By Nick Mercurio
A sci-fi novel that has set high standards for the genre, Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game" tells the story of a young boy who holds the fate of the world in his hands. A complex character, Ender finds himself joined by a deep and intriguing supporting cast.
Beginning this October, Marvel will publish a comic adaptation "Ender's Game" helmed by Christ Yost, writer of SECRET INVASION: RUNAWAYS/YOUNG AVENGERS and artist Pasqual Ferry, who has worked with Card before on ULTIMATE IRON MAN II. Card himself will be heavily involved with ENDER'S GAME as well, closely overseeing the adaptation every step of the way.
"'Ender's Game' is a classic for any number of reasons," says Yost. "But occasionally you have fond memories of something, and when you revisit it, [you] see that it
didn't hold up. 'Ender's Game' holds up. Ender shines through as a great character, in a great story with an amazing journey and ending. I'm honored to be a part of it."
According to Yost, what attracted him to the story was "[the] humanity, [the] incredible dialogues and intrigue, the iconic idea of self improvement and the solitude that it includes. [It] was a book that really marked my adolescence."
While the opportunity to work on a book they regard so highly brings with it a great deal of excitement for Yost and Ferry, it also adds an element of intimidation. They recognize the major hurdles they face in recreating the magic of the original "Ender's Game" novel.
"The most important [thing is to] make real this incredible story," insists Yost. "Give life [to the] Ender character, and [translate Card's world for comic book readers, without betraying the book readers,] myself included. One major challenge of the book was how interior it is. So much of the book is in Ender's head—he's not very chatty. So
we have to get a lot across visually, or in a way that [doesn't] feature a ton of clunky exposition."
Fortunately for Yost, he found the skilled and experienced Ferry more than up to the task.
"A picture's worth a thousand words," remarks the writer. "I just get out my scissors, cut out pieces of the book, and paste them to a script format. And then Pasqual has to do all the heavy lifting!"
Ferry responds, "The descriptions of Card are so detailed in some parts that [it's] pretty visual. Besides Chris Yost is doing [an] incredible job with his plot."
And as for that plot, "Ender's Game" fans need not worry about mass alterations to their beloved story.
"My goal is to make no changes to the story," says Yost. "A few structural things to make it fit the medium, but the story doesn't need changes.
Ferry agrees, saying that he'll only be "adding some visual concepts of [his] own style."
With the incredible talent possessed by both Yost and Ferry, coupled with the energy and enthusiasm the two are bringing to this project, "Ender's Game" fans have a lot to be excited about.
For up to the minute Marvel news spinning out of the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con, visit the Marvel.com SDCC news hub. And while you're waiting in between announcements, spend some time over at Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited!
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