Marvel will be releasing a graphic novel tie-in with ABC’s Once Upon a Time in September. This graphic novel will follow in the footsteps of the Castle graphic novels and comic books. I cannot say that I was excited about this announcement at C2E2 but find it is worth mentioning on this site as to why I was not excited.
A Once Upon a Time graphic novel is coming from Marvel.
The Skinny on Once Upon a Time Graphic Novel
The Once Upon a Time graphic novel has been plotted by series writer and co-producer Dan Thomsen. It is co-written by Corinna Bechko (Planet of the Apes). Art by Michael Kaluta will feature the Evil Queen, The Huntsman, and Red Riding Hood. It is scheduled for release in September of this year.
My Disappointment with Castle Graphic Novels and Comics
I don’t really care what type of heat you will give me for saying this, but I am a big fan of Castle on TV. In the past, I wrote weekly articles for a major website about the show and I make sure I am home every Monday to watch the show with my wife. When the announcement was originally made about a graphic novel being based on the characters the imaginary Richard Castle wrote about, I was excited…until I read the graphic novel.
There was nothing inherently wrong with the original Castle graphic novel in terms of artwork or writing. The same is true for the offerings under the banner since then. As a fan of the show, I was disappointed with the line because it did not have the comedic timing of the show and could not offer the tension of realizing there was ten minutes left in the show and the characters still needed to figure out the case. Timing is one of the great aspects of the TV show and it cannot translate well into the graphic novels, comics, or even the written novels. Since I am passionate about the show, I find myself wanting to hold the bar high for the printed works and believe extra steps needed to have been taken to transform the printed versions of Castle to equate with the show. Those steps were not taken
Once Upon a Time: Because They Have To?
Another aspect which set me off from the Castle comic series, and is setting me off from the Once Upon a Time graphic novel is that idea of Marvel creating a product because it has to for business reasons. ABC and Marvel are both owned by Disney. With Marvel bringing S.H.I.E.L.D. to the network, is feels like ABC is forcing the publishing company to go tit-for-tat and release TV shows in print form. While it happens on a regular basis, a publishing company should not be forced to give the perception of publishing something it has to for someone else (unless it is for the fans). If so, the fans can become distanced and will look for another publishing which will publish for the fans and not for corporate deals.
