Patterson goes graphic

James Patterson is extending his brand into graphic novels, with Daniel X: Alien Hunter due from Century in October. Patterson, who already authors crime and romance titles, and the Maximum Ride series for children, is writing the graphic novel in collaboration with artist Leopoldo Gout from New York production company Curious Pictures.

The book (hardback, £9.99) will follow on from the launch of Patterson’s Dan X brand in July, when the novel The Dangerous Days of Daniel X is published. The story is about a boy dedicated to hunting down aliens, in particular the one who murdered his parents, and it will be available in both an adult edition from Century and in an edition for younger readers from Doubleday Children’s Books. The graphic novel will come in one edition only. Patterson will go on to produce one Dan X novel a year, but only one single graphic novel is planned at present.

Helen Clark, Patterson brand manager, said the graphic novel would “appeal to fans of the already hugely popular Maximum Ride series, as well as lovers of classic sci-fi hero Doctor Who and blockbusters such as ‘Men in Black’ and ‘Spider-Man’ ”.

She added: “James Patterson has his own company, James Patterson Entertainment, dedicated to growing the Patterson brand, their ethos being that James Patterson is entertainment that just happens to be books. The graphic novel is just one of many projects in development, which include TV series (such as ‘The Women’s Murder Club’) and films based on the popular Alex Cross and Maximum Ride series.”