Fans are sure to shiver with antici…pation at the rumor thatRocky Horror Picture Showis about to take on new life as a comic book. The beloved musical is rapidly approaching its 50th anniversary and signs are pointing to the infamous and hysterical show being adapted (once again) as a comic.
BleedingCoolwas the first website to spread word of this potential adaptation. According to a rumor picked up from this year’s London Book Fair, fan-favorite writer Magdalene Visaggio (Eternity Girl,Calamity Kate,Kim & Kim),has been tappedby Dark Horse Comicsto writeRocky Horror Show #1this October, in celebration of the musical’s 50th anniversary.
Of course, there’s no official word just yet as October’s a long ways away. But this wouldn’t be Visaggio’sfirst brush writingRocky Horror, as she’d previously contributed to the book of essaysAbsolute Pleasure: Queer Reflections on Five Messy Decades of Rocky Horror.
Rocky Horror Returns in Comic Book Form Later This Year?
Rumors are Circulating the Popular Midnight Movie is Taking on New Life
TheRocky Horror Picture Showactually started out for the stage asThe Rocky Horror Showby creator Richard O’Brien. The story was created as a humorous tribute to old sci-fi and horror films. In 1975, the stage show was adapted into a feature-length movie which starred Barry Bostwick, Susan Sarandon and Tim Curry as the show’s most infamous character, Dr. Frank-N-Furter. While the movie didn’t initially do well at the box office,The Rocky Horror Picture Showtook on new life at midnight shows in subsequent re-releases, becoming one of the most profitable ‘cult’ films of all time.
Interestingly enough, this isn’t the first time thatThe Rocky Horror Picture Showhas been adapted into comics. In 1990, the musical was given a three-part adaptation published by Caliber Comics which retold the story and featured additional material such as song lyrics and an interview with Richard O’Brien. Unfortunately, there’s no telling what this newRocky Horrorcomic could feature (and that’s assuming this rumor pans out). It could be a re-telling, a remake, or even a brand-new story altogether. But whatever it is,it’s somethingRocky Horrorfans may want to keep a close eye on.
This Would Be the First New Rocky Horror Content in Years
Rocky Horror Content Has Always Been Rare
Due to its more esoteric appeal,The Rocky Horror Picture Showhas never been a huge franchise. There was the follow-up film, Shock Treatment, as well as the 2016 television remake, but new content that has the same feel as the original movie has always been hard to come by. While there’s no telling what this potential comic could be,it’s nice to see new blood keeping theRocky Horror Picture Showname alive outside the midnight showings.
Rocky Horror Picture Show might have a small fanbase, but it’s a dedicated one and many in that fanbase have been dying to see something done with O’Brien’s baby. Who knows what Visaggio may or may not have planned in her potentialRocky Horrorcomic, but it’s something that could wind up being a real treat for those fans who still do the Time Warp every October.
