So today’s the last day of Comic-Con San Diego, and if there’s anything to look back on it’s that DC finally looks the part in the two-horse rivalry with its Marvel counterparts.
It definitely was not a missed opportunity, with a Marvel-shy edition of one of the geekiest events in the world, as DC put their best foot forward with two spectacular trailers and some insane footage that all have one thing in common: they’re finally stepping out of the grim darkness and into a jazzy, more upbeat, visually spectacular era.
Aquaman the big fish in San Diego
Fans of the DC franchise were already looking forward to this after catching their first glimpse of Momoa’s Aquaman in the Justice League film. And on the whole, expectations seem to have been met regarding our sizzling semi-aquatic Hawaiian beast (no, not Perry the Platypus, I don’t think he’s Hawaiian).
Aquaman chronicles the celebrated Atlantean’s life, from his early days on land to taking up his rightful place as King of the ocean. The love child of a lighthouse keeper and a mysterious Queen, Arthur Curry is a product of two different worlds that he must reconcile in order to become what he was always born to be: a trident-wielding badass with great hair.
When his half-brother declares war on the ‘surface world’ (really, we’ve got to stop polluting the ocean), it’s up to Arthur to save both his worlds from toil and destruction. With a little help from a dashing redhead, he gets his team together and exercises his water demons in typical Momoa fashion.
Full marks for shark cracking tank after seeing Arthur being bullied by his classmates on a school trip, and for the awesome Black Manta in his outlandish costume.
Is Shazam! The answer to Deadpool?
While Aquaman is a thing of beauty, a cinematic spectacle with beautiful underwater scenery, vivid colours, and rich photography, Shazam! looks like a comedic marvel (no pun intended) presented in this mock satire for a film.
In the trailer, we are introduced to a young fostered child with a disabled foster brother who aspires to be a superhero. While riding the train like any other person would, he suddenly hears a mystical voice telling him that he has been chosen.
When the train stops, and the doors slide open, he does not step off onto just any platform, but an entirely different dimension where he encounters a mage with a staff and is granted superpowers at the mention of the magic word: Shazam! Basically, every time he says Shazam! he turns into a full-grown man in tights (think Elf) with super powers.
Along with his foster brother, Shazam! embarks on an awkward journey to unravel his powers, and use them for good. Big time LOLs at him attempting flight, ‘charging’ cellphones with electricity, a costume that borders on comic spoof, and him discovering he is bulletproof.
If there was a trailer that absolutely hammered home the point that DC are ready to move on from the quasi funny-dark-awkward-mix, it was Shazam! They’ve finally taken a direction, and we can only hope that the end product is as funny and entertaining as the teaser.
Wonder Woman 1984: cute and cheesy (but not in a bad way)
DC’s top Gal (Gadot) will be strutting her stuff again, reprising her role as the lasso-whipping, dreamy Wonder Woman. Audiences in Hall H were treated to a first glimpse of what we can expect from the film set in 1984, and it definitely looks promising.
Put it this way, you’re at the food court, it’s a regular day when suddenly there’s a hold up. The enigmatic Wonder Woman enters the fray, moving guilelessly from assailant to assailant, sliding a little girl out of harms way as neatly as bowling a strike, before disarming the thugs, lassoing them in and dragging them behind her as she leaps up to the second floor. Sassy.
Kristen Wiig has been cast as the villain, Cheetah, while fans will be kept on the edge of the seats as rumours of a Chris Trevor, I mean Steve Pine, I mean Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor return have been dangled like a juicy carrot.
Hall H brought to its feet, but Titans poorly received
It was a memorable Comic-Con for fans of the DC universe, especially the showings in Hall H. All three mega blockbusters mentioned in this piece look promising, and we can certainly expect a fresh outtake on what has been a flat experience so far.
But seriously, what was that Titans trailer about? DC’s first live-action TV series looks a little on the gimmicky side, but more importantly what was with the ‘F- Batman’ part? Sheesh, way to get all dark again, DC.
