Torchwood and superheroes...

[mrph]

Well, ok, that's two slightly different topics, but the online fan reaction to Children of Earth has been interesting, as has the reaction to the latest issue of Marvel Comics' X-Factor...

 

I'm slightly surprised by the reaction to Ianto's death in Torchwood. James Moran, who co-wrote two episodes, appears to have been accused of everything under the sun - including homophobia and risking the health of mentally ill fans.

Yes, they killed the gay guy[1]. No, I don't think they did it just to make the show more suitable for a BBC1 audience. And I'm amazed that some people seem to think that James Moran should somehow have distanced himself from the project (quit?) instead of 'betraying the fans' in this way.

There are already interviews out there regarding season two that confirm the death-and-not-quite-resurrection plotline they eventually used for Owen was originally written for Ianto. Which (at least as far as I'm concerned) can be taken as a sizeable hint that his life expectancy wasn't looking so good...

The Mirror has just slated Torchwood, saying that the season 3 storyline was plagiarised from Wyndham's Midwich Cuckoos (I don't think so...) and comparing the show to Blake's 7. They may have a point with that comparison, although probably not the one they were aiming for - they're both dark shows where the good guys aren't guaranteed to survive, and often end up with blood on their hands in the name of the greater good...

As for X-Factor, which is one of Marvel's many not-quite-X-Men spin offs, this month's issue ended with a surprise kiss between one of the regular cast ( ex-superhero Rictor, who's now lost his powers) and new arrival Shatterstar, a superpowered swordsman who hasn't really been seen in comics since the 90s.

The two characters have a little history - I think there were a lot of subtle hints back when they were friends & part of the same X-Team years ago, but until now there's never been a definite statement that they weren't straight. Well, there is now...

The fan reaction has been largely positive, aside from the occasional 'think of the children' - I think a lot of long-time fans were waiting for this (if Shatterstar ever turned up again...) and it's nice to see that Marvel hasn't copped out again [See also: Northstar, Destiny/Mystique, the Rawhide Kid..,].

The reaction from Shatterstar's original creator, Rob Liefeld has been rather less positive. After stating that he had gay friends, he added that Shatterstar is not gay and that - if he ever writes for Marvel again (he doesn't own the rights to the character) -he'll find a way to undo this at the first opportunity... *sigh*

I don't think that's too likely to happen, mind you..,

[1] I'm quoting this bit from an outraged twitter, not making a judgement as to where Ianto was on the Kinsey scale... :)

Comments

[mimmimmim.livejournal.com]

Well, Rusty's played out the "OMG think of the children!" card, and I doubt "OMG think of the bunnies/ grannies/ dolphins/ whatever" will work as well, so whoever takes over is going to have to do some serious character development if the new series is to keep people interested.

[mrph.livejournal.com]

I think they need to make a new series when (if) they've got a plot for it, not just because they don't want to let a successful show drop.

Which is chicken and egg, in some ways, but...