This in from The Deadbolt: Joss Whedon will not make a comic adaptation for his new series “Dollhouse.”
Whedon’s reasoning? Read on:
You know, the science fiction of this is much more fiction than science. Ultimately it’s actors acting differently, which is not that – Something you really need to see drawn. There is, however, CSI comic books. So I guess everything could be a comic book. But I don’t feel it lends itself in the same way that my other fictions have.You know, the science fiction of this is much more fiction than science. Ultimately it’s actors acting differently, which is not that – Something you really need to see drawn. There is, however, CSI comic books. So I guess everything could be a comic book. But I don’t feel it lends itself in the same way that my other fictions have.
For me, this is interesting on a number of levels. Dark Horse — and surely Whedon himself — have made a killing off of comic adaptations of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Serenity. The fact that Whedon won’t take a stab at this latest property could mean any number of things.
I think the most logical answer is rescuing the show itself — it’s been no secret that Dollhouse had some rough patches with the Fox execs, who had a knock-down, drag-out fight with Whedon upon the cancellation of Firefly. I think for the sake of the show — and Whedon’s rekindled relationship with the studio — focusing on the television aspect will consolidate the audience a bit.
Keep in mind that Angel and Serenity (as well as the lion’s share of Buffy comics) were printed after their respective television series — and when television writers like Pushing Daisies’ Bryan Fuller say that they will resurrect their dropped series in comic form, it may be starting to look like comic books could be a graveyard for discarded concepts as well as a goldmine for tried-and-tested franchises. In other words: to keep Dollhouse from looking weak in its fledgling season, Whedon may be quashing the comic book route.
Thoughts, Newsarama?
February 12th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
“Making a killing” is a relative concept. Joss has indicated that the current run of Buffy was done as a lark, and its a much heavier lark than he anticipated. While I don’t know Joss’s deal on the books, I suspect it adds up to less than you think it does; these are, after all, books with a licensor to pay, artists to pay for, and most issues have non-Joss writers aboard. And his time is of value; this is not someone who doesn’t have other work available to him.
(You seem to lump Angel in as something that Dark Horse is making money off of. While they did publish some issues of Angel, most of the issues of Angel that have been done including the current run have come from IDW, who are also publishing Spike comics. Also, I’m dubious about your statement about the lion’s share of Buffy comics; while season 8 has seen significant sales per issue, Dark Horse started their first series in 1998, publishing 63 issues, only the last few of which were after the series ended. Plus, there were tie-ins like Tales Of the Vampire and Frey while the show was still on the air.)
February 12th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
or…it could be exactly what he said:
“Ultimately it’s actors acting differently, which is not that – Something you really need to see drawn. There is, however, CSI comic books. So I guess everything could be a comic book. But I don’t feel it lends itself in the same way that my other fictions have.”
February 13th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Recent media properties like Mirror’s Edge and Push had comic prequels as part of their promotions. It’s a way of reaching out to people who are more likely to be hardcore fans of something, as they’re in a comic shop. A comic book companion series doesn’t mean that the property is deficient, it’s just a way to market and explain the story a bit in a way that can pay for itself through retail sales.
I believe Joss, as he’s the storyteller here. If he says it doesn’t work as a comic, then based on his proven knowledge of comics, he’s probably right.