Grant Morrison Inks Deal to Develop THE INVISIBLES for TV


Get ready for the ultimate conspiracy.  Which side are you on?

Deadline has word that comics writer Grant Morrison has inked a deal with Universal Cable Productions to develop and produce premium original content for television networks as well as streaming platforms.  Morrison's newest project with UCP is developing and writing the TV adaptation of his long-running DC Comics/Vertigo creation, The Invisibles,

Morrison, 58, is a Scottish comic book writer and playwright best known for his surreal and countercultural style on numerous series for DC Comics and its Vertigo imprint, including The Invisibles, Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, JLA: Earth 2, All-Star Superman, Action Comics, Batman, Batman Incorporated, Batman and Robin, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, Wonder Woman: Earth One, The Flash, 52, Kid Eternity, The Multiversity, Seven Soldiers, Final Crisis, Sebastian O, Flex Mentallo, We3, Seaguy, and The Filth.  His other notable comics projects include New X-Men, Marvel Boy, and Fantastic Four: 1234 for Marvel Comics, and he currently writes the new series The Green Lantern for DC Comics.

His Image Comics limited series with artist Darick Robertson, Happy!, was adapted for the Syfy network by Universal Cable Productions and was renewed for a second season.  In addition, Morrison’s nonfiction book Supergods was published by Random House in 2011, and in 2012, he was presented with an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by the Queen for his services to film and literature.

Created in 1994 by Morrison along with various artists, The Invisibles introduced Dane McGowan, an angry teen from Liverpool, who attempted to burn down his school. Abandoned by his father and neglected by his mother, Dane took out his anger and frustration through destruction.  In the first issue of the series, Dane was approached by the Invisibles, a ragtag band of freedom fighters led by King Mob, a charismatic, cold-blooded assassin.  After being abandoned by the team, Dane tried to survive on his own in London and was mentored by Tom O'Bedlam, an elderly homeless man who was secretly a member of the Invisibles.  Tom showed Dane the magic in the everyday world and helped him realize that his anger prevented him from experiencing real emotions.  While wandering with Tom, Dane had a partially remembered alien abduction experience and was transported into a different dimension.  Eventually, Dane returned to the Invisibles, taking the codename "Jack Frost".

The Invisibles operated as a single cell of The Invisible College, a secret organization battling against physical and psychic oppression using time travel, magic, meditation, and physical violence.  For most of the series, the team included leader King Mob; Lord Fanny, a transvestite Brazilian shaman; Boy, a former NYPD; Ragged Robin, a telepath with a mysterious past; and Jack Frost.  Their enemies were the Archons of the Outer Church, interdimensional alien gods who had already enslaved most of the human race without their knowledge.

In the final volume of the series, the Invisibles prepared to stop the Moonchild, a monstrous being destined to be crowned the next King of England, from being used as a host for Rex Mundi, the extra-dimensional ruler of the Outer Church.  Jack Frost single-handedly defeated Rex Mundi and learned that the dimensions the Outer Church and the Invisible College both inhabited were one and the same.  Afterwards, King Mob retired and devoted the rest of his life to non-violence, while Jack Frost and Lord Fanny were left to start their own Invisibles cell.  Years later, on December 21, 2012, the world was about to end, just as predicted.  Ragged Robin returned and was reunited with King Mob.  Jack Frost then broke the fourth wall and addressed the reader, stating that, “OUR SENTENCE IS UP.”  At that moment, the world ended and humanity transformed into its next stage of existence, guided by Jack Frost.

Posted on November 8, 2018 .