Comics

Although it was published in 2003, I'd never read Red until this week. Heck, I'd never even heard of this comic until ads started appearing for the film adaptation that opens Friday. But it figures that even a series this obscure and short (three issues) would eventually catch Hollywood's attention. News flash: Comic book movies are big moneymakers. While there are still plenty of second-tier superheroes to bring to the big screen (look for Green Lantern and Thor at your favorite multiplex next year), studios are reading every comic they can in an attempt to find a fresh idea. The idea behind Red is that the CIA's most lethal weapon, an assassin named Paul Moses, has been jerked out of retirement. (The title is a reference to a color-coded system for tracking an agent's status.) A politically appointed CIA director learns of all the horrible things Moses did in the name of his country and orders him eliminated. The problem is, Moses hasn't exactly mellowed in his old age.

A few weeks ago, as I was cruising the "upcoming releases" sections of the major publishers' websites, I came across an intriguing bit of promo copy. Image Comics was touting Morning Glories as the one of the year's most anticipated new series. Really? The basic concept didn't knock my socks off: "Morning Glory Academy is one of the most prestigious prep schools in the country. But behind its hallowed doors, something sinister and deadly lurks." And the creators involved — writer Nick Spencer and Wylie-based artist Joe Eisma — were two guys I'd never heard of. I shrugged, chalked up the "most anticipated" claim to an overzealous marketing department, and moved on to the next website. Fast forward to this week: I find that Image's slate of releases today includes Morning Glories #2 and a third printing of Morning Glories #1. A third printing? What makes this book so hot that it had to be sent back to the press twice? What am I missing?