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View Full Version : Screenwriter Seeking Suggestions


weirdgrrl
12-19-2007, 04:27 PM
Hi, I'm new here. I'm currently writing a screenplay that features two characters who share an interest and knowledge of comic books. It's not the main storyline, but it's the connection between these characters (who are antagonistic towards each other but have a mutual respect).

Unfortunately, my knowledge of comic books is largely limited to the comics that I read as a kid (mostly DC comics in the 70's and early 80's, particularly Superman, Supergirl and Wonder Woman) and I was never that kid who knew all the comic book trivia, so I could use some help. I'm looking for suggestions about what comic book universe/characters/artists/etc. these characters would likely be interested in (based on the information below) and where their interests might overlap.

Female character: Mid-twenties, vet student, cuts herself, dark and dry sense of humour, has a Superman fixation (in that she wants to find a Superman equivalent to fall in love with) but has comic book interests and knowledge beyond that due to a brother she idolized who was four years older than her but died when he was 18. He would have been a comic book afficianado in the 90's. Childhood: They grew up on a farm, mom ran the farm, dad rode broncs in the rodeo circuit and was away a lot. (I was also thinking that she and her brother may have made up their own comic book characters and would welcome suggestions as to what they might have been like.)

Male character (not her love interest, but love interest's roommate): late twenties/early thirties, paramedic, sick and sarcastic sense of humour, would love to be seen as the hero but the false bravado that he hides behind puts people off and keep them from noticing his heroic actions. His less heroic but far more charming firefighter roommate is the one that everyone sees as a hero instead. I think his comic book interests would be less mainstream than hers, but there would have to be overlap.

Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks in advance!

BoosterBronze
12-19-2007, 04:54 PM
Well, one possibility is that she, raised on a farm and liking Superman is more into DC comics, Batman, Superman, Justice Leage, Green Lantern, Flash, Wonder Woman.

The male might have more of a Marvel or even Dark Horse comics thing going.

Brandon Hanvey
12-19-2007, 05:08 PM
From the description of the girl (cuts herself, dark and dry sense of humour), she would be more into indie/manga/vertigo titles especially ones with dark and goth overtones.

Her brother would be more into the early 90's Image titles and the Marvel titles the Image founders did.

She probably started out reading the same stuff as her brother, but moved on to the more "mature" stuff later on.

As for the male character, I see him as a mix of all kinds of comics.

weirdgrrl
12-19-2007, 05:45 PM
Wow, thanks for the quick replies. I can't believe I didn't think of the farm/Superman/DC obvious link. Doh! :o

I'm not sure if I'm familiar with Dark Horse. Is that Hellboy? If so, yeah, I can see the male character being into that. Would you be able to suggest a specific issue that would help me familiarize myself with Hellboy (or whichever Dark Horse character you think might be his favourite). And yeah, I can see him being into a wide mix of comics, too. Of course that means a wider range of research... but at least it's fun research.

Question for Brandon Hanvey (I ask this only because I don't know enough about 90's comics or Image titles and I never really read many Marvel titles): Why do you think the brother would prefer Image or Marvel over DC?

I do like the idea of her starting out being influenced by her brother's tastes but moving into something more mature later on. I hadn't thought of her comic book tastes evolving before, but of course that makes sense. (Hmm, that gave me an idea about how they find out about each others' love for comics.) I actually just picked up my first manga the other day and I think my character would definitely like it. I'm not familiar with Vertigo. Any recommendations?

You guys have already given me some good stuff to think about but I'm open to other opinions. So keep 'em coming. Thanks!

Brandon Hanvey
12-19-2007, 06:24 PM
Question for Brandon Hanvey (I ask this only because I don't know enough about 90's comics or Image titles and I never really read many Marvel titles): Why do you think the brother would prefer Image or Marvel over DC?


The Image titles were super hot in the mid 1990's. Most of the Image founders (Todd MacFarlane, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, etc) got their fame in the late 1980's and early 1990's at Marvel.


I actually just picked up my first manga the other day and I think my character would definitely like it. I'm not familiar with Vertigo. Any recommendations?

Well Sandman is the big title for the Vertigo line and would probably best fit your female's characteristics.

weirdgrrl
12-19-2007, 07:01 PM
Thanks muchly for the information and recommendation. :D

_iron_man_
12-19-2007, 07:37 PM
no, I would try to stay away from Marvel since the girl is fixated with DC and Supes. I would make the male more into indie comics and some marvel. Not mainly marvel. So it wouldn't feel like a Marvel vs DC screenplay. If he does like marvel show it discreetly by him talking about a character. But def. make him like indie, and other major comics, such as Darkhorse, Image,etc

Brandon Hanvey
12-19-2007, 07:42 PM
If you wanted the character to like Superman during the 1990's, it could probably be tied to the "Death of Superman" storyline.

weirdgrrl
12-19-2007, 10:09 PM
I have to say I quite appreciate reading the differing opinions. It makes the discussion even more useful than if everyone had the same idea. Which helps me be more creative. So thanks!

But def. make him like indie, and other major comics, such as Darkhorse, Image,etc
Any specific indie recommendations?

If you wanted the character to like Superman during the 1990's, it could probably be tied to the "Death of Superman" storyline.
I had almost forgotten about that storyline. I think that could work really well!

_iron_man_
12-20-2007, 02:47 PM
well, you could check out the independant section on these boards and see if people are interested in their work being mentioned in it.

weirdgrrl
12-20-2007, 03:09 PM
well, you could check out the independant section on these boards and see if people are interested in their work being mentioned in it.
While that will be a good idea down the road, once I've done more research, I asked about recommendations because I am completely unfamiliar with indie comics. Are there some that are big enough to be widely known? Or are they so small that only a handful of people would know what I was talking about and I could theoretically make up my own and the majority of people wouldn't know the difference? Are there specific titles or writers whose work you would recommend looking at for my character?

If it were realistic for me to actually be able to read all of threads and all of the comics mentioned in the Independent Forums, I would, but unfortunately it's not. Which is why I was hoping for recommendations, so that I could find something suitable and then contact the writer to see if they would be interested in having their work mentioned.