Weekend Read #009 - VERN: CUSTODIAN OF THE UNIVERSE by Tyrell Waiters
Another jewel from the small press comics market
Hello again!
Welcome back to the Weekend Read! If you’re new here, this is where we highlight available IP that has been overlooked by Hollywood buyers, or talk about books that are worth reading because they’re in the current zeitgeist.
We’ve already had a few forays into comics and graphic novels here. I think the small press ecosystem is fostering some incredible writing and animating talent, and their eye-catching books make excellent proofs of concept for all the people who don’t read visual thinkers in the film and TV industry. Look no further than I AM NOT OKAY WITH THIS, HEARTSTOPPER, or SCOTT PILGRIM (adapted twice!) to see the payoff.
VERN has all the makings of a modern millennial/gen z classic. It’s a fun but poignant reflection on career, family, and dealing with a world that’s becoming more unreal every day. Here’s the official synopsis:
On the edge of burnout, Vern decides to return to his family in the Sunshine State to start over. Starting a new dead-end job as a custodian at Quasar—a local science facility with a shady motive—he shrugs on his uniform, grabs a mop and bucket, and trudges off to clean up… Black holes? Space-time anomalies? Galactic ooze? Things aren’t entirely what they seem at Quasar, and when Vern accidentally plugs in a mysterious machine and finds himself standing on the brink of the destruction of every planet in the Multiverse, he finds himself presented with the greatest question of all: what is the point?
Waiters hails from Florida and has a background in graphic design and illustration. He’s collaborated with brands like Old Navy, Abercrombie, and even Pokémon. VERN was published by Nobrow books in 2023, and a sequel is in the works.
Nobrow is a small press based in London, and was founded in 2008 by Central St. Martin’s alum Sam Arthur and Alex Spiro. They specialize in publishing graphic novels that pay particular attention to design. With ~30 new titles published every year, any producer looking to find something with an exceptional art direction simply must pay attention to their catalogue.
“Grounded sci-fi” is one of the most popular comps I hear Hollywood buyers asking for. VERN is, you can see, a little beyond that - but if you’re looking for any level of sci-fi IP then this should absolutely be on your TBR. (It was available when I last checked - you can contact the author yourself here.) The artwork alone offers a lot for producers looking towards developing prestigious work, (not to mention what kind of merch you could sell) and with the story’s mind bending interpretations of family dynamics and what it’s like becoming your own person in a strange world, it could easily be the next RICK AND MORTY.
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Love,
TIP
See you next time!