INCOGNITO Optioned by Fox

Despite falling short of box office expectations and a controversial subject matter, (people don’t like murderous schoolchildren as much originally thought) Kick-Ass is still making its fair share of coin. Naturally, studios are combing through nearly every creator-owned comic property to find the next hit. Lucky for us, Incognito by artist Sean Phillips and Marvel’s best writer: Ed Brubaker, is being optioned by Fox and a screenplay is in the works. Incognito was a six-issue miniseries released late 2008-2009 tat tells the story of Zack Overkill, former super villain placed in witness protection. Overkill sends his mundane life getting high, until he learns his superpowers have returned to him, and he decides to pursue the life of a vigilante instead of a criminal. Incognito is sort of a sister story to Brubaker and Phillips’ Wildstorm book Sleeper, and both are excellent stories; rife with tons of action, great pacing and flying cars. Splashpage has this little gem of information:

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips‘ "Incognito" is coming out of hiding thanks to 20th Century Fox.

Deadline reports that Fox has acquired the screen rights for the comic book series written by Brubaker and illustrated by Phillips. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan will write the screenplay, with Chernin Entertainment’s Peter Chernin and Circle of Confusion’s David Engel producing.

"Incognito" focuses on Zack Overkill, a super strong ex-villain who goes into witness protection after selling out his boss, The Black Death. He quickly tires of his civilian life and becomes a vigilante, inadvertently drawing the attention and ire of a vengeful Black Death.

"He’s not your typical villain and I was trying to blend the trappings of pulp, comic and noir genres," Brubaker said of "Incognito" in an interview with Deadline. "Zack was raised to be his world’s equivalent of a supervillain. We’ve all seen the story of a good person who goes undercover and gets corrupted. This is a bad person forced to live among regular people, and how he’s affected by that. He once ran around with a mask, but now he’s got the fake name and the fake job. My goal was to have you rooting for him as he grows a conscience."

It was previously announced that Brubaker and Phillips’ "Sleeper" comic book series would be adapted by Sam Raimi and Tom Cruise. Nearly a year has passed since the latest "Sleeper" update stating that a new writer would tackle the screenplay.

"Incognito" is published through Marvel Comics’ Icon imprint, the same imprint that publishes Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.’s "Kick-Ass."

Rad. Brubaker and Phillips are one of the best teams in comics today Incognito, Sleeper and Criminal are all excellent reads, and I know FOX doesn’t have the best track record, but if this gives Brubaker and Phillips a big ass check and let them continue to make excellent comics that’s fine by me. Anything that can give a boost to Brubaker, Phillips, Ennis, Dillon, Azzarello, Millar, Risso and Fraction is a plus in my book, an even bigger plus if they adapt a project and adapt it well. But for me, it’s the comics that matter the most, I love Batman Begins, but I’ve read Year One way more often than I’ve seen the movie.

And now for the bullshit, according to Splashpage’s twitter report Brubaker has seen his fair share of animosity on them interwebs in regards to this news, he had this to, uh tweet:

 "Incognito" pt. 1: @brubaker Boy, you think comics internet people are rude sometimes, have a movie deal announced and you learn where the real ugliness lies. Damn.
-Ed Brubaker, Writer ("Captain America," "Incognito")

"Incognito" pt. 2: @brubaker Of course, it’s a really good problem to have, being accused of being a rip-off of My Name is Earl… didn’t see that one coming.

What dicks, dude gets a huge break, and people want to hate him for it; it’s like success is some sort of poison. As it’s already painfully evident, I’m pleased with this news and will make sure B!K is kept up to speed on any goings on with this project.