More information is trickling through about Frank Darabont's forthcoming television adaptation of The Walking Dead for AMC. As somebody who has never read the comic book or watched a single TV episode on AMC (meaning, I've never seen an episode of Mad Men or Breaking Bad), I will watch this. And I will watch this just because Frank Darabont is on board as writer, director, and executive producer.
I credit Darabont's passion for his projects (watch any of the documentaries on his movies or listen to any of his commentaries to understand) for why I will give this tale of post-zombie apocalypse a chance. Even when he made something that a lot of people dismissed (The Majestic), his desire to make something worthwhile and enjoyable is pretty obvious right away.
Still, I'm not entirely sold on checking out the half-dozen trade paperbacks that collect the Walking Dead series so far.
There have been times that I've tried to read a celebrated graphic novel or trade paperback and I just don't get what the fuss is about. But if translated onto the screen with a genuine craftsman, that opinion could quickly turn around. Zack Snyder's take on Watchmen was an immense help for me with understanding the legacy of the comic book. I hope Edgar Wright's take on the Scott Pilgrim series does the same.
I think my enjoyment of comics works best when there is one definitive story that can put into one trade paperback or graphic novel. I have yet to stay with a series that just goes on and on and on, like Brian Michael Bendis's Powers. So that probably explains why I'm a fan of stuff like Blankets and Box Office Poison.
All I can say now (the pilot has been greenlit, but no word just yet if it's going to series), I look forward to what will come of this.
I credit Darabont's passion for his projects (watch any of the documentaries on his movies or listen to any of his commentaries to understand) for why I will give this tale of post-zombie apocalypse a chance. Even when he made something that a lot of people dismissed (The Majestic), his desire to make something worthwhile and enjoyable is pretty obvious right away.
Still, I'm not entirely sold on checking out the half-dozen trade paperbacks that collect the Walking Dead series so far.
There have been times that I've tried to read a celebrated graphic novel or trade paperback and I just don't get what the fuss is about. But if translated onto the screen with a genuine craftsman, that opinion could quickly turn around. Zack Snyder's take on Watchmen was an immense help for me with understanding the legacy of the comic book. I hope Edgar Wright's take on the Scott Pilgrim series does the same.
I think my enjoyment of comics works best when there is one definitive story that can put into one trade paperback or graphic novel. I have yet to stay with a series that just goes on and on and on, like Brian Michael Bendis's Powers. So that probably explains why I'm a fan of stuff like Blankets and Box Office Poison.
All I can say now (the pilot has been greenlit, but no word just yet if it's going to series), I look forward to what will come of this.
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