Space Mountain Is Getting Its Own Graphic Novel, Because…
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So Disney is obviously not at a loss for properties with which they can make money off of, as Star Wars will no doubt propel them into into an even higher stratosphere than the one they already reside in. But they’re branching out beyond the theme park, feature film, television and merchandise world in order to bring the world a graphic novel based on one of its most popular attractions: the indoor ride Space Mountain. If you find yourself in between being exciting and wondering how in the hell a Space Mountain graphic novel could possibly be exciting or relevant, you’re not alone. Especially when you consider it’s the first of a planned trilogy. But it’s coming from some pretty talented guys.
The graphic novel will be written by Bryan Q. Miller, who worked as a writer late in Smallville‘s run, and on the relauched Batgirl series. For sci-fi fans, he’s working on Earthward, an all ages graphic novel that features a family battling a race of aliens that managed to hide Earth from humans. It comes as the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign. The artist on the Space Mountain book will be Kelley Jones, best known for his work on several Batman series, as well as his work with Neil Gaiman for some Sandman issues. So we know the guys behind it are worthy of our attention, but what of the story itself?
The year is 2125 and the Magellan Science Academy has given two lucky cadets “golden tickets” to join a team of space explorers on a special time travel mission 24 hours into the future. But when their mission goes unexpectedly wrong, the two kids must band together with a tiny flying saucer sidekick to save themselves and their crew—and all of Space Mountain—before time runs out and the galaxy is destroyed!
So it sounds like the ride is being conceived as a literal mountain, or at least as the figurative name of a community. I’ll need to find out more about why traveling 24 hours into the future is so important before I put all my faith in it, however. I’m much more interested in the ridiculous viral campaign behind Brad Bird’s super secretive Tomorrowland, but I’m willing to give this project a fraction of my anticipation. Check out Jones’ first inked page below, followed by some conceptual drawings of both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris’ versions of the attraction. Below that, you’ll find a couple sketches of the Moonliner rocket, based on the one that was once a part of Walt Disney World.
The first book is already on pre-sale at Amazon, to be released on May 6, 2014. More details will be revealed at this year’s New York Comic Con, which will be held from October 10-13.
