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A new era of Weekly World News is set to begin, as a pair of Marvel Cinematic Universe writers team up to bring the iconic sci-fi satire publication to comic books, in a series that publisher Mad Cave Studios describes as “where X-Files meets It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.”
Screen Rant is thrilled to share the exclusive first look at the Weekly World News comic, from writers Steven Paul Judd, Ken Kristensen, and Tvli Jacob, with art from Eisner Award-nominee M.K. Perker. The series will adapt the most out-of-this-world, unbelievable headlines from the publication, which has been a staple of American culture for nearly half a century.
During its legendary run, Weekly World News has developed its own lush mythos, in which every conceivable conspiracy and calamity are real – and WWN is the only outlet brave enough to report on all of it.
Exclusive: Weekly World News Comic Book Adaptation Coming From Acclaimed MCU Writers
“X-Files Meets It’s Always Sunny”
Over the course of the twentieth century, conspiracy theories have become deeply engrained in American culture. Weekly World News may not be responsible for that, but since it first hit the newsstands in 1979, it has reflected that in its infamous black-and-white pages. Though the print version of WWN ceased in 2007, it has continued to appear as an online publication, and many of its most memorable headlines and famous figures maintain a firm grip on the imaginations of generations of readers.
Writers Steven Paul Judd, Ken Kristensen, and Tvli Jacob have developed an exciting cast of characters to immerse in the strange and surreal world of the
Weekly World News
-verse.
Now, Mad Cave Studios will release a Weekly World News comic, offering readers unheralded access to the fictional world that the paper exists within. As described by the publisher:
Where
X-Files
meets
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
, the series follows the dysfunctional lives of a young
Weekly World News
journalist and a seasoned photojournalist as they investigate stories inspired by actual articles published in the paper over the decades. As funny as it is thrilling, the characters’ search for the truth leads them to uncover bizarre mutants, unexplained phenomena, epic world secrets, and supernatural realities. The drama of their weird and wild encounters are only rivaled by the eccentric personal relationships at the office and their volatile family dynamics at home.
In other words, writers Steven Paul Judd, Ken Kristensen, and Tvli Jacob have developed an exciting cast of characters to immerse in the strange and surreal world of the Weekly World News-verse. While acknowledging X-Files as an influence is a must, the It’s Always Sunny parallel should assure readers that this comic will embody Weekly World News’ dark brand of satire wholeheartedly, and with joy.
The Weekly World News Comic Will Draw On Forty-Five Years Of “Outrageous” Lore
“BigFoot, Bat Boy, Ph.D. Ape” & More
Throughout its history, Weekly World News has done more than just mischievously delight in tongue-in-cheek controversy and subversive humor – it has developed a cadre of recurring characters and assorted ongoing plotlines. Most famous among them, of course, is “Bat Boy” – but there are many more absurd and wonderful creatures and creations to be uncovered by the protagonists of the new WWN series. Greg D’Alessandro, chief creative officer for Weekly World News, hinted at just a few of the icons that will appear in the comic, stating:
We have found the perfect comic book home for The World’s Only Reliable News. This brilliant, uber-talented team of creators, combined with the amazing Mad Cave Studios, makes this a match made in heaven. BigFoot, Bat Boy, Ph.D. Ape – are all jumping for joy! They can’t wait to see our most outrageous and entertaining stories come to life in full color.
In other words, the series’ creative team have a bottomless well of material to draw from. The Weekly World News comic series has the potential to be equally horrifying and hilarious, as suggested by its go-to pop culture comparisons. Just as Weekly World News has only ever been limited by how far it is willing to go to shock and excite its reader, the comic adaptation will be defined by the scope of the authors and artist’s ambition, making it an incredibly exciting extension of the legacy of WWN.
The Weekly World News Series Promises “Cryptids And Conspiracies” With “A Profound Emotional Core
Expect “Magnificant Madness” From Mad Cave Studios’ Adaptation
Mark Irwin, president of publisher Mad Cave Studios, had this to say about the Weekly World News series:
We are thrilled to team up with Steven, Ken, Tvli, and M.K. on the
Weekly World News
comic book series. With a distinguished body of work between them on such projects as
Echo
,
The Punisher
,
Happy!
,
The Continental
, and
Dark Winds
, you just know that they’ll deliver a tale that’s delightfully weird, full of cryptids and conspiracies, but built around a profound emotional core. We can’t wait to see what magnificent madness they’ll cook up!
As much as the excitement of a comic encapsulating Weekly World News’ wild world, its twisted take on reality, should be enough to excite readers, it is also encouraging to know that the comic will go beyond its satirical foundations to tell a story readers can truly invest in. While further details are currently being held in a secret vault underground somewhere, the promise of “a profound emotional core” is intriguing, and further hints at the complexity that the series will strive for.
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Given the opportunity, the Weekly World News comic series could do more than just adapt the publication’s iconic ouvre. It has the potential to dig deep into the conspiracy culture that WWN is both a product and a part of. Readers will have to wait for further information to leak about the series; until then, they can only occupy themselves by speculating wildly. Considering the talented creative team behind the series, with their Marvel Cinematic Universe pedigree, fans should expect this new series to have a major impact on pop culture.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
“}]] Exclusive: Announcing Weekly World News the comic! Read More