James Patterson Pens Comic Books

Posted on February 18, 2010

We're not sure when author James Patterson sleeps. Well, he's about to be even busier as he tackles the world of comics.

"Comics could reach a much larger audience than they do right now," says Patterson, who often works with co-authors and whose thrillers are frequently at or near the top of USA Today's Best-Selling Books list. "With all of the quality work and talent that's out there, this industry could be so much bigger."
First up for release will be a five-part comic series based on the writer's best-selling young-adult novel Witch & Wizard. The new series, subtitled Shadowland, will be written by Dara Naraghi, with Patterson heavily involved in the story direction. (He is not involved with the artwork.) The Wizard series launch will be followed in June by a four-issue comic adaptation of Patterson's 2009 book The Murder of King Tut. Alexander Irvine will do the heavy lifting in terms of writing duties.
Patterson says he is excited at the prospect of translating King Tut -- a "non-fiction thriller" that investigates the mysterious death of the Egyptian pharaoh -- into a comic-book format. "We saw the potential there and worked with IDW to expand on it. It's going to be a very interesting series." Under the agreement, Patterson will also write original comic-book stories. "We're doing an all-new series called Beer Belly and the Fat Boy. I can't get into the details, but it's a lot of fun."

We wonder if the recent claims by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities that King Tut died of malaria will alter plans for the Tut comic? Probably not, given the fact that three esteemed experts interviewed by the Discovery Channel cast doubt on the Council's findings. In fact one of the experts pretty much says that the Egyptian Council's findings are a load of nonsense -- naturally, he says it in politer terms.

As for the comic, a murder makes for a more interesting story than death by malaria.

The comic is also available in book and hardcover form. It can be purchased on Amazon.com.