Famous authors popularizing comics and Graphic Novels Edit

For years now, comics have been forcing their way back into the mainstream media via a spate of Hollywood adaptations. Of course, for years, iconic franchises such as Superman, Batman and Spiderman have been translated to moving pictures almost as long as they’ve been around, and most people seem vaguely aware that the amount of comic-to-movie tranlations has been steadily increasing, since mainstream media such as Entertainment Tonight have reported on the trend. What people may not have been as aware of is that each successful comic book adaptation is bringing new fans to a rebounding comics industry, and due to comics increasing popularity, a spate of creative types from all sorts of other industries are jumping on board.

The past year has not only seen famous author (and Sandman creator) Neil Gaiman return to comics with a re-imagining of Jack Kirby’s classic Eternals, but seen other famous authors joining the fray: last year, Sci-Fi author Orson Scott Card reimagined Iron Man for Marvel’s “Ultimates” universe, while just this past month, NY Times’ Best-selling author Jodi Picoult made history as the first woman to write the most famous superheroine - DC’s Wonder Woman; at the same time, acclaimed fantasy writer Tad Williams is taking over the writing chores on DC’s Aquaman monthly, and TV Wunderkind Joss Whedon is following up his well-received run on Marvel’s Astonishing X-Men title by producing an eigth season of his hugely popular “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” TV show in comic-only form!

Perhaps the most important shift in this direction has been the distribution deal that niche comics adaptation house Dabel Brothers Productions has inked with Marvel Comics. This distribution deal has lured several high-profile genre authors including Orson Scott Card, Raymond E. Feist and Laurell K. Hamilton to license their most famous works to the comics format. Some, like Card are also producing new stories specifically for comics. Perhaps Dabel’s highest profile catch is horror genius Steven King, who is allowing his most famous creation, the Dark Tower series, to not only be adapted, but actually expanded on in Marvel/DB Pro’s new limited series “The Gunslinger Born”.

As these million-plus selling authors are bringing their built-in fan bases to the comics format, I expect this trend to continue for quite some time.