Once you stroll into David Maisel’s Los Angeles workplace, the very first thing you see is a statue of Iron Man, some of the recognizable superheroes on the earth. Hanging on the wall above him is an illustration of a furry confronted character named Grell, a hero far fewer individuals acknowledge, however who’s getting the highlight this week at San Diego Comedian-Con.
Iron Man represents Maisel’s previous because the founding chairman of Marvel Studios, the place he had the concept for characters similar to Iron Man, Captain America and Thor to reside in a shared cinematic universe. Grell represents his future at Mythos Studios, the place he’s plotting a new cinematic universe called Ekos that may function not simply Grell, however probably lots of of different characters.
Simply as Iron Man made a splash at San Diego Comedian-Con in 2007 with a panel for Marvel Studios’ first film, Maisel is banking on the conference to spice up Ekos, a universe impressed by the artwork and creations of late artist Michael Turner and author Geoff Johns.
Maisel’s Mythos Studios and Aspen Comics (which he has a stake in) are utilizing Comedian-Con as a launchpad for Ekos Vol. 1, a roughly 128-page graphic novel that may lay the groundwork for the brand new universe that may ultimately bounce to movie and TV. The graphic novel begins as a Kickstarter launching in Sept. 10, forward of the ebook’s November launch.
Grell is a key a part of this universe, and artwork of the character will adorn greater than 250 entry portals that Comedian-Con attendees should use to enter the conference. It’s among the many highest profile actual property on the conference. Maisel is conscious of how Comedian-Con may help a personality’s profile.
“Once I introduced Iron Man as our first film, extra individuals thought it was a triathlon — not a superhero — and many individuals in Hollywood knew it had been in growth for years at New Line — and by no means made it out of that stage,” says Maisel of doubts individuals had when he introduced Iron Man in 2005, two years earlier than its triumphant Comedian-Con panel.
He’s conscious that many individuals since Marvel have tried (and failed) to launch shared universes, however he’s asking for an open thoughts, given his monitor file at Marvel.
Ekos Vol. 1, takes inspiration from the works of Turner and Johns, who launched Grell in 2003. Turner, who died in 2008, created titles similar to Fathom and Soulfire, and whereas his characters didn’t work together within the comics, they may within the Ekos universe. Maisel conceived of the concept for the story, which is below wraps for now, although he describes it as “Avatar meets Spider-Verse,” and says it’ll discover the wonders of Earth.
“It’s a recent story,” says Maisel, noting readers gained’t want prior information going into it. “But it surely’s additionally impressed by the artwork and creations of Michael Turner.”
He additionally teases one thing distinctive for Grell’s powers, which weren’t spelled out by Turner or Johns’ unique work in 2003, when the character appeared in just some pages of comics.
“They aren’t the apparent ones. It appears to be like like he’s tremendous sturdy. He has wings,” says the chief. “However I hit on one thing that I feel is well timed for right this moment’s world and shall be shocking for individuals.”
The artistic workforce on Ekos Vol. 1 embrace colorist Peter Steigerwald (Civil Battle, Fathom, Soulfire), author J.T. Krul (Soulfire), and artist Alex Konat (Fathom). Cowl artists embrace Joe Quesada, Alex Ross, J. Scott Campbell, David Mack, Jerome Opeña and extra.
Mythos and Aspen may have one of many largest cubicles at Comedian-Con, and also will host a panel on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Room 4 to offer audiences a style of what’s to come back.
Maisel, who exited Marvel after orchestrating its sale to Disney in 2009, has spent a profession independently financing films primarily based off of large IP, after which partnering with studios for distribution. He spearheaded that technique with Marvel Studios’ early movie slate, and repeated it once more for 2016’s Indignant Birds film. Whereas he’s contemplating going the impartial financing route for Ekos, he additionally intends to speak with potential studio companions after the graphic novel launches, and could be open to creating these initiatives with a studio.
Although Maisel has moved on from Marvel, it’s by no means removed from his ideas, and he appears to be like for parallels between his former life and his present one, which is why his workplace is stuffed with Michael Turner’s characters and Marvel heroes.
“They argue with one another about which one is cooler,” Maisel jokes of the Grell and Iron Man residing shut collectively in his workplace.
When he was at Marvel, Turner drew a well-known variant cowl to the blockbuster miniseries Civil Battle. Maisel, who’s a collector of Turner’s work, commissioned an homage to that cowl — however with Turner characters slightly than Marvel heroes. Followers who join updates on the Kickstarter will get a digital copy of that paintings, and a poster shall be accessible on the Aspen/Mythos sales space at Comedian-Con for many who indicators up for the Kickstarter pre-launch web page.
Michael Turner/Marvel
Mythos Studios
Maisel acknowledges that it’s more durable than ever to launch a profitable media franchise, which is why he has taken his time to determine the perfect method. The reply, he believes, is animation, which is having a resurgence, not simply with the Spider-Verse films, however with initiatives like Inside Out 2 and Despicable Me 4 serving to save the summer time field workplace.
“It was arduous after we did Iron Man, however there wasn’t streaming to compete with, there wasn’t Marvel to compete with, and there wasn’t as a lot social media and quick type content material,” says Maisel. “The bar is excessive. And I needed to be affected person to determine this out.”
Mythos Studios
