'Charmed' comic series will hold you spellbound

COMICS GUY has to make readers aware of the new ongoing "Charmed" series from Fort Washington-based Zenescope. Yes, it's based on the TV show, but you don't have to know anything about the show to enjoy the book.

"Charmed" is lighter in tone than the average Zenescope offering, but with excellent horror writer Raven Gregory on board to co-write the series with Paul Ruditis, there is an edge to the comic that was largely absent on TV. In its heyday the show could never match the dark appeal of shows like "Angel" or "Buffy," but if this team had been writing scripts, it would have.

As the first story arc begins, it has been a quiet year-and-a-half, and it looks as if the Terrific Trio has won the constant struggle between good and evil. Things are peaceful, and each woman has gotten on with her life. Paige is teaching at a magic school, Piper has opened a restaurant and Phoebe is taking care of her magical infant.

All are finding these tasks more difficult than expected. Then a couple of mysterious strangers are seen poking around the Underworld. Next thing the Charmed Ones know, a young woman their age mysteriously dies . . . of old age. Before they can even begin to figure out how or why, it is soon made clear that someone - or something - is hunting down the innocents they saved and murdering them in cold blood.

This is a crisp, compelling read that comic fans should like, and fans of the show will be charmed.

'Charmed' sales magical

Though the company's recent series launches have been disappointing saleswise, Zenescope Editor in Chief Ralph Tedesco says the new "Charmed" series is definitely a hit.

"It's definitely meeting and even exceeding expectations a lot," Tedesco said. "We think it will continue to grow, too. We had to go to a second printing on issue No. 1 in less than a month, so that was great."

Zenescope has been offered boatloads of licensed properties but has passed on almost all of them, including an offer to do a "Top Gun" comic.

However, Tedesco believed "Charmed" was a perfect fit for the Zenescope line.

"We tend not to do a lot of licensing, but we also don't shy away from it if we see something with potential," he told Comics Guy. " 'Charmed' made sense because it fit into the Zen wheelhouse. Beautiful witches, supernatural elements, good vs. evil, a strong cult-fan following, independent and strong female lead characters - it's a lot of what we're known for as a publisher. Also, there's a potential for endless ongoing story lines that can continue to grow and evolve.

"Certain properties, like 'Top Gun,' don't make as much sense since we can't really do much other than showing people flying planes in sequential pages," he added. "I'm not sure how exciting that would really be for readers. We always look for a good match, and we feel we have a pretty good sense of what our fans want from us, I hope."

'The Piper' to hit theaters?

An anonymous source has informed Comics Guy that Zenescope's popular series "The Piper" will be adapted to film and is in development with Persistent Entertainment. A screenwriter is reportedly already attached and should be named soon.

Neither Tedesco nor Zenescope President Joe Brusha would comment to Comics Guy about the rumor.

'Wonder' years return

It may be just a coincidence, but the week DC announced a massive company realignment (more on that next week), partly to enhance its ability to branch its comic properties into other media, comic fans received some 'Wonder'-ful news.

As the Hollywood Reporter and others have confirmed, David E. Kelley ("Boston Legal") is developing a "Wonder Woman" TV series. No word yet on who will step into Lynda Carter's large red boots - Comics Guy hopes rumors about Clare Kramer are true - but Kelley has long sought to do a World War II-era take on the icon and gives the project instant credibility and makes it a virtual lock to get picked up by a network and put on its schedule. So, after more than three decades, Diana Prince will again be in people's living rooms every week.

Preacher vs. Superman?

The bad news is that Darren Aronofsky may not be directing the Christopher Nolan-produced reboot of the "Superman" film franchise after all.

The good news, as reported by Newsarama.com, is that it's because he has interest in bringing DC's "Preacher" to the big screen for Columbia Pictures.

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