Though we all know the story of how King Arthur pulled Excalibur from the stone, comics heavyweight Frank Miller and writer Thomas Wheeler are teaming up to tell the tale from a new perspective.
Cursed, a young adult graphic novel from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, follows Nimue, the teenaged girl who wielded the legendary sword before Arthur and would go on to become the Lady of the Lake.
An illustration from Cursed.Illustration: Frank Miller (Simon & Schuster)
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Miller, who is illustrating the book, explained how he wanted to unpack the complexities and layers of Nimue’s narrative identity:
“I have always been entranced by the mythological Arthur story – and by Nimue, in particular. It can be interpreted in any number of ways — from a delightful children’s story, as in The Sword in the Stone, to a terrifying interpretation like Excalibur.
This tale represents an incredible opportunity and an exciting challenge for me as an illustrator, and I’m excited to collaborate on the story with Thomas Wheeler. I inherited a collection of antique children’s books from my mother, and I’ve always wanted to have a crack at it myself. This project is a dream come true.”
As Nimue journeys through a magical forest, she becomes the leader of a growing rebellion against the treacherous king of the realm and befriends a young Arthur on the way. Cursed is the graphic novel’s working title currently, but its official name should be finalised before it hits stores next fall.
[Syfy]