SUPERMAX: "Git 'er Dun!" Author: Jett Wednesday, May 21, 2008 When it comes to “DC COMICS ON FILM,” I’m sort of happy with how things stand right now. The BATMAN franchise is thriving and in great hands. It looks as if the next Superman flick -- MAN OF STEEL -- is going to tremendously ramp up the action as fans requested. Films based on Green Lantern, The Flash, and Captain Marvel are at various stages of production and appear to be promising. We’ve also got WATCHMEN to look forward to in early 2009 -- even though it’s not part of the “DC Universe” proper. And I’d be remiss in mentioning that a HUGE misstep was avoided recently when Warner Bros. decided to pull the plug on that disaster in waiting known as JUSTICE LEAGUE. Whew! That was a close one, wasn’t it? Anyway… There is one project that I’ve yet to mention that I thought was a winner the moment I heard about it. In fact, I even contacted one of the people involved with the project and told him I thought it was one of the best and freshest ideas for a comic book/superhero film I’ve heard about to date. And what project am I talking about? That Green Arrow flick that David Goyer’s behind called SUPERMAX. If you are unfamiliar with SUPERMAX, the premise is fantastic! Oliver Queen, AKA Green Arrow, is found guilty of a crime he didn’t commit, and is sent to a high security prison for super villains known the “Supermax.” Basically, it’s an Alcatraz for the likes of Lex Luthor, The Joker, and various other members of DC’s rogues gallery. If you are concerned that a B-list character like Green Arrow can’t carry a big superhero film and won‘t make a lot of money, I’ve got two words for you… “Iron Man.” I’m telling you, GA is a cool character with a strong, albeit small, fan base -- just like Tony Stark. And also like Iron Man, Ollie Queen is mega-rich and doesn’t have any superpowers. Kinda like that playboy billionaire that dresses up like a giant bat and kicks bad guy ass, huh? What I really dig about SUPERMAX (which is rumored to have been retitled GREEN ARROW: ESCAPE FROM SUPERMAX) is that it is not the standard origin film that we tend to get with a comic book movie. While we will get the origin of Green Arrow, it’s going to be done via flashbacks and take up only about ten minutes of screen time. The crux of the movie is Ollie Queen being locked up with the sort of scum he was previously bringing to justice, as well has his breakout from Supermax. It’s sorta like ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ, but with super villains and a superhero. Or one of those stories about an innocent cop is sent to prison, just kicked up several notches. Which villains will Queen encounter? Which ones will he have to fight simply to survive? And perhaps the most interesting dynamic, which ones will he be forced to ally with to escape? In my opinion, this is some fascinating stuff that will not only make for a good -- and original -- “comic book film,” but one hell of action movie. This is a film that will appeal not only to comic book fans, but to the mainstream as well. So what are you waiting for Warner Bros.? Let’s “Git ‘er dun!” (And that GREEN LANTERN space opera trilogy too!)