Thomas Harris Does Batman

[Albert]

Okay, no he doesn't... but what if he did? Besides the fact that the issues would come out every eight years.

I tried something similar to this on the Marvel board, and it sank like a stone. I thought perhaps I might have better luck in this venue. Maybe not, maybe so.. but anyways...

My apologies if something like this has been done before.

If you could pick any author in history, alive or dead, and have them do a two year run on a comic title, whom would you like to see? What could they bring to the table and how would the books be different?

A few came to my mind:

Dashiel Hammet's Punisher Its a natural fit. Hammet started off as a Pinkerton in San Francisco, before TB sidelined him from detective work. He took up writing to keep food on the table, and brought that real world experience to his short stories and serialized novels (Like The Maltese Falcon, among many, many others). Frank is a pulp character, and needs someone who can create good, colorful, realistic adversaries... memorable adversaries that are remembered for more than their gimmicks.

Michael Moorcock's Man-Thing Overtly phallic title, yes, but Moorcock has a knack for blending macabre and surreal elemnts into a compelling narrative. Giving him access to the Nexus of All Realities and the shambling pillar of muck that used to be Ted Sallis seems a recipe for good storytelling.

William Gibson's Iron Man The grandfather of cyberpunk could do no wrong when it comes to this character. AIs, virtual interfaces, gritty but intelligent characterization.. I'd love to see what he could do with this title.

[Doodle Bob]

Dashiel Hammet's Punisher Its a natural fit. Hammet started off as a Pinkerton in San Francisco, before TB sidelined him from detective work. He took up writing to keep food on the table, and brought that real world experience to his short stories and serialized novels (Like The Maltese Falcon, among many, many others). Frank is a pulp character, and needs someone who can create good, colorful, realistic adversaries... memorable adversaries that are remembered for more than their gimmicks.


I'm not so sure about this one. Mickey Spillane would be slightly closer to a better fit. Anyway, Hammett did do a comic strip serial for a while. Secret Agent X-23, or something like that. Collected copies of it used to be all over the place, but now of course once I actually want a copy, they've all disappeared.

[Shem the Penman]

Since I'm a Jack Vance fan, I'd think it'd be hilarious to see him take on Doctor Strange. Vance's strength as a writer, besides his dialogue, has always been his ability to create weird cultures, and I think he'd have a lot of fun with Doc's travels around the dimensions.

And since so much of B.P.R.D. is a Lovecraft homage anyway, why not let the man himself write it?

[Albert]

I'm not so sure about this one. Mickey Spillane would be slightly closer to a better fit. Anyway, Hammett did do a comic strip serial for a while. Secret Agent X-23, or something like that. Collected copies of it used to be all over the place, but now of course once I actually want a copy, they've all disappeared.


True, Spillane would be a closer fit... but I was too enamored of Hammett's prose to resist, even though the man himself would be more comfortable with a gumshoe or playboy detective type.

I did a google and came up with Secret Agent X-9; fascinating stuff, I had no idea that Hammett had done a newspaper strip. I'll have to try and locate those.

[Albert]

Since I'm a Jack Vance fan, I'd think it'd be hilarious to see him take on Doctor Strange. Vance's strength as a writer, besides his dialogue, has always been his ability to create weird cultures, and I think he'd have a lot of fun with Doc's travels around the dimensions.

And since so much of B.P.R.D. is a Lovecraft homage anyway, why not let the man himself write it?

Vance on Strange would be an excellent combination. I was trying to think of a good fit for the good doctor, but was unsatisfied with my own choices. Jack L. Chalker came to mind.. but then Stephen would spend most of his book stuck in some bizarre body transformation.

[Indigo Al]

Something interestingly similar has occured with highbrow Chilean author Isabel Allende writing Zorro.

I'd love to see Patricia Highsmith do a costumed, rooftop non-powered hero.

Or else: imagine Ayn Rand's The Question?

Phillip K Dick's Thor?

Frank Herbert's New Gods?

[Albert]

Frank Herbert's New Gods?

That earns a Keanu Reeves level "whoa" in my book. Herbert on Swamp Thing would be interesting to see as well-- we all know how Frank loved his ecosystems.

[Ryan Day]

Franz Kafka's X-Men.

[sheets]

I'm not so sure about this one. Mickey Spillane would be slightly closer to a better fit.

Or Don Pendleton ;)

[Rabid Trekkie]

Robert Ludlum's Nick Fury: Agent of Shield.

Isaac Asimov and The Fantastic Four. I think he would do a really great job on them, his far future ideas with his pulpish style would make a really cool book with them. Arthur C. Clarke would probably do a good job as well.

I'd like to see Hammett work on Batman. Sure it would be more like Batman was at the beginning, taking on mobsters and the like instead of the famous rogues, but I've always seen (especially thanks to BTAS) Batman as a kind of noirish detective.

[Albert]

Robert Ludlum's Nick Fury: Agent of Shield.

Isaac Asimov and The Fantastic Four. I think he would do a really great job on them, his far future ideas with his pulpish style would make a really cool book with them. Arthur C. Clarke would probably do a good job as well.

Definitely... I'd love to see Clarke do a Galactus story especially.

I'd like to see Hammett work on Batman. Sure it would be more like Batman was at the beginning, taking on mobsters and the like instead of the famous rogues, but I've always seen (especially thanks to BTAS) Batman as a kind of noirish detective.

The more I think about it, the more I like it. Not only for the reasons you mention, but also for what he could bring to the Bruce Wayne side of the equation. The billionaire playboy could use a dash or two of The Thin Man, even if its only a ruse.

[Albert]

Franz Kafka's X-Men.

Cool idea, but I'm not sure it plays to his strengths. Paranoia, beaurocracy, wry humor... it might work...but I'm thinking Howard the Duck or that new Blue Beetle book DC is doing (shades of Metamorphosis, surely).

[Donald M.]

John D. MacDonald's Heroes For Hire. Maybe he could've even worked in a guest appearance by Travis McGee.

[atoningunifex]

Julian May's X-Men- I think she would do an incredible job of fleshing out the Xavier/magneto relationship.

Emily Bronte's Teen Titans- Oh, come one. Just imagine it. It would be a fun little ball of rage.

Virginia Woolf's Aquaman- Mera said she would find the sea anemones herself.

Don DeLillo's Legion of Super-Heroes.

Christopher Moore's Martian Manhunter-TYhis would be the goofiest, funnest, but still most serious Martian Manhunter ever.

[Donald M.]

Michael Chabon's JSA, set in the Golden Age.

[Albert]

Michael Chabon's JSA, set in the Golden Age.

Chabon would be great on any number of books. I'd love to see his rendition of Captain America, set in the "Commie-Bashing" 50s.

Emily Bronte's Teen Titans- Oh, come one. Just imagine it. It would be a fun little ball of rage.

Next Issue: The pining continues!

Virginia Woolf's Aquaman- Mera said she would find the sea anemones herself.

You're twisted-- I like that. And Arthur thought losing his hand was bad....

Christopher Moore's Martian Manhunter-TYhis would be the goofiest, funnest, but still most serious Martian Manhunter ever.

Now that I would read. Sounds even more fun than Joseph Heller's Sgt. Rock.

[Indigo Al]

Emily Bronte's Teen Titans- Oh, come one. Just imagine it. It would be a fun little ball of rage.

Virginia Woolf's Aquaman- Mera said she would find the sea anemones herself.



You've just opened up a whole new frontier: chick-lit superheroes!

Jacqueline Susan's Beyond the Valley of the Birds of Prey
Danielle Steel's Millie the Model
Dorothy Parker's Ms. Marvel

[Arvandor]

R A Salvatore's style is already very 'superheroish'. I can see him on something like Wonder Woman, Daredevil, Wolverine - something like that.

[Rabid Trekkie]

Robert Heinlein's Legion of Super Heroes. It would probably be very different than what it is now, but man I'd love to see it.

[atoningunifex]

Dorothy Parker's Ms. Marvel


I think I just came.....

[Donald M.]

If we can suggest new titles featuring existing characters, how about P.G. Wodehouse's The Adventures of Pennyworth & Wayne.

[Kirayoshi]

Hmm...How about Spider Robinson's X-Men? He covered hyper-evolution and blind hatred against those who are different in his Stardance novels. Plus Harry's Hideaway would be a perfect cover for Calahan's.

Andrew M. Greeley's Nightcrawler. Greeley, a Catholic priest in Chicago, could draw on Kurt's adventurous side, as well as his spiritual side. Plus he's a hopeless romantic, so all you Kurt and Amanda fans would want for naught.

I'd nominate Andrew Vacchs' Batman, but he actually did that once.

[Albert]

I've only read the Callahan novels, so I'll take your word for it that Robinson would be well-suited for the X-men; though, from what I have read, I'd love to see him tackle a book like Omega Men or the GL Corps.

[Kirayoshi]

I would recommend Spider Robinson for anyone who ever enjoyed Heinlein. Very similar in tone, and Spider's the first person who'd tell you he was influenced by Heinlein. In fact, his Calahan's anthology "Time Travelers Strictly Cash" features an essay on the man called "Rah, Rah, R.A.H.".

This September, Tor Books is publishing "Variable Star", a novel based on notes and a detailed outline by Heinlein, finished by Robinson. I plan to check it out.

[ragnarok_2012]

Robert Heinlein's Legion of Super Heroes. It would probably be very different than what it is now, but man I'd love to see it.

God, that would be incredible.

Maybe the Legion would all be married to each other!

The first arc's name: The Legion is a Harsh Mistress. :D

[Shem the Penman]

God, that would be incredible.

Maybe the Legion would all be married to each other!

The first arc's name: The Legion is a Harsh Mistress. :D

In Heinlein's Legion, R. J. Brande would be sleeping with all the female Legionnaires.

[ragnarok_2012]

In Heinlein's Legion, R. J. Brande would be sleeping with all the female Legionnaires.

He isn't already?

Somewhere, somehow, I'll bet Bouncing Boy just felt a disturbance in the Force.

[Subotai]

Lawrence Block's Gotham Central (he did the intro to a trade already)

Joe Lansdale - Sin City

[ragnarok_2012]

Second time posting is a charm.

James Ellroy's Sandman Mystery Theatre.

He's a great noir writer, and works well with historical settings.

He also writes cynical characters well. The question is: can he write optimistic characters such as Wesley and Dian who get their hands dirty?