Bluewater Announces ‘William Shatner Presents’
Bluewater Productions has added William Shatner to their growing line of celebrity endorsed comic books. Following in the footsteps of Ray Harryhausen, Vincent Price and Roger Corman, Shatner will have comics based on his novels including Man O’ War and Quest for Tomorrow. These will be published as miniseries, continuing the stories with talent yet to be announced.
His TekWar, written with Ron Goulart and an unnamed fourth title round out the commitment between the actor and the publisher. TekWar will also be a continuation. All four are scheduled to come out in the first quarter of 2009, available in comic shops as the hoopla surrounding the reboot of Star Trek edges towards its May 8 release.
The TekWar universe was adapted previously by Marvel Comics in the early 1990s and ran for 24 issues, written solely by Goulart. Darren G. Davis, president of Bluewater, has promised the ongoing series will be more faithful to the source material which ran in nine novels. It was also adapted as four telefilms and a one-season syndicated series starring Greg Evigan.
Bluewater’s publisher Darren Davis said in a release, “Mr. Shatner is a savvy businessman and a creative mastermind. We’re honored to be partnering with him and are confident our efforts will create comic books both his fans and ours will embrace.”
“With all of these comics, I have final approval," Shatner told the Los Angeles Times. "This is not a licensing arrangement; this will be me involved very directly throughout the process. They are going to do adaptations of my ideas and also sequels; they will be in the stores in March of 2009. I loved comics as a kid. I used to sit under the sheets with a flashlight and read Superman when I was six in Montreal and now, with the comics as they are today, it’s thrilling, really.”
Of the old Gold Key comic adaptations of Star Trek, Shatner enthused, "Oh, they were great. They always made me look so skinny."
Ron Goulart was the author behind these books with Bill Shatner – why not keep him involved? I read the first 2 books and am looking forward to the 4th but without Goulart? Why? I think Shatner had a lot to do with the other books, but they work great together as a team don't they? Goulart is an authority on comix and should stay with the process. Just my opinion! :)