A new era ofWeekly World Newsis set to begin, as a pair ofMarvel Cinematic Universewriters team up tobring the iconic sci-fi satire publication to comic books, in a series that publisher Mad Cave Studios describes as “where X-FilesmeetsIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.”
Screen Rant is thrilled to share the exclusive first look at theWeekly World Newscomic, fromwriters Steven Paul Judd, Ken Kristensen, and Tvli Jacob, with art from Eisner Award-nominee M.K. Perker. The series will adapt the most out-of-this-world, unbelievable headlines from the publication, which has been a staple of American culture for nearly half a century.
During its legendary run,Weekly World Newshas developed its own lush mythos, in which every conceivable conspiracy and calamity are real – andWWNis the only outlet brave enough to report on all of it.
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“X-FilesMeetsIt’s Always Sunny”
Over the course of the twentieth century, conspiracy theories have become deeply engrained in American culture.Weekly World Newsmay not be responsible for that, but since it first hit the newsstands in 1979, it has reflected that in its infamous black-and-white pages. Though the print version ofWWNceased in 2007, it has continued to appear as an online publication, and many of its most memorable headlines and famous figures maintain a firm grip on the imaginations of generations of readers.
Writers Steven Paul Judd, Ken Kristensen, and Tvli Jacob have developed an exciting cast of characters to immerse in the strange and surreal world of theWeekly World News-verse.
Now,Mad Cave Studios will releaseaWeekly WorldNewscomic, offering readers unheralded access to the fictional world that the paper exists within. As described by the publisher:
WhereX-FilesmeetsIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the series follows the dysfunctional lives of a youngWeekly World Newsjournalist and a seasoned photojournalist as they investigate stories inspired by actual articles published in the paper over the decades. As funny as it is thrilling, the characters' search for the truth leads them to uncover bizarre mutants, unexplained phenomena, epic world secrets, and supernatural realities. The drama of their weird and wild encounters are only rivaled by the eccentric personal relationships at the office and their volatile family dynamics at home.
In other words, writers Steven Paul Judd, Ken Kristensen, and Tvli Jacob have developed an exciting cast of characters to immerse in the strange and surreal world of theWeekly World News-verse. While acknowledgingX-Filesas an influence is a must, theIt’s Always Sunnyparallel should assure readers thatthis comic will embodyWeekly World News’dark brand of satire wholeheartedly, and with joy.
The Weekly World News Comic Will Draw On Forty-Five Years Of “Outrageous” Lore
“BigFoot, Bat Boy, Ph.D. Ape” & More
Throughout its history,Weekly World Newshas done more than just mischievously delight in tongue-in-cheek controversy and subversive humor – it has developed a cadre of recurring characters and assorted ongoing plotlines. Most famous among them, of course, is “Bat Boy” – butthere are many more absurd and wonderful creatures and creations to be uncovered by the protagonists of the newWWNseries. Greg D’Alessandro, chief creative officer forWeekly World News, hinted at just a few of the icons that will appear in the comic, stating:
We have found the perfect comic book home for The World’s Only Reliable News. This brilliant, uber-talented team of creators, combined with the amazing Mad Cave Studios, makes this a match made in heaven. BigFoot, Bat Boy, Ph.D. Ape – are all jumping for joy! They can’t wait to see our most outrageous and entertaining stories come to life in full color.
In other words, the series' creative team have a bottomless well of material to draw from. TheWeekly World Newscomic series has the potential to be equally horrifying and hilarious, as suggested by its go-to pop culture comparisons. Just asWeekly World Newshas only ever been limited by how far it is willing to go to shock and excite its reader, the comic adaptation will be defined by the scope of the authors and artist’s ambition, making it an incredibly exciting extension of the legacy ofWWN.
The Weekly World News Series Promises “Cryptids And Conspiracies” With “A Profound Emotional Core
Mark Irwin, president ofpublisher Mad Cave Studios, had this to say about theWeekly World Newsseries:
We are thrilled to team up with Steven, Ken, Tvli, and M.K. on theWeekly World Newscomic book series. With a distinguished body of work between them on such projects asEcho,The Punisher,Happy!,The Continental, andDark Winds, you just know that they’ll deliver a tale that’s delightfully weird, full of cryptids and conspiracies, but built around a profound emotional core. We can’t wait to see what magnificent madness they’ll cook up!
As much as the excitement of a comic encapsulatingWeekly World News’wild world, its twisted take on reality, should be enough to excite readers, it is also encouraging to know that the comic will go beyond its satirical foundations to tell a story readers can truly invest in. While further details are currently being held in a secret vault underground somewhere, the promise of “a profound emotional core” is intriguing, and further hints at the complexity that the series will strive for.
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Given the opportunity, theWeekly World Newscomic series could do more than just adapt the publication’s iconic ouvre. It has the potential todig deep into the conspiracy culture thatWWNis both a product and a part of. Readers will have to wait for further information to leak about the series; until then, they can only occupy themselves by speculating wildly. Considering the talented creative team behind the series, with theirMarvel Cinematic Universepedigree, fans should expect this new series to have a major impact on pop culture.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
