BOOKS 2 SCREEN PICK
Weirdworld by Sam Humphries and Michael Del Mundo (Marvel Comics, 2015)
Summary: The strangest realm on Battleworld is now the most mysterious region of the Marvel Universe! And Earth girl Becca is stuck in this land of sword and sorcery — with no experience with either! She has only one mission: get home alive. But will becoming apprentice to Goleta the Wizardslayer aid that quest, or render it even more unlikely? In a land of myths, monsters and…muscle cars? Becca and Goleta will brave the Enchanted Village and Fang Mountains, seek aid from Catbeast and the Dog-Fighters, and find themselves in the middle of a war between Lava Men and Man-Things. But most dangerous of all is Morgan Le Fay — Becca had better hope she never falls into the sorceress’s evil clutches! Join Becca’s quest, and brave the dangers and uncover the secrets of Weirdworld!
Notes:
Here is a story of two badass people questing and fighting the craziest fantasy creatures.
Ignore the fact that this is a Marvel series, it’s doesn’t really relate to any of their other series and works to be read independently of Marvel. There are no superheroes, the shame is that this amazing feminist fantasy story got lost in the Marvel Universe. Becca Rodriguez, a Mexican-American human from Earth who accidentally ends up in Weirdworld and Goleta the Wizardslayer, a mountain of a woman who slays wizards, drives a sick muscle car, pounds drinks and plain rules. Goleta is the most exciting thing to burst out of the Marvel pages in a long time.
You have a fairly straightforward plot with the two wading into the middle of a war between Morgana Le Fay and the Swamp Queen Jennifer Kale. There is the subplot of Becca’s relationship with her recently deceased mother that adds depth to the story. You get evil candylands, a kaiju battle, dog fighters that are actually dogs, and a Morgan le Fay that is equally villainous and sympathetic.
Would be a good idea as a film for Marvel, as it could expand them beyond just their tangled web of superhero characters to more stand-alone pieces.
The Book to Screen Club 