The time is finally right to bring the Wild Cards book series to TV. The market is ripe for a TV show based on the shared-universe book series that fans have followed since 1987. The fact that there has not been any announcement about discussions for bringing a TV series to fruition should cause fans who have waited to see their favorite characters humanized to speak up.
What is the Wild Cards Series?
In late 2012, the 22nd book in the Wild Cards book series will be published. The series collects stories from various authors and has created a living world very different from our own. The series is edited by George R.R. Martin, the creator of the book series "Game of Thrones." The series has collected works from some of the top science fiction authors such as Robert Zelazny, Howard Waldrop, Chris Claremont, and Martin.
Wild Card Virus
In the series, an alien virus is unleashed on Manhattan in 1946 that affects people in different ways. The virus does not affect most people, but those who are "pull various cards from the deck." People who "draw the Joker" gain some type of horrendous mutation from growing a trunk to turning into a dog to transforming into sentient ooze. Someone who "draws an Ace" gain a superhuman power like the ability to fly or superhuman strength. "Drawing a deuce" will give someone a useless power like the ability to grow hair at will while "the Black Queen" will cause someone to die in an amazing way such as by disintegrating, by melting like a candle, or by combusting.
Pulling It Off
One of the favored characters in the series is ninth-grader Croyd Crenson, also known as Sleeper, who pulls a different card every time he goes to sleep. The series could follow his exploits as he deals with a new superhuman power or Joker-related disability every few episodes. His struggle of dealing with using his powers for good or crime, which usually happens, could keep fans interested.
Dr. Tachyon, the alien who studies the impacts of the virus, could be followed as he investigates a different case every episode. At one point in the series, the government pushes to have all "Aces" registered so the show could also follow government agents searching for the latest superhuman. The show could take a tone of "The X-Files" or "The 4400" in introducing a new type of fantastic character every episode to keep the series fresh and keep fans wondering from each episode to the next about which character from the Wild Cards series will be introduced next.
Why?
"Game of Thrones" has made Martin a hot commodity so it would make sense to explore one of his other major products. "The Walking Dead," "Arrow," and the upcoming new version of "The Incredible Hulk" prove there is a market for comic book-based TV shows. A show based on a book series based on superheroes would be a natural transition for the market. The post-apocalyptic zombie show, "Grimm," and "American Horror Story" have proven how people are interested in shows about the weird so the Wild Cards series can fit into multiple markets at the same time. It is finally time for the fans to be heard.
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