Action/adventure films are often described as "comic-book movies" -- meaning that they're all action and no story -- just like what critics who don't read comics imagine all comics to be. (The fact that they're wrong can easily be proved by reading a copy of Paul Chadwick's Concrete, Terry Moore's Strangers in Paradise, Brian Talbot's A Tale of One Bad Rat, David Lapham's Stray Bullets, or any one of the dozens of other excellent comics available.)
What's often lost on people who try to compare the mediums of film and comics is that while they each function differently, both have the power to fire the imagination and touch something deep within the viewer/reader. I can only speak from my own experience, but I can't really say that the thrill I felt the first time I saw Star Wars was any different from the first time I saw Galactus take on the Fantastic Four. Or that The Road Warrior was more exciting than The Dark Knight Returns. Or that Simon Callow's funeral in Four Weddings and Funeral was more, or less, touching than the moment when Ron Lithgow's mother discovers that her son is still alive (albeit drastically transformed) in Concrete #10.
At Dark Horse, we've been marrying movies to comics ever since our 1987 Godzilla Special, and we've never tried to justify the existence of one by its ties to the other. Instead, we try to take what's best in movies and television shows and adapt them to achieve the same ends in comics (such as in the case of Star Wars, Aliens, Godzilla, etc.), or take comics that would work well as motion pictures (like The Mask, Time Cop, and the soon-to-be-released Barb Wire) and bring them to the screen. Here's a list of what you can expect in the very near future:
Coming Comics Attractions
* Tex Avery's Comics & Stories -- Mayhem and wackiness inspired by the master of over-the-top animation.* The Mask: Southern Discomfort -- The Mask heads to New Orleans where he runs afoul of voodoo magic and Papa Croc!
* Solo -- Based on the motion picture starring Mario van Peebles. The ultimate killing machine goes A.W.O.L. in a desperate bid to learn what it's like to be human.
* Star Wars -- Two of the three current Star Wars comics series are adapted from novels spun off from the movies: Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire and Alan Dean Foster's Splinter in the Mind's Eye . Also available: X-Wing -- Rogue Squadron !
* GI Joe -- Based on the animated series featuring the Joe team fighting the forces of S.K.A.R.!
* Tarzan vs. Predator: At the Earth's Core -- Tarzan once again proves he's the king of the jungle -- even if that jungle is at the center of the earth!
* The Adventures of the Mask -- Based on the hit cartoon show that was based on the hit movie that was based on the hit comic!
* Godzilla, King of the Monsters -- Writer-director Alex Cox (Repo Man and Sid & Nancy) rewrites history as Godzilla is sent into the distant past and the far-flung future.
* Barb Wire -- The adaptation of the film starring Pamela Anderson and Chris Warner's new knock-your-eyes-out miniseries, Barb Wire: Ace of Spades.
Coming Film Attractions
The following are the only four of the many Dark Horse-related film and television projects I can talk about. Keep watching for more news!
* Barb Wire -- Starring Pamela Anderson, Steve Railsback, Tamura Morrison, and Clint Howard. America's in the middle of its second civil war, and Steel Harbor is the last neutral territory in the country ... until Barb Wire decides the town's not big enough for the forces of the Congressional Directorate and her! Opens May 3rd!
* Enemy -- Steven Grant's tale of a haunted hero is being filmed as a pilot for a possible television series.
* Virus -- Gale Anne Hurd will produce and Ron Underwood is set to direct Chuck Pfarrer's story of a bio-mechanical terror from the stars.
* Monkeyman and O'Brien -- Arthur Adams' creation is slated as an animated project from Disney.
Please enjoy some popcorn and a refreshing beverage from our concession stand, and come back soon!