Marvel Studios’ hopes for a promising start in 2024 is already looking bleak with the dismal responses that Madame Web has been receiving. The Dakota Johnson-Sydney Sweeney starrer which opened in theaters on 16th February 2024, has been brutally panned by audiences and critics across the world for its indifference performances and non-engaging storyline.
To make matters worse, a keen-eyed comic book aficionado has elaborately detailed certain facts regarding the plotlines of Madame Web and the upcoming Kraven the Hunter. Through solid research, the fan has proved that the storylines and the character sketches of the protagonists have been directly lifted from DC.
Is Madame Web Eerily Similar To Birds Of Prey? A Fan Gives Proof
The days are going from bad to worse for Madame Web. Apart from facing severe backlash in the opening weekend of its release, the film is also being ripped apart for its performances and other technical aspects. To add more fuel to the fire, a hawk-eyed fan has taken to social media to lay down solid proof that the plotline of the film and characterization of Cassandra Webb has been directly lifted from DC’s Birds of Prey. The fan named Neb, took to his X handle to meticulously explain his reasoning and logic.
“Madame Web ends with Cassandra Webb blinded and wheelchair-bound like in the comics However, she then begins to guide the three other Spider-Women as a team of vigilantes, using her psychic spider-powers to operate from her home with a nice circular window for a view of the city.”
The fan continued the thread and made the connection to Margot Robbie’s DC film.
“So we have a disabled woman with abilities that allow her to provide limitless intel, leading a team of other vigilante women, in a base of operations with a cool circular window that allows a good view of the city It’s the Birds of Prey, from DC Comics”
Marvel’s upcoming film Kraven the Hunter was also not spared in this debate. The character’s backstory features an abusive father who forces his son to hunt animals. This becomes instrumental in Kraven turning into an expert tracker who saves wildlife – a plotline and arc that is intriguingly close to that of Catman in DC.
Incidentally, these original DC plotlines were rebooted by award-winning writer Gail Simone who was well-known in the comic book industry. Simone herself was one to note these apparent copies of her DC work that seemed to echo in Madame Web and the trailer of Kraven the Hunter. With the former film already facing flak, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Marvel’s Kraven the Hunter following these criticisms.
Why Was Madame Web A Colossal Failure?
Dakota Johnson’s Madame Web is in the limelight for all the wrong reasons since its release last week. The film which is part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, is being trolled by audiences and critics around the world by staking its claim as one of Marvel and Sony’s worst ventures ever. After a few excruciating days, analysis by experts, comic book fans, and general viewers point to certain factors that failed to work in the film.
To being with, the main criticisms have been directed at the ordinary screenplay and dialogues that do nothing for the appeal of the film. In addition, the performances from the two main leads Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney have been rated as surprisingly below par considering the universal appeal of both stars. Many opinions also highlighted the fact that Madame Web did not delve deeper into the psyche of the characters and instead chose to take a superficial approach to their journeys in the film.
As a result, the intricacies of a subtext that is essential to the complexities of any superhero, was completely missing. With further proof being given that the narrative has been heavily borrowed from the plotlines of DC, Madame Web’s path to success has unfortunately been curtailed even before it began.
Madame Web is currently playing in theaters.
Kraven the Hunter is due to release on 30th August, 2024.
