Welcome back to Comic Comparisons, where tropes and ideas compare and contrast with one another to highlight their appeals. Today we’ll be focusing on the unique brand of movie sequels. The ones without Hollywood budgets or producer interest of more movies or TV.
Now movies are a good pass time; there’s no denying that theaters have that sense of awe that puts you on the edge of your seat. But for me, it’s partly because I’m holding my bladder while getting excited over what’s on screen. Some filmmakers are so into to their craft they have openings displaying certain features. Quentin Tarantino likes to use old fashioned film making techniques like film roles that he has displayed in select theaters. Of course that also means he has terrible editing.
But more importantly, they’re expensive; if they lack a big enough fanbase, no studios are willing to make more movies from that property. And to be honest, this actually is a good opportunity to explore other types of media. Plot details and spoilers ahead.
The Creative Movie Sequels
Back on Tarantino, I’ve read the sequel to his Django movie; which is also a crossover with Dynamite Entertainment’s Zorro. Co-written by Tarantino himself, the western setting and characters about bringing justice to the oppressed just seems so right. Yet it also takes the necessary steps to keep the series from interfering with any continuity with the Zorro comics. In there Diego is an elderly man.
With Django, you have a guy supporting his wife who is helping the underground railroad. He comes across Don Diego de la Vega during a job. Thankfully these characters actually have a decent chemistry. Diego is more experienced and cool headed from his younger days with all the skills of El Zorro. But with age comes the need for a companion. Django himself is still going through motions of life of being a black man in 1840s America. Diego provides a great substitute for his late mentor King Schultz. Diego hires Django as a bodyguard to join him in helping the oppressed Yaqui tribe from their slavery; something Django is all too familiar with.
Couldn’t They Have put Brunhild in Focus?
Now here is where I think Tarantino should’ve just put the pen down and taken some advice from an editor. Like most sequels, the comics repeat the same story as its predecessor yet lacks some of the defining traits. Once again with the concept of slavery; it goes through the theme where slave owners are nothing but charlatans who only act like genuine nobles. The Archduke of Phoenix Arizona, Gurko Langston takes this to another level. He marries his way into nobility by manipulation, subterfuge, and giving a fake identity to an orphan girl.
Langston is also very dominating, preferring to only take the surface level details of success. He is not even willing to learn Spanish in order to keep up the facade. For anyone not of the same class, Langston treats them as less than human. Even Langston’s son feels oppressed; he’s in love with Conchita but has to keep up the act. He’s yet another slave under Langston’s thumb. This is actually a decent thing the comics do.
Langston’s only loyal slave Anvil meanwhile is little more than a more physically intimidating Steven. However he lacks any of Sam L. Jackson’s charm. In fact Anvil is little more than a brute who has no subtle undertones.
The Fruits of Labor
Fortunately, the relationship shown in the main characters is a great selling point, albeit a messy one. Django, thanks to his experiences with King is able to look past the surface of things. He knows just killing Langston would solidify his rule. Langston’s railroad needs to lose its sponsors by messing with his reputation. Django himself confronts a similar situation when it comes to climatic scene in Candyland; being seen by everyone around the area as an outsider and seen only as a meant-to-be servant. Diego however finds kinship in Django, allowing him to wear the mask and cape of Zorro.
Subverting Themes (in a bad way)
Aa few more weaknesses in this story come up. Django despite having the skills he got from King; goes into a blind rage after seeing the more horrifying treatment of slavery. With Django still wearing the Zorro outfit; it is more like Django is mocking Diego who actually treats him well unlike Calvin Candie. However Diego also goes into the wrong end of subverting nobility. His scheme is nearly exposed by his own lack of foresight when his fake funds are stolen. By that point it’s all deus ex machina on Diego and Django’s survival.
Smart or Dumb?
Ultimately both of their actions have casualties including Zorro’s regular helper Bernardo. It is only mutual quick thinking, resourcefulness, and the influence they leave on the slaves that allow them to make it out alive. It even allows Langston’s son and Conchita to free themselves from Langston’s influence. With Conchita finally free of the lie forced on her; the Yaqui tribe as a whole are able to live on in peace. Django and Diego part ways while giving Bernardo a traditional burial; displaying a genuine sign of respect for different people.
All in all, it’s difficult to balance two major characters who have already been through so much. But it is far from a bad series, it’s still fun and has tense moments. Yet it is lacking in areas the characters had already explored.
Are Actor’s Likeness too expensive for Movie Sequels?
Then there’s the Fight Club series, Dark Horse’s turn at making sequels for notable movies… Okay they’re mainly a sequels to its original novel, but it still counts. Chuck Palahniuk creates the comics as sequels that people probably didn’t want or need. Some fans actually like this development while critics are less enthusiastic. For one the main character is given the name Sebastian in Fight Club 2 for simplicity’s sake in the comic. But this takes away the idea that anyone could manifest Tyler Durden.
Sebastian has since married Marla Singer, but their lives are practically the same. Marla still comes to groups trying to leach on sympathy. Sebastian meanwhile is back to doing more boring jobs. They’re so hopelessly bored and in such a dysfunctional relationship that Marla wants Tyler Durden back in their lives; despite how dangerous he is to both of them. Sebastian meanwhile is taking pills to prevent this from happening.
Mindbending or Ax-Crazy?
As it turns out, the comic reveals the reason for Sebastian’s insomnia is Tyler himself. Tyler has actually been in control of Sebastian for a very long time; coming out whenever Sebastian goes to sleep. Tyler actually first manifests during a childhood trauma Sebastian had after a fire. I guess Chuck did his research on DID. However, it the series later reveals that Tyler is more than just another entity in the narrator; the narrator’s son is also manifesting his own Tyler Durden.
Spreading his influence globally, Tyler wants Project Mayhem to restart under a new name. It feels like a generic sequel where old concepts and ideas are reused and nostalgia being a key factor. One of the main things people complain about Fight Club 2 however is how crazy the plot becomes; what with spin-offs of Tyler’s fight clubs like the Write Klub. Even the author Chuck appears in series as someone under Durden’s influence only to get shot by Sebastian. Still Chuck learns to use this as a means of using actions to drive the story instead of dialogue. He just has to learn not to go over-the-top.
Modern Take on Theme?
Moreover it presents Tyler not as a product of deteriorating mental health; but as a supernatural force driven by human nature. He is a meme in the vein of Slender Man. The series is meant to challenge storytelling and show how stories will outlive their creators; which is how Tyler comes to be, an infectious idea that becomes something like a virus. It’s even a theme that continues from the first Fight Club where Sebastian’s duality with Tyler is a focal point. While the narrator feels stuck and on the road to being forgotten, Tyler uses all means to transcend his existence.
In all honesty, nothing can compare to the original story. It is about how mundane life can get people down, and how a person’s worst traits come out. It is a modern Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story that is relevant in today’s world. With how some of the acts in the sequel come to be; it looks like it’s going to be a long time before the theme comes through in the real world.
In fact Chuck Palahniuk announces the Fight Club 3 comic to further illustrate this. Critically speaking, it fixes some of the flaws from Fight Club 2. For example the reason the narrator has the name Sebastian is because it is an alias; now he goes by Balthazar. Also, it’s become much more self-reflective with Balthazar forging an alliance with Tyler against radicals who deviate from Tyler’s plan. Tyler meanwhile isn’t doing this out of ego; but to protect his heir apparent with Marla’s expecting child. Tyler himself sees how his ideology has mutated beyond his control to the point of harming him. As a result, there is more focus unlike before.
The Bigger Potential for Movie Sequels
Personally, most movie sequels as comics I find are usually from big franchises. Slashers, Alien Exploitations, and other franchises like Ghostbusters, Star Wars, or anything with Ash Williams. I mean there is no need to constrain themselves with actors who get too old or buried six feet under.
It even allows for plot scripts that haven’t been passed like William Gibson’s proposed idea for Alien 3. Granted, it changes slightly from the original screenplay; and the single issue releases are not so great. It probably would be better to release in graphic novel format from the get go. But it is still better than the train wrecks Fox puts out. For one Newt and Hicks are still alive; and there is a not-so-subtle Cold War vibe there with the general sense of fear from the first Alien movie.
There are loads of other comics that are basically sequels. In fact, Marvel’s newer Star Wars comics actually put a decent amount of thought into the events between the two trilogies. The character of Darth Vader has never been so much depth before. This blog here even goes into detail about a couple of these sequel comics.
But the ink’s not dry yet, so there’s potential for more stories. Remember to look between the panels.