With the announcement that DC was becoming DC Entertainment, many things were inevitably set up to change. For one thing, DC wanted to set a much bigger precedent into their movie department, and with the massive success of the Dark Knight, who can blame them? The new president of DC Entertainment Diane Nelson has stated that she was heavily looking into the Vertigo imprint for the next big set of adaptations. This includes TV, video games, and movies. Both a Preacher and Y: The Last Man movies have been announced, and a series of 100 Bullets and Fables were also both announced a while back. We’ve seen V For Vendetta and Watchmen already, so what should we make of the current decision to put Vertigo at the forefront of the adaptations?
Well, we here at Multiversity love a good debate, so we’ve decided to put this list together of some of the Vertigo books we know and (maybe) love to speculate as to the possibility of these adaptations. We’ll bring you this in several parts, and the first part will be about current ongoing Vertigo books. So strap in as we take you through the world of the single best imprint and quite possibly the best comic line out there to date!
MATT’S THOUGHTS
The Unwritten
General Overview
This book is definitely one of my favorite new Vertigo books. It’s hard for books to compete with the classics that have been on the Vertigo line, but this is one of them that is definitely working it’s way up there in my mind. This book is fun, imaginative, and most of all, it’s 100% relevant!
The basic premise of the book, if you’re unfamiliar, is giant pastiche of Harry Potter and the culture that surrounds him. The book stars Tommy Taylor, star of 14 books written by his father that feature him as a young wizard fighting an evil wizard/vampire. After 14 books, his father goes missing and Tommy Taylor begins to simply travel the world making money from the fame and fortune brought to him by the popularity of the books. As the story begins, we find Tommy at a convention being hailed by fans when suddenly, one person questions his identity. Who is Tommy Taylor? Is he actually the son of the author of these books? Is he even really Tommy Taylor? As Tommy begins to question himself and his life, he finds himself kidnapped by the real life incarnation of Count Ambrose (his Lord Voldemort), who then puts Tommy on a live webcast and threatens to kill him in front of fans everywhere. This is the first half of the first issue, and in case you haven’t read it, I won’t spoil what happens, but suffice it to say the story gets more complex from there. As Tommy Taylor begins to investigate the mystery of the real life Count Ambrose attack, he begins to question his own reality, and so do we, and the story holds us under it’s spell as we wait for the answers to these two questions: “Who is Tommy Taylor really?” and “Who, or what, are the Unwritten?”
In recent issues, we continue to get more and more hints as to the answers of these questions, but even more importantly, we get a well written commentary on Literature today. One of the more recent issues featured a panel of modern day writers (all of whom are parodies of writers in each genre) debating the legitimacy of the different aspects of horror. Each writer defends his position as a writer of different elements of horror, from the classical version of Frankenstein to the modern day world of Hostel and Saw, and it’s very clear to see the writer’s opinions on all of it. And before long, all the characters find themselves in a horror story, each playing out to a different convention of their horror elements. It acts as a poignant genre debate in the guise of a murder sequence, and it’s highly entertaining and a great read. The most recent issue to come out starred Rudyard Kipling (whom you may know for writing a little book called The Jungle Book) giving us hints as to who the Unwritten really are while also giving explanations on the truth behind a lot of his work as well as other prominent writers of his time.
Continued belowFor someone who enjoys literature as it used to be and enjoys debating the elements of satire, The Unwritten is definitely a great book to pick up and read.
Adaptation Thoughts
As far as an adaptation goes, I couldn’t really see it happening. We have three books from Vertigo on the market today that all derive from reinterpretations of various forms of literature, and those are Fables, Greek Street, and The Unwritten. While The Unwritten is taking stabs at arguably one of the biggest modern day literature cults in the world (aside from Twilight), it couldn’t work as a film or a TV show in the way Fables or Greek Street could because it’s way too specific and most people just wouldn’t “get it.” As a comic book, it works great as a new entity that you can sit and read and understand where it’s coming from, but if turned into anything but that it would probably come off as more of a parody than a satire. This, of course, is me making a very large assumption based on the average person in today’s world, but I do think that this wouldn’t work very well as a movie or TV show. The point of the story would just be muddled down and lost.
Sweet Tooth
General Overview
We’ve only had one issue of this book, but I think it would be wrong not to at least think to include it in this article if only to help expose people to a brand new series. After one issue I found myself very intrigued and, dare I say it? Rather hooked. The creativity of it pulls me in immensley, but also the entire premise of the book, which you can’t quite get from looking at the cover. I will admit, though, that the cover for issue 1 was pretty off-putting, and I can see why a lot of people (unfortunately) passed it up.
Sweet Tooth is about a young boy living in a post-apocalyptic world (I’m assuming) where he and his father are both kept inside a reservation. Outside the reservation, everything appears desolate and destroyed with no signs of life. Inside, we have only seen one shack and many trees surrounding. And then there is of course the oddity that this young boy has antlers on his head. The boy’s father is a very religious man, devastated at the loss of his wife and (I’m assuming) the world, and he is very strict about what his son can and can’t do, thus leading the boy to an excessive amount of curiousity. When the boy’s father dies, he finally leaves home to explore, only to find himself hunted by people with unknown intentions. Do they want him as a trophy? Do they plan to sell him to some kind of circus? We have no idea. What we do know, however, is that there is someone else. Someone who appears to the boys in his dreams who has very dark eyes and a gun, and someone who makes his physical presence known by the end of the issue. (That is, in essence, a basic summary of all of the events of the first issue for those that didn’t pick it up)
Now, as far as really getting into commentary on the book, it’s kind of hard because as I said there’s been just one issue. However, I would like to point out that I feel like people should be out hunting this issue down and adding this book to their pull. It’s a very good first issue, and I at first completely overlooked the book because of the cover and what little I knew of the premise. My choosing to add this to our list of Vertigo titles is simply to help promote the work of Jeff Lemire out there as I have really high hopes and expectations for this series. I think it shows tremendous amounts of potential and I highly endorse you hunting down the issue and giving it a good read. In my initial review of this book, I thought that I could come up to the scope of a book like Bone where, although it may never reach that amount of epicness and timelessness, it still has a million places to evolve into a very highly in depth series. Jeff Lemire is doing this book by himself as an artist and a writer (although he doesn’t do the colors), and it shows a tremendous amount of talent on his part. So what I’m trying to say is: just pick up the first issue.
Continued belowAdaptation Thoughts
It’s pretty hard to say anything here yet, but I could see it working as a possible movie. From what I understand of the book, it does have the potential to be adapted into a film. While I always shy away from adaptations of comic books because I’d rather just read the book, if anything I could see it as a movie.
Air
General Overview
Now we get into the books I don’t really like but continue to read. Why do I read it? I don’t know. Partly because I have faith in Vertigo series, partly because I’m a sick sick man with a horrific addiction to comics that may or may not be the death of him at some point, or at least the possible cause of bankruptcy. However, in the case of this book, I had incredibly high hopes that were unfortunately diminshed by the content, yet not enough to make me stop reading. Yet.
The very basic premise of Air is a little bit confusing. It’s definitely a lot less forward than every other Vertigo book on the market as it is essentially wrapped in one big confusing conspiracy that I can’t really admit to understanding. Essentially, the main character of the book is a flight attendant, and one day she accidently gets wrapped up in the highjacking of the plane she is on. This isn’t a normal highjacking, however, as the reason the plane is being highjacked is due to an ancient battle between secret organizations. This leads her to discover many hidden truths about the world such as a city that disappeared off every map, the truth of Amelia Aerheart, and an actual hidden form of flight that she can access which enable her to travel anywhere she wants without a map. All of this, of course, would not exist if she hadn’t fallen in love with a random boy who may or may not be an international terrorist. The line of good and evil in this book is very thinly drawn because, as much as we supposedly have an understanding of who the “bad guys” are, the “good guys” are just as “bad”. Oh, and of course our hero talks and hangs out with Quetzalcoatl. Don’t forget that!
My basic thoughts on Air is that it had and has the makings of a very great book, it’s just not pulling it off. There are some great steampunk elements in there, intriguing conspiracies, and a good deal of action. There is definitely enough to keep me reading. Unfortunately, I can’t ever recommend this to anybody because, all in all, it’s just not that interesting. It’s at the bottom of my read list whenever it comes out. What perplexes me even more is that other comic book writers love it. Neil Gaiman praised it! Neil Gaiman, people. I just don’t find a lot to really enjoy about it. The potential is definitely there, but it just never fully comes out.
Adaptation Thoughts
I could see this as a TV show, honestly. It may not be a TV show I’d watch, but this definitely fits in with the premise of, say, any of the NBC shows that air for a season (if that). Think about every show NBC tries to air as part of it’s drama force aroudn 8:00 PM every night, and Air could fit right in with that.
Greek Street
General Overview
Ugh. Greek Street makes me feel all icky inside. I try and not be overly insulting in reviews if I can, but I really don’t like this book, and the only reason I read it still is curiousity and, as I said, I’m a sick sick man when it comes to comics. Part of me partially hopes that it will get better, but it’s just such a mess that I don’t see it happening. I will point out that I believe the last issue was decent and at least readable but, all in all? Ugh.
The premise behind Greek Street is simple: modern greek myths re-enacted in today’s world. It’s like Fables but with a smaller cast to draw from. The story centers around Eddie, or Oedipus, as he comes to Greek Street searching for his mother. He does in fact get drunk and bang her, and then he accidentally kills her. On top of all that, there is a murder in town which Inspecter Daedelus is looking after. And there is, of course, the curious case of that monster in the alleys eating people and leaving pages of Madea laying around.
Continued belowNow, I’m no expert on Greek mythology and I don’t pretend to be. What I did do, however, is present the first two issues to someone who is, and they said that all of it is essentially a mess. I can agree with this. There is a huge cast of characters who most people can’t easily appropriate the origination to all interacting under odd pretenses. See, what works about Fables is all the characters are well known and we enjoy seeing them interact. Fanboys have been mixing Disney movies forever, and remember the success of Kingdom Hearts? With Greek mythology, people will enjoy re-interpretations of characters in a modern day setting (See: Kill Your Boyfriend), but when you start mixing and matching you create a very odd concoction that, in this case, just does not do it for me at all. I keep reading because I want it to be good, but for the most part I sit there afte reading an issue and I’m just confused. I will fully admit that, after the first two issues, I stopped buying it and simply browse it in store so I can keep up with it, but all in all I do not recommend Greek Street at all. It’s just odd, obtuse, and messy overall.
Adaptation Thoughts
No thank you. I don’t really want to talk about it. If you’re forcing me to, though, I’d say that it could make for a pretty bad movie.
DAVID’S THOUGHTS
Scalped
What is it? Scalped is part the study of life on an Indian reservation (or “rez”), part gritty noir with a look at the seedy details of the criminal types that run rampant on the rez, and part coming home story of protagonist Dashiell Bad Horse. Of course, given that nothing is ordinary on the rez, Dash’s story is quite atypical, as he returns under egress, as he is an undercover FBI agent trying to take down Chief Lincoln Red Crow (the epicenter for criminal activity on the rez) once and for all.
Why does it rule? I’m a man who loves his Vertigo books. This title is quickly approaching Fables, Preacher and Y the Last Man levels of quality, as month in and month out series co-creator and writer Jason Aaron is taking us to more gut wrenching and intense places than before. The view into the rez that he gives readers is terrifying and painful at times, but it provides many an opportunity for high drama. This in many ways is like Donnie Brasco but set on an Indian reservation, as the bifurcated nature of Dash’s existence provides many opportunities for him to fall into the terrible lifestyle embraced by so many others on the rez. Is he the undercover FBI agent trying to clean up his former home, or is he the heroin addicted dirty cop who doesn’t know where his allegiances lie? Combine that with an honest to god murder mystery, stunning and grimy art from R.M Guera, and plot threads which weave together like fine tapestries and you have one damn good comic.
Why is it awful? Like with Unknown Soldier, this title started a bit slower than others. Mostly because it took Guera a while to really get his artistic identity under control, but either way it did take a bit to pick up.
Would it make a good film/television series? Now this is something that could make a kick ass movie. While it would work better as a television series because of the weaving story threads, massive character list, and just because I think comics translate better into TV shows (they’re both serialized…it just works better), I still think if you put this in the hands of the right writer/director you could sculpt out a truly great film out of this.
Northlanders
What is it? Northlanders does not have a true central narrative, unless you consider Viking badassery a narrative. Effectively, creator Brian Wood is giving the world an understanding from all points of view as to what it meant to be around in the times of the Viking — how to survive when they come, how to live in their culture, how to be a warrior, how to be honor bound, everything. He does this in alternating long and short arcs that never really seem to relate to each other in any sort of way besides being about Vikings and featuring a lot of people dying.
Why does it rule? Brian Wood is the man, and he makes some very gruesome and powerful Viking tales. I always found Viking culture to be very interesting, and Wood does a great job of expanding on their world by not just focusing on the raping and the pillaging, but showing us their culture and their motivation and their spirituality and more. Not serializing the story so much and really making it more of a “day in the life of a Viking” style title was a good decision. While the longer arcs work well (such as leadoff arc “Sven the Returned”), none of the stories so far have been dynamic enough to work as standalone titles. Not only that, but this gives Wood the ability to really focus on a story and trim it of any expository fat we’d be stuck with otherwise. Plus, it allows him to work with a bevy of talented artists who bring the Viking world to life with often stunning work.
Why is it awful? While not truly awful, sometimes the lack of a true central narrative brings the title down a bit. Just when you start getting invested in the characters and the stories, they leave you.
Would it make a good film/television series? Given the way that the world of television has moved in the direction of serialized drama, one short stories week to week of Viking life would actually translate fairly poorly to the small screen. As for movies, while “Sven the Returned” was by far the lengthiest story yet, I do not think it would turn out very well due to the internalized nature of the primary character. In short, I think this is one series that will not be translated to film any time soon.
DMZ
What is it? DMZ theorizes an entirely believable world in which there is a civil war between the United States of America and the “Free States” armies, a group of people that are not geographic in their origin but really a collection of people who believe in the same idea and that is that America is a broken place. Both armies march towards each other, with the two groups effectively hitting a stalemate when they reach Manhattan as it is simply too vast and chaotic for either side to take. The story follows Matty Roth, who is a rather green photojournalist on what amounts to his first job that just happens to be in the most controversial place in what is left in America.
Why does it rule? There are a lot of reasons why DMZ is such a great comic, but my favorite is the fact that series writer Brian Wood crafted a future for the United States of America that is not only disturbing and fractured, but wholly believable. The realism of the situation and the gravitas he layers his characters with gives the reader the feeling that they are reading what could amount to a non-fiction account of a shattered society from the inside. Not only that, but he developed a protagonist in Roth that gives us a few into this society and actually is trying to make a difference in a world where everyone is only looking out for themselves. Series artist Ricardo Burchelli provides at times painfully authentic visuals of this torn society and its tenants, and all artistic collaborators help provide consistently solid visuals.
Why is it awful? This is not a book that really brings anything negative to the table.
Would it make a good film/television series? This wouldn’t work as a film, to be perfectly honest. Because so much of it is based around the development of characters and the environment of the DMZ (Manhattan really is the main character of the story), this would be the perfect choice for a new HBO series. I’m a little shocked no one has picked this up yet, to be honest. It would work especially well as a mini-series.
Unknown Soldier
What is it? This story takes place amidst the Ugandan Civil War, as Dr. Lwanga Moses and his wife are there to try and bring a little peace and hope to the war torn country. Of course, that all goes awry when rebels attack and steal children from the village they are at, and Moses unleashes the pent up rage (and crazy!) that is inside of him as he kills one of the rebels and mutilates his own face. He then disappears with everyone around him assuming he’s dead, but secretly he’s off as bandage faced warrior fighting for peace in Uganda in the only way he knows is respected: with pure violence.
Why does it rule? Series writer Joshua Dysart takes an existing character from the DC Universe that had effectively run its course and was basically murdered (the concept, not the character) by Garth Ennis in the most recent mini-series, and he flips it on its head, gives it a new identity and new goals, and made it something that is not only entertaining and well made, but very relevant to the world. Dysart’s decision to repurpose the character as a freedom fighter of sorts in the Ugandan Civil War was a great one, as it allows him to speak about the atrocities that are taking place in Uganda and to really dig in deep into what the horrors of war really are. Series artist Alberto Ponticelli captures the carnage with grit and intensity, while his eye for the emotional scenes really allows the book to hit levels of power that it wouldn’t be able to reach with a less talented artist.
Why is it awful? While it is going full steam ahead at this point, this series did start out quite slow. At this point however, it’s as devastating a comic as there is on the stands today.
Would it make a good film/television series? Just like DMZ, this would be a fantastic television series, but wouldn’t work as a film. Sadly, with no real point that everything could wrap up (unless Moses actually kills everyone in Uganda), it definitely wouldn’t work as a mini, nor do I think the prospects of going to series are strong.
GIL’S THOUGHTS
Fables
General Overview
One of the longer running books in the Vertigo line, Fables has the honorable distinction of being one of the best. What makes it so great is the dichotomy of familiar characters in completely new settings.
The book is as such: the fairy tales we all grew up on are real. They live their lives in most pre-industrial societies on hundreds, maybe thousands of alternate worlds that we’ve created with our imaginations. But some of the more famous ones, such as Jack Horner, Pinocchio, Snow White, The Big Bad Wolf (called “Bigby”), and Boy Blue were all exiled from their homelands by the villainous Adversary. They found their way into the Mundane World (ours, and we’re known as “Mundys”) and settled in a small colony in the New World called New Amsterdam, or New York City as it’s known today.
From Fabletown, they plan to overthrow the Adversary, who has taken control of all of their worlds in a brutal conquest. All of the Fables were granted Amnesty from all past crimes, so much so that Bigby Wolf was the sheriff of the town. Snow White was the overworked Deputy Mayor and Boy Blue was her assistant. The sprawling cast makes it difficult to list each and every character, but all are adjusting to life in either the city Fabletown, or the farm, where the non-human Fables such as the Three Bears live.
The writing is filled with political allegory and even direct references. Bigby Wolf makes a comment to the revealed Emperor that he admires the nation of Israel for their stance on terrorism and acts of war. Some people call it a right wing book, but I don’t really care. It’s good, and that’s all that matters. It also has some great comedic moments, and the romance is really well written. It will also break your heart several times. Willingham isn’t afraid to kill his characters, and in the most emotional way possible.
Not all of it is good though. While I think the main book is brilliant, I could never get into the spin-off Jack of Fables. I don’t find Jack to be a very engaging hero, and I found his “backdoor pilot” if you will, in the main series jarring and really hard to sit through. The same goes for the Great Fables Crossover, as it deviated from the current storyline, and the main star was Jack. I can’t really say I recommend either of these series.
Adaptation Thoughts
Fables was announced as being developed by ABC Studios, so we might see this on the small screen sooner rather than later. While I’m not entirely jazzed with the fact it’ll be on network television(I’d much rather HBO or even the “SyFy Channel”), ABC has gotten rather liberal with their television shows. You may not watch Grey’s Anatomy or LOST, but they’re both remarkably adult and not really toned down, save for language.
I’m just glad it’s not being made into a movie, because so much would be condensed into the film, it would be a mishmash of diverging storylines that would be completely unwatchable.
