Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, the comic book
Posted by dailypop on July 13, 2009
More commonly known by many as the Ridley Scott film adaptation ‘Blade Runner,’ ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep’ is a science fiction novel written by Philip K Dick. The same man behind stories that have been adapted into feature films such as ‘Total Recall,’ ‘The Minority Report,’ and ‘A Scanner Darkly,’ Dick is one of the most brilliant modern science fiction authors of our time. Philip K Dick’s work commonly deals with concepts such as identity and the abstractions of reality brought upon by modern living. Surprisingly, few of his works have been adapted into the comic book format.
The new 24 issue series by Boom! Studios will change that situation drastically with what promises to be a high-profile sequential adaptation of the novel.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, the book that inspired the film Blade Runner, comes to Boom! Visionary sci-fi author Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep has been called “a masterpiece ahead of its time, even today” and served as the basis for the Ridley Scott film Blade Runner.
San Francisco lies under a cloud of radioactive dust. The World War killed millions, driving entire species to extinction, and sending mankind off-planet. Those who remained coveted any living creature, and for people who couldn’t afford one, companies built incredibly realistic fakes: horses, birds, cats, sheep–even humans. Rick Deckard is an officially sanctioned bounty hunter tasked to find six rogue androids–they’re machines, but look, sound, and think like humans. Clever, and most of all, dangerous humans.
Rick Deckard, Pris, The Voight-Kampff Test, Nexus 6 androids, the Tyrell Corporation: join Boom! Studios as the complete novel is adapted into the comic book medium, mixing all new panel-to-panel continuity with the actual text from the novel in an innovative, groundbreaking 24-issue maxi-series illustrated by acclaimed Wolf artist Steven Dupre for the science-fiction publishing event of the year! Covers by Bill Sienkiewicz, Dennis Calero, Moritat, and Scott Keating.
DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? ships this June (Diamond Code APR090725).
The first issue of BOOM! Studios’ DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? will include backmatter by Warren Ellis and ships with three covers in a 50/25/25 split by Denis Calero, Bill Sienkiewicz and Scott Keating. A fourth cover by ELEPHANTMEN artist Moritat will be offered as a 1-in-25 incentive.
Additionally, UNCANNY X-MEN’s Matt Fraction will be providing backmatter for issue #2 and CAPTAIN AMERICA and CRIMNAL’s Ed Brubaker will be providing backmatter for issue #3.
For comic book fans unfamiliar with Philip K Dick’s writing, this will definitely appeal to readers of Warren Ellis, Mark Millar and Grant Morrison. I remember as a kid hearing about Epic Illustrated re-issuing Akira and how much of an impact that had on western comics and on sci-fi. It was such a vibrant time for science fiction fans and a unique opportunity to blend the genre with the sequential art form. I have high hopes that we will see a modern revival of such an occurrence with this series.
Issue #1 hits the stands this Wednesday.
Sharon E. Dreyer said
Great review! I’ll have to look into getting a copy for myself. Check out my first and recently released novel, Long Journey to Rneadal. This exciting tale is a romantic action adventure in space and is more about the characters than the technology.
David Scholes said
I’m a fan of Philip K Dick’s from way back.
“Flow, my tears, the Policeman Said” being perhaps my favourite.
It’s incredible to think that he died way back in 1982.
After 50 years of reading science fiction I was recently published in the US. The link is:
http://www.StrategicBookPublishing.com/ScienceFictionandAlternateHistory.html
Cheers