Wanted film vs Wanted comic
August 13th, 2008
I think I only know a couple of people who had read the Wanted comic book before seeing the Wanted movie. Twitter is full of the conversations between people saying they just saw the movie and were now going to hunt out the comic book.
Of course come to think of it I don’t recall reading anyone’s reactions to having just read the comic after being encouraged to do so after watching the movie, too many bruised brains me thinks.
I’m kind of glad that I didn’t read it prior to the film because up till that point I knew nothing of the comic book and I really wonder if in fact I would have enjoyed the film as much as I did had I read the comics beforehand.
The first part of the film is generally similar to the comic, there are some scenes which parallel. But then there’s a point in the movie where it all changes after that and two very distinct paths are taken.
The film becomes an assassin betrayed type of flick with a little bit of mysticism thrown in and plays out reasonably well and quite enjoyably. I mean there are some cool stunts, some fun action sequences and the effects are played out well.
If you aren’t expecting the comic book and you enjoy action films that don’t let the real world drag them down that much then you should check out Wanted as it is a spot of fun.
The comic series on the other hand can only be described as a bit of a mind fuck. It’s like Fight Club and Watchmen and DC all rolled into one heavy metal series. It’s graphic, unflinching, completely anti PC and at times deliciously disturbing.
The comic has more of a comic book feel to it as you might expect, super villains instead of assassins, parodies of DC comics characters and a lot more scifi stuff going on.
There is no Minority Report’esque rug weaving (I’m still fuzzy on the whole rug weaving thing but I don’t know, they’re trying something). They kill people for fun, profit or simply because it’s easier than looking at them.
The comic book has a character who is entirely composed of shit, literally.
Maybe you simply can get away with a lot more in comic books because frankly I don’t know if this would play out very well on the big screen, I can’t imagine the main character being likeable if he followed the same path as his comic book version. It would be damn impressive, but would be remarkably lucky to come in under a rating that anyone but the good people at the movie review board would get to see it.
So if you are thinking of seeing the movie and reading the comic, do it in that order and you’ll appreciate them both more for it.
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Categories: Comics, Movies | Tags: Wanted, Wanted Comic, Wanted movie
I have a copy of the Wanted comic series on it’s way from Amazon. Haven’t seen the film yet, but I’m very keen to.
swollenpickless last blog post..The Awkward Rap
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By Lee on August 14th, 2008 | Reply
Oh cool - you have to let me know what you think after you read it! I prefer the comic but really liked the film too so I have no complaints all round!
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I’ve heard positive sounds about the movie, so I’ll check that one out at least.
Arjans last blog post..Over There theme
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By Lee on August 14th, 2008 | Reply
Yeah the movie is just plain good fun!
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I’ve only heard bad reviews of the movie, but then, they were from people who might not have liked Nightwatch and Daywatch, so I should probably check it out anyway, based on your positivity.
In fact, the main reason I haven’t bothered with the film is that I hated - hated you understand - the comic by the time it finished.
It was all very funny, superficial fun - Millar riffing off Garth Ennis the way Millar normally riffs off Ellis or Morrison, but clearly thinking that he’s pulling off the next Watchmen - until those final two pages.
It’s probably easier to enjoy the book read in retrospect, and in one go, but reading the book month by month, not only did the “shock” ending seem tacky and tacked on, it was also insulting. Not in a “challenging the readers preconceptions” sort of way, just in a “I will say literally anything to try and get attention” one.
It was clearly Millar’s attempt at being an enfant terrible, and it’s a tough call for him that it’s difficult to pull that off and at the same time be such a corporate whore, especially when your best moments of storytelling are borrowed heavily from others.
This sounds harsh, I know, but I suspect this is one of those times when the experience of reading the monthlies is completely different from reading the GN.
Still, Kick Ass is good so far.
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By Lee on August 19th, 2008 | Reply
I do still think it is a solid watch if you completely separate the two in your mind.
I hear what you’re saying about the comic though, I read it as a graphic novel and I can’t imagine what it would be like to carve it up (in saying that I couldn’t imagine reading Watchmen in it’s original run either).
Those last frames are not good either, I agree on that, I love the rest of the comic, it’s fun and I like how it doesn’t play as safe as your current mainstreams. I know indie comic books are doing that edgy stuff but they often have their own problems anyway.
But the last frame is really weak and odd.
Have you been reading the new one? Kick Ass?
I read the first three in one sitting and again it would totally wreck it if you only read the first one and then had to wait a month for the second.
IDIOT - I just reread the last line
Did you read it one sitting?
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By Nicolas Papaconstantinou on August 19th, 2008 | Reply
Yeah, I did read the first two in one go, and haven’t seen the third issue yet. Have to go find it… JR JR art rocks, though, and I think I’d probably enjoy this comic regardless.
(I have gone from working full-time in a comic shop to barely ever going into one!)
I guess the thing with Wanted is, those two pages constitute a much bigger chunk of your read, compared to reading it in book form. So it’s an added kick in the teeth.
Still, he got my money, and probably felt quite clever, so I guess I’m just a whiner!
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By Lee on August 19th, 2008 | Reply
I think kick ass is probably more ‘full on’ than Wanted.
Can’t wait to hear your take on the last panel of issue three, it’s quite the attention grabber.
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By Nicolas Papaconstantinou on August 19th, 2008 | Reply
Generally speaking, I think Romita Jr’s art has a more down to earth and real feel than, who was it, JG Jones more hyper-real style. So that might add to the punchiness. Now you’ve got me psyched to read it!
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