DC Comics made a surprising announcement this morning when they revealed plans to adapt all three books of Steig Larsson’s Millennium trilogy to comics in 2012 in a series of graphic novels to be released over three years.
No artist or writer has been mentioned, but presumably it will be a single creative team adapting the entire series, and hopefully focus on the right team for the job.
Like my pick, Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan.
This could be an important work for DC, possibly enticing both new readers and fans of the international best sellers to comics and presumably, DC’s strong digital initiative.
Press release after the jump.
‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ Graphic Novel to be Released by Vertigo in 2012 with Sequels Following in 2013 and 2014NEW YORK, NY, October 11, 2011 – Best-selling comic book and graphic novel publisher DC Entertainment has secured the worldwide rights to adapt the international phenomenon and best-selling Millennium Trilogy novels into graphic novels. DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint will work with the estate of Stieg Larsson and Hedlund Literary Agency to adapt the books. The announcement brings together two publishing powerhouses just in time for the Frankfurt Book Fair and New York Comic-Con.
Each book by Larsson will be presented in two graphic novel volumes that will be available in both print and digital formats. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO volumes will be released in 2012, with volumes for THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE following in 2013, and THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNETS’ NEST wrapping up the graphic novel series in 2014.
“The intricate characters and stories Larsson created in the Millennium Trilogy are a perfect match for the graphic novel format, where we can bring Lisbeth Salander to life in entirely new, visually compelling ways,” stated Dan DiDio, co-publishers of DC Entertainment. “It’s a distinct honor to work on a story that is already so popular with millions of readers around the world.”
“Stieg always liked comics and it will be exciting to see the unforgettable characters he created come to life on the comics page,” says Joakim Larsson, younger brother of the journalist and novelist whose untimely death in 2004 meant he didn’t see even the first book in the Millennium sequence published.
DC Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing best-selling graphic novels and comic books, including best-selling Vertigo titles SANDMAN, FABLES, 100 BULLETS and ROAD TO PERDITION.Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy is an international publishing juggernaut, with more than 60 million books sold worldwide and reaching the top of numerous best seller lists. Sales for all three books exceed 17 million copies in the U.S. alone, including digital sales of 3.5 million copies. Since September 2008, when THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO was published in hardcover, Larsson’s books have been a constant presence on bestseller lists across America.
The various storylines in the Millennium Trilogy revolve around truculent computer hacker Lisbeth Salander and investigative reporter Mikael Blomkvist.
