Margaret Atwood makes new foray into graphic novel genre
Venerable Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood is expanding her repertoire in an unlikely direction as the author of a three-part superhero graphic novel.
Atwood will write the series titled Angel Catbird for Dark Horse Comics, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary next year.
Atwood contacted the publication — based in Milwaukie, Ore. — on the advice of Hope Nicholson, who recently ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to create The Secret Loves of Geek Girls. Atwood contributed some original comic drawings to that all-female non-fiction anthology.
“Margaret brought her project to Dark Horse and we talked about it and we’re very, very excited and quickly got it approved here and started working on it,” editor Daniel Chabon said.
Chabon described the project as “a pulp-inspired superhero story,” about a scientist whose DNA becomes fused with an owl and cat.
“There’ll be an antagonist in the story and a love interest. There’ll be something different for everyone and a lot of cat puns, too. It’s fantastic,” Chabon said.
“This is a great book to add to our line.
“Of course if it does well, we’d like to do more,” Chabon added.
The series will be illustrated by another Canadian, Vancouver-based artist Johnnie Christmas, with the first part set for release in September 2016.
Chabon acknowledged the challenge of working with an author of Atwood’s calibre.
“It’s funny because (Atwood) has been writing forever so it’s a little intimidating sometimes to try to give her notes and stuff like that. It’s like, ‘how on Earth am I going to give notes to Margaret Atwood?’ ” Chabon said.
“But she (Atwood) is very receptive to notes. It’s been a pleasure so far being able to work with her,” he added.