The Odyssey is a Comic Book Movie

[00:00:00]Thanks to Heroes of History for sponsoring this video. The Odysseies in a genre of mythical story motif that has been told and retold throughout generations. But this tale is old as time's most modern and popular form is the superhero blockbuster. In fact, while many look to 2008's Iron Man as the starting point for this era of superhero films, you could argue that the man who truly kickstarted this trend, also in 2008, was none other than director Christopher Nolan with his Batman movie, The Dark Knight. And now here he is nearly 20 years later bringing us full circle by bridging the modern superhero genre with a direct adaptation. A grand epic film based on the very story that inspired it all. Hey everyone, Colton here and I saw the Odyssey last night with my wife who is a huge Greek mythology fan. She's read all of these books, you know, the Iliad, the Odyssey, and a whole lot of other stuff unlike me who was too busy watching movies instead of, you know, reading what I was supposed to read in high school. Anyway, you know me, I couldn't help but notice some of the the lowhanging fruit comparisons of this film with modern superhero movies. Like, I don't know, the stacked ensemble cast of huge name actors that have played characters like Spider-Man, Batman, Catwoman, Kitty Pride, Punisher, Mary Jane, a Wakanda Warrior. I could go on, but that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of how the Odyssey is Christopher Nolan's return to the superhero genre. You see, every superhero has a defining power, right?

[00:01:28]But they also have a defining purpose.

[00:01:30]Superman has his strength and his nobility. Spider-Man has his agility and sense of responsibility. Batman has his intelligence, combat skills, and wealth.

[00:01:40]All fueled by grief. And Odysius, his power is, well, of course, you know, he's a very skilled fighter and marksman. But most scholars would argue that his greatest power was his mind.

[00:01:50]Homer, who wrote the Odyssey, repeatedly shows us that Odysius wins not because he's the strongest man in the room, but because he's the smartest. He defeats enemies that should be impossible to overcome by outwitting them, escaping the cave of the Cyclops, deducing Cersei's bird as her sister, placing wax in his men's ears to protect against the sirens. There's also, of course, the guidance and favor of the gods that he receives specifically from the goddess Athena. She guides him and protects him.

[00:02:19]What's fun about Nolan's interpretation is that we see Zenaia also plays the young woman in Troy who gets decapitated, making you wonder if Athena is simply taking that form of this this young woman that haunts Odysius. Is it possible that Athena was actually there that night in human form and was challenging Odysius not to go this path?

[00:02:41]Or is it really just all in his head and he's being guided by his guilt over the fall of Troy and the breaking of Zeus's law? And that's why I want to share with you guys the sponsor of today's video, Heroes of History. This is a free strategic citybuilding and hero collection game where you can grow your own civilization, collect legendary heroes from across history and mythology, and you can battle in real time. You can play on mobile or browser with no download needed. Now, on July 1st, the Great Odyssey event began, and it brought the hero Odysius to Heroes of History, and you can help him take down Skyla in the brand new Skyla event dungeon, a boss fight with escalating mechanics, and some of the hardest in-game content available. And if you log in for 7 days during the event, you can unlock the limited five-star hero, Odysius, because once the event ends, he is gone forever. And what's fun about this game is it kind of lets you put your own spin on history and tell the story your way. Very similar to what I was just discussing earlier with how we are still telling these same stories all these years later just in different forms. And now you can do that and play with different heroes from throughout history to tell that same classic story.

[00:03:51]So if you want to play Heroes of History, be sure to download the game and using my promo code cultting gives you bonuses which will give you a head start. or you can scan the QR code on screen and let me know in the comments what you thought of the game. And that guilt that he feels, it mirrors not only Nolan's recent film Oenheimer and how he created this nuclear bomb for the greater good, but ultimately doomed the entire human race, which in all likelihood will destroy itself with the same weapon. But you've got another Nolan character with his interpretation of Batman who created that surveillance system in the Dark Knight that had Lucius Fox very uncomfortable. This is too much power for one person.

[00:04:29]>> Then of course, if you want to go outside the Nolan bubble, you have Iron Man and Vision and the other Avengers who blame themselves for the very existence of the threats that they exist to stop.

[00:04:39]>> Our very strength invites challenge.

[00:04:41]Challenge incites conflict and conflict breeds catastrophe. In a lot of ways, the Odyssey, and I heard John Stewart mention this on his show, and my wife actually mentioned it as well, The Odyssey feels like a a sequel to Oppenheimer, but it also kind of feels like a sequel to The Dark Knight. It's almost feels like The Dark Knight, Oppenheimer, and the Odyssey are part of a trilogy because they all follow these men who are trying to save the world, but they are doing questionable, morally gray things. perhaps even not so great, but just like morally wrong things to achieve that goal. Now, one of the defining characteristics of a superhero is that they often conceal who they really are to protect the ones they love. When Odysius finally returns home to Ithaca, he doesn't announce himself.

[00:05:30]He disguises himself as a beggar, quietly gathering information, testing loyalties, and waiting for the perfect moment to reveal his true identity. All to save his beloved home and family. And that is classic superhero storytelling.

[00:05:43]Hell, even his signature weapon feels familiar. Captain America has his shield. Thor has Muolnir. Wonder Woman has the lasso of truth. And Odysius, he has his legendary bow. A weapon so difficult to wield that none of the suitors can even string it. Only the true hero, the one that is worthy, can use it. Again, a lot like with Thor.

[00:06:04]Essentially, this is the Greek equivalent of proving you are worthy to lift the hammer. Now, Odysius's mission is also fundamentally superherooic. He isn't seeking conquest or personal glory. He is trying to save his family, liberate his home, and restore justice to Ithaca after it has been overrun by corrupt men abusing their power. But also we have to keep in mind that Odysius, he is carrying the weight of guilt and like this feeling of being responsible for what is happening because of the hand he played in the fall of Troy and the breaking of Zeus's law that he thinks has started all of this. Similar to Spider-Man's guilt over the death of his uncle Ben and how that drives him. We have Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent's grief over the death of their parents or in Superman's case his entire planet. Odysius, while it's kind of fun to joke sometimes that, oh, he pretty much this entire story is just him getting all of his men killed, he does carry the weight of that. And what's even more relevant to modern superhero blockbusters is that the Odyssey exists within its own shared universe. Odysius, he constantly interacts with Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, Hermes, and countless other mythological figures in different stories. Long before Marvel Studios built the MCU, Greek mythology had already done it.

[00:07:20]Every myth was part of one enormous interconnected world where gods and heroes crossed paths and influenced one another. And what are superhero comics and superhero films if not man's telling of stories about the gods? Superheroes, they are modern mythology. We often say Superman is the modern Hercules. Batman is our generation's Odysius. Thor was literally adapted from Thor of Norse mythology. But we have to remember that comic books, we love them, right? But they didn't invent these storytelling conventions. They have simply kept them alive. And that is why Christopher Nolan directing the Odyssey feels like such a full circle moment. Nolan redefined the modern superhero movie with The Dark Knight. And now he is adapting the very story that arguably started it all.

[00:08:06]After helping shape the superhero genre for the 21st century, he is now returning to one of the earliest stories that laid the very foundation for that film to exist. And for a genre of film that is about to enter its absolute crescendo with a massive crossover event like we have never seen before in Avengers Doomsday that is bringing together more than 26 years of comic book movie storytelling. So guys let me know what did you think of the Odyssey?

[00:08:32]I think in a lot of ways it is one of the many superhero films being released this year. Odysius he is one of the oldest superheroes in existence. And when you have a film you know like Spider-Man Brand New Day coming out, you have Avengers Doomsday coming out. We had Supergirl. I I feel like The Odyssey, while it is very much its own thing, it's this, you know, historical epic type film, it also kind of fits in that comic book movie, superhero movie genre, right? So, let me know your thoughts on the film. Let me know your thoughts on this video. I'd love to talk with you guys down in the comments below. If you're new here, be sure to subscribe, hit the bell so you get notified every time I upload a new video. I've been Colton Ogburn, and I will see you next time. Bye.

[00:09:28]Heat. Hey, Heat.