Introduction

So, let’s talk about the wild world of comic book adaptations, shall we? Buckle up because we’re diving into the shadowy corners of DC Comics, where George R.R. Martin had his fingers in the proverbial pie, and it’s more twisted than you might think.

The Peacemaker Finale: A New Beginning?

In the final moments of the latest season of Peacemaker, James Gunn dropped a bombshell that shook the superhero universe. Guess what? ARGUS head honcho Rick Flag Sr. has a plan to send all those pesky metahumans packing to a weird land called Salvation. Sounds like a vacation, right? But no! It turns out it’s more like exile and it sets the stage for the upcoming film Man of Tomorrow.

Salvation Run: The Original Genesis

But hold on to your capes! The concept of Salvation wasn’t just plucked out of thin air. Nope, it goes back to the mind of Martin himself. Way back in 2007, Martin had a grand vision sitting in his proverbial drawer and he was all set to unleash it upon the world.

The Dark Origins of Exiles in Paradise

Quick rewind! Back when Salvation Run #1 was hitting the shelves, Martin and his buddy John Jos pitched a series titled Exiles in Paradise to DC. Imagine this: a group of supervillains is scooped up and transported to an isolated planet—no return ticket, just the great unknown. Oh, and the backdrop? Australia! Because why not?

Chaos and Redemption

From what Martin described, it sounds like a reality show gone wrong. The plan included dramas that unfolded over decades! Characters die, get married, have kids—basically, it’s a soap opera meets superhero smackdown. Good villains might find redemption, but others? Well, they were just destined for doom. A true Martin-style bloodbath, if you ask me.

Too Dark for DC?

But here’s the kicker: even though they branded it as an Elseworlds tale (you know, comic book speak for “this doesn’t really count”), DC freaked out over the grimness of it all. Martin revealed that as they dove into the plot, it became darker than a stormy night in Winterfell. Imagine villains biting the dust left and right—yikes!

The Plot Thickens

As fate would have it, the ambitious project was shelved for ages until DC’s then-editor Dan Didio had a eureka moment to bring it back—slightly reimagined, of course. Martin was thrilled! But just because your dream gets revived doesn’t mean it’s safe. Despite being a fan of unpredictable stories, the bold ideas still scared DC into handing the reins to someone else.

The Legacy That Wasn’t

For years, Martin and Jos’s original ideas were hidden from the light of day, thought to be too scandalous for our beloved superheroes. But fast forward to now, and there’s a new king in the castle: James Gunn! He’s shown us that a little boundary pushing can lead to some blockbuster releases—who says there can’t be a bit of blood and chaos?

So, What’s Next?

As we gear up for Man of Tomorrow hitting theaters in 2027, will we see any remnants of Martin’s original pitch that made comic book executives quiver in their boots? Only time will tell, but whatever happens, it’s going to be a ride worth taking!