Well since the TV show was announced, they might as well announce the comic.
DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint, home to creator-driven, standalone and high concept stories, will publish AMPED from acclaimed television creator Eric Kripke (SUPERNATURAL, REVOLUTION).
In the Fall of 2015, AMPED will be released as a six-issue monthly comic book miniseries. The story will follow Josh Jaffe, a neurotic family man who buys an online ‘smart pill’ to increase his focus and jolt him out of his slump, but he gets much more than he bargained for. To his surprise, the pill gives him incredible strength and power. The story examines both the mighty highs and humiliating lows of being a real-life super hero.
“Eric has such a clever, irreverent cadence which makes him a natural writer for the Vertigo line,” stated Executive Editor Shelly Bond. “AMPED promises to be as addictive as its title substance.”
“Pretty much everything I’ve ever written has been insanely influenced by Vertigo, so it’s a dream come true to write my first comic there,” said creator and writer Eric Kripke. “AMPED is a project I’m foaming-at-the-mouth passionate about– and it’s also the most personal, warts-and-all story I’ve ever told. So I’m having the time of my life writing the comic– and basing the TV series off the comic, too. I can’t wait for readers to read it– and then down the road, for watchers to watch it.”
Created and written by Kripke, AMPED will feature interior art from John Higgins (HELLBLAZER, BEFORE: WATCHMEN) and cover art from Brian Bolland (BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE, THE INVISIBLES). Look out for AMPED in stores and online Fall 2015 from Vertigo–the premiere destination for creator-owned projects and top talent.
Not to be petty about anyone’s good day, but when Kripke says “Pretty much everything I’ve ever written has been insanely influenced by Vertigo,” one is reminded that
Supernatural’s Castiel was pretty much a direct homage of Constantine, to the point where when Constantine’s show debuted, people thought he was ripping off Supernatural. But anyway, now everyone is on the same team and it’s all good.
The USA Network held its “upfronts” at which pilots are announced, and the big news was Smackdown is coming HOME to the USA Network as the WWE rolls out a more millennial friendly and aspirational “For the Hero in All of Us” program. But also, a show based on an unannounced upcoming Vertigo series is in development:
AMPED
When a neurotic family man buys an online “smart pill” to increase his focus and jolt him out of his slump, he gets much more than he bargained for. To his surprise, the pill gives him incredible strength and power. The project examines both the mighty highs and humiliating lows of being a real-life super hero. AMPED is based on the characters created for an upcoming comic book by Eric Kripke (“Supernatural,” “Revolution”) for DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint. Kripke will serve as executive producer/writer of AMPED, from Kripke Enterprises in association with Warner Horizon Television.
Kripke is indeed the creator of the hugely successful Supernatural and Revolution, and
to all you Vertigo naysayers, this is a comfort zone for the imprint: developing network ready fare that doesn’t involve the DCU. I Zombie is doing well on the CW, so anything is possible.
Lots of other shows announced, including the return of Tough Enough (probably not with my beloved Al Snow) and a show starring Sawyer from Lost and Lori from Walking Dead for the ultimate crossover.
Also promoted at the press event were “Colony,” a futuristic drama starring Josh Holloway and Sarah Wayne Callies as the head of a family of resisters in alien-occupied Los Angeles; and “Complications,” starring Jason O’Mara as a doctor drawn into a deadly gangland saga when he saves a kid from a random shooting.
Oh and
here’s a great quote about the rebranded WWE:
Peter Lazarus, USA’s ad sales chief, said they’re now focused “educating the marketplace about WWE’s positive attributes.” Those include the fact that it is mostly DVR proof through its live weekly airings and continuing storylines, and the fact that it draws a healthy amount of family viewing. The push to polish up the WWE reflects the wide-ranging new deal that NBCU and the wrestling giant struck last year, one that gives NBCU more control over advertising sales for the programs.
I didn’t have a photo from the still unannounced AMPED so I put up a photo of current WWE champ Seth Rollins. I don’t follow wrestling any more so I have no idea who this jabroni is, but one look tells you that his matinee-ready millennial look is totally on fleek.
A LOT of the shows in development have futuristic-y SF-y elements, or in other words “USA Network fare.” Why they even need to try this when Fox had to take Almost Human off the air is beyond me.
–Yr grumpy old TV fan
A superhero title by Vertigo. No thanks, I’ll pass. If I wanted superheroes, I’d buy mainstream DC. (*rolls eyes*)
Vertigo’s been home to several titles in recent years (movie and TV tie-ins, particularly) that would have gone under the WildStorm imprint, if that were still around. I’m expecting big changes from Vertigo in the months ahead.
At the end of last year, Didio and Lee announced a “rebranding” of Vertigo with details to be given during the first quarter of this year. The first quarter is done and no word about this “rebranding.” I am very curious to hear what they have to say. Although I will say I am a little apprehensive since Shelly Bond was nowhere mentioned in this announcement. I’m saying this because I’m wondering how much “power” does she have in Vertigo’s “new direction.” I guess we’ll find out soon enough.