What's in a name?

In an earlier post about Wonder Woman, I blogged that I could really go for a Power Girl movie.

The more I think about it, the more I think the movie could work. Power Girl's a very dynamic, modern sort of character. She's forceful in personality, connected to Superman, and with very traditional superhero powers. Her backstory is simple enough, if you decide to start with a Earth-2 set origin story.

Sure she doesn't really have any name recognition outside of the comic geek communities. But that could actually be a good thing.

Anyone who hears about Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, Fantastic Four, they're going to know immediately that these are comic book movies. This is good, because a lot of people know who the heroes are and will come to see their childhood heroes on the silver screen.

But there does seem to be a market for generally unknown or original superheroes too. When Blade came out, I had actually had no idea it was a comic book first, and I know I wasn't alone in that. My Super-Ex-Girlfriend did reasonably well, without starring any sort of familiar hero. The success of "Heroes" definitely implies the public is open to new superhero mythos.

The advantage to a movie about Power Girl is that the general public won't hear the name and immediately think "Oh, it's a comic geek movie". Power Girl's got the perfect cheeky personality to lead a witty action-comedy type movie, one that can downplay the comic book tendancies while playing up the appeal of a flying girl in skimpy clothes that punches badguys.

Okay. That may not make a whole lot of sense. I'm tired. Give me a break. :-)

I just think it could be good and if marketed correctly could be used to attract a wider audience than expected. Heck, I can't think of a character more designed to appeal to casual male viewers aged 18-40 on casual glance.

And personally, I think her self-aware wit would be a much better fit for someone like Joss Whedon than Wonder Woman would be.

I think someone should give it a try. Heck it can't turn out worse than Helen Slater's Supergirl...