Scott Pilgrim coming to the UK

Always a rather strange thing to have to report on a major graphic novel coming to the UK. Because of course said graphic novel has been available to us through comic shops since it was brought out in the states.

But no matter. According to the Bookseller website Fourth Estate (Harper Collins) is going to publish Scott Pilgrim, much beloved pretty much anywhere in comics circles.

And it's Sunday morning, and I'm tired, so here's the bloody press release:

Fourth Estate has paid a "decent five-figure sum" for a graphic novel series that is being adapted into a film by "Shaun of the Dead" director and co-writer Edgar Wright.

The Scott Pilgrim series by Bryan Lee O'Malley will be published early next year. Editor Mark Richards bought UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Lauren Pearson at Regal Literary.

The book is about the eponymous hero, a 20-something slacker who spends his life playing video games and bass guitar in an indie-rock band, who meets and falls for roller-skating courier Ramona Flowers. In order to go out with her, he must defeat her seven evil ex-boyfriends.

"It's the wit and personality of the books that really got me. The dialogue is funny and smart but also weirdly true. It's not your typical comic book," said Richards. "It was very funny, well observed and well drawn."

Publication details have yet to be finalised. Richards said the publisher is likely to release the first three titles in the six-book series in January or February 2010. The remaining three will be released in April, when the final one is published in the US.

The movie adaptation, entitled "Scott Pilgrim vs the World", will follow in summer 2010. It will star "Juno" and "Superbad" actor Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim.

The Scott Pilgrim website, Scott Pilgrim Versus The World movie site.