Gravel is the name given to a series of limited and ongoing series by Warren Ellis, illustrated by Mike Wolfer and published by Avatar Press.

Gravel
Cover of Gravel: Never A Dull Day HC, art by Mike Wolfer.
Character information
First appearanceStrange Kiss (1999)
Created byWarren Ellis
Mike Wolfer
In-story information
Full nameWilliam Gravel
Publication information
PublisherAvatar Press
Title(s)
Strange Kiss
Stranger Kisses
Strange Killings
Strange Killings: Body Orchard
Strange Killings: Strong Medicine
Strange Killings: Necromancer
Gravel
FormatsOriginal material for the series has been published as a set of ongoing series and limited series.
Genre
Publication dateNovember 1999 – present
Main character(s)William Gravel
Creative team
Writer(s)Warren Ellis
Mike Wolfer
Artist(s)Mike Wolfer
Raulo Cáceres
Reprints
Collected editions
Never a Dull DayISBN 1-59291-050-5
Bloody LiarsISBN 159291070X
The Major SevenISBN 1592910823
The Last King of EnglandISBN 1592910823

A number of different limited series have been published under the Strange Killings banner, all of which centred on British 'combat magician' William Gravel. Most recently these series were republished under the Gravel name, followed by the launch of a new series, Gravel.

Publication history

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Gravel initially appeared in the Strange Kiss limited series, which was followed by a sequel, Stranger Kisses. The third series was titled Strange Killings, which remained the name for the subsequent limited series, until the latest ongoing series called Gravel.[1] With Gravel, Wolfer became the co-author with Raulo Cáceres joining as the first of what has been described as a "revolving team" of artists.[2]

Collected editions

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The series have been collected into their own trade paperbacks but there is also a signed limited edition hardcover which collects the older series in one volume:

  • Gravel: Never A Dull Day (576 pages, August 2008, ISBN 1-59291-050-5) collects:
    • Strange Kiss (3-issue mini-series, 1999, tpb, 72 pages, 2001, ISBN 0-9706784-0-1)
    • Stranger Kisses (3-issue mini-series, 2001, tpb, 72 pages, 2001, ISBN 0-9706784-4-4)
    • Strange Killings (3-issue mini-series, 2002, tpb, 72 pages, 2003, ISBN 1-59291-000-9)
    • Strange Killings: Body Orchard (6-issue mini-series, 2002–2003, tpb, 144 pages, 2003, ISBN 1-59291-013-0)
    • Strange Killings: Strong Medicine (3-issue mini-series, 2003, tpb, 72 pages, 2004, ISBN 1-59291-024-6)
    • Strange Killings: Necromancer (6-issue mini-series, 2004, tpb, 144 pages, 2006, ISBN 1-59291-033-5)
  • Gravel (December 2007 – 2010, 21 issues) collected as:
  • Gravel: Combat Magician (4-issue mini-series, 2013–2014)

Film

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A movie adaptation was planned by Legendary Pictures, with Rick Alexander penciled in as producer and Warren Ellis writing the first draft as well as being executive producer.[3] Mike Wolfer was interviewed at New York Comic Con in 2010 and said his preferred actor would be Daniel Craig.[4] Tim Miller was considered to direct the film while Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cornwell had been brought in to work on the script.[5] As of June 2015, no further development on the film has been announced.

Notes

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  1. ^ The Minor Seven: Ellis & Wolfer talk "Gravel", Comic Book Resources, 13 November 2007
  2. ^ GRAVEL artist Raulo Caceres talks about Ellis, Wolfer, and their upcoming series with Avatar, Avatar Press
  3. ^ Graser, Marc (8 October 2009). "Legendary digs 'Gravel'". Variety. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  4. ^ Dowd, Tim (13 October 2010). "NY Comic Con 2010: Mike Wolfer Interview on Gravel". bleedingcool.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  5. ^ Fleming, Mike (15 March 2012). "VFX Wiz Tim Miller Digs in to Helm 'Gravel' For Legendary Pictures". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 March 2012.

References

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Interviews

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Reviews

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