Pacific Rim Writer Talks Prequel Graphic Novel
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We only have a month and a half left before Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim hits theaters, and it’s getting hard to type the closer it gets. Because I’ve been superstitiously crossing my fingers hoping it’s good, not cause my “robot ‘n’ monster” boner is knocking my keyboard off of my desk. But those interested in the mythology behind the film are in luck, because today marks the release of the prequel graphic novel, titled Pacific Rim: Tales From Year Zero, written by the film’s screenwriter, Travis Beacham.
Beacham was recently interviewed by Dread Central, and it gives a little more background into the prequel story. He also barely hints at the sequel and gives his take on the upcoming video game, but that’s for later. In words that could use a jolt of colorful language, here’s Beacham’s description of the graphic novel.
In the graphic novel you get to see the first Kaiju attack, the creation of the Jaeger program, and you get to see some of the characters in their early days of the academy. I think if you read the graphic novel beforehand, then you get certain resonances that you wouldn’t otherwise get. Since the graphic novel was created by the same people that created the movie, then I think it serves as a very organic, very sincere lead-in to the movie. You can experience the movie without reading the graphic novel if you’re so inclined and not feel like you have not had a satisfying experience. But if you do read the graphic novel, then I think it gives a bit more to build on.
Obviously a prequel will in some way inform a central story (in most cases except The Thing), but it’s good to know they gave the entire idea a lot of thought before whittling down what would become the central narrative. Check out the cover and first three pages below.
Beacham of course can’t go into details on sequel ideas, but he says they “grew very organically out of a love for this world and its characters.” He also explains that, before they had an idea of how big the pre-release buzz would get, “we were very curious about what is to come of these people after this movie. So I think it is probably going to answer those questions.” He seems to speak as if he’s a robot.
As for the video game, Beacham wasn’t involved with the development, but says del Toro was extremely involved, and that others’ opinions have got him interested in it. If you get the graphic novel before we do, tell us how it is!
