CBR: Stuart Moore Adapts Marvel's "Civil War" for Prose

[CBR News]

Marvel Comics heads to the world of prose fiction in 2012 with a new line of novels retelling its most popular storylines, launching with Mark Millar's "Civil War" as adapted by "Wolverine" writer Stuart Moore.


Full article here (http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36022).

[Specimen 297]

"Wolverine writer Stuart Moore"...

Heh. He wrote one issue of Wolverine...

[tesh_karde]

I'm pumped! I'll definitely be buying this! I've always wanted Marvel to have an in continuity line of novels.

[lilyinblue]

Kind of awesome. I'll definitely check it out.

I always did sort of enjoy all of those old X-Men novels, afterall.

[timeismoney]

CW was marvel at it best if AVX can bring what CW did Marvel will have another comic changing event on their hands and we may be able to say the house of ideas has return.

[UKFan]

Could be interesting, depending on what's included and what's
not in the story, how it's organised etc.

[lilyinblue]

Could be interesting, depending on what's included and what's
not in the story, how it's organised etc.

I do wonder if it'll pull in any tidbits here and there from all of the various tie-ins, or if it will really just focus on what happened in the core series. It almost seems like it would have to pull at least SOME from the tie-ins to make it all a cohesive, single story.

[Rheged]

Cool! What a great gig for Stuart Moore! Can't wait to read it!



"Wolverine writer Stuart Moore"...

Heh. He wrote one issue of Wolverine...

He wrote more than one issue of Wolverine -- he also wrote the Wolverine Noir series and I think some short stories. But I agree, the article author didn't chose the best known attribute for Stuart Moore.

Vertigo editor of Transmetropolitan, Hellblazer, SwampThing, Preacher, The Invisibles, and Marvel Knights / MAX editor of Alias, Daredevil, FF1234, Elektra, Howard the Duck amongst other things.

Of course, I prefer writer of Namor the First Mutant, but I'm biased. :wink:

[Songbird/Diamondback]

CW was marvel at it best

...seriously?

Why do people love Civil War so much? I mean, it's just a contrived way to get heroes to fight heroes, and people treat it like it's a philosophical debate...even when one side has supervillains on their side and was pretty much made when Bush hate was highest.

[Congo Jack]

I thought Steve McNiven's art was one of the few redeeming factors in CIVIL WAR. I'm sure Moore can add a bit more subtlety to the story in prose though. I hope they can continue this trend.


"Wolverine writer Stuart Moore"...

Heh. He wrote one issue of Wolverine...
One great issue of WOLVERINE. He also wrote WOLVERINE: UNDER THE BOARDWALK, a Wolverine solo story in X-MEN UNLIMITED and four issues of WOLVERINE NOIR. So yeah, Wolverine writer Stuart Moore.

[Expletive Deleted]

He wrote more than one issue of Wolverine -- he also wrote the Wolverine Noir series and I think some short stories. But I agree, the article author didn't chose the best known attribute for Stuart Moore.It's a press release, and they probably wanted to highlight something he's written for Marvel rather than edited or written for someone else.

[Iron Maiden]

CW was marvel at it best

Really? How long have you been a fan because I'd question how much Marvel you've read.

In other words, you need to append an IMO to that statement :biggrin:

[Rheged]

I thought Steve McNiven's art was one of the few redeeming factors in CIVIL WAR. I'm sure Moore can add a bit more subtlety to the story in prose though. I hope they can continue this trend.

I'm looking forward to exactly that, myself. Moore's great at giving characters and stories some depth and subtlety -- which is very much needed for Civil War, IMO.



It's a press release, and they probably wanted to highlight something he's written for Marvel rather than edited or written for someone else.

Half of what I posted was for Marvel. But yes, I see your point. Undeniably, Wolverine is well known, even if that's not what I think of when I think of Stuart Moore.

[Scavenger]

CW was marvel at it best


CW was Marvel as the "House of Ideas" at it's best. It was a fantastic idea.
As an actual executed comic it was awful.

{Specific complaints deleted because I'm tired of reading my own blather}

[Bricolo]

it's going to take an awful lot of padding. It took two minutes tops to read the entire mini and that was with a screaming child in the room distracting me.

[lheiskell]

May I suggest:

Heralds of Galactus - The Official Autobiography - Written by Jonathan Hickman


That could be some fun reading.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

You know what I find more annoying that the Civil War nostalgia? The fact that people believe that the Marvel Movieverse should do Civil War.
Heroes vs. Heroes is so annoying.

[Specimen 297]

But if they do Civil War as a film, it could spin-off into a THUNDERBOLTS film...

[Chris McFeely]

Okay, next, someone can get GraphicAudio on the horn and get some audio books made of 'em.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

But if they do Civil War as a film, it could spin-off into a THUNDERBOLTS film...

PFFT! Unlikely.
Thunderbolts deserves to get a film by it's own merits, not because another movie props it up.

[Specimen 297]

Well there are idiots out there who think Thunderbolts didn't exist before Warren Ellis and Civil War...

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Well there are idiots out there who think Thunderbolts didn't exist before Warren Ellis and Civil War...

I know.
And they only got on the book for Venom, Bullseye, and Green Goblin.
I swear, Marvel is running out of characters to use because the fans are so nitpicky on who they like. Stupid 90's animated series fans.

[UKFan]

I do wonder if it'll pull in any tidbits here and there from all of the various tie-ins, or if it will really just focus on what happened in the core series. It almost seems like it would have to pull at least SOME from the tie-ins to make it all a cohesive, single story.

Yeah, that's exactly what I was wondering. Stuff like the X-Men or Underworld tie-in can be junked, other stuff is integral.

[FIFTY-TWO (52)]

I'm not sure why we need a novelization.
I read the comic and then I played Civil War as a video game in Ultimate Marvel II.
I'm really not inclined to revisit Civil War when even Marvel felt most of the fallout needed reversing.

[Hero Girl]

You know what I find more annoying that the Civil War nostalgia? The fact that people believe that the Marvel Movieverse should do Civil War.
Heroes vs. Heroes is so annoying.

That's not my problem with it. The real problem is that it doesn't make sense in-universe. All of the heroes are SHIELD agents and registered already. It's more Ultimates 1 & 2 than 616-Avengers

[moneyspider]

Marvel's return to novels is exciting. Right now, I'm still reading X-Men/Avengers: Gamma Quest Trilogy, as well as X-Men: The Chaos Engine Trilogy (which is extremely well-written).

[Mark_S]

For me about the only thing that has real potential in this is the settling of what the SHRA was and maybe some background on it beyond the crayon-like simplicity of the comic book version. Other than that... well my signature pretty much says it all for me.

Mark_S

[theXfactor]

I think it would be much more interesting if Marvel publisehd new stories in prose, not some adaptation that probably won't make sense to someone who's not familiar with the characters.

[Rheged]

Newsarama (http://www.newsarama.com/comics/marvel-prose-novels-axel-alonso-111220.html) has a more in depth article. There's actually going to be a LINE of prose books! Moore is not only going to write the first one, but will be editing three more.

I'd like the other books to be someone other than Cap, Iron Man, and Thor, but that's probably who we will get. However, an interesting and hopeful tidbit ...


To translate this to prose, Stuart provided us with an outline that broke down the story, and proposed the point-of-view characters. Cap and Iron Man remained foreground characters, of course, but Stuart made some canny suggestions about who else might make for appealing point-of-view characters, with an eye toward the fact that our readership will be male and female.

[Congo Jack]

I'm thinking that perhaps Black Widow will get an expanded role in the novel now. Don't know who else Alonso could be referring to there, except for perhaps Maria Hill.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

That's not my problem with it. The real problem is that it doesn't make sense in-universe. All of the heroes are SHIELD agents and registered already. It's more Ultimates 1 & 2 than 616-Avengers

And even beyond that, I seen people, I think even on this forum, claim that Civil War should be a TRILOGY, with all the movies in between tying in!
I tell ya, some people think way too highly of this event.

[Rheged]

I'm thinking that perhaps Black Widow will get an expanded role in the novel now. Don't know who else Alonso could be referring to there, except for perhaps Maria Hill.

Maria Hill would be great! Ditto Black Widow, though I don't remember her playing that big a role. I was thinking Ms. Marvel might get tapped as one of the POV characters ... or even Susan Richards.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Atlantean plot line will get some love. I thought they got skimmed over in Civil War, despite being used as antagonists / instigators.

[Congo Jack]

Maria Hill would be great! Ditto Black Widow, though I don't remember her playing that big a role. I was thinking Ms. Marvel might get tapped as one of the POV characters ... or even Susan Richards.
I imagine it will be one of the movie characters. Somehow forgot about Sue! Yeah, I think that's who the female POV character will be.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

...I hope Diamondback gets some more attention being on Cap's side...

[Telos]

Any guesses on what the other three books might be?

[Rheged]

I imagine it will be one of the movie characters. Somehow forgot about Sue! Yeah, I think that's who the female POV character will be.

I think she'll be one of them. Especially if they want to do a FF book.



Any guesses on what the other three books might be?

Alonso said something about the books interconnecting, like the movies interconnect. It also depends on if they are going to keep adapting comics, or if they will be original, I guess. It will probably be the movie trio or related. So I'm thinking ...

Iron Man, Director of SHIELD
Captain America / Winter Soldier / Black Widow
JMS' Thor

[CMBMOOL]

I rather read a World War Hulk novelization of the event, than a novel about Marvel's Civil War. I mean there were a few bits and pieces of it that made little sense in the overall plotline. :frown:

[Telos]

Alonso said something about the books interconnecting, like the movies interconnect. It also depends on if they are going to keep adapting comics, or if they will be original, I guess. It will probably be the movie trio or related. So I'm thinking ...

Iron Man, Director of SHIELD
Captain America / Winter Soldier / Black Widow
JMS' Thor

There was an interview (don't have the link) where Alonso said that the other books will be comic adaptions, not originals.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Any guesses on what the other three books might be?

Secret Invasion, Dark Reign and Siege?

[Rheged]

There was an interview (don't have the link) where Alonso said that the other books will be comic adaptions, not originals.

Ah, missed that. Thanks! I guess that makes sense if they want to get people into comics. And it could be good for comic readers, if they flesh things out. I'll definitely be picking up Moore's Civil War.

I wonder who else they'll tap to write the novels? Now I'm thinking one of the three might be a David Liss Black Panther novel. He's a novelist first, so it would be a natural choice. Maybe Mike Carey doing an X-book? Or even Claremont, who has done a couple of novels.

Of course, I want to see Peter David on a novel. :biggrin:



Secret Invasion, Dark Reign and Siege?

They are definitely NOT getting my dollars for a Secret Invasion novel. Ugh. I would, however, happily plunk down my bucks for a Cabal novel. :biggrin:

[AstonishingXMan]

Don't really see the creative point of this, but if it makes Marvel a few dollars, more power to them.

Personally, I'll file it under "don't care" pile and stick to books with words AND pretty pictures :)

[Songbird/Diamondback]

They are definitely NOT getting my dollars for a Secret Invasion novel. Ugh. I would, however, happily plunk down my bucks for a Cabal novel. :biggrin:

"And so the New Avengers wandered the Savage Lands some more, looking for the nearest Chinese Restaurant..."

[Rheged]

"And so the New Avengers wandered the Savage Lands some more, looking for the nearest Chinese Restaurant..."

LOL! So true. :biggrin:

[StoneGold]

Really? How long have you been a fan because I'd question how much Marvel you've read.

In other words, you need to append an IMO to that statement :biggrin:

Nah, you just need to wash some of the sand out of the thong and realize that anyone saying anything is IMO, and someone having an opinion different from you doesn't mean the world explodes.


IMO.

[Telos]

I'd probably get a Secret Invasion novel. Not because the event was any good, but I think a novel will be able to tell it far better than Bendis did. Less New Avengers in the Savage Land, more New York and worldwide stuff.

[pedroparkero]

Marvel return to prose

yay!!!

i hope they do spider-man books like the they have done in the past...

[nomadic writer]

Don't really see the creative point of this, but if it makes Marvel a few dollars, more power to them.

Personally, I'll file it under "don't care" pile and stick to books with words AND pretty pictures :)

I'm thinking it's an attempt to create a bridge between the movies and the comics; books that will make sense to people who've only seen the movies, which will give them enough background on the current 616-verse status quo to understand what's going on if they jump into the comics. Sounds like an interesting experiment, and I hope it works out well. It would be good to have a decent line of Marvel prose novels on sale.

[StoneGold]

Hey, it worked for DC when they did stuff like the Kingdom Come novelization.

[theXfactor]

I wish this was new content and that the writers weren't from comics already. I'd love to see new stories in prose form done by famous prose writers. Give Gaiman some money, Marvel!
Characters that I'd love to see get prose novels:
Spider-Man (duh)
Cloak & Dagger
The Runaways (this could be a success in the teen market if done right)
Miss Marvel (to try and get more females to read comics)
Black Widow

and some many others! I just don't think a story like Civil War is they best way to introduce people to comics. Just too many characters, not enough substance for a prose novel and doesn't seem that new-reader friendly . Like I said before, I think it'd be better to create stories designed specifically for prose books.

[Celestin]

I'd probably get a Secret Invasion novel. Not because the event was any good, but I think a novel will be able to tell it far better than Bendis did. Less New Avengers in the Savage Land, more New York and worldwide stuff.

Not to mention that in a novel there could be some really surprising choices for Skrull's agents. No continuity and disappointed fans that learned that they favorite hero was replaced by a fake for few years to worry about.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

I wish this was new content and that the writers weren't from comics already. I'd love to see new stories in prose form done by famous prose writers. Give Gaiman some money, Marvel!
Characters that I'd love to see get prose novels:
Spider-Man (duh)
Cloak & Dagger
The Runaways (this could be a success in the teen market if done right)
Miss Marvel (to try and get more females to read comics)
Black Widow

and some many others! I just don't think a story like Civil War is they best way to introduce people to comics. Just too many characters, not enough substance for a prose novel and doesn't seem that new-reader friendly . Like I said before, I think it'd be better to create stories designed specifically for prose books.

Pick one.
Also, Ms. Marvel. Ms.

[theXfactor]

Pick one.
Also, Ms. Marvel. Ms.

Yeah, Runaways would the excpetion becuase the origin story would make for a good book. Thanks for the pleasant note, won't happen again, Ms.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Yeah, Runaways would the excpetion becuase the origin story would make for a good book. Thanks for the pleasant note, won't happen again, Ms.

I'm a guy...
but don't worry, everyone thinks I'm a girl for some reason...

[Kirrmistwelder]

I've been thinking about my own speculations on these two questions as well (who are the alternate POVs in Civil War, and what other books might we expect). I'll take 'em one at a time:

Civil War POVs:

Good call from Congo Jack on Black Widow and Maria Hill, likewise Rheged with Ms. Marvel and Sue Richards. I was thinking Jessica Jones, since Luke Cage's decision to support the law-breakers had a direct impact on her family. It's a bit like Sue Richard's story as well, though from Marvel's standpoint it may make more sense to tie-in Jessica if they're bringing out a TV show about her.

The others already mentioned have nice tie-in potential to future novels in this series, Black Widow to Cap/Bucky, Maria to Iron Man, Ms. Marvel to Mighty Avengers.

Other books in the series:

I think Songbird is moving too far ahead, if Marvel is looking to really connect these novels together like they have with the movies, they'll need to fill in and focus on some of the bigger characters/teams before they move on to a novel covering the next event (i.e. Secret Invasion). Rheged is thinking along the same lines as me with

- Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. (they could even incorporate The Five Nightmares, and end it with the discovery of the Skrull agent)

- Captain America: Winter Soldier (told as a flashback by Bucky, attending Cap's funeral, and ending with him deciding to take up the mantle)

I'm not as sure about Thor, it would make some sense to tie into that to prepare his return for Secret Invasion, but I'm also thinking Marvel might want to pull in either Spider-man or X-Men into this line.

- Spider-man: Back in Black? (the trouble here is post-Civil War you have to deal with his unmasking and then all the retcons)

- X-Men: Messiah CompleX (I would think there would need to be a prologue explaining the state of Mutant affairs post-MDay prior to beginning this story, but otherwise this is probably as good a starting point for the X-Men as anywhere)

- Fantastic Four: Three (really the build up of all of Hickman's run to the Death of the Human Torch)

- Hulk? do they start with Planet Hulk, which seems necessary before World War Hulk, or Red Hulk?

I’d love to see them do Annihilation, but I’m thinking the chances of that are pretty slim.

[steakdiaper]

“CIVIL WAR is easily our best-selling graphic novel of the past decade..."

I'm so sick of people in the industry over-using the term "graphic novel". It wasn't a graphic novel, it was a monthly (in theory) comic book mini-series. How do the people in charge expect to hook new readers if they keep downplaying the existence of monthlies?
Watch The Walking Dead and it's the same thing: "Based on the graphic novel by Image comics". So now noobs think they have to wait every 6 month for each installment, which may not even come out if not enough copies of the monthly title are sold.

[Mark_S]

Part of the problem though that cw's time has passed. I've certainly had enough people tell me to 'get over it' and 'forget it and move on' and while I refuse to do so the period in history that made cw a success is over. CW after all cynically took advantage of the division of the country over the Iraq war and in my opinion did a good job of casting Tony Stark as George Bush. But Bush is long gone. They can write Tony as the villain again but anyone reading the book instead of the comics and the after-event spin issues of his own title and others may read him only as a villain and I'm not sure that marvel wants that. It's going to be hard to cast the creator of Clor and 42 as a good guy. So there might be a lot of revision and while the title maybe Civil War it might not be the same story.

I do wonder if we'll see covers like this on the books though.
http://members.ttlc.net/~mso/Avengers_Eath_Shatter_Paperback.jpg

Mark_S