Could The Dark Knight Kill the Superhero Genre?

[GreenScar]

I read a really interesting editorial about how movie themes are cyclical. Cowboy movies are popular only to be replaced by War movies. They are in turn replaced by Pirate movies which are replaced by Space movies (you get the point). While there really hasn't been a stinker that has been able to kill the Superhero genre, could The Dark Knight be so good as to kill it? Here is a little from the article:

If The Dark Knight really is the amazing, world-changing, shining beacon of awesome early reviewers seem to be touting it as, then where does that leave every superhero movie that comes after it? With an impossible standard to live up to, that’s where. A movie that good becomes the genre’s pinnacle, and it’s all downhill from there. Just look at how the excitement over this thing has reached such outrageous levels. There’s never been anything like it. Even if The Dark Knight wasn’t good, how could the hype over any other superhero project even hope to match it? We’ll all run out to see Captain America, and then wander home disappointed because while it was nice, it just wasn’t as good as The Dark Knight. Audiences will line up for Spider-Man 4, enjoy it, and yet end up comparing it unfavorably against this Batman And gradually, we’ll get used to disappointment, start to accept that we’ve seen the best there is to see, and maybe, just maybe move on to something else.

Would that really be so bad? Superhero movies have had their run. If The Dark Knight really is the capper on the genre, then the world might be ready to give them a break for awhile. Send them off to wherever they keep cowboy movies now and focus on something else. Maybe it’ll be the turn of knights in shining armor or perhaps outer space science fiction will earn a much deserved resurgence. Whatever it is, should The Dark Knight really prove to be the masterpiece it’s being touted as and should the hype surrounding it continue with the same unabated, manic fervor, then to me The Dark Knight seems to be as good a place to press pause on the superhero genre. We might not even be able to help it. Once you’ve seen the best, what point will there be in watching the rest? Enjoy it while it lasts.

There aren't enough fanboys to support a genre. John Q. Public is needed. Is it possible that The Dark Knight could come along and satisfy them into not caring anymore?

Interesting read to say the least.