Whedonesque Mobile : Comments on 10427 : SF Books Get Comical.

May 23 2006

SF Books Get Comical. Sean J. Jordan, executive editor of Dabel Brothers Productions, tells SCI FI Wire about his company's comic book titles and why Buffy and Firefly fans will like them.

Due out soon is an adaptation of best-selling author Laurel K. Hamilton's Anita Blake vampire series. "I think the best way to describe them is as an R-rated Buffy series," Jordan said, referring to TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer. "We're starting our adaptation with the first book, Guilty Pleasures."

"Bill Tortolini (our art director and letterer extraordinaire) just released the first issue of his four-part creation, Marshall, which is a sci-fi western that any fan of Firefly or Serenity would love," Jordan said.

Hjermsted | 21:08 CET | 15 comments total | tags: serenity, firefly, buffy, comic books

Has anyone read Guilty Pleasures or Marshall? If so, are the Buffy and Firefly comparisons legit? or just wishful thinking?

Hjermsted | May 23, 21:11 CET

Very interesting way to market the comic Marshall. Compare it to something ultimately unmarketable.

TamaraC | May 23, 21:12 CET

I have to admit, you do have to wonder if they manage to mention Buffy, Firefly and Serenity in one article, if they are just targeting here.

I'm not sure I agree Firefly/Serenity is unmarketable, Tamara, I just think it's very hard to do it correctly -- I don't think the problems with Serenity was the concept (sci-fi, western, space), I think they were more the complexities of how elements were presented. Plus, comics, movies, different.

Plus, I can't spell.

[ edited by gossi on 2006-05-23 19:36 ]

gossi | May 23, 21:35 CET

I read Guilty Pleasures. The things I think it has in common with Buffy is vampires and female slayer-type protagonist. In tone and story, it is totally different IMO. Not in a bad way, just a different one. GP is more "adult", cynical, hard edged and has relatively little overt humor. Closer to Buffyverse in make-up is Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series, which HBO is making into a series with Alan Ball.

Charmuse | May 23, 21:59 CET

Hey my wife made tacos, I think any Angel fan would love them.

Simon | May 23, 22:09 CET

Closer to Buffyverse in make-up is Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series, which HBO is making into a series with Alan Ball.

Oh my. Alan Ball is one of my favourite writers.

gossi | May 23, 22:26 CET

OMG Simon.

It took me a minute. Then I laughed really hard.

Xane | May 23, 22:52 CET

I used to love the Anita Blake Series up until about the 8th book or so. After that, no comment. It is a bit similar in that the main protagonist is a strong female. She is a necromancer and an authorized vamp slayer. The world setting: everyone knows about vampires/werewolves/etc.

vampirefan | May 23, 23:47 CET

I agree with vampirefan, the books started out pretty good, but then...went to a weird place, I haven't been able to get through the 10th book. I started reading them after Buffy and Angel ended to get my "vampire fix" but I don't really think Hamilton fills that void. It's a much more different place then Buffy, I would go so far as to say the Whedonverse is much more realistic...

MandyMouse | May 23, 23:57 CET

Gossi, I was just being bitter and snarky. I get your point. :)

TamaraC | May 24, 02:51 CET

Well, Anita is snarky and sarcastic, but her humor's a bit cruler and biting than Buffy's. However, she does have similiar tastes in men. Like everyone else on the board said, the books were good up until "Obsidian Butterfly" and they became hard-core porn. And not well written porn either.

However, yeah, I could see a lot of the Buffy fans in it for the horror elements digging Anita Blake. I know I use to and will be getting the comics. Plus? The art looks REALLY snazzy.

Elf | May 24, 03:52 CET

Funnily enough, when there was an online preview of Marshall up, and people were remarking on the striking similarities with Serenity, they were assured that those were only superficial.

That aside, the Dabel Brothers really know what they're doing, and have put out some high-quality material.

Niels | May 24, 11:51 CET

This is pretty interesting. Do these get released as single issues or do they go straight to TPB/graphic novel (I'm not sure, but that's the feeling I got from the article). In any case, it sounds like something that might be worth checking out, even though I never read any of the Anita Blake novels (it always felt like a easy way to cash in on the established Buffy fan-market to me, although, granted, I'm probably wrong about that).

GVH | May 24, 15:42 CET

Single issues first--the first Anite Blake issue in July, I believe. Art by Brett Booth, should be googleable.

Niels | May 24, 20:33 CET

In any case, it sounds like something that might be worth checking out, even though I never read any of the Anita Blake novels (it always felt like a easy way to cash in on the established Buffy fan-market to me, although, granted, I'm probably wrong about that).

Actually, the first Anita Blake book came out in 1995, so, take that as you will. (However Laurell K. Hamiltion has talked about Buffy before. Seems like she likes it and Buffy herself. She's also defended Buffy in her blog before so . . .)

Elf | May 25, 05:27 CET

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