A-Musing: Comics Writers as Film Directors

This was something I put together a while back after watching Jurassic Park and realising how similar it is to a Geoff Johns story (I refuse to explain further). I posted it on a few message boards and figured I might as well stick it up here too.

Geoff Johns/Steven Spielberg – Both recognised as maestros of their separate crafts, and in both cases it is well deserved. They know how to create memorable moments that stay with you forever, whether complex or simplistic, and they can tell the shiz out of a good story. Not to mention the fact that they have both been responsible for some of fiction's most iconic heroes.

James Robinson/Quentin Tarantino – One word comes to mind when thinking of these creators: Effortless. And that is by no means an insult. They both handle multiple-character stories brilliantly, getting across who each of these people are without beating you over the head about it. They can also put together a story perfectly, like a brick wall, but aren't afraid to throw in a few tricks too, all without breaking a sweat.

Alan Moore/Orson Welles – It's easy to go with the "Watchmen is Citizen Kane" comparison, but there's a reason that's so often said. Moore did for comics what Welles did for film; elevating the medium into a recognised creative art form. And despite their overnight successes, neither of them was a one-hit wonder; both delving into a variety of different genres without losing their touch.

Mark Millar/Michael Bay – Nobody punches you in the balls of your face quite like these guys. It's all about awesome action from beginning to end, and Bay and Millar do not disappoint. Anyone looking for any soft-ass discussions about "feelings" and "motivations" better look elsewhere.

Grant Morrison/David Lynch – Experimental. Chaotic order. Symbolism. Ordered chaos. High-concept.  Plot? If you can understand what I'm saying, then you're probably a fan of at least one of these guys.

Mark Waid/James Cameron – Old-school, known for excellent classics, but not afraid to try new things.

Robert Kirkman/Edgar Wright – Again, the comparison between The Walking Dead and Shaun of the Dead seems too easy, but is very apt. Both have a very comedic style and both take on various different genres, without resorting to easy parody.

Frank Miller/Clint Eastwood – Ignoring Frank Miller's own film career (for the best), both these guys are unashamed remnants of a bygone era, but are not necessarily archaic.

Keith Giffen/Guy Ritchie – Teams of unlikely misfits who don't get on? Non-stop story momentum? Gritty, down-to-earth action sequences? Hilarious tough guy dialogue? You got it!

Jeph Loeb/M. Night Shyamalan – They've both had some hits in the past, but have now degraded into mediocre predictability.

Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray/Andy and Larry Wachowski – They always collaborate together on awesome-yet-character-driven action-fests, but no-one's sure if they're real, or just one person masquerading as two.

Judd Winick/J.J. Abrams – Everyone hates them for no particular reason, but they're both pretty damn good.

Denny O'Neil/Christopher Nolan – They made Batman good again. I'm scraping the barrel now.

Kevin Smith/Kevin Smith – See?

That's all I can think of for now, but feel free to offer suggestions.