The Four Color Media Monitor

And one that isn't all that new, if we consider Keanu Reeves' recent project, BRZRKR, developed at Boom Studios. The Hollywood Reporter says actor Tom Hardy, who played 2 different comics villains in movies, is teaming with Scott Snyder to produce a comic titled Arcbound:

After playing Venom and Bane, Tom Hardy is diving into the comic book world as a creative force.

The actor has teamed up with star writer Scott Snyder, known for Batman and Justice League, for the upcoming comic title Arcbound. Hardy has taken on the title of creative collaborator, with the actor focusing on character development for the broader Arcbound universe. [...]

The 12-issue series takes place in a future where Earth is a barren wasteland. According to the official description, “The formidable corporatocracy, Zynitec, harnesses the unmatched energy of Kronium to assert its dominion across the stars. The Arcbound series chronicles the journey of Kai, a resolute Mediator Captain, tasked with maintaining Zynitec’s lifeline to Kronium. However, as he grapples with the morality of his role, revelations about Zynitec’s dubious past thrust him into a poignant quandary: to remain loyal to the empire or to confront the forces that molded him into a tool of oppression.”

Issue No. 1 arrives in March, but an Ashcan edition will be at New York Comic Con at the Arcbound Booth starting Thursday. The Arcbound team also includes veteran scribe Frank Tieri, known for Wolverine and Deadpool, and artist Ryan Smallman, who has worked on Fortnite and Marvel titles. Artists contributing variant covers include Ryan Ottley, Clay Mann, Tyler Kirkham and Dan Panosian.

Anybody who's going to concern themselves with variants only makes clear the creators don't have sufficient confidence in themselves to market the tale via merit. Even the talk of an Ashcan edition raises eyebrows. Though if Snyder, Hardy and company really are commenting on corporate corruption, that sure is something, considering how guys like them are always selling out to the same, as Snyder did when he took up assignments at DC. But if he has no open criticism to level at them for all the damage they inflicted upon their properties, foremost in comics themselves - and which he himself was a willing participant in - then what good does it do to even write up a story like this? Besides, barren wastelands are ground that's actually been covered too often.

Hardy has experience on the creative side of the film business, earning writing credits on Venom: Let There Be Carnage and the upcoming third Venom movie. He has been a frequent collaborator of Christopher Nolan, starring in Inception, The Dark Knight Rises and Dunkirk, and became an Oscar-nominee for The Revenant. He has the feature The Bikeriders due out Dec. 1.

Which only suggests he was hired due to his film career, not because he has the talent needed for this kind of medium. And something tells me he won't learn the experience needed for developing coherent comic stories despite what's told. One can only wonder if Arcbound will end up becoming the next Hollywood project as well, and whether, despite any suggestions to the contrary, it won't come even close to being a critique of liberal hypocrisy, corporate or otherwise.

Labels: conventions, indie publishers, msm propaganda