I was doing some speaking engagements on Election Day at some of our suburban high schools...and when I do such things I like to bring a good cross section of my past work to illustrate various points. SO, of course Monday night at about 12:30 am I was pulling all sorts of things out of the archive boxes. The Badger-Shattered Mirror splash page, pen and ink work, painted pages, thumbnails and scripts. These are always a big hit- sample pages for a proposed Nightmare Before Christmas Graphic Novel.
I was hired by Dark Horse, I believe, (it's been 5 years) because someone was trying to get the rights to do a Nightmare adaptation...I'm not sure of the details really, but I think it was a matter of trying to convince Tim Burton to give the green light to a graphic novel. I have no idea if he ever saw it. Or if that was even the issue.
There might have been an issue there of him not being interested in such things...or something like that. I'm not really sure. All I know is that as far as I know...this went nowhere. At least my involvement. I've seen a manga version of TNBC...and yes, I like mine better!
I wish I could remember the reasons this didn't move forward...but I can't. Sigh. Stupid brain cells! Get to work! At least I can share them here with you. I hope ya likes 'em!
I was hired by Dark Horse, I believe, (it's been 5 years) because someone was trying to get the rights to do a Nightmare adaptation...I'm not sure of the details really, but I think it was a matter of trying to convince Tim Burton to give the green light to a graphic novel. I have no idea if he ever saw it. Or if that was even the issue.
There might have been an issue there of him not being interested in such things...or something like that. I'm not really sure. All I know is that as far as I know...this went nowhere. At least my involvement. I've seen a manga version of TNBC...and yes, I like mine better!
I wish I could remember the reasons this didn't move forward...but I can't. Sigh. Stupid brain cells! Get to work! At least I can share them here with you. I hope ya likes 'em!
12 comments:
Incredible pages!! Fabulous designs Jill you're the best!!
Saludos!!
these are bloody gorgeous!
such a shame it never came to be, since, really, there's NOBODY who could do it justice other than
JILL THOMPSON!
fabulous!
am gonna stare at them some more...
I can't decide if I'm incredibly happy because I get to see these pages or incredibly sad because there isn't any more.
I have the manga adaptation and it's okay. I think the biggest problem is that Sally looks off. The artist seemed to miss a lot of the specifics of her design and just tried to make her look more generically pretty. I definitely would have preferred your adaptation.
Man, THAT would've been a PERFECT match!
The samples are awesome!
Open letter to Tim Burton, Dark Horse Comics, et al:
W - T - F ?
I don't think it was Dark Horse ...they hired me to do the samples.They were looking to publish it. Think of all the liscensing, legal and other departments that it had to go thru. Maybe no one even saw the samples. Five years ago, you might have made the call and some exec heard "graphic novel" and hung up the phone. Plus, when a huge company like Disney looks at monthly comics sales levels, they beg off. It wasn't as attractive as it is now...and I guess they decided to do it themselves.
these be so awesome! too bad huh :(
i never knew you had a blog either.
hey, also, wanted to remind you how big an inspiration your stuff is to me :D
Course I gots a blog! Blog is the only way I can reach my peoples! Gots to talk to all my peoples! An share good stuffs with them...
Awesome work! Their loss.
WOW... they're beautiful.
Why aren't you drawing/painting comics on a regular basis? Some of us really miss your work.
It's really a bummer that this really never took off, I mean really your past work proves that your able to do pretty much any book, but with this style it's like home feild. That's right you've got that white Jersey and the crowd is on your side, but still if it's not your work the red tape that any person has to run through is just too much. Love the pictures and the mention of the voting in the schools, it's funny since the schools around here don't do that anymore, hahahaha, I don't know why not, but it has to be some up tight reason that's just too dumb to even mention.
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