Upon the Magic Roads is a fantastical adventure that takes place in a whimsical and enchanted world. The story revolves around a young girl named Lily, who stumbles upon a mystical map that leads her to the hidden Magic Roads. These roads can transport you to different realms and dimensions, each filled with its own unique wonders and dangers. As Lily embarks on her journey, she encounters a colorful cast of characters, both friend and foe. She befriends a mischievous fairy named Sparkle, who becomes her loyal companion throughout the story. Together, they navigate through treacherous terrains, confront powerful wizards, and even come face-to-face with a fire-breathing dragon.
This session discusses the secret occult origins of Marvel superheroes as well as summarising how certain characters can be made sense of through an occult lens while considering their historical and cultural contexts. Western culture’s interest in the occult peaks and troughs throughout history, often occurring at moments of societal distress, upheaval or existential crisis, or as an alternative to traditional models of religious belief. By the 1950s, horror comics—including those invoking occult themes—had caused a moral panic resulting in industry-wide censorship under the Comics Code and ending their stronghold. While superhero comics reinvigorated the industry, the supernatural never really left, with the more socially acceptable face of superheroes merely masking occult undercurrents.
Moreover, by the time the Code was relaxed in the 1970s, Marvel was publishing supernatural comics series including Tomb of Dracula , Werewolf by Night and Ghost Rider. With Marvel s forthcoming film Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness allegedly set to be the studio s first foray into horror, now is the perfect time to reflect on the changing definitions of the occult in superhero comics history.
Together, they navigate through treacherous terrains, confront powerful wizards, and even come face-to-face with a fire-breathing dragon. The trailer for Upon the Magic Roads captures the essence and spirit of the story in a fast-paced and exciting way. It opens with a shot of Lily holding the ancient map, her eyes filled with wonder and curiosity.
Marvel Comics and the Occult (London Online)
From 1940s horror comics to Vertigo characters such as John Constantine and Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, American comic books have a wide-ranging history with the occult. Superheroes, whose occupations traverse the fantastical and supernatural, have been receptive to occult influences for decades. However, Marvel superheroes are often sidelined in discussions of occult superheroes, with critics reaching more obviously to DC and independent publishers. Despite this, Marvel has a rich history of dark superheroes and villains, whose representations are often emblematic of cultural shifts.
This session discusses the secret occult origins of Marvel superheroes as well as summarising how certain characters can be made sense of through an occult lens while considering their historical and cultural contexts. Western culture’s interest in the occult peaks and troughs throughout history, often occurring at moments of societal distress, upheaval or existential crisis, or as an alternative to traditional models of religious belief. By the 1950s, horror comics—including those invoking occult themes—had caused a moral panic resulting in industry-wide censorship under the Comics Code and ending their stronghold. While superhero comics reinvigorated the industry, the supernatural never really left, with the more socially acceptable face of superheroes merely masking occult undercurrents.
Moreover, by the time the Code was relaxed in the 1970s, Marvel was publishing supernatural comics series including Tomb of Dracula, Werewolf by Night and Ghost Rider. While the launch of its Vertigo imprint opened up more avenues for DC’s explicitly occult stories, Marvel’s superheroes maintained their occupation of a realm placed somewhere between science fiction, fantasy and the occult through characters such as Doctor Strange, Daimon Hellstrom (the Son of Satan), Magik and the Scarlet Witch.
Using Doctor Strange, who debuted in 1963, as a touchstone, the discussion will position these characters within the cultural context in which they appeared to make sense of their specific configurations of occultism. Incorporating elements of Eastern mysticism filtered through Western Orientalism, Doctor Strange’s early adventures represented the countercultural fixation on psychedelia through Steve Ditko’s surreal hallucinogenic artwork. Later appearances expanded the character’s scope to darker, more supernatural realms, encountering vampires, the devilish Mephisto and more. The session thus concludes with a consideration of genre influences concerning Marvel’s wider historical forays into horror comics, placing the character at the locus of the fantastical and horrific.
These appearances mark an interesting merging of genres, navigating the boundaries between fantasy and horror while on a social level, the prospect of science fiction’s abstract networks of virtual embodiment became a reality through technological developments in digital media. Meanwhile, the representations of Doctor Strange’s holistic mysticism have been discussed as speaking to the individualist politics of neoliberal America. With Marvel’s forthcoming film Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness allegedly set to be the studio’s first foray into horror, now is the perfect time to reflect on the changing definitions of the occult in superhero comics history.
Please note these are live events – they cannot be downloaded and watched later, so please be sure you are available at the time and timezone the classes are being offered in before registering.
Moreover, by the time the Code was relaxed in the 1970s, Marvel was publishing supernatural comics series including Tomb of Dracula, Werewolf by Night and Ghost Rider. While the launch of its Vertigo imprint opened up more avenues for DC’s explicitly occult stories, Marvel’s superheroes maintained their occupation of a realm placed somewhere between science fiction, fantasy and the occult through characters such as Doctor Strange, Daimon Hellstrom (the Son of Satan), Magik and the Scarlet Witch.
The camera then zooms in on the map, revealing intricate details and mysterious symbols that signify the Magic Roads. Next, the trailer showcases a montage of breathtaking landscapes and magical creatures that Lily encounters on her journey. From lush forests to towering mountains, each setting is beautifully rendered with stunning visual effects. The trailer manages to create a sense of awe and enchantment, leaving the audience eager to immerse themselves in this fantasy world. In between the scenic shots, the trailer introduces some of the key characters that Lily encounters. There are brief glimpses of Sparkle, the mischievous fairy, as well as a stern but wise old wizard who guides Lily on her quest. The trailer also teases the dragon, showing only its intimidating silhouette and the flames it breathes. The trailer builds up suspense with quick cuts and fast-paced music, hinting at the dangers and challenges that await Lily on the Magic Roads. It ends with a climactic shot of Lily facing off with the dragon, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats and craving to know what happens next. Overall, the trailer for Upon the Magic Roads effectively captures the magical and adventurous nature of the story. It entices the audience with stunning visuals, intriguing characters, and an exciting quest that promises to captivate viewers of all ages. The trailer leaves viewers eagerly awaiting the release of the movie, ready to embark on their own journey upon the Magic Roads..
Reviews for "The impact of the 'Upon the Magic Roads' trailer on the film's success"
1) John - 2/5 - The trailer for "Upon the Magic Roads" left me feeling underwhelmed. While the scenery and CGI effects were impressive, it lacked a clear plot or direction. The snippets of dialogue were cheesy and cliché, and I didn't feel any connection to the characters. Overall, the trailer failed to captivate and left me wondering if the full movie would be any better.
2) Sarah - 2/5 - I was really excited to watch the trailer of "Upon the Magic Roads" after hearing so much buzz about it, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The visuals were stunning, but the lack of a coherent storyline made it hard for me to get invested. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, and I couldn't connect with the characters. It's disappointing because I had high hopes for this movie, but based on the trailer, it seems like it may fall flat.
3) Michael - 1/5 - I'm sorry, but I just didn't understand the hype surrounding the trailer for "Upon the Magic Roads." The visuals were impressive, yes, but that's about it. The trailer failed to deliver a compelling story or introduce interesting characters. It felt like a mishmash of random scenes without any clear direction. Overall, it left me confused and uninterested in watching the full movie. I hope that the actual film has more substance than what was presented in the trailer.
4) Emma - 2/5 - As someone who loves fantasy films, I was eagerly awaiting the trailer for "Upon the Magic Roads," but it didn't leave a favorable impression on me. The visuals were beautiful, no doubt, but the trailer lacked a captivating storyline and compelling characters. The snippets of dialogue were forgettable and felt like generic fantasy tropes. I was left feeling underwhelmed and questioning whether this movie could offer anything new or unique to the genre.