According to a report today from the “Comic Book Resources” website, MacGyver creator Lee David Zlotoff has teamed up with Doctor Who comic writer Tony Lee and artist Becky Cloonan for a project to create a 5 issue comic book mini-series by Image Comics called ”MacGyver: Fugitive Gauntlet”.
According to Tony Lee, Zlotoff has been involved in the whole process from the very start. He’s had his hand in every aspect of the comic books creation.
Lee has also indicated that this will be the same MacGyver we know from the TV show and will have the same likeness to Richard Dean Anderson.
“We were happy to do whatever Lee suggested, and he was actually very interested in modernizing the character in the same way that Superman or Batman are ageless,” Lee said. “It’s the same MacGyver but in a more contemporary setting. But don’t worry, he’ll still be creating his gadgets. Lee’s even convinced John [Potter], the guy who created the original ideas, to come on board, and we’ll be throwing him a wealth of problems to solve.”
When asked about the plot CBR reports that Lee was very reluctant to divulge much about the story, but did manage to pry some details from him.
“I don’t want to give too much away, but there’s a gauntlet that MacGyver has to run, and he does it as a fugitive, hence the title,” Lee said. “Let’s just say that someone with an axe to grind decides to play a game with him. He has to live out a week while every hitman in town is after him. A seven million dollar bounty is on his head, and every day it drops by a million. So the hit men have it in their best interests to kill him quick, and he has it in his best interest to run out the clock. But at the same time, he has to find out why this person wants him dead and what the true story is here.”
Lee also indicated that they have used their own new logo, mainly due to copyright on the original logo, but also because they considered that if they are modernizing MacGyver, they might as well do everything.
Read the full CBR news item and interview here.
Discuss this news in our forum
July 26th, 2011 - 7:13 am
what does a retired tv scribe know about writing comics? not much i’d say given the lousy title. leave well anough alone
July 26th, 2011 - 1:12 pm
Lee might be new to comics, but as a #1 New York Times Bestselling Graphic Novelist, I might have an idea or two on it, okay?
July 27th, 2011 - 9:27 am
Hey Peter,
Tony Lee has and is involved in some very successful comic series, including Dr. Who, X-Men Unlimited, Starship Troopers and Spider-Man.
So to answer your question of what does he know about writing comics? A hell of a lot!
Combine his writing experience with the fact that Tony is a long time fan of MacGyver AND he’s working with the original creator of MacGyver and we have an almost no-lose situation.
July 30th, 2011 - 1:23 am
I was referring to the creator (zlotoff) not knowing anything about writing comics, not Tony Lee. Obviously Tony Lee knows a thing or two about it! Meant no dis to you Mr. Tony Lee.
August 4th, 2011 - 11:01 am
No worries, Peter. I’m expecting a lot of suspicion on the level of quality here. But basically, the plot is solid.
MacGyver is phoned up by a yet unknown enemy with an axe to grind. He is told that a $7,000,000 bounty has been placed on his head, and twenty hitmen have accepted. And it’s time to play a game.
Every 24 hours that MacGyver stays alive? The bounty drops by $1,000,000. Last seven days and the bounty is dropped.
Sounds easy, right? No. Because the twenty hitmen have all met MacGyver in the past and take this personally. And there’s a girl who’s caught up in the ride that he has to keep safe. And he still doesn’t know who put the hit out on him.
And the game started six hours ago…
August 5th, 2011 - 8:15 am
Hey Tony, it is a solid sounding plot. I know you (not personally of course) but your talent, and that gives me hope! It’s the other Lee (zlotoff) who doesn’t fill me with confidence. So…keep your hand on the rudder!…and have fun! We probably will when you’re done.
August 8th, 2011 - 1:27 pm
I am just excited that MacGyver will be back at all! The plot sounds like it’s gonna be a lot of fun! And I’m sure we’ll see many “surprise” guest stars along the way! I simply cannot wait! When can we expect to see some art work?!?
August 18th, 2011 - 4:49 pm
As a long time running fan of Richard Dean Anderson and MacGyver, I’m glad someone is keeping the character alive, such a great concept barely exists in today’s society, so it’s nice to know that the character will live on long after fans like me are pushing up daisies! :) Thanks Tony and David for pushing for this – I’m not overly familiar of Comic books or Tony’s works but as an avid fan of MacGyver it will be the one and only collection of comic books I would buy and I know i will thoroughly enjoy them. So thank you very much for creating the comic books and I look forward to reading them.
Kind regards
Cindy
August 18th, 2011 - 11:25 pm
[...] duck taped head lamps to their helmets for hands free lighting proving they are resourceful like MacGyver. Lava Beds proved to be one of the better vacations we’ve had. Though we are headed to [...]
September 6th, 2011 - 1:30 am
[...] fans (what these two guys can accomplish with duct tape and a sonic screwdriver is just amazing), MacGyver Online reports a five comic book mini-series, MacGyver: Fugitive Gauntlet written by Tony Lee with artist [...]
September 6th, 2011 - 1:30 am
[...] fans (what these two guys can accomplish with duct tape and a sonic screwdriver is just amazing), MacGyver Online reports a five comic book mini-series, MacGyver: Fugitive Gauntlet written by Tony Lee with artist [...]
November 5th, 2011 - 3:40 am
been awafully quiet on the comic and movie front. wonder if their RIP?
November 6th, 2011 - 6:49 am
There probably isn’t much to report as they are just getting on with the process to make sure the comics are ready on time.
I shot a message off to Tony last night asking him how it was going. So if he has a chance to reply with any information I’ll update as i can.