COMIC MOVIES


We are The Walking Dead: IronE Singleton (second from left) goes zombie hunting as T-Dog (No copyright clearance)


Photograph: Fareed Athman


Left to right: Andy Diggle (The Losers), John Romita Jnr (Kick-Ass) and Richard Starkings (Elephantmen) talk comic adaptations at Leeds ThoughtBubble Festival 2010 Photograph: Fareed Athman


and Robin; you get what you pay for. Garbage in, garbage out.” It’s what Andy refers to as “the rise of the geek director” as what he believes is why far more care is now taken in transferring these much loved characters to the big screen. With Egdar Wright vs Scott Pilgrim, Guillmero Del fuelling Hell Boy’s fire and Jon Favreau power- ing Iron Man’s systems, it’s no wonder comic movies from recent times are of a much higher quality and loved by far wider an audience. “Hollywood previ- ously didn’t care about these characters and stories,” he continues, “The Iron Man movie was great fun, especially with the first one. It was a really enter- taining, crowd pleasing movie that just doesn’t treat you like an idiot. That’s all we want, just don’t treat us like an idiot.”


And it doesn’t stop at the big screen. Comics are invading our homes too, with a television adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s on-going series The Walking Dead now showing on television screens worldwide. Produced and with a pilot episode directed by Frank Darabont, the man behind The Shaw- shank Redemp- tion and The Green Mile, The Walk- ing Dead is nothing short of a


modern masterpiece both in print and on screen. Talking to IronE Singleton who plays T-Dog, a survivor of the zombie outbreak, it’s apparently not just the viewers who are excited about the show. “Being able to contribute to something that has a cult following which has be- come a worldwide phenomenon is amaz- ing” he confesses to SFX. As another who agrees that comics and their adapta- tions have mass appeal, IronE said the show “will not only please comic book fans but also anyone who likes good storytelling with drama, horror, suspense and bits of humour.” The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 10/9c on AMC in the US and 10PM Fridays on FX in the UK. As with everything, there is how-


ever, the worry that making comics so mainstream could taint the industry in ways unwanted by current fans, making what is treasured by so few trashed by so many. John Mosby, comic book enthu- siast and Editor of Impact magazine, thinks that current changes in the comic industry are likely to keep bad material off the shelves anyway. “Within com- ics itself, it’s quite a dangerous time.” he says, “Much scrutiny is being made on pricing and the effect of the iPad and similar tech, so publishers will have to make some serious decisions about what they invest in and put out.” Therefore, to ensure financial success, publishers will have to certify only the finest in comic talents see the light of print, with under-performers likely to be “yanked from the shelf and replaced by another


Andy Diggle: “Making shit up for cash since 2002” Photograph: Fareed Athman


project.” As for films, John doesn’t see a calming of the trend in the near future, “But should we get a MASSIVE superhero flop, a few less will be green lighted for a while.”


All pessimism aside, the majority of adapta- tions (in either format) from the last five years have been worthy of their source material. It’s fascinating to see so many fantastic productions coming courtesy of one little, often overlooked, indus- try and is surely enough to make any entertainment lover who thought glasses and no girlfriend were requirements necessary to read comics hang their head in shame. For those of you who are thinking of converting to the comic book universe, there is a lot to look forward to and a lot to catch up on, comic books are a force to be reckoned with and could soon dominate the enter- tainment industry. If you still can’t see that, we strongly suggest you book an eye test ASAP.


November 2010 | SFX MAGAZINE | 64


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