The Future of Abadazad

Wondering about the fate of Abadazad since Disney acquired the rights from now bankrupt entity CrossGen? Look no further than Sequential Tart's interview with author JM DeMatteis. Though the story won't be continued in pure comic form, the book appears to have found a new formal home in its inspiration as an illustration heavy children's series.

"No comic books, no graphic novels. Abadazad will now be a book series from Hyperion Books For Children. That said, it won't be your typical book, either. We're attempting to create something unique here: a hybrid that weaves prose and illustration and sequential art into something new and exciting that you've never seen before.

As for the previously published material: We'll be starting the story over from scratch and folding all the material we've already done into the new format. How, exactly, I can't say ... as we're very much a work-in-progress."

Who knows? On the groundwork DeMatteis has built for himself with the help of Mike Ploog, JM may one day be found alongside other famous first initials like L., JK, and C.S. There's a lot of potential here with the intricately modeled fantasy characters already laid out before CrossGen's demise. Time will only be able to tell if the story has staying power on children's bookshelves.

On a side note, DeMatteis also mentions that he is currently working with Keith Giffen and Kevin Maguire on a project with none other than Marvel for June 2005. Did either of your eyebrows just arc? Because I know one of mine did.