Thunda comes to Dynamite!

[positronic]

Regarding Dark Horse's CONAN, yes I know they're just re-adapting most of the same REH stories that Marvel already did in its run, but I'd just say DH knows the market. Most people seem to agree that nobody wrote a Conan story as well as REH, and there are a fairly limited number of those to adapt, but I think DH is correct in its thinking that that's what most people want to see -- and not everyone has already read the Marvel adaptations. Dark Horse wants a shot at proving that they can do just as well or better than Marvel on those adaptations, and I can't blame them. The actual results may vary (and the Roy Thomas-Barry Smith CONANs are hard to beat). At least they're giving people the choice of buying the new adaptations, or the original Marvel ones as reprints.

So, you didn't mention anything about DE's existing original series, The Boys, Jennifer Blood, Ninjettes, Bring the Thunder, Athena, Nowhere Man, etc...

[Captain Canuck]

Just take it and go for it in your own way if it sucks and no one likes it great...

Dynamite may not think it's so great.

Here's where Dynamite can't win; often when they've tried to add their own spin on a classic character, they've been critisized for missing what made that character special, not respecting his history, whatever. However, if they appear to be sticking to the character as he or she is normally known, then they're just offering up the same old same old.

Dynamite can't do both. Personally, I prefer you approach but in light of feedback received, I can understand when Dynamite chooses to be as faithful to the original as possible.

[positronic]

Well, I guess we'll have to wait and see how faithful or not it is to the original. I can't really think of a single book Dynamite has done that's 100% faithful to the classic material it's supposed to be based on. Some things are a lot closer, some farther away. DE's Flash Gordon would be a good example of something that's faithful in spirit to the original, while still putting a new spin on it. So yeah, I think you CAN have it both ways, at least to a degree. Something like Green Hornet Year One or Lone Ranger or Zorro would be a lot closer to the original source material, but there are still small differences. Many times it's a question of what you consider the definitive version. There are differences in the pulp, movie, and TV versions of Zorro, so you can't be 100% faithful to ALL of them. As far as Thund'a goes, will he still be 1950s military pilot Roger Drumm crashing in a lost jungle full of dinosaurs, or will they put a modern spin and/or add new elements to it?

Another interesting comparison would be something like Turok. Valiant's version was a modern spin on Gold Key's original comic. Dark Horse's recent version was a little closer to the original, but I liked Valiant's version a lot better.

[Captain Canuck]

DE's Flash Gordon would be a good example of something that's faithful in spirit to the original, while still putting a new spin on it. So yeah, I think you CAN have it both ways, at least to a degree.

I don't know how it meshes with Flash Gordon because I don't read it, but I would suggest as a general rule that you can add easier than you can change so long as the addition doesn't clash with any part of the character's history.

Adding Clutch and a motorcycle to the current Green Hornet, or that hobo character to the Kato Origins series, that I know of wasn't seen as a big deal. Making Kato female (sort of...the male Kato IS still there...) created some grumbles. Or try to modernize the Hornet by making drive a sports car called the Silver Streak...

That isn't absolute; I'm sure there are examples of additions that bombed (Superman's son in the last movie comes to mind, for some reason) and changes that were embraced right away, but by and large I think that's how I see what you describe being achievable.

[Awearo]

hey,

one like..

[positronic]

Found on the Diamond Comics website:

"I was thrilled when Dynamite told me of their plans to resurrect Thun'da and asked me to reinterpret the series for a modern audience. As a longtime fan of Frazetta, I considered it an honor to take on one of his creations. The basic premise is the same: Roger Drum is a military man who finds himself in a place that can't possibly exist. Like the original, he also suffers from amnesia -- an element I decided to crank up a notch in the tradition of Jason Bourne. Roger Drum doesn't know who he was or how he got to this impossible land filled with thought to be extinct creatures. Fragments of memories haunt him and he starts to realize he may have lived a life he'd rather not remember. This is a story about a man trying to find who he really is as he deals with a daily battle for survival. As for where the series takes place -- that's a mystery I'm not quick to answer. In the original, he was firmly in Africa, but you'll note we don't say where he is or how he could have found this Lost realm. Perhaps he's died and gone to hell? Or maybe he's found an island like the one in Jurassic Park where someone has re-created extinct life? There are many mysteries surrounding Roger Drum -- none more apparent than the question of just where in the world he finds himself."

[Awearo]

cool...not bad..

[helwen]

not nearly as excited as I would be if this had been for THUNDARR! I mean do we need this Thunda comic? I am sure someone will get on here and talk about OH this is Frazetta, and it's rich history, and bla, bla, bla. DE for goodness sakes, Let's get something not already done, can anyone at DE come up with something new and original? don't be afraid to go out on a limb. It's bad enough the Dark Horse is re-raping all this old stuff, Creepy, Errie, Re-printing of every Conan comic ever made. All I asked is that if you are taking something already done DO NOT RE DO THE SAME STORIES WITH A DIFFRENT ARTIST! Just take it and go for it in your own way if it sucks and no one likes it great, if it's done your way and people like even better but do not give us re worked crap.

I agree 99% I would love to see D.E. bounce with their very own super hero group something they design all new characters. I personally would quit my interests in other comic companies if D.E. offered super hero team comics.

[positronic]

Could be good, could be bad. No sale until I see the actual book.

[ChastMastr]

I am sure anything involving more loincloth-clad adventurer beefcake will be worth buying!