As Sneak Peek reported July 2007, Warner Bros will produce a feature film adaptation of the DC Comics 'weird western' cowboy hero "Jonah Hex".Actor Josh Brolin will star in a screenplay written by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor of "Crank" fame, who will also co-direct.
The film is being produced by Andrew Lazar’s Mad Chance (currently in Vancouver, producing "Cats & Dogs" sequel "Kitty Galore") and Akiva Goldsman, who last produced "Hancock".
'Jonah Hex' debuted in DC Comics "All-Star Western" (#10, 1972), retitled "Weird Western Tales" afer issue #12. The character received its own title "Jonah Hex" in 1977, for 92 issues with stories by Michael Fleisher.
In 1985, Jonah Hex appeared in the title "Hex" for 18 issues, also written by Fleisher, with a new premise transporting him to the 21st century as a post-apocalyptic 'Mad Max' - type warrior.
Three "Jonah Hex" mini-series were then published under DC's Vertigo imprint, written by Joe R. Lansdale and illustrated by Tim Truman, going back to the charcter's 'weird western' origins. November 2005, DC began a more 'adult' monthly "Jonah Hex" series written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti with interior art by Luke Ross.
His prominent facial burn can be traced back to being sold into slavery by his father to the Apache. After Jonah saves the chief from being killed by a mountain lion, he is made an honorary member of the tribe, but betrayed by the son of the chief while on a raid, returning years later to challenge him in a sacred tomahawk battle. When the chief's son sabotages Jonah's tomahawk, Jonah is forced to using a knife. The tribe saw this as breaking the rules of battle and sentences him to wear the 'mark of the demon' by pressing a searing hot tomahawk to his face.
In 1904, Jonah was shot during a card game, with his corpse subsequently stolen, stuffed, mounted, dressed and put on display in a traveling circus. The body would pass through various hands before being acquired by the restaurant "Planet Krypton"...
