Moments like these used to be reserved for Kevin Feige. Between San Diego Comic-Con and D23, he owned those shows to the point that they might as well be named after him: “Kevin Feige Presents SDCC” or “Marvel Studios and the rest of D23.” Last year, he raced his muscle car into San Diego while DC was stranded on the highway with four flat tires. That’s no longer the case.
James Gunn flexed his creative muscle as he launched the first Chapter of the new DCU, Gods and Monsters. With the benefit of learning from Marvel’s 15 years at the top of the shared cinematic universe business, he laid out 11 projects that have captured fans’ imaginations worldwide. There’s Superman: Legacy, The Brave and the Bold, the mysterious Paradise Lost, Lanterns, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and several others.
The DC Studios co-chair has plans to do things Marvel won’t, like offer more mature content and deviate from the sitcom-style slapstick formula. Where he truly has the chance to teach Feige how comic adaptations are made is with DC’s proposed first horror movie, which is appropriately Swamp Thing.
Under Gunn’s creative direction, the belief is that he will allow his filmmakers more freedom when it comes to storytelling.
Marvel has been accused of the opposite, which could explain why Feige is having trouble keeping directors lately. It would point to why there are plenty of A-list actors in the MCU but mostly unknown directors.
If the rumors are true, DC Studios is not having trouble getting interest from high-profile directors. It’s no secret that modern horror master Guillermo del Toro wanted a shot at Swamp Thing and Justice League Dark. In fact, he pitched ideas to the former DC Films brass to bring the concepts to the former DCEU. However, the frontrunner appears to be James Logan Mangold, who has reportedly been in contact with DC Studios about directing Swamp Thing. In either case, the classic horror superhero should be in good hands.
No question, that is having a direct impact on his key issues, beginning with these.
HOUSE OF SECRETS #92
Initially a full-fledged horror character, Bernie Wrightson and Len Wein, two true legends of the industry, co-created the Protector of the Green. Wrightson was already an established horror artist, and his distinct art style is still considered the standard by which all Swamp Thing artists are compared.
SWAMP THING #1
This has been the first Swamp Thing key to get the red carpet treatment among collectors. With House of Secrets #92 so far out of reach for most, Swamp Thing #1 becomes a much more enticing investment.
Since this is the first issue of the character’s initial self-titled series with iconic Wrightson artwork, it’s easy to see why.
SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #20
If there’s going to be a Swamp Thing movie, then surely it will take inspiration from Alan Moore’s run on the title. He redefined the character in the 1980s by injecting a heavy dose of horror and humanity into the title.
Oft imitated but never replicated, Moore’s Saga of the Swamp Thing is considered nearly perfect, and his first issue on the title should get the same treatment as X-Men #94, which was Chris Claremont’s initial writing credit on that famed title.
SWAMPY GOODNESS
A Swamp Thing horror movie directed by either Mangold or del Toro, produced by Gunn, and possibly based on Moore’s Saga of the Swamp Thing? In the words of Rick Sanchez, “You son of a bitch, I’m in.” This is exactly the type of content that DC can provide that Marvel can’t. What will be even better is if it were R-rated, and Gunn did say that some projects will get the mature designation. Are we entering a golden age of comic book adaptations or what?
