James Gunn and the Influence of We3
James Gunn has built a reputation for films that mix the bizarre with heartfelt emotion. Among his influences, one unexpected comic — Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s We3 — stands out as a story that aligns closely with his sensibilities.
Gunn's Appreciation for We3
In a 2015 Facebook Q&A, shortly after Guardians of the Galaxy became a hit, Gunn named We3 as the comic he would most like to adapt. Though that adaptation never materialized, elements of the chilling, tender tale found their way into Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
About We3
We3, published by Vertigo in the 2000s, follows three domestic animals — the dog Bandit, the cat Tinker, and the rabbit Pirate — who have been turned into lethal weapons with armored bodies and neural implants. Created for a secret military project, the animals are ultimately set free by conflicted scientists and then hunted across the country as they search, with limited understanding, for a mythical safe place called “HOME.”
The Themes of We3 and Their Reflection in Gunn's Work
Grant Morrison has said his story sprang from reflections on how people treat an...