New York filmmaker and actor, Ed Burns (Brothers McMullen, Saving Private Ryan) is creating a new series of comic books, it was announced today by Burns at Comic-Con, the industry’s annual super-festival in San Diego.

The series, entitled Dock Walloper, debuts in comic shops and online comic retailers in November. The complete 144 page Dock Walloper book will be available in May 2008 at all major book sellers. A new site, DockWalloper.com, will host additional information, previews and pre-orders of the comic art and books. The comic series will be written by Burns, along with comic book legend, Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Monolith). Cover and interior art for the series will be created by Virgin Comics’ in-house illustration studio and led by rising comic book star, Siju Thomas.

“As we are approaching the centennial of Prohibition in America, I wanted to re-imagine some of the characters and icons of that era with a mythic spin, in a story set in a stylized New York City of the 20’s,” said Ed Burns. “The story takes the classic American gangster tale, and transposes it to this atmospheric landscape, where the characters and inhabitants possess exaggerated strength, ability and power, capturing a modern American mythology.”


“Ed Burns is one of New York City’s favorite sons and there is no one better to tell this story,” said Virgin Comics CEO Sharad Devarajan. “Dock Walloper is the perfect addition to our Director’s Cut line, which allows iconic filmmakers the creative freedom to develop new stories in the visual medium of graphic novels, akin to a movie with an unlimited budget.”

Dock Walloper is the story that takes place in the roaring 20’s of New York City. America’s great metropolis has become the nexus of high society culture, cutting edge industry and perhaps the most shocking crime wave in our country’s history. Known for its sinister and treacherous underworld, there’s a new power waking up the city that never sleeps. It’s name… John “The Hand” Smith.

The Nickname is a given. An outcast and an orphan, Smith’s massive right hand is nearly twice as large as his left, and when push comes to shove, you’d pity anyone that’s gets in his way. Smith’s only friends in the world are a fellow orphan and low-rent black gangster nicknamed Bootsy, and a Asian femme fatale known as Ring-a-Ling. In a world of crime, passion, and a touch of the fantastic, they will attempt to change organized crime…or die trying.

“From the first moment I sat down with Ed at an LA coffee shop and heard him talk about Dock Walloper, I knew we were gonna create something really cool and unique,” said Gotham Chopra, Virgin Comics Chief Creative Officer. “Ed’s intensive involvement already up to this point in the development of that actual comic and now having Jimmy Palmiotti doing the writing on the series insures that the industry is about to change forever.”

9 COMMENTS

  1. Why is that press release so confusingly written?

    First, it says Burns (shudder) is creating a new series of comic books. So, I would assume he’s creating multiple titles. BUT NO, he’s just writing one.

    Then it says the now just one “series” is going to be a 144 page book. So, what the hell is this? A graphic novel or a serialized book? Ay yi yi.

  2. He’ll be able a hack in a completely different medium!

    The guy literally has a big hand? “low-rent black gangster nicknamed Bootsy, and a[sic] Asian femme fatale known as Ring-a-Ling”?

    Jesus.

  3. Wow, you guys think he’s a hack? Did you see the Brother’s McMullen or She’s the One? I don’t understand how you can’t think this guy’s pretty great.

    Oh well. I’m psyched. Que sera sera.

  4. Ed burns is a coke snorting, model f**king douchebag who made one slightly watchable movie once and has been coasting on that for over a decade. Is that too harsh?
    When did Palmiotti start only being referred to as a legend in press releases. Neither Heroes for Hire nor Battle for Bludhaven were anywhere near legendary.
    Jack Kirby is a legend. Let’s learn to use that word when appropriate.

  5. LOL…I saw that and laughed as well…so I understand the post jonnynyc.

    i’m too young, havent done the legend work yet and hope to live long…but how can you say bludhaven wasnt legendary…it was, just not in that ” good legend” way…lol.

    hey,I dont write these things…I prefer ” brooklyn’s own”

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