Opinion: Now Is The Time To Adapt Bad Girl Comics For Film And TV
by Tito W. James
With Fantastic Four entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe and James Gunn‘s upcoming Superman movie, we’re about to enter a new era of comic book movies. However, there is a huge Wonder Woman-sized hole in popular culture. There’s a hunger for more female-lead comic book films and a wider acceptance of edgier content in films and TV. Therefore, I think now is the best time to adapt comic book Bad Girls for film and TV.
Bad Girls was a sub-genre that reached its peek during the 1990s in American indie comics. The contemporary slang term “baddie” refers to an attractive, independent woman who can hold her own and takes no shit. For the purpose of this article I’ll be using the terms “baddie” and “Bad Girl” interchangeably.
If done properly, adapting Bad Girl comics could provide the kind of illicit escapism the world needs right now. Look at the success of Bayonetta, Lollipop Chainsaw, and Panty and Stocking. These characters have huge fanbases of across the gender spectrum and are always favorites amongst cosplayers. There’s plenty opportunity to have more badass female characters that explore genres beyond the superhero, and blend action with horror.
I’m clearly not the only one who thinks this is a good idea with several projects in the works: a reboot of Red Sonja starring Matilda Lutz, a Margot Robbie-produced Tank Girl film, an adaptation of Danger Girl, and a Barbarella reboot staring Sydney Sweeney to be directed by Edgar Wright. The Barbarella film, in particular, sounds like a dream-team of talent and I wish everyone the best!
In addition to the projects already in the works, there’s so much left to explore: Lady Mechanika, Sky Doll, Vampirella, Lady Death, Taarna, Barb Wire, Hack/Slash, Witchblade, Grimm’s Fairytales, and my personal favorite, Madam Mirage. I believe that the adaptations that will have the most success will respect the intelligence of the characters and the audience, and embrace a sense of humor without trying to appeal to everyone. There are many worlds that have yet to be fully explored and the greatest stories in this genre lie ahead of us.
