Vertigo, the innovative, boundary-pushing imprint of DC Entertainment, will collaborate with Mad Max: Fury Road director, producer and co-writer George Miller on two upcoming projects based on the film. The first is a Deluxe Edition hardcover entitled MAD MAX: FURY ROAD: INSPIRED ARTISTS, in which sixty-five top artists will create art inspired by the world of Mad Max: Fury Road. The second is four comic book stories that follow four main characters of the film and tell their prelude stories leading up to the film’s opening scene.
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD: INSPIRED ARTISTS will contain double-page spreads from 65 visionary artists bringing their own unique style to the world of Mad Max: Fury Road. Each of the artists’ work will be inspired by Miller’s post-apocalyptic wasteland. These spreads will range from spectacular action sequences to haunting character portraits. Artists participating include Lee Bermejo, Dave McKean, Cliff Chiang, Nicola Scott, Stephanie Hans, Tara McPherson, among others. This book is due to hit shelves on May 6, prior to the film’s May 15th release.
In addition, George Miller, Nico Lathouris and Mark Sexton are writing four prelude stories that follow leading characters Nux, Immortan Joe, Furiosa, and Mad Max, whose story will be in two parts. This miniseries will release one issue a month, starting with MAD MAX: FURY ROAD: NUX & IMMORTAN JOE #1 releasing on May 20, followed by MAD MAX: FURY ROAD: FURIOSA #1 and MAD MAX: FURY ROAD: MAD MAX #1 & #2. Nico Lathouris served as a co-writer on the film while Mark Sexton served as storyboard and concept artist for Mad Max: Fury Road. Interior artists working on these projects include Riccardo Burchielli, Leandro Fernandez, Tristan Jones, and Mark Sexton, while covers will be illustrated by Tommy Lee Edwards.
When I first heard of a new Mad Max film, I was pretty skeptical, but George Miller is, once again, at the helm as writer and director. George had the same duties for MAD MAD and THE ROAD WARRIOR (And also for BEYOND THUNDERDOME, but why don’t we just forget about that). Since those films, he has done the two BABE and HAPPY FEET films (For which he won an Oscar) as well as THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK. George has Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron starring.
So I am cautiously optimistic that MAD MAX: FURY ROAD will perhaps gives us at least some of the old MM mojo. MM: Fury Road is slated to be released on May 15th. In the mean time, this sounds pretty damn cool.
