Current DC Comics President and former iconicX-MenartistJim Lee almost helmed aDuneadaptation for Wildstorm Comics in the 1990s, but the project fell through; decades later, it stands out as one of the major “What If?” questions of the past thirty years of comic book history, especially now that Dune has gone mainstream.
Frank Herbert’s monumental sci-fi novelDune, which turned sixty this year, took over half-a-century and several tries to get “right” on screen; similarly, its comic book history is complicated, and arguably, the franchise hasn’t fully taken advantage of the medium.
A Wildstorm comic adaptation ofDunein the 1990s could have changed that, but unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be.
Legendary Artist And Author Jim Lee Worked On A “Dune” Comic Series In The 1990s
Development on Wildstorm’sDuneDidn’t Get Far
Information about theDunecomic adaptation Jim Lee worked on in the ‘90s is scarce; all that remains of the project are a few pieces of concept art circulating on the internet, and the people involved, which also included artist Brian Haberlin, have said little to nothing about the potential series. Let alone why it never got off the ground.
However, this was neither the first unrealizedDunecomic, nor the last. Marvel produced a three-issue adaptation of David Lynch’s infamousDunefilm in the 1980s, and Legendary Comics did the same for Villenueve’s version. In recent years, publisherBoom! Studios has adaptedtheofficial prequel novels written by Frank Herbert’s son, but a faithful adaptation of the original novel remains elusive.
Jim Lee’s work on the relaunchedX-Menin 1991-1992 solidified him as a superstar in the comic book industry;X-Men#1, written by Chris Claremont and Lee, with art by Lee, remains the highest selling single issue of a comic ever.
That is why, as little as fans of the franchise have to go on, in regard to Jim Lee’s 1990sDuneproject,it is intriguing to imagine what it would have amounted to, and how it might have added to the cultural legacy ofDuneover the past three decades, culminating in Denis Villenueve’s film.
How A ’90s Dune Comic Could Have Helped Shape The Future Of The Franchise
Considering A Comic Book Counterfactual
Like any “What If?” scenario, there are ripple effects that can be theorized about, including what impact it might have had onDune’scinematic trajectory. That is, it is not outrageous to suggest thata ‘90sDunecomic could have had an influence on the look of subsequent live-actionDuneadaptations, changing the aesthetic of the film audiences eventually got.
It is unknown how artists like Jim Lee, Brian Haberlin, and anybody else who might have worked on Wildstorm’sDunemight have elaborated on the iconography of Frank Herbert’s fictional future universe.
In the concept art that can be found from Wildstorm’s abandonedDuneproject, Paul Atreides is depicted in a Fremen stillsuit, itself very similar to that envisioned by David Lynch in hisDunemovie, a design that is widely considered among the standout parts of an otherwise divisive film. Later, Denis Villenueve’sDunewould largely stick with this look.
Beyond that, however, it is unknown how artists like Jim Lee, Brian Haberlin, and anybody else who might have worked on Wildstorm’sDunemight have elaborated on the iconography of Frank Herbert’s fictional future universe, which is conceptually innovative, but didn’t necessarily come with lush descriptive details attached, leaving plenty of room for interpretation.
Jim Lee Was A Perfect Fit For “Dune” In The 1990s, But The Project Didn’t Pan Out
Only Traces Of Wildstorm’s UnrealizedDuneRemain
On a storytelling level, the originalDunenovel is very clear on “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” and “why,” but when it comes to adaptation, the question of “how” hasalways beenDune’s great challenge. This is why it took decades, one nearly-incomprehensible film, and an early aughts miniseries before the story was able to be satisfyingly captured on screen.
It would seem thatthe comic book medium would offer the perfect alternative to the screen for adaptingDune, which is why it is surprising one has never materialized. Comic fans familiar with Jim Lee’s work, as an artist and an author, including his era-defining early ‘90sX-Menwork, know that he would have produced an unforgettableDuneseries.
Jim Lee was a natural choice to bringDuneto comics in the 1990s, and the fact that series was never produced ultimately leaves fans with more questions than answers, and will have them pondering the potential alternate history of theDunefranchise, hadX-Men’sJim Lee been able to realize a comic version thirty years ago.
