ABSTRACT
In late 2004, Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan, Global Frequency, Planetary) launched an intriguing project-a series of one-shot comics, each representing the fi rst issue of imaginary comics series. Each was set in a different genre-Stomp Future (science fi ction), Simon Spector (supernatural), Quit City (aviator), Frank Ironwine (detective). In the back of each book, Ellis explains: “Years ago I sat down and thought about what adventure comics might’ve looked like today if superhero comics hadn’t have happened. If, in fact, the pulp tradition of Weird Thrillers had jumped straight into comics form without mutating into the superhero subgenre we know today. If you took away preconceptions about design and the dominant single form . . . If you blanked out the last sixty years” (Ellis 2005).
