"My Name is Earl" -- The Comic Book Coming Soon

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

Courtesy of our friends at Oni Press (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=7862):


This winter, Oni Press returns to licensed comics with a new series based on the smash NBC hit comedy MY NAME IS EARL! For those people who have been living under a rock for the last year, MY NAME IS EARL is the story of Earl Hickey (played by Jason Lee), a former petty criminal who wins the lottery and sets out to right the wrongs he’s committed in his life. With help from his friends and family, Earl works his way through the list he’s compiled of all his misdeeds, making amends and generating a ton of laughs along the way. Helping Earl along on his comedic quest for karmic redemption in the comics is EARL staffer Hunter Covington.

Lots more info to come at the San Diego Comic Con in just two days.

(crosses "Didn't tell Toon Zone about cool new comic book" off my list)

-- Ed

[Peter Paltridge]

I only recently saw Earl in an NBC mini-marathon, and I don't see what's so great about it. All the jokes are either about how gross they are or about how poor they are. It's all blue-collar humor, which normally critics can't stand.

[Sharklady]

I enjoy 'Earl'- and especially appreciate the absence of a laugh track- but it would've never occured to me to make this show into a comic book. It's not like the action is very flashy*, or like anyone in the cast performs extraordinary feats (other than Randy occasionally achieving superhuman density.)

I'll have to take a look at this title sometime, just to see how they go about such a conversion.



* with the possible exception of 'The Bountyhunter' episode

[Moto Pete]

I for one will pick up an issue to see what it's about

[New Noise]

A My Name is Earl comic book? No question about that one, I'm collecting that series.

[shoujoaifan]

I welcome the comic series wholeheartedly, although I know it won't last.

It won't last, since comedic comic books don't last nowadays unless its "She-Hulk", whose current incarnation is a balance of humor and drama rather than the no-holds-bar comedy her previous series was, and "Deadpool", and his solo series ended (is that Deadpool/Cable series just a miniseries, or is it ongoing? Even then, the comedy will take a backseat to the main plots going on.)

And not only will a comedic series not last in today's comic community, but a comic series with blue collar humor? Even "Marvels", a series chock full of comic references and nerd humor couldn't make it with fans, so there's no way blue collar humor will work unless they change it into a dark comedy with zombies getting chopped up, or else most comic readers will barely touch it. (I like zombie flicks with humor, but you get my point, it wouldn't be MNIE then.)

I'll be surprised if it lasts to #12, something most series will at least get to before getting cancelled, although some series do so bad they get cancelled before then (like the "Fantastic Five" and the "Wild Thing" comics from the "MC2" line, which only made it to #5 each.)





Now, I'll be COMPLETELY happy if the I'm proven wrong and another comedic series lasts, let alone one that's a comedy first and foremost, with drama taking 2nd place. I have NO problem what's-so-ever if my pessimistic prediction is wrong.

[The Dork Knight]

I definetly agree. I love My Name Is Earl and I think a comic book adaptation would be excellent. I wonder though, will these be adaptations of certain episodes or entirely new stories? I'm hoping for the later.

[TheMecca]

Before I say this- My Name Is Earl and The Office (in my opinion) are the two best shows on NBC right now (I never really got "into" Scrubs, and I'm waiting to see if Studo 60 is any good).
Now, a comic adaption of Earl could be really, really, great... if written by Earl's writing staff. If not, and it will probably be written horifically out of character and will suck.
That's just me and my cynical self.

[Sharklady]

> I wonder though, will these be adaptations of certain episodes or entirely new stories? I'm hoping for the later. <

It dang well better be the latter- all the laughs will be lost if we always know what's going to happen next.

Happily, that cover shown on the link indicates the stories will be new ones; there's never been a TV ep where Earl had to replace a guy's stolen comic books. I suppose it's going to involve Earl & Randy going through all kind of complications trying to acquire now-rare issues (that's not a spoiler, just an educated guess!)

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

More info on the Earl comic (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=7934) from the Oni Press panel at SDCC. The choice pull-quote:


"Hopefully we will be able to do some things in the comic that you can't do on TV," Covington said. "Such as Earl flying a plane. That would be something." Covington explained that telling the stories of Earl in comic form made a lot of sense from a writing standpoint, as creativity is often severely limited by the television budget. He remarked, "In comics, you don't have to buy a special pencil to see something exploding."

Keep reading after the Earl stuff, even if that's really the reason why you're reading. Oni does a lot of really great comics and their upcoming titles don't seem to be any exception.

-- Ed

[Lonestarr]

I love "My Name is Earl", but I'm a bit wary of a comic book based on it, esp. if Earl's gonna be flying a plane. I sure hope the writing is good.