Can Comics and Stories Equal the Impact of Television Series?
In a thought-provoking musing, artist and writer Pekoeblaze has expressed curiosity about the world of prose fiction and comics adopting a practice similar to that of television shows and films – hiring familiar actors for a coolness factor.
Pekoeblaze, known for his preference for American TV shows in genres such as sci-fi, detective, thriller, and horror, has observed that seeing familiar actors playing different characters can be a captivating experience in TV shows. This notion was sparked by the multiple cool TV shows that Mark A. Sheppard has appeared in, including "Monk," "Mord ist ihr Hobby" (Murder, She Wrote), and notably, "Supernatural" and "Battlestar Galactica."
However, the author acknowledges the challenges that come with making prose fiction characters similar to previous ones, particularly in a non-visual medium. This is unlike TV shows and films, where actors embody the characters, and their familiar faces can add a layer of intrigue. Yet, if prose fiction characters are too similar, the audience might think the author has run out of ideas. Conversely, if they are too different, the audience might not see the connection.
This dichotomy is evident in the careers of actors like Jim Beaver, who is known for his role as Bobby in "Supernatural," and has also appeared in "NCIS." Similarly, Stephanie Jacobsen has graced the screens of "NCIS," "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," and "Battlestar Galactica: Razor."
In contrast, characters in fiction and comics are not replaced by actors, a key difference between them and TV shows and films. Comics can easily create new characters that resemble previous ones by making a few visual differences. Writers of prose fiction, on the other hand, have the advantage of using the same characters instead of similar ones, as there are no rules against having characters appear in multiple stories.
This intriguing idea of familiar actors in prose fiction and comics is just one of the many thoughts that Pekoeblaze, an artist and writer who has produced numerous drawings and online comics, has pondered. As he continues to explore the vast landscape of storytelling, one can only wonder what other tantalising ideas await us.
