Marvel is picking up Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin’s Wild Cards anthologies, and turning them into a comic book series.
“As my fans may already know, the Wild Cards World holds a special place in my heart,” Martin said about the announcement on Friday. “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.”
The Wild Cards anthology was started in 1987 and has been running ever since, spanning twenty-eight books with over 40 authors contributing to the series, while Martin has remained the editor of all books along with sci-fi screenwriter Melinda M. Snodgrass.
The books tell the story of an alternate post-World War 2 era where the world is ravaged by an alien ‘Wild Card’ virus which can either kill those who contract it – referred to as “drawing a black queen” – give them a mutated form – Jokers – or, for the few lucky ones known as Aces, grant them superpowers which can turn them into heroes or villains.
The series will be developed for Marvel by ‘Wolverine’ writer Paul Cornell and artist Mike Hawthorne, who is known for his work on ‘Daredevil’.
“‘Wild Cards’ is still a unique take on superheroes, 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 superhero myth new again. Plus: just look at that art!”
The first issue of the comic, Marvel’s ‘Wild Cards: The Drawing of the Cards #1’ is set to hit stores June 1.
Meanwhile, Martin has been working on several other projects, including developing lore for the upcoming ‘Elden Ring’ game, developed by Dark Souls studio FromSoftware and game director Hidetaka Miyazaki, as well as producing the anticipated Game of Thrones prequel series ‘House of the Dragon’, which has reportedly just finished filming.
But while there is certainly a lot on Martin’s plate right now, many fans have been growing increasingly frustrated with the author, accusing him of seemingly doing anything but writing the long-anticipated conclusion to the Song of Ice and Fire book series, especially given the incredibly disappointing finale of HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ TV adaptation.