Though fantasy might be the order of the day on the TV schedules with the likes of Game of Thrones, Once Upon A Time, and True Blood winning critical and popular acclaim, the super-hero sub-genre has burst back onto our screens in the form of Arrow. A new take on one of DC’s most popular heroes, the Green Arrow, the show has proved a popular and critical hit, regularly winning the top-rated slot for the network and receiving favourable reviews from critics. Its darker tone provides a marked contrast to the CW’s successful former show Smallville.
The success of Arrow has also prompted the network to begin development of a pilot for a companion Wonder Woman series – Amazon, which though in early development stage is rumoured for a potential premiere in time for the 2013-14 television season in only a few months time. It also seems likely that Amazon will seek to imitate Arrow’s lifelike tone. According to Vulture.com, Amazon may well have a “no bracelets, no crown” mandate.
Along with the new Wonder Woman series, it is rumoured that television networks in America have commissioned a Booster Gold series, a Deadman series, a series based around the Spectre from Batman, and a Sandman series.
TV isn’t just focusing on the DC Comics back catalogue either. The ongoing success of the Marvel Film Franchise has prompted ABC network to green light Joss Whedon’s eponymous tie-in series which follow the exploits of Marvel’s covert, intelligence agency S.H.I.E.L.D.
With the success of Arrow, and the promise of Amazon and S.H.I.E.L.D, it seems entirely possible that the TV Fantasy Bubble might be about to burst, and be replaced by a swell of super-hero shows.
However, if Arrow is anything to go by, then surely such a shift can be no bad thing.