Radical Comics redefine 'Aladdin'

Radical Comics will offer a darker interpretation of Aladdin in its recently-announced miniseries.

Aladdin will recast the eponymous hero as a reckless and untrustworthy criminal who finds himself entangled in the schemes of an evil sorcerer.

The comic - written by Ian Edginton (X-Force, 2000 AD) with art from Patrick Reilly and Stjepan Sejic (Witchblade) - is the latest in a series of fully-painted miniseries published by Radical.

"It's unashamedly sword and sorcery," Edginton told Newsarama. "It's a gritty, dirty, bloody, fantasy epic.

"I've tried to give it a Lord of the Rings flavour. So, yes there are all the classic fantasy elements such as the evil sorcerer and the djinn's of the ring and the lamp but they also, all have to work in the real-world context of the story.

"[Aladdin is] a thief, a gambler, a con artist. He uses his keen wits, good looks and charming disposition to get what he wants but the truth is he doesn't know really what that is. He's empty inside but thinks that women and wine and riches will fill that void but it's not working. He's becoming more cold, callous and manipulative the older he gets."

Aladdin will debut in early 2010.