Antony Johnston to Co-Write an Arc of Daredevil with Andy Diggle

This news item actually broke a few days ago, but I’ve been a little distracted from the site this week, with lots of other commitments vying for my attention. However, I couldn’t let this one pass by without commenting on it.

In short, Antony Johnston has been announced as a co-writer on Daredevil #505-507 (“Left Hand Path”) with current series writer, Andy Diggle. According to Johnston, he and Diggle have wanted to work together on something for a long time, and now they finally have the chance.

Rich Johnston has a bit more on this over at Bleedingcool, with quotes from both Andy and Antony about how pleased they are to be finally working together. Apparently, Andy asked Marvel if I he could bring in Antony as a co-writer for the 3-issue arc, as he needed to catch up with his deadlines .

Antony Johnston is one of my favourite writers, and I am a huge fan of his work on Wasteland, Dead Space, and his multiple adaptations of Alan Moore’s prose and performance work, including Another Suburban Romance, Me and Dorothy Parke , Hypothetical Lizard , and Light Of Thy Countenance.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this three-issue arc lead to more Marvel work for him, as Marvel are pretty famous for writers bringing their friends into the team, for example: Ed Brubaker brought Matt Fraction in on Immortal Iron Fist, then handed off the series to another friend, Duane Swierczynski; Rick Remmder started out co-writing Punisher War Journal with Matt Fraction, before taking over that title; and Johnathan Hickman started out co-writing Secret Warriors with Brian Michael Bendis, before taking over the reigns on his own.

Strictly speaking, this isn’t Antony’s first work on a Marvel Character, as he wrote Wolverine: Prodigal Son for Del Ray last year, which is a great book, grab a copy here!

Writers: Andy Diggle & Antony Johnston
Artist: Marco Checchetto
Cover: Paolo Rivera
$2.99
On Sale: February 3, 2010

The Man Without Fear visits the Land of The Rising Sun! As the new leader of The Hand, Matt Murdock seeks to unite its five continental regions behind his banner and lead the organization to a new future – but when all five “fingers” of The Hand form its mighty fist, you’ll be surprised at who gets hit first! Series writer Andy Diggle welcomes Marco Checchetto (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) for the Three-Part epic, THE LEFT HAND PATH! Rated T …$2.99