Al Letson’s Vision for ‘Mister Terrific: Year One’ Was Originally a TV Show Pilot

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This May, DC Comics will reintroduce the backstory of one of its exceptional heroes through “Mr. Terrific: Year One“. The six-issue series delves into the life of Michael Holt, a prodigious inventor and Olympic athlete, whose life undergoes a drastic change following a devastating personal event.

This series was penned by Al Letson, a Peabody Award-winning journalist and TV writer, who last collaborated with DC Comics in 2017. Now, he’s back working alongside Valentine De Landro (an acclaimed artist), Marissa Louise (a talented colorist), and Lucas Gattoni (an expert letterer) to breathe life into this tale.

Moreover, Edwin Galmon’s distinctive style will breathe life into contemporary settings essential for the storyline.

Year One as a TV pilot script. Unfortunately, writers’ strikes at the time prevented him from submitting it. Instead, he approached DC Comics’ editorial team with his concept, and they recognized its potential, transforming it into a comic book series.

Before James Gunn cast Mr. Terrific in Superman, I felt that while many people recognized him, they didn’t truly understand his depth. I saw an opportunity to develop him further and bring something unique to the character. My ambition was to write for both the DC and Marvel Universes on television, but I haven’t had much success breaking into those worlds. A friend of mine, however, is the showrunner for the new Ironheart series.

I know many individuals who have worked within those realms, but I haven’t had the opportunity yet. That’s why I decided to draft a TV pilot for Mr. Terrific. I never expected it to be produced as a television show; instead, I wanted to create a sample to demonstrate my ability to write superheroes in a realistic manner. So, I penned this entire pilot. I adored it and thought it was excellent; my team felt the same way. As soon as I finished writing it, a writer’s strike occurred, preventing me from submitting it to DC Films and TV since I am a union member.

Personally, the concept for a pilot I’ve crafted could easily translate into a captivating comic book. You see, I have a connection with an editor there named Andrea, whom I collaborated with during a writer’s workshop. So, I casually pitched my idea to her, saying something along the lines of “Hey Andrea, I’ve developed a pilot that could work brilliantly as a comic book, would you be interested in taking a look?” To my delight, she was all ears and replied, “Hell yeah, I’ll definitely read it.”

I sent over the manuscript, and to my excitement, her response was overwhelmingly positive. She wrote back saying, “Oh my God, this could make an amazing comic book!” However, she cautioned that timing is crucial for us to bring it to fruition, stating “Give me some time because we need the perfect moment to release it.

Letson clarified that the period expanded into a full year, following which James Gunn shared a photo of Mr. Terrific from the film on Twitter. Subsequently, he received another message from Andrea and proposed an initial origin story for Year One, which they subsequently refined. DC found the concept appealing but required some modifications to it.

Mr. Terrific: Year One will hit comic stores on Wednesday, May 28th.

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2025-05-17 10:44