Comic books have always generated a strong fandom. With the accessibility of new video production and editing tools, that fandom has grown more and more adept at producing content inspired by the characters they love. The scope and variety of fan produced content continues poses a challenge as fanfic starts to look and feel like professional productions. Where do we draw the line to protect intellectual property? At what point does a character woven into the cultural landscape through decades of storytelling become an object of public domain worthy of manipulation for creative purposes? The legal fight around fair use looms in the background, but the immediate answer is clear. Fan engagement is a byproduct that license holder wants, but they rightly prevent fan products from generating profits. This fan film inspired by Hawkeye fits neatly in the space created by contemporary circumstances. Recognizable characterization, good production values, and clear story inspiration from the award winning comic series.
The ruminations over new activity to bring Wonder Woman back to the small screen once again remind me of the unique place DC Comic characters occupy in our collective mind’s eye. The struggle to produce a Wonder Woman film says much about the challenge represented by the Amazon Warrior/Princess who does not need to be rescued. Despite the growth of women’s role in society, we still assume a paternal and maternal model for men and women's in society. While Wonder Woman is not barred from motherhood, she is not seeking to place herself within the familial framework in an obvious way. Indeed, the recent runs of Wonder Woman have been better in part, because they have embraced the character as who she is--warrior, diplomat, and leader. Wonder Woman is one of the key characters from DC, yet she has not had the iconic stories similar to Batman (The Dark Knight Returns, The Killing Joke, or Year One) or Superman ( Greatest Stories or Red Son) in print. Instead, many people know abo…
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