This summer, Marvel is publishing a new comic book series based on Wild Cards, the long-running literary universe edited by A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) author George R.R. Martin and Melinda M. Snodgrass.
Wild Cards: The Drawing of Cards is a four-part limited series set to launch on Wednesday, June 1 from writer Paul Cornell and artist Mike Hawthorne. According to Marvel, The Drawing of Cards sees Cornell and Hawthorne "retell the foundational Wild Cards stories." Issue #1 features cover art by Steve Morris. Interestingly, Marvel previously published another four-part Wild Cards limited series under its now-defunct Epic Comics imprint in 1990.
For the first time in comic book form, witness the very beginning of the Wild Cards mythos with an adaptation of the very first stories in the original Wild Cards novel. Based on stories by Harold Waldrop, Roger Zelazny and series master-mind and editor, George R.R. Martin, Wild Cards is a fascinating saga set in a whole new world reshaped by the emergence of superpowers. The limited series, titled THE DRAWING OF CARDS, will be written by a team of comic superstars, writer Paul Cornell and artist Mike Hawthorne, and serve as a perfect entry point for Wild Cards newcomers and a must-have new reimagining for Wild Cards aficionados!
Spanning more than 25 novels, 20 short stories, and written by more than 40 authors over three decades, the Wild Cards series tells the story of an alternate history where Earth is home to super-powered individuals. When a human is infected with the alien “Wild Card” virus, the odds are that they will be killed… which is referred to as “drawing the black queen”. Of those that survive, the bulk of them become “jokers”, left with some strange mutated form. A lucky few are called “aces”, those gifted with super powers they can put to use towards heroic goals… or villainous ones.
"Wild Cards is still a unique take on super heroes, a creation story that's influenced everything since, but still maintains its power," Cornell said. "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 super hero myth new again. Plus: just look at that art!"
"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," Martin himself added.
Written by Paul Cornell and illustrated by Mike Hawthorne with cover art by Steve Morris, Wild Cards: The Drawing of Cards #1 (of 4) goes on sale June 1 from Marvel Comics.
Source: Marvel Comics