Letter to Santa
Dear Santa,
Every year around this time, I write a column for Comic Related asking for certain comics to be converted into movies, television, etc. However, since you never listen to me (even though I know you love the frequent references to Moon Knight), I thought I would take a different approach.
This year, Santa, I'm going to suggest television shows, movies, and prose that should be done in comic form. Oh, sure, it will drive a lot of conversation amongst my Zone 4 brethren (side note, Santa - please send us some women to serve as reservists), but at the same time, let's face it - my readers believe many things, ranging from "Rob Liefeld can't draw" to "Robert Downey, Jr. makes a good Sherlock Holmes", so I'm just as valid in my own opinions.
For example, I think FX's spy comedy Archer would make one heckuva comic book. It has a very distinctive visual style, mixing the 21st century with a slightly Mad Men-esque retro vibe, and quite honestly, I think much of its humor might translate into graphic novel form. Sure, it's humor might be a little rough around the edges (giving Family Guy a run for its money in the did-they-really-say-that? category), but given the fact that it's a cross-genre work, and that - let's face it - it's one of the better looking shows on television, Archer seems to be a natural choice to adapt into a comic.
(Plus, Archer Meets Archie. There, I've just pitched a crossover. I'll even write it. Free.)
But let's not limit ourselves to animated properties...after all, there are some great live-action series that would make perfect comics. For example, the now defunct Law & Order: Criminal Intent, with its emphasis on psychological motivations and how-are-they-gonna-catch-them than on the more prurient focus of SVU would translate well in the graphic form. Of course, I also happen to think that The Mentalist would work in a similar vein - let's face it, who wouldn't want to read Patrick Jane's exploits in comic form?
But finally - and I know that I've probably riled some long-term Comic Related readers with my choices - why not expand into the literary realm? For example, I've always felt that Robert B. Parker's Spenser series (made into the Spenser: For Hire TV series and some movies with Joe Mantegna) would make a great series of graphic novels. Parker's mix of hard-boiled private eye with a slightly more literary bent, within a unique "shared universe", seems almost perfect for graphic adaptation. Although they were unsuccesfully "adapted" into a theatrical film with Kathleen Turner, Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski novels would also be a great choice, with a strong female protagonist and backing cast, a strong integration of social justice concerns within a "hard boiled" mystery....I think there's definitely potential for a comic like this, Santa.
If we're going to go down a more genre-based path, I can think of no other series of books that deserves graphic adaption than Kim Newman's Anno Dracula series. Part alternate history, part horror, any books that suggest that Dracula won against Van Helsing, and then marries Queen Victoria, seems rather ripe for adaptation. (It was the series that led Alan Moore's thinking towards League of Extraordinary Gentlemen). It's the kind of book that would be considered "high concept" in other minds, but given that it is equal parts True Blood and Harry Turtledove....well, I'm surprised nobody has ever considered adapting this before, either.
(And yes, I know I'm digressing away from television series, Santa. But I think you'll forgive me the indulgence this once.)
But let's go one further - with the recent BBC adaptation of Sherlock (which blows the Robert Downey Jr. film out of the water), there's plenty of public domain characters that can - and possibly should - be adapted and revamped in comic form. (Think Sequential Pulp'supcoming series based on King Solomon's Mines). Just think, Santa - a way to connect readers to a great, vast body of literature that remains relatively untapped...and at the very least, provides them with a good reason to start downloading free audio books via Librivox.
(And Santa, if you bring this to light, I want dibs on adapting Raffles and Craig Kennedy. Just sayin').
Well, that's it for this month, Santa - I hope you'll excuse the change in format (especially the lack of advocacy for a Moon Knight movie, because I know you've got that in the hopper), but I'm hoping that, as you read this, you'll make all my Christmas wishes come true.
Or at the very least, bring me a pony.
Your pal,
Gordon
Read More! For more of Gordon's writings, insights, and
general information, please visit his blog at blogthispal.blogspot.com.
TV Party Columns: Gordon's previous TV Party columns can be found here
and you can discuss this or anything TV Party related in his TV Party forum.
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