Kip Magee………………………………………….
Dr. Joshua Webster
INT 339
December 4,
2017
Entering into the Arts of Theater Superhero’s
In discussing the rhetoric of what brings around the fans of superheroes
and literally costume fanatics I looked into the performing arts in the theater
and galleries. Creator of “Marvel Universe Live, by “Feld Entertainment Group
producer of the show, and also Disney on Ice, Ringling Bros and Barnum &
Bailey Circus, and various monster truck events.” (The Guardian).
Marvel Universe Live! Looks to young boys & girls and comic
book enthusiast. Traditionally it is important when telling a story about
Marvel Comics adventures. The story on stage performance introduce the Cosmic
Cube which is introduce in The Avengers Movie. Which was created by Stan
Lee and Jack Kirby in the Golden Era of comics in 1966 it tells of a cosmic
cube powerful energy.
The Marvel Universe Live thrilling story line began with Dr. Strange
alerting the Avengers about the forces of evil trying to take over the
universe. The story enters with Thor the god of thunder destroying the Comic
Cube which can be the only way to save the universe. Thor with Mjolnir smashes
the cube into four pieces. The god of Asgard skater the pieces to the four
corners of the Earth.
Loki, the God of Mischief finds one piece of the Comic Cube, and with
that piece plans to take over the Earth. Loki intent on cloning the mutant
ability by sucking the life out of their body. This is where the stage
performance takes off. Tony Stark is still the playboy billionaire taking on the
mission to save the X-men from Loki. The stage sitting is located in New York
City at the Avenger head quarter.
Tony is operating one of his drones as Pepper giving Tony orders to what
to do. Incomes Peter Parker who admits being Spiderman which have just
“skateboard into a Fifty feet window.” (Marvel Universe LIVE). Enter into the
stage setting which has marvelous aerobatics and gymnastics. To save the
X-men from Loki who has his claws on Wolverine, Cyclops, and Storm in a machine
about to drain the life out of them. Accompany with Iron man is Spiderman,
where they take on Loki and his henchman. Examining the drama in the fight
scene; there are flips and high wire feats performance by Spiderman which was
thrilling. Feld Entertainment really out did themselves, “This all new show
unites some of Marvel’s greatest Super Heroes including Iron Man, Captain
America, Thor, Black Panther, Hulk, and Black Widow against some of the most
threatening villains.” (Feld Entertainment.)
Nick Fury and Shield finds after beginning capture by Loki that the DNA
from the X-Men feeds the clones in the machine. Ironman arrives on a high wire
with Spiderman to take on the villains with light blasting rays and Spiderman
gymnastics. Ironman manage to save wolverine but Loki ran off with Captured
Storm and Cyclops. The public news media is panicking the people about Loki and
his intent to take over the world. The Avengers assemble the mightiest super
heroes Bruce Banner the Hulk, Black widow, Hawkeye, the Falcon, Ms. Marvel,
Thor, Captain America, and Iron man, plus Wolverine. “The only way to stop Loki
is to assemble the fragments of the original Cosmic Cube. ‘Thor’ disagree and
the Avengers agree to do it together.” (Marvel Universe Live.). The heroes
break up into groups Wolverine and the Hulk on motorcycles being the rebellious
ones, and three other target teams.
A.I.M. the criminal organization has one of the Cube which they intend on
making super-soldiers. Team one with Ms. Marvel take on A.I.M with their super
heating ability. A.I.M has the heating body skeleton structure taking on Ms.
Marvel in a high wire fight act. Villains are falling twenty feet to a safety
mat, and Iron man using his laser blaster kicks and punch A.I.M.’s henchmen at
the same time requesting Jarvis to disable AIM security system. A.I.M leader
heats up his body skeleton suit and take on Ironman, in a real ball of fire
walking on the stage.
There is a safety crew waiting in costume to extinguish the actor. In
traditional Hawkeye from his is playing the protector and shadows Ms. Marvel
and Ironman until they retrieve the cube piece. A.I.M. is design in the costume
that is traditionally like the comic books, protective head gear and jump
suits. Ironman still have the puns and quirk phrases when he is fighting A.I.M.
The red lighting affect is the protected field that Jarvis eventually disarmed.
The sound stage is full of drama music and drum beats.
Team Two target is the Green Goblin and his crime syndicate the Sinister
Six the Rhino and Doc Octopus and The Lizard. The Green Goblin plans to make a
worldwide crime syndicate to control and take over the entire world. The scene
takes place at the Statute of Liberty. Spiderman webs down while the
Goblin is ranting with the cube and says, “I hate to be a fly on your wall!”
(Marvel Universe Live). And takes the cube. This is a high wire rope act and
the whole time of fighting it was in the air! Thor the God of thunder comes
down the ramp and engage into combat with Rhino and the Lizard. One punch from
the Rhino and the Thunder God goes down. On a floating platform the Green
Goblin flees with the cube and Spiderman pulls the Goblin onto the Statue of
Liberty. The Black Cat show’s up and introduce herself as the world greatest
cat bulger…and runs off with the cube.
A customer said in a review, “Great Show. My 4.5 year old loved it! We
had front row tickets on the right side of the stage. Tons of characters and
action, Great for the kids. Adults will also enjoy it.” (Yelp) Eventually
Spidey web the Black Cat for trying to run off with the cube. “Calamity struck,
and it was a real life (albeit small) calamity- not some tedious, confusing
tripe involving a pretty girl dangling from a skyscraper and supervillains
laying sieges to Manhattan. And not the more general and seriously depressing
disaster that was the sum of the mismatched parts that had been assembled
onstage.” (The New York Times). The Goblin drops Spidey from a twenty foot fall
into an air mat. I must say watching this video is a great gift in my story
because it is full of excitement. Daring stunts and great thrills scenes, “Now
in its third generation of Feld leadership, Feld Entertainment continues its
phenomenal success and acclaim. The family upholds the long-standing tradition
of bringing spectacular live entertainment to audiences across the globe. As
the recognized world leader in presenting celebrated shows that uplift and
inspire, the unwavering Feld philosophy invests passion, innovation and
meticulous attention to detail in astonishing productions that enthrall more
than 30 million people in 75 countries on six continents, with as many as 5,000
shows each year.”(Feld Entertainment)
Back to the scene of Thor saying, “It’s hammer time!”(Marvel Universe
Live). Waving Mjolnir around pounding the Rhino and the Lizard. I must say that
the villains are having good fights and winning but this is a show for team
support. Thor loss his fight to the two villains and the Goblin hovers off and
pinned underneath the Goblin craft is Spiderman. The Goblin says “it looks like
there some garbage under my shoe.”(Marvel Universe Live). Dangling above the
arena the two fly off, and Thor takes revenge on the two “foul beast!” (Marvel
Universe Live) and clobbers them. Spiderman flips the Goblin off his hover
board and he falls 10 feet into an air mat. Spidey takes the cosmic cube and
meets with Thor.
We cut to Wolverine and the Hulk climbing the rock formation wishing the
Hulk don’t get stress. Back where Captain America is about to take on Red Skull
and Hydra. The scene is stage in camouflage colors and motorcycles. Red Skull
is saluting his troops and claiming he will have world domination. Captain
America intervenes Hydra speech and the fight commonest again. Capt. chases the
skull and its daring fining stunts on motorcycles, off ramps and edges.
With loud explosion and daring music and motorcycles throttling the excitement
just keep on coming.
Red Skull tries to escape with the cube and Capt. Goes after him and
Hydra shoots with loud explosions. The Falcon flies over the arena and
help’s Capt. Who is in a tough spot against Hydra, and the chase begins again.
Black Widow and the henchwoman of the Skull are in a great fight. Black Widow
says how about a “women bounding.” (Marvel Universe Live). With Black widow in
trouble she tells Capt. to save yourself and get the cube. Of course Capt.
choose team before mission, and saves Black Widow. Capt. says “Thanks but I’m
not the one to leave a team mate behind.”(Marvel Universe Live). The Red Skull
tries to escape in a fly craft but Capt. Flings his shield and brings it down.
The Hulk and Wolverine finally make it up the mountain and finds the machine
holding Cyclops and Storm. Wolverine with his claws is just animated taking on
Loki clones. One after another he strikes them and kicking taking them down. He
manage to free Cyclops and Storm from the machine and then they engaged with
Loki. The rest of the teams show up but last was Captain America.
They all have the cosmic cube pieces expect Captain America piece. But
Loki is planning on taking those and summon the Sinister Six and Red Skull with
Hydra to do battle. Thor is the first to take on Loki, but he is to strong with
the power of the cube. Iron Man is taking on a cable wheeling guy with flames
and all the Avenger and X-men are in battle. A.I.M is battling with Thor and
Spider man.
Loki
creates doubles of himself and make them offer to join him. Each one of the
Marvels decline Loki offer and battle on finally the Hulk shows up and
Loki tries to take over his mind. Loki says the Hulk “power should be
worship!”(Manchester). Hulk gets anger and battles the Marvel who could not
stop him. Loki power was too much and they all fell powerless, except for Iron
man. Who used his elector link and broke free then freed the rest of his team.
Then the Avenger Assembled and the Hulk return and for course Loki tried to
control him but the Hulk was to powerful and mash Loki. After the battle Thor
took Loki back to an Asgard prison. Nick Fury and Shield took the remaining
pieces of the cosmic cube for safe keeping. It ends with Spiderman turning down
Ironman offer to join the Avengers. A great theatrical show it would inspire
youths of all ages to become super-heroes and fight villains. I might add the
caution of fighting crime and introduce the confession of a superhero and
“Experience: I fell 30ft dressed as Spider-Man.” (Christopher Tierney), as a
young man Christopher always was a Spiderman fan waring the “Spidey Pyjamas, my
faced painted, being held up by a spider-man impersonator in the local shopping
centre.” (Christopher Tierney). Getting a call to work in theater stage
performance “Spider-Man: ‘Turn off the Dark,’” would of have been the thrill of
his life time. Spider-man main act was saving Mary Jane for the Green Goblin in
New York. In reconstructing his incident a wire was supposed to have tension on
a bridge scene. When Chris reached for the wire it fell “below it was an open
pit through which props and actors entered and exited the stage. The combined
drop was over 30ft. Knowing I wasn’t going to be able to stop, I reached down,
praying there would be something I could grab. There was nothing.”(Christopher
Tierney). This is Christopher having been as very frightening experience
for the actor. He was so sure that everything just worked and so assure that
the equipment is adequate to your survival. Christopher would be out of
performance for 4 months with broken ribs and bruised lung and couple of other
things, but he came back to the theater and performance art.
I am
excited taking the course with superheroes and action comics. Las Vegas created
the Marvel Avenger S.T.A.T.I.O.N. Which is and marvelous gallery. It has
life size replica of Iron man suits the Avenger training simulation were
families can walk through experience of being on the actual set of the
Avengers. “Emma Victoria Basc, We love Avengers, we are in Las Vegas on
holidays from Australia. We enjoyed the ‘training’ and looking at the movie
props and the interactive display but it [is].” (October 16, 2017) Facebook.com
“This is a great attraction for anyone who enjoys the marvel universe.
The attraction features character bios, photos, videos and awesome props.”
(Marvel Avenger S.T.A.T.I.O.N.)
What I have learn in this course is that whether you like the comics are
movies, the action is there with the thrills. I’ve learned diversity in the new
age of comics with the example of Ms. Marvel in “No Normal.” By Wilson Alphona.
And I still see the playboy in Iron Man in Extremis, but they all tell the
modern age of comics. Stan Lee comment that “we are a reflection of the world
right outside that widow. We will never change is the way we tell are stories
of heroism. Marvel has room of everyone regardless of their race, gender,
religion, or the color of their skin. The only thing we don’t have room for is
hatred and bigotry that man next to you is your brother and the lady next to
you is your sister. He may have the strength of a spider. [You] are part of the
marvel universe [forever excelsior].” (Marvel Entertainment)
We researched the Extremis in Iron man that dealt with transhumanist
value that alter of the body in away using chemicals. “It promotes an
interdisciplinary approach to understanding and evaluation the opportunities
for enhancing the human condition and the human organism opened up by the
advancement of technology.” (Nick Bostrom) In Marvel Universe Loki wanted to
create the clones of X-men Mutants and make a change in the world and the
universe. Creators of animated series have the desires to find super-human
strength in the transhumanist perception. So like to be a creator that shock
the world with its story line. Comic Code use to keep all the intent managed.
“To make a positive contribution to contemporary life, the industry must seek
new areas for developing sound, wholesome entertainment. The people responsible
for writing, drawing, printing, publishing, and selling comic books have done a
commendable job in the past, and have been striving toward this goal.”(Comic
Code of 1954). Code of the Comics Magizine Association of America, Inc. Adopted
October 26, 1954,
Work Cited
The
Guardian. “Marvel Universe Live is a fun show for kids, but a nightmare for
Parents.” August 16, 2014.
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/aug/16/marvel-universe-live-brooklyn
(Marvel
Universe LIVE (Full Show) Manchester arena 29/01/17) YouTube. Website December
13,2017.
Feld
Entertainment. “Marvel Universe Live.” Website December 13, 2017.
https://www.feldentertainment.com/shows/marveluniverse/.
(Yelp) https://www.yelp.com/biz/marvel-universe-live-jacksonville.
Ben
Brantley, “Good vs. Evil Hanging by a Thread.” The New York Times. Theater
Reviews. Website 11/21/2017
Marvel
Universe Live- Home Facebook. Https://www.facebook.com/ MarvelOnTour/
Nick
Bostrom. “Transhumanist Value.” Oxford Universite. Center Press 2003. Vol 4,
May 2005
Christopher Tierney “Experience: I fell 30ft dressed as Spider-Man” The
Guardian.
