]
Interrogation Expert: Due to her experience and training as a police officer, she has an extensive knowledge of interrogation methods.[38]
Expert Marksman: She is an exceptional marksman who is sometimes depicted as being ambidextrous in this respect. She is skilled in sharpshooting and knife throwing
I offer the thought that television, like film, is a totally different animal than comic books. They’re going to approach storytelling in a somewhat different fashion.
Back in the 1930s the author Leslie Charteris, who created the series The Saint, was very unhappy with all of the film and TV versions of his character. It was nothing like the book that he wrote. But he accepted all of the checks.
The TV series Luke Cage, might be leading up to giving Misty some of the special skills and talents that you mentioned,. Certainly she’s just met Danny so if the series last perhaps he will begin to train her. Who knows?
But certainly I would not expect the character on television to reflect all of the attributes of the character you love in the comics.
SimmonsHereAndNow 
Pingback: TELL THE DAMN STORY:Style vs Story Part 2 | SimmonsHereAndNow
I believe so. I recently finished watching the Luke Cage and Defenders story. While the story telling was great I have issue with the story of the black characters. Particularly Misty Knight. Misty of TV series is NOT Misty of the comics. I was truly disappointed by the way she was portrayed. Misty of the comics can do:Abilities
Master Martial Artist: Misty Knight is well-versed in martial arts and hand-to-hand combat, with police combat training. She has been trained additionally by some of the best martial artists in the world such as Iron Fist and Shang-Chi.[38]
Detective Skill: Misty Knight is a skilled detective, capable of observation, forensic investigation, and inductive and deductive reasoning of the highest caliber. Given any mystery, she can arrive at the correct conclusions with a fraction of the data.[38]
Interrogation Expert: Due to her experience and training as a police officer, she has an extensive knowledge of interrogation methods.[38]
Expert Marksman: She is an exceptional marksman who is sometimes depicted as being ambidextrous in this respect. She is skilled in sharpshooting and knife throwing
Misty of the TV series can do: ????
I hear you Andre. And I understand your reaction.
I offer the thought that television, like film, is a totally different animal than comic books. They’re going to approach storytelling in a somewhat different fashion.
Back in the 1930s the author Leslie Charteris, who created the series The Saint, was very unhappy with all of the film and TV versions of his character. It was nothing like the book that he wrote. But he accepted all of the checks.
The TV series Luke Cage, might be leading up to giving Misty some of the special skills and talents that you mentioned,. Certainly she’s just met Danny so if the series last perhaps he will begin to train her. Who knows?
But certainly I would not expect the character on television to reflect all of the attributes of the character you love in the comics.
That’s seldom how it works in filmland.