Saturday, February 28, 2009

I never liked heroes

In case you didn't know, Black Powder actually started as 2 short stories I wrote in 2002. They were science fiction in nature but basically dealt with the exact same subject material, contractors fighting proxy wars.

About 6 months ago we were asked to do a treatment of BPRE set only 10 years out versus 40. We produced a "scriptment" that was about 60 pages long. This piece was faithful to the BPRE universe but with hooks for a more conventional setting. I've since begun work on second draft of the screenplay with a graphic novel format in mind.

I poked around the net and checked out a few scripts recommended by the fine folks at the Joe Kubert School. Alan Moore is the man to beat apparently. I like quite a few of Moore's books (notable favs are The Watchmen and The Killing Joke) but comparing his written word versus what's on the page is interesting. His scripts read as though he is having a conversation with the artist. Totally not my style LOL But going back to my fav books of the past 3 decades and compiling a top 10 list, the only hero book on there was Dark Knight Returns.

I think I am in the minority of comic book fans in that I have never really liked "hero" books. I got my start in manga, hording Area 88, Grey, Appleseed, Venus Wars and Akira like they were going out of style. I think the first western comics I got into were the 2000AD titles like Rogue Trooper, Bad Company, Judge Dredd and later Glimmer Rats.

I didn't even check out hero books till I was in high school. I mean seriously, dudes in costumes fighting criminals...they weren't heroes. The guys who died at Desert One, heroes. Son Tay Prison Raiders...heroes. You get the drift.

Does this observation have any particular relevance in the greater scheme of things? Who knows. It'll give you an idea of what's on the horizon though :)

Have a better one.

2 comments:

  1. Have you heard any of Alan Moore's recorded work? 'The Moon and Serpent' is seriously intense.

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  2. I am real hit or miss with Alan Moore. I haven't read the book you mention though. I've added it to my wish list on Amazon though :-D

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