DC Comics is releasing an Arrow comic exploring Malcolm Merlyn’s past.
Arrow: The Dark Archer, which will be released digitally first, is being written by John Barrowman and his sister Carole. It is set between Arrow‘s third and fourth seasons. However, it will also explore the character’s background prior to Arrow, such as how he met his wife and where his wealth comes from.
Beginning January 13, DC Comics will release 12 chapters on a bi-weekly schedule. The chapters will then be collected into a single print edition at a later time.
Speaking with TVInsider, John Barrowman says the comic “began with a pitch for an entirely different comic. My sister and I are both comic fans and a couple of years ago we came across a description of a team of DC superheroes from the 1950s that have been lost to history. We came up with a story to update them into a contemporary series.
“I went to Geoff Johns, chief creative officer at DC Comics, and pitched the idea to his team. While we were chatting, I mentioned Carole and I would love to write Malcolm’s backstory too.”
With the Barrowman siblings having written “six books, a couple of screenplays” together, Johns gave them the go-ahead to work on Malcolm’s story, though Arrow executive producers Marc Guggenheim “got involved at that point to make sure our ideas would work within the series’ canon.”
Carole Barrowman says “there wasn’t very much” written about Malcolm Merlyn. “We discovered he didn’t have much of a backstory except for a couple of intriguing details” such as Malcolm having “at least one other identity.” She adds that “his slightly vague and sinister past gave us lots of creative room to play around in.”
John Barrowman reveals, “I’ve had a backstory in my head for Malcolm from the beginning and a lot of it has made its way into our comic and onto the screen. I think it’s always been my job to help the audience relate to Malcolm in some way despite his questionable morals and evil ways.”
Arrow: The Dark Archer will be available beginning January 13 through the DC Comics App, readdcentertainment.com, iBooks, comixology.com, Google Play, Kindle Store, Nook Store, and iVerse ComicsPlus.
Source: TVInsider
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