Prior to the release of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, I had a chance to sit in with comic book writer Bryan Lee O'Malley who offered up an interesting take on the direction of comic books. According to O'Malley, a pattern has developed where comics are being written for the sole purpose of being turned into movie projects, taking out the soul and purpose of the medium. That appears to be precisely what is happening with a new project titled Psychopump.
THR reports that Hilary Shor, producer of Children of Men, has optioned a story that she says is a cross between The Dark Knight and A Clockwork Orange. Set to be published as a graphic novel by Fantasy Prone, Psychopump is a globe-trotting anti-hero who violently takes down "those who violate his code" with state-of-the-art weaponry and technology. The script was written by Blake Leibel, whose credits are limited to a comedy he wrote and directed called Bald and three episodes of Spaceballs: The Animated Series.
In many ways O'Malley is right. What's the point of making a comic if all you hope for in the end result is for a movie to be made? It completely debases the entire point of the medium, which is valuable not only for the stories but also the artwork. That said, this concept sounds awesome.
