One of Dan Clowes’ most admired works, — EIGHTBALL #23, aka “The Death-Ray”, has been out of print for a while, but rumors of a new edition have been confirmed with the announcement that a hardcover edition is forthcoming from Drawn & Quarterly in fall 2011. The story of a misfit with a dangerous weapon, it represents, perhaps, Clowes’ most complete statement on the tradition of fantasy comics from which his earliest works emerged. Unsurprisingly, it’s under development by Jack Black’s production company, with video director Chris Milk attached to direct.
Clowes’ MISTER WONDERFUL, based on his NY Times strip, is coming out from Pantheon in the Spring.
Left unmentioned: EIGHTBALL #23 was originally published by Fantagraphics, like all issues of that series; will future printings of other Clowesian classics, such as GHOST WORLD, also be moving publishers?
Full PR below:
As reported on the Comics Reporter, Drawn & Quarterly has acquired world rights to Daniel Clowes’ Eisner, Harvey and Ignatz winning comic, The Death-Ray, it was announced today by Chris Oliveros, Editor-in-Chief, Acquiring Editor and Publisher of Drawn & Quarterly.
“The Death-Ray is one of the most perfect and fully realized comics of the past decade and it is nothing short of the highest honour to publish,” said Chris Oliveros, Editor-In-Chief and Publisher of Drawn Quarterly. “The story of the alienated Andy is drawn and written to perfection with Dan’s signature subtle humour, stylistic eloquence, and understated social commentary–showcasing all of the hallmarks of why Dan is one of the preeminent cartoonists of the comics medium.”
The Death-Ray will be in stores as a hardcover graphic novel in Fall 2011. It is the story of the teen outcast Andy, an orphaned nobody with only one friend, the obnoxious-but-loyal Louie. They roam school halls and city streets, invisible to everyone but bullies and tormentors, until the glorious day when Andy takes his first puff on a cigarette. That night he wakes, heart pounding, soaked in sweat, and finds himself suddenly overcome with the peculiar notion that he can do anything. Indeed, he can and as he learns the extent of his new powers, he discovers a terrible and seductive gadget – a hideous compliment to his seething rage – that forever changes everything. The Death-Ray utilizes the classic staples of the superhero genre – origin, costume, ray-gun. sidekick, fight scene – reconfiguring them in a story that is anything but morally simplistic. With subtle comedy, deft mastery and an obvious affection for the bold Pop Art exuberance of comic book design, Daniel Clowes delivers a contemporary meditation on the the darkness of the human psyche.
Nicole Aragi represented Clowes in negotiations. The Death-Ray will be published in North America by D+Q and will be distributed in the U.S. by Farrar, Straus & Giroux and in Canada by Raincoast Books. International rights excluding France will be represented by Samantha Haywood of the Transatlantic Literary Agency.
Motion-picture rights to The Death-Ray are in development with Jack Black’s Electric Dynamite Productions, with noted director Chris Milk attached to direct.
I bought that comic book when it was brand new. I thought that the story was brilliant and well executed, but there was no reason at all for the oversized format. As a parody of 70s superhero comics, it would have made more sense to do it standard comic book size; maybe even using the same newsprint production values of those old comics.
The previous Eightball, the Ice Haven issue, remains one of my most favorite comic books I have ever owned but to make this one even bigger… there was no reason for it but just to do it.
Now that it’s being reissued in a new format, I think people will be able to enjoy it a lot more.
I remember reading one review theorizing that the oversize format is intended to replicate the experience of a little child holding a standard size comic book.
I also think that it works as a parody of 1970’s Treasury size comics, like the recently re-released Superman Vs. Muhammad Ali.
I’m sure it’s been stated many times elsewhere, but…does this mean that Eightball is over and done with, for reals?
No, Wilson is Eightball #24, haven’t you read the indicia?