Legendary writer George R.R. Martin is teaming up with Marvel Comics to adapt his science fiction series, Wild Cards. The publisher is adapting the titular first installment of the anthology which originally released in 1987.
Wild Cards was the first of several science fiction anthology books, including stories by the Game of Thrones author, along with Howard Waldrop and Roger Zelazny. Naturally, publishers and studios alike are going through his past writing to find stories ripe for adaptation, following the success of the HBO series. Marvel isn’t the first to recognize the potential of Wild Cards beyond its original novelization, as the streaming service Peacock is currently developing a series from Martin’s work.
On June 1, Marvel Comics will release George R.R. Martin’s Wild Cards in the form of Wild Cards: The Drawing of the Cards #1. The comic book adaptation recruits the creative team of screenwriter, novelist, and comic book writer Paul Cornell (Doctor Who, Elementary) along with artist Mike Hawthorne (Deadpool, Happiness Will Follow). Wild Cards explores an alternate version of history set after World War II and follows characters with superhuman abilities. After an alien virus called Wild Card spreads, ordinary people begin to experience a variety of symptoms. While some become deformed and are soon known as “Jokers," others practically become superheroes and supervillains dubbed as “Aces.” A small sect of people who contract minor powers get the name “Deuces."
In a statement about the adaptation, George R.R. Martin reflected on the importance of Wild Cards as his writing debut, saying, “As my fans may already know, the Wild Cards World holds a special place in my heart. So to have the privilege of announcing that an industry titan like Marvel is going to produce the narrative from the beginning as a comic book brings me no end of joy.” Although this isn’t the first time Wild Cards has received an adaptation, the upcoming Marvel Comics iteration appears to be especially promising, as it has received the approval of Martin himself.
While speaking on the project, Paul Cornell emphasized the anthology as a superhero story. Although Martin had depicted the series as an alternate history with science fiction elements, the Marvel Comics adaptation seems to be going in a more heroic direction. As Cornell says:
Wild Cards is still a unique take on superheroes, a creation story that’s influenced everything since, but still maintains its power. It’s an honor and a pleasure to bring all these wonderful stories to their natural home at Marvel, and I hope to give George, Melinda and the rest of the Wild Cards Collective the credit they deserve for making the superhero myth new again. Plus: just look at that art!
It has not been clarified whether Wild Cards: The Drawing of the Cards will be solely based on the Game of Thrones author’s work, or if it will incorporate new stories. Marvel Comics’ take on Wild Cards begin in June.
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