{
  "id": 889804,
  "title": "How Comic Book Writer Tom King Made the Leap to Prestige TV With HBO’s ‘Lanterns’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/how-comic-book-writer-tom-king-made-the-leap-to-prestige-tv-with-hbos",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-14T17:07:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/lanterns-tom-king-interview-supergirl-mister-miracle/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tom King, the comic book writer behind the hit series \"Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,\" recently found himself in a somewhat unique position. Just weeks prior to the release of his HBO series \"Lanterns,\" his own 2021 comic adaptation had underperformed at the box office, garnering critical backlash. Meanwhile, King was in the midst of preparing for the premiere of his animated series \"Mister Miracle\" at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.\n\nDespite the setbacks, King expressed gratitude for the success of \"Supergirl,\" noting that the comic's grassroots popularity helped it gain traction and become one of the bestselling comics of all time. He praised the fans who championed the book and appreciated the recognition he received for his work.\n\nKing's HBO series, \"Lanterns,\" is set to debut amidst a challenging period for DC Entertainment. Several proposed projects involving James Gunn and Peter Safran, including a new \"Wonder Woman\" series and a \"Peacemaker\" spinoff, have not come to fruition. \"Lanterns,\" initially envisioned as a grand crossover spanning animation, live-action, and video games, aims to attract a broader audience drawn to the sophisticated storytelling of HBO's acclaimed shows.\n\nKing, a former CIA operative and multitasker, is well-equipped to handle the demands of his current projects. Starting as a comic book enthusiast within a writers room at DC Studios, King proposed the concept of a \"Green Lantern\" series, likening it to a gritty \"Training Day\"/\"True Detective\" cop show. His pitch was eventually approved, and King was given the opportunity to bring his vision to life.",
  "summary": "The show's co-creator explains how he, Damon Lindelof and Chris Mundy created a \"True Detective\" riff on superheroes — and gets candid on \"Supergirl\" The post How Comic Book Writer Tom King Made the Leap to Prestige TV With HBO’s ‘Lanterns’ appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [
    "Tom King, comic book writer of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, pivoted to HBO’s Lanterns",
    "Lanterns aims to blend animation, live-action, and video games for broader audience appeal",
    "King’s background as a CIA operative equips him for the multifaceted demands of his projects"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}