The Indiana Jones franchise refuses to be put out of its misery, with Marvel announcing a new comic book series, Indiana Jones and the Sword of Pandemonium, at Comic-Con. Because what the world really needed was another Indiana Jones story. The series, written by Jason Aaron and illustrated by Aaron Kuder, is being billed as a sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark, set shortly after the events of the film and featuring both Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood.
This is not the first time Marvel has dipped its toes into the Indiana Jones franchise. Back in the 1980s, the company published a series of comics concurrent with the release of the original films. The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones series was launched by John Byrne and later featured illustrations by Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko. But after the series wound down, Marvel lost the license, and it wasn’t until Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm that the door was opened for Marvel to once again produce Indiana Jones comics.
According to Jason Aaron, Sword of Pandemonium picks up where Raiders of the Lost Ark left off, with Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood facing off against new enemies and embarking on globe-trotting adventures. Because, you know, the world was just missing that. On Marvel.com, Aaron is quoted as saying, “This is the Indy of Raiders of the Lost Ark, fresh off his harrowing experience on the island of Geheimhaven. Dark events were set in motion that day, strange new enemies have risen from the shadows, and for Indy and Marion Ravenwood the globe-trotting, punching, whip-cracking, and death-defying escapades, not to mention the archaeology, have just begun.”
The Never-Ending Story
It’s worth noting that this is far from the first Indiana Jones comic book series. For years, Dark Horse held the license and published numerous miniseries featuring the character. And let’s not forget the various other media in which Indiana Jones has appeared, including video games, novels, and even a theme park attraction. It’s a testament to the enduring popularity of the franchise, and a reminder that, no matter how hard we might wish it, Indiana Jones is never going away.
The release of Sword of Pandemonium is just the latest example of Hollywood’s annual Nostalgia Harvest, where studios dig up old franchises and dust them off for a new generation. And why not? It’s a proven formula, after all. Take a beloved character, add some flashy new graphics and a few winks to the audience, and voila! You’ve got yourself a hit. Or, at the very least, a moderately successful comic book series that will inevitably be adapted into a film or TV show.
The Merchandising Opportunities Are Endless
But let’s be real, the real reason Indiana Jones and the Sword of Pandemonium exists is because of the merchandising opportunities. I mean, who wouldn’t want to buy a bunch of Indiana Jones-themed comic books, toys, and clothing? It’s a marketing department’s dream come true. And with the Disney machine behind it, you can bet that Sword of Pandemonium will be everywhere, from the comic book store to the grocery store checkout line.
Indiana Jones and the Sword of Pandemonium goes on sale on December 9, just in time for the holiday season. So, if you’re looking for a gift for the Indiana Jones fan in your life, look no further. And who knows, maybe this will be the start of a beautiful new franchise, one that will be milked for all it’s worth over the next few decades. After all, as the saying goes, “you can’t keep a good franchise down.” Especially not when there are merchandising opportunities to be had.
As the entertainment industry continues to mistake familiarity for originality, it’s comforting to know that Indiana Jones will be around to remind us of the good old days. And by “good old days,” I mean the days when Hollywood actually took risks on new and interesting stories, rather than relying on tired old franchises to carry the load. But hey, at least we’ll always have Indiana Jones, right? Somewhere, a Focus Group is earning another bonus, and the Content Mines remain fully operational.
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
