Dark Horse Comics has revealed the cover of their upcoming adaptation of the fourth Indy movie, Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull.
Painted by artist Steve Anderson in a semi-Struzan stylee, it’s pretty generic big closeup of old man in hat stuff, but there are two elements on there that will get Indy gossip hounds’ tongues wagging.
First, in the bottom left-hand corner, is a painting of what appears to be an old temple, with a huge, gaping, dark entrance. This is not a surprise – Indy, after all, is an archaeologist and archaeologists frequently have to enter old temples with huge, gaping, dark entrances – especially if they covet crystal skulls.
More interestingly, though, is the large portrait of Shia LaBeouf as Indy’s son – sorry, travelling companion, Mutt Williams, looking very matinee idol in his James Dean-esque leather jacket and his wispy ‘underage teenager trying to buy some WKD from the Spar down the road and desperately attempting to look older than he actually is’ moustache.
In one hand, Mutt appears to be holding a switchblade. This is nothing surprising – he’s a teenager with a leather jacket in the ‘50s. Movies have taught us that all teenagers of this type carried ‘blades.
What is surprising, though, is the blade of another kind that Mutt is holding in his right hand – a full-blown, honest-to-goodness, ancient cutlass which is presumably a bit of treasure that Indy and Mutt stumble across in their quest for the crystal skulls. But will Mutt have to use it?
The Dark Horse synopsis for the film also contains a few tidbits:
“The intrepid Doctor Henry Jones Jr. is back in his biggest adventure yet! This time, the world-renowned archaeologist finds himself caught in a series of events that all point to a discovery unlike any other. But will his rivals in pursuit of this priceless treasure seize his quarry from right under his nose? Not if he, and a few unexpected companions, have anything to say about it!”
So, nothing we haven’t really heard before, or haven’t already guessed. Indy is looking for treasure, and some people want to stop him. If it ain’t broke…
To read more info on the Dark Horse comic, including news on its creative team and more blurb, then go to Comingsoon.net