[Updated] RAMBO CREATOR DAVID MORRELL TO WRITE CAPTAIN AMERICA

[MattBrady]

In a quick write-up focusing on Stephen King at Marvel at the top of the left hand column in today’s “Life” section of USA Today, it was revealed that along with novelist Eric Jerome Dickey writing a Storm limited series, novelist David Morrell, the creator of Rambo will write a Captain America series.

Beginning with First Blood in 1972, Morell has written 24 novels, with his latest, Creepers coming out in September of this year.

Update: Marvel has released an official press release regarding Morrell's Captain American project. It reads:

Considered by many to be the father of the modern action novel, award-winning author David Morrell will be the creative mastermind behind a new Captain America project, slated for next year.

With a complex body of work that traverses the Horror, Espionage and Thriller genres, Morrell is a giant in the literary world. He is the author of First Blood, the award-winning novel in which Rambo was created. He has written numerous best-selling thrillers, including The Brotherhood of the Rose (the basis for a highly rated NBC mini-series), The Fifth Profession, Extreme Denial and Assumed Identity. Most recently, he wrote the dark suspense-thriller Creepers (CDS Books, September 2005). Two of his novellas received Stoker awards from the Horror Writers Association.

In his first comic book writing effort, Morrell will bring his action writing talent to Captain America, in the story of a young Marine, Corporal James Newman, who is on his tour of duty in Afghanistan. In the midst of a brutal fire fight with enemy forces, Captain America leads him out of the battle while helping him rescue his wounded comrades who are trapped by enemy fire. When the smoke clears, Newman is unsure if Captain America was really there, or a hallucination in the stress of battle.

"As the creator of Rambo, Morrell is known for heroes who've been trained to handle action and danger. He is a master of weaving action into a thought-provoking plot with more than a few twists, and I am eager to see the thrills he has in store for the newest installments of Captain America," said Joe Quesada, Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics.

"I want the characters to feel real," says David Morrell. "In particular I want the reader to believe in Captain America. Also, I want to explore the major theme of what it means to be a hero in this troubled modern world. I hope the story is deeply moving as well as exciting."

Related stories:

It's Official! Stephen King to Adapt Expand His Dark Tower Series for Marvel

Marvel Taps Thieves' Paradise Author Jerome Dickey To Pen Storm Limited Series

[Johnny Smith]

Originally posted by MattBrady
novelist David Morrell, the creator of Rambo will write a Captain America series.

Wow!!! David Morrell on Cap! This is a blockbuster - I'm pretty excited about this!

Face it Marvel, you just hit the jackpot!

[ayeembored]

This could be quite good. I'm a pretty big Morrell fan, actually. Just finished Creepers, and it was a great action/horror story.

People associate Morrell with First Blood, which is his most famous work, but they associate him with the movie, not the novel, and don't realize that he has written much, much more, and that his work is more than "Shoot 'em up, blood and guts." He's written very good espionage storys, and also some really creepy horror short stories.

Good job Marvel.

[mose73]

Is this for an ongoing Cap series or a Cap limited series?

It specifies limited for the Storm series, but not for Cap.

[batlash]

Excellent potential. Morrell is a top-notch story-teller. For my money, I hope that 1) Marvel assigns a top tier artist to this and 2) the story is set in WWII.

Cap, like The Shadow, just doesn't work as well outside his original era.

[Layters]

Have Marvel stopped taking on comic book writers.

I seem to be reading interveiw after interview these days where long time fan fave comic book writers are claiming that Marvel has little interest in them.

It's all about the hype. Seriosuly though apart from Joss Whedon when has this ever worked out for Marvel.


Marvel claim that previous work has no influence on proposals. Its juts an amzing coincidence that respected comic book writers cant get anything greenlit and it seems that novelists and movie guys dont seem t be having that problem.

[EmeraldGuy32]

Marvel is really seeking out accomplished authors lately.

[Spudnik]

Originally posted by Layters
Have Marvel stopped taking on comic book writers.

I seem to be reading interveiw after interview these days where long time fan fave comic book writers are claiming that Marvel has little interest in them.

It's all about the hype. Seriosuly though apart from Joss Whedon when has this ever worked out for Marvel.


Marvel claim that previous work has no influence on proposals. Its juts an amzing coincidence that respected comic book writers cant get anything greenlit and it seems that novelists and movie guys dont seem t be having that problem.

.......Are you familiar with the Greg Rucka run on Wolverine? As I remember he did quite a good job on that.

[algertman]

That's cool. Wonder if Cap is gonna running around naked in the woods for most of the mini

[capjr]

Originally posted by Layters
Have Marvel stopped taking on comic book writers.

I seem to be reading interveiw after interview these days where long time fan fave comic book writers are claiming that Marvel has little interest in them.

It's all about the hype. Seriosuly though apart from Joss Whedon when has this ever worked out for Marvel.


Marvel claim that previous work has no influence on proposals. Its juts an amzing coincidence that respected comic book writers cant get anything greenlit and it seems that novelists and movie guys dont seem t be having that problem.

How about Heinberg(sp) on Young Avengers?


Card, though some find contreversial, on Ultimate Iron Man?


I like the moves Marvel is making... may spark interest of others in this genre we love. Keep up the good work, Marvel!

[Aaron]

I'll take the middle road; while I think it's very cool Marvel is signing up some talent from outside the industry, I *do* wish they'd share the wealth a bit with some tried and true vets who aren't getting work.

[immortus]

It's all about the hype. Seriosuly though apart from Joss Whedon when has this ever worked out for Marvel. [/b]

how about, you know, jms, who's become one of marvel's most popular writers.

[algertman]

I've got no real problem bringing in all these big names to comics, except when they just don't know what the hell they are doing. Looking at you Hudlin

[Gordon McAlpin]

Originally posted by Layters
Have Marvel stopped taking on comic book writers.

Good writers are good writers. It shouldn't matter at all what medium they've worked in in the past.

[djshalope]

this should be sweet. i wonder how morrell will tackle it...

[djshalope]

Originally posted by algertman
I've got no real problem bringing in all these big names to comics, except when they just don't know what the hell they are doing. Looking at you Hudlin

are you kidding? did you read this week's issue of Black Panther? he writes the X-Men better than Milligan and Claremont are currently writing them.

[malshnut]

I think the whole point of getting mainstream novelist into the Marvel fold, besides bringing some new talent, and fresh perspective to old characters, is to maybe bring in some of these novelists' fans, Marvel's constantly trying ot broaden it's appeal which is great stuff. I just hope it works.

[bossofbam]

I feel bad for all of the comic writers who are losing jobs becuase of all of these other writers coming in.

Sure, some of these writers seem to work in the short term but have yet to prove they can do more than 2 or 3 stories.

[Darth Tigris]

Originally posted by Gordon McAlpin
Good writers are good writers. It shouldn't matter at all what medium they've worked in in the past.

Amen.

[Eric Palicki]

Originally posted by Layters
Have Marvel stopped taking on comic book writers.

I seem to be reading interveiw after interview these days where long time fan fave comic book writers are claiming that Marvel has little interest in them.

It's all about the hype. Seriosuly though apart from Joss Whedon when has this ever worked out for Marvel.

Kevin Smith. Daredevil. Nuff Said.

I'm curious about which comic writers Marvel has little interest in...
Most of the best writers in comics are either currently working for Marvel or exclusive to the competition.

[MattBrady]

Originally posted by bossofbam
I feel bad for all of the comic writers who are losing jobs becuase of all of these other writers coming in.

I don't think any comic writer was up for this project. Any publisher is a business - if they think a project will sell and make a profit, they will pursue it.

MattB

[Tinmansstory]

What comic book writers have been shafted? I can understand the situation, but I really don't mind that much if Marvel brings in a bigger talent pool, so long as these newcomers are excellent. Joe Q made a good argument for justification in one of his weekly... newsarama talks, whatever they're called, too.

Basically, there are MANY people who would love to write comics, but it isn't the most lucrative business compared to being a bestselling author.... So, Marvel has gone to writers who have shown interest or who they think may be good on a title, such as Morell with Cap (which sounds like an awesome mix to me, honestly) who can afford to take a pay cut to produce something they'd love to do. You know what I'd personally love to see? Tom Clancy at Marvel. I don't care what particular book he does either, he could write the Power Pack for all I care. That is, if they were a secret government anti-terrorist children's organization, or something.

'Nuff said.

[EmeraldGuy32]

Originally posted by MattBrady
I don't think any comic writer was up for this project. Any publisher is a business - if they think a project will sell and make a profit, they will pursue it.

MattB

comic writers may not be loosing their jobs but they are loosing a piece of the pie. Marvel and DC can only afford to put out so many books, so if they spend more time getting already accomplished writers to do them, the stricly comic writers loose some projects. And it's especially hard on up and comers with ZERO name recognition.

It seems like DC and Marvel are deciding they don't need the comic writer, but rather writers to come and write comics.

[fire45]

I hope its a mini .I dont want Brubaker to leave.
What other stuff did David Marrell do?

[spyflip]

I was under the impression that Sly stallone created Rambo, or did he produce Rambo and created Rocky? I know I heard somewhere that he had a large role in bring both character to the screen other than being an the actor? Maybe I misunderstood anyone know?