HBO Max has ordered a TV show based on award-winning comic writer Brian Michael Bendis' book Cover. Bendis is well-known in the comic book world, having penned many works featuring dominant superheroes over the years. He was at the forefront of creating the Ultimate Marvel Universe. Bendis released one of his most popular works, Ultimate Spider-Man, starting in 2000.
Bendis' book Cover Vol. 1 came out in 2019 with artist David Mack as the illustrator. Cover is the story of the comic artist named Max Field, who learns of a huge secret about his own career field. The book follows Max as he deals with this new knowledge and soon finds himself in the world of international espionage. The book has been described as a love letter to the comic industry.
Per ComingSoon, HBO Max will now be bringing Cover to life. The streaming service has ordered a TV adaptation of the beloved book. Bendis will write the TV series and Mack will direct. News of this adaptation comes as HBO Max looks to expand its animated programming, including with Mindy Kaling's just-announced series Velma. Original Comedy and Adult Animation Executive Vice President Suzanna Makkos said of the new projects on the way:
It is a tremendous privilege to build on the 100 year plus legacy of ‘cartoons’ at this company. We can draw a straight line from our hundreds of childhood hours spent watching Bugs outwit Elmer to the current slate of adult animated projects we are building here at HBO Max and we think fans will agree. We are proud to introduce this distinctive group of series from a wide range of diverse creators that will form a first stop destination for animation lovers everywhere.
Bendis will now be a part of the legacy WarnerMedia has built, as he adds another HBO comic adaptation to its growing collection. The Cover news is an exciting development, not only because of the welcome nostalgia it will bring for cartoon lovers, but for comic lovers as well. Even better, the Cover book already celebrates a love of comics in general, and now that love will be extended over a new medium for an even wider audience. Bendis clearly appreciates every aspect of the comic book world, as shown in the many intense and thrilling comic books he has been responsible for in his career.
Those who enjoy the source material for the show should also be relieved to hear both Bendis and Mack will play such key roles. There's always a concern in adaptations that the TV or movie version of a book will fail to capture the spirit of the original. That seems unlikely to happen with Cover, which will hopefully be a satisfying take on the book. Bendis and Mack understand the source material better than anyone else, making them great choices to shepherd Cover's arrival on the small screen. Though those who have already read the book are likely excited about the new show, hopefully it will bring in new audiences as well.
Source: ComingSoon.net