“Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” takes place in a comic book book shop, so it’s only natural that the brand new HBO Max series would get its own, actual comic book. As “The Big Bang Theory” spinoff hits San Diego Comic-Con this week, the comic book — featuring cover art by DC Comics president, publisher and chief creative officer Jim Lee and Alex Sinclair — will likely be handed out in limited quantities to fans on the event.
The “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” comic will likely be distributed starting July 23 (which happens to be the identical day it premieres on HBO Max), and continuing through the top of Comic-Con on July 26. The comic relies off the premiere episode of “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe,” adapted by Ivan Cohen from the teleplay by series creators Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn and Bill Prady. The comic’s credits also include Tom Derenick on interior art with Hi-Hi on colours.
Here’s a have a look at the total cover, followed by the credits:
The comic will likely be distributed on the “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” panel at Hall H on July 23 at 2:15 p.m. PT, in addition to on the HBO Max “Stuart” fan experience from July 23 to July 26. Also, the DC book on the convention floor (#4544) will pass out copies from July 23 to July 26, and it can be available online via DC’s website starting July 29.
The series creators commented on the “Stuart Fails” comic this fashion: “The Hardy Boys became Superman, became Batman, became Spider-Man, became Bradbury, became Asimov, became Heinlein, became the world,” Lorre said. Added Penn: “I owe my profession to comic books. They’re central to a story set in a comic book book shop, and we use them as a trope and a McGuffin.”
Prady chimed in: “Comic books were my gateway drug to reading. Once per week, allowance in hand, I walked across the road to Lincoln Drugs and purchased an adventure. I actually have still not recovered from my mother giving my collection away once I was in highschool.
Meanwhile, also at Comic-Con, the L.A. firm Acronym is constructing an experiential pop up based on Stuart’s comic book store on the Sparks Gallery (contained in the former Sterling Hardware Constructing in San Diego’s Gaslamp district).
Inside “Stuart’s Interdimensional Comic Center,” the space recreates six universes from Season 1, which attendees can find “hidden inside scenic touchpoints, waiting to be unlocked by the membership cards to the shop,” per the outline by Acronym. “Walk through an LED tunnel and watch as a comic book shop hallway turns into an adventure through time and space. Every selection you make along the way in which builds toward one query: What hero are you, really? Walk out with the reply, and a secret personalized take away.”
The experience will launch on July 23 and proceed through July 25; times are day by day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The ten-episode Season 1 of “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” premieres July 23 on HBO Max, with recent episodes weekly. Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn and John Ross Bowie star.