Graphic Novels-O-Rama

In the last two days, Hwood set up three movie projects based on graphic novels. From Done Deal Pro.com:

Title: Coma Logline: Undercover cop Cole Burns wakes up after being in a coma for six years — his memory fuzzy, a bullet in his head, and his wife and unborn child brutally murdered. Now he must fight his way through the city’s seedy underbelly to find answers, even if the answers might kill him. Writer: Rock Shaink Jr. 
 
 Agency: Bohrman Agency, The 
 
 Mngmnt Firm: Holder Management 
 
 Prod. Co: Arcana Studios Romark Films 
 Genre: Thriller Logged: 3/30/2009 More: Based on the upcoming Arcana graphic novels “Coma” and “Good Night” written & created by Rock Shaink. Arcana’s Sean O’ Reilly will produce. Romark’s Rock Shaink & Mark Jonathan Stanley will executive produce. This project is part of a five picture deal between Romark Films and Arcana Comics. 
Title: Grunts Logline: During World War II, an elite American squad encounters a German superhuman assault squad that leads to an Eugenics Race that carries into present day. Writer: Rock Shaink Jr. Mark Jonathan Stanley 
 Agency: Bohrman Agency, The Bohrman Agency, The 
 Mngmnt Firm: Holder Management Holder Management 
 Prod. Co: Arcana Studios Romark Films 
 Genre: Action Adventure Logged: 3/30/2009 More: Based on the Arcana Comic’s graphic novel of the same name written & created by Eisner winning writer Keith Giffen and Shannon Denton. Arcana’s Sean O’ Reilly will produce. Romark’s Rock Shaink & Mark Jonathan Stanley will executive produce. Film will pick up in the present day following the comic book. This project is part of a five picture deal between Romark Films and Arcana Comics. 
Title: Ripped Logline: A college dropout with the ability to travel through time is the only one who can try to stop the end of mankind by piecing together clues planted throughout history. Writer: Rock Shaink Jr. Mark Jonathan Stanley 
 Agency: Bohrman Agency, The Bohrman Agency, The 
 Mngmnt Firm: Holder Management Holder Management 
 Prod. Co: Arcana Studios Romark Films 
 Genre: Action Adventure Logged: 3/30/2009 More: Based on the upcoming Arcana Comic’s graphic novel created & written by Jay Busbee. Arcana’s Sean O’ Reilly will produce. Romark’s Rock Shaink & Mark Jonathan Stanley will executive produce. This project is part of a five picture deal between Romark Films and Arcana Comics. 
Later this week, I’ll be posting an analysis of spec script sales in the first quarter 09, but I’m almost certain that more graphic novel properties sold than specs. I’ll track the numbers to see.

Clearly graphic novels have made an impact in movies for over a decade. Is this a widening trend? Is the graphic novel replacing the spec script as Hwood’s preferred property for acquisition and development? If so, why? What can we as screenwriters learn from the growth in popularity of graphic novels?

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